Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Performing on the Kalimba:
Your Kalimba Moment

People come to a concert to be moved. But when they first get there, they aren't really settled down yet. When is the best point to introduce the kalimba?

I often find that early on in a performance, people might miss the magic of the kalimba. Kalimba can be very effective as a closing piece, as people are ready for the magic. The middle works, especially if you have just done something impressive that will make people take note of you.

A general rule of thumb is this - the longer you've been playing, the more the audience trusts you, and the more you trust the audience. You've built up a relationship, and they are more willing for your words to sing to their heart. The later it is (assuming people haven't started falling asleep or leaving), the more you can really feel the energy the audience brings, and the more confident you are in shaping that energy into something beautiful and meaningful.

 

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