The only way to practice performing is to perform. For me, that means learning to manage the nervousness I experience during every performance. The nervousness is always a surprise, too. I do not consciously expect to be nervous. I’ve performed for years in different contexts and I teach aikido (a martial art). That is, I perform every day, and sometimes for huge audiences. However, performing solo classical guitar is an entirely different experience, and the nervousness bubbles up as soon as my fingers touch the strings.

It’s an experience that’s impossible for me to reproduce in my practice space. Recording helps. It makes mistakes more frustrating, but ultimately it is of zero consequence. It’s like practicing aikido when your training partner isn’t really trying to hit you. You just go through the motions. There’s no danger or exhilaration.

The only way to practice performing before an audience is to perform before an audience. But who wants to practice in front of people? Don’t we want to be polished when performing? It’s a catch 22: we want to perform well, but the only way to learn to perform well is to perform. And this means there’s a possibility of unsatisfying performances. Who wants that?

My teacher Isabella Abbonizio had been encouraging me to perform, calling it the next step in my development. I resisted at first even though I knew she was right. Once I admitted it, I quickly found very few in-person opportunities. So, I decided to use my martial arts school Aikido of South Brooklyn to create an opportunity for myself and others.

The Brooklyn Guitar Salon is an open mic for classical and acoustic guitarists who want to improve their performance skills. Players of all levels are welcome to perform or listen. It is a chance to practice, learn, make mistakes, recover, and try again. I hope you will join us for this unique, monthly event. BGS is held every second Saturday of the month from 4pm at Aikido South of Brooklyn.

To register you can simply click on this link: At there’s more: DalMaestro’s students get 50% discount on the registration fee (please ask your teacher for the code!)

I look forward to see you at Brooklyn Guitar Salon!

Josh Paul