As part of our Performance Week celebrations (9th–16th June 2025), we asked Your Space Music Lessons’ woodwind teacher Lucy Leibold to share her thoughts on preparing for a successful performance and how expression transforms a piece of music. Whether you’re about to upload your performance video or simply love hearing how musicians think, Lucy’s advice is full of inspiration and practical wisdom.
What tips would you give to anyone preparing for a music performance?
- Choose a piece you really enjoy. If you love the music, it shows. You’ll connect more deeply with the piece and put your heart into the performance.
- Don’t procrastinate! Last-minute cramming doesn’t work — regular, short practice sessions are far more effective.
- Do a run-through. Playing in front of friends or family ahead of the real performance helps build confidence and prepares you for the experience.
As a woodwind teacher, how do you advise pupils to practise expressive elements?
Lucy encourages her students to sing each phrase out loud, following the expression marks. “That way,” she explains, “you can really feel the flow of the melody in your body and understand the direction of the part.” Another tip she swears by? Exaggerate the dynamics. “Make the louds really loud and the softs really soft. If it's too much, we can always pull it back — but going further at first helps you hear the colour of the music more clearly.”
A time when practice truly paid off…
Lucy reflects on a powerful memory from her conservatoire days:
“I remember playing for my final recital. I had practised everything so thoroughly that I could walk on stage without any music and play for the full 40 minutes. I felt completely in control — free to express myself from start to finish. That feeling of freedom only comes when you’re fully prepared. It was empowering.”
Why does expression matter so much in music?
“Expression is what gives music meaning,” Lucy says. “It’s just like the way we speak — our voices change in tone, rhythm, and intensity depending on how we feel. We don’t talk like robots, and we shouldn’t play music like one either. Expression is what engages the listener and helps you feel personally satisfied with your own playing.”
Is music performance like storytelling?
“Absolutely! Whether you’re telling your own story or imagining the composer’s, you’re always trying to connect with your audience. You want to say something that enters the hearts and minds of the people listening.”
What style of music suits your performance style best?
“I love performing jazz. Improvising over chord progressions feels like the purest form of expression — you’re composing and performing at the same time. It’s creative, reactive, and it’s never the same twice.”
A favourite performance?
Right now, Lucy’s loving Cannonball Adderley’s live recording of Do Do Do (What Now is Next?) from the album 74 Miles Away/Walk Tall Live. “He plays such a funky solo full of energy and expressive colour. Even though the harmony is quite simple, he makes it exciting by using the highest range of his instrument and dynamic variety. Every note feels perfectly placed.”
Whether you’re performing this week or simply reflecting on your musical journey, Lucy’s words remind us that music is about connection, colour, and storytelling.
👉 What piece are you performing this week?
Or, what’s a piece of music you love — and why?
🎥 Don’t forget to upload your performance by 16th June and be part of the Your Space Music Playlist!