Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Performing on the Kalimba:
Should You Look At What You Are Doing?

The kalimba is a very intimate companion. More than most instruments, I feel really connected with this instrument when I play. The whole world can disappear, except for me and my kalimba.

Sometimes this can really work for a performance, but the audience could also get bored or feel left out if it "looks like you are on stage reading a book", as Andy Robinson used to say.

So, do try to cultivate the ability of playing kalimba without looking at the keys so you can make eye contact with the audience. Some passages may be so complicated that you cannot play them without watching the kalimba, but be on the lookout for easier passages that lend themselves to smiling at the people who are paying attention to you.

 

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