In 2004, I was invited as a guest to Wildacres Flute Retreat. As a gift, I offered to teach a short class. The director, Anna Thibeault, picked Performance Anxiety as the topic. After my class, unknown to me, the participants told her, “you must have that woman come back!” Since then, I’ve been on the Wildacres faculty, and once people in the field heard about my workshop, I received numerous invitations to take my workshop around the US and to other countries as well. A profound hunger exists for effective solutions to a challenge that is so common, and so painful. Almost all of my clients have decreased or eliminated their performance fears, and I’ve had some clients who were too incapacitated to play in front of others who are now having a fantastic time playing in public.
I feel that all the parts of my life — my own past performing struggles, my musical training, my background in education and counseling – have all led me to this point in my career, and that I’m doing exactly what I‘m meant to do right now. I’m deeply satisfied when those who weep with the frustration of being blocked from sharing the songs in their heart find the ability to let their beloved music fly happily and confidently into the world.
Can you tell us a bit about what to expect and the benefits of participating in your workshop?
My workshops are confidential, and no one has to do or say anything they don’t want to. Each workshop takes on a life of its own, deriving energy from who is present and the size of the group. I talk about general principles, but I’ve named my workshop Performance Anxiety from Inside Out because I believe the most effective solution is to deal with the individual. We talk, do writing exercises, always laugh, and sometimes cry. Unless it’s an all day or residential workshop, we don’t play instruments.