If you are naked at the piano, whether literally or metaphorically, there is nowhere to hide, and you must do everything in your power to distract the audience from your “nakedness”. (Those of us who perform, and who suffer from the anxiety of performance, may well have had the dream/nightmare where we are in a performance situation without the protective carapace of clothes.), So, do you run screaming from the stage, or do you face up to the challenge?

Playing “naked” means:

• Stripping away inhibitions, over-interpretation, unnecessary gestures, and pretensions
• Giving yourself up to the music
• Playing with heart and soul
• Believing completely in what you do
• Fearless and focussed performance
• Playing “for the love of music” (Rostropovich), with a vibrant sound and charismatic rhythm which radiates authority and emotion
• Precise execution from well-honed technique
• Crafting confidence and developing a positive response to stress
• Finding meaning, desire and depth in your performance