Performing in The Zone
In 2008 I embarked upon a project called “Performing in The Zone.”
Initially, the project was planned as a small eBook in .pdf format, and would include an assortment of various techniques designed to help musicians achieve better results in high-pressure performing situations such as auditions and solo concerts.
However, the project grew into a 224 page book aimed at performers of all disciplines, and of all levels. “Performing in The Zone” was published in July 2009 and became a #1 best selling new release on amazon.com
But the “Performing in The Zone” project didn’t stop there.
Shortly after “Performing in The Zone” was released, I started receiving enquiries about personal performance coaching. Lectures and workshops followed, as well as the publication of several other smaller books relating to the management of performance anxiety.
I continue to give 1-on-1 performance coaching in person and online, and offer lectures and workshops in the fields of performance preparation and performance psychology.
Book reviews
lecture reviews
“We all enjoyed Jon’s workshop ”Performing in The Zone” on Monday. Jon has fabulous presentation skills mixed with very positive energy and humour. The students I spoke to loved it and we all learned a lot with good stimulating and simple exercises to try at home. I highly recommend for him to come back and do a piano class, a string class, a voice class and another repeat WW/Brass class! His expertise is of interest for all instruments and is inspiring for all.”
— Uwe Grodd, Associate Professor, Auckland University School of Music
“Jon, your session on Performing in the Zone was right on target for our students. Most of them are at that musical developmental stage where the identification of factors that address and improve preparation and performance is critical. The mind/body connection was clearly presented and provided our students with strategies that are certain to improve their overall physical, musical and emotional approach to preparing and presenting musical performances. Several students remarked to me that this workshop should be a required course in every music school! Quite the recommendation!
In addition, your workshop on playing without tension was one of the most important masterclasses to which our students have ever been exposed. The release of excess tension (and its causes) and the resultant increase in efficiency in one’s playing can be one of the most effective tools of a student’s development. The clarity of your message and its immediate positive result is astounding. I would not have expected that one session with you could make such a profound impact on students’ posture, breathing and overall body, mind and emotional awareness. Students are still referring to your session as they face daily instrumental problem solving. And as a dystonia sufferer, I can attest to the validity of the need to recognize and develop a consistent strategy to alleviate tension in one’s playing at the earliest possible age.
You are, in my opinion, providing one of the most important messages for today’s performers – one that explains in a clear, concise, definitive and comprehensive manner, a solution to the prevention of, and recovery from, one of the most debilitating conditions in todays performance world, that of task specific focal dystonia.”
— Jerry Peel, Horn Professor, Assistant Chair of Brass Studies,
Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts
“En mycket givande föreläsning!!!”
— kursdeltagare, Retorikcentrum, Göteborg
“Jon Gorries föreläsning var fantastisk och användbar på alla sätt och vis! :)”
— retorikstudent, Institutionen för svenska språket, Göteborgs Universitet