Chicago Classical Music

What a great photo.

Thanks for asking about the musician-marathoners and how training crosses over to benefit their music performances.  Gail Williams told me that preparing for the marathon reminded her of the importance of being in shape physically, but it also helped to tune up her mental ability to focus.  You need to be mentally strong to get through a marathon - as you need to have incredible focus and stamina to get through the hour-long, epic, Schubert Octet, which Gail played on CCM's season-opening program in mid-September.  She said she came back from training out west through the summer and was - for the first time - able to sustain long passages in the Octet without stopping to take a breath.  She also likens tapering workouts in the weeks before a big race to the way she advises students to taper their practices before a big recital.