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“You want all players to be free of overthinking. That’s when they’re in a good place and a good flow.” (Gareth Southgate – England Manager 2016-24)
A few years ago, after being awarded a grant by the Royal Philharmonic Society, I had some sessions with Dr Pippa Grange, a sports psychologist, culture coach and author. Pippa is credited with being an important part of the coaching staff for the England men’s football team when they reached the 2018 World Cup semi-final, helping to break the cycle of penalty shootout defeats in major tournaments. We discussed the links between sport and music, various techniques to reduce anxiety and encourage optimum performance levels, and how the notion of perfectionism often disrupts moments of authentic musical connection. Pippa featured our discussion in a chapter of her book, ‘Fear Less: How to Win at Life Without Losing Yourself’, before going on to highlight my story in her appearance on Brené Brown’s internationally acclaimed podcast, ‘Dare to Lead’. I shared all of this with composer Charlotte Harding, who got in touch shortly after with the idea of creating a new work to explore these themes. Charlotte writes … “I was so inspired that Imogen looked outside of music to gain a different perspective on her practice. As a lifelong sports fan, I have always been fascinated by the connection between athletes and musicians, and how not seeking perfection, but encouraging states of openness and flow so often leads to the best performances and realisations.” ‘To Stay Open’ looks to capture the essence of this – starting with a simple, connecting note between Imogen and her instrument, phrases ebb and flow, seek and develop, before eventually flourishing into expressive, celebratory fanfares of openness and joy.”
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