Performance & Communication Training
The Heifetz Performance and Communication Training program is a cornerstone of our curriculum, designed to help young musicians unlock their full expressive potential—on stage and beyond. Through singing, movement, and dramatic exercises, students learn to connect their musical performance to the emotional depth of human expression, exploring how voice, body, and instrument work together to communicate powerfully. Whether channeling the passion of Bach, the rhythm of a gigue, or the cadence of a compelling public speech, students discover that true artistry lies in the union of expression, musicianship, and emotion.
Performance & Communication Training Modules
Movement: In this class, students explore the deep connection between physical expression and musical meaning – how rhythm flows through the body and shapes interpretation. Harnessing rhythm through movement and dance, students will experience how gesture, expression, and motion inform musical phrasing and ensemble awareness. One student might play Bach while others dance the authentic steps – and then invent their own. Students will discover how learning the moves deepens expression, sharpens perception, and makes rhythm pulse through every gesture.
Voice: Singing lies at the heart of musical expression. In this class, you’ll explore how the treatment of words in song reveals phrasing, nuance, and emotional intent. By learning to sing and to listen with imagination, you’ll discover how to phrase your instrumental music with greater freedom and meaning — connecting voice, heart, and instrument into one expressive whole.
Freedom of Expression: Through playful improvisation, storytelling, and creative exercises, you will discover new ways to connect, communicate, and bring greater authenticity and presence to your music-making. Students will learn the fundamentals of improv acting while incorporating their instruments as partners in creative expression, interpretive imagination, and a deeper awareness of how musical and physical communication intertwine. Led by acclaimed performers Vanessa Valliere and John Gregorio.
Drama: Heifetz Director of Performance & Communication Training Daniel Pettrow returns to lead this popular class designed for performing artists to deepen their personal presence and expand their expressive range. Through guided warm-up techniques, practical exercises, and ensemble work, students will explore methods for cultivating authentic stage presence, enhancing dramatic expression, and managing performance anxiety. The course provides a supportive environment for developing greater confidence, connection, and artistry in performance.
Speaking in Public: Your connection with the audience begins the moment you set foot on stage. This class empowers young artists with the skills and confidence to communicate effectively in any setting. Under the guidance of Daniel Pettrow, students will develop techniques drawn from great communicators, learn strategies for crafting engaging and authentic speeches, and practice speaking from a place of clarity, purpose, and presence.
Yoga: Discover how the mindfulness, balance, and awareness cultivated on the yoga mat can enhance your musical practice. Led by violinist and yogi Melissa White, whose Intermission Sessions have inspired and supported musicians nationwide, this class invites students to integrate physical alignment, breath, and focus into their artistic journey – fostering well-being, resilience, and expressive freedom.
Students are guided through multidisciplinary courses and led to connect the experiences back to their musical pursuits with the following overarching goals:
1. Know Oneself
Becoming aware of one’s personality traits and understanding various human emotions is essential in conveying a convincing and authentic performance. The goal of the Heifetz Performance and Communication Training method is to support students as they access their own store of emotions and unique personality characteristics.
2. Open Oneself
Heifetz Performance and Communication Training is designed to provide a comfortable and safe environment for students to explore their emotional range, to overcome personal inhibitions, and to be willing to take risks as they develop their own expressiveness and interpretive style as connected to the music they perform.
3. Express Oneself
Once there is a clearer understanding of their individual personality and emotional range, students then explore how their physical and mental life work together to create an authentic and expressive performance. An essential element toward achieving these goals is gaining an awareness of the connection between musical training and emotional expression. Heifetz Performance and Communication Training is designed to support students as they balance and integrate all these features, deepening their connection to the music and to the audience.
4. Improve One’s Physical Freedom and Health
One of the underlying bases for performing at one’s best is to have the necessary bodily strength, agility, and flexibility to do so. These traits enable the performer to have the freedom to demonstrate technical prowess, emotional resonance, and engagement with the audience. Physical fitness should become a regular component of every performer’s life. It is the aim of the Heifetz Institute to provide each student with the skills to develop a physical fitness regimen that meets individual needs and provides a sense of well-being.
