William Fitzpatrick - violin expert

The Many Stories of Bill Fitzpatrick: Stopping Smoking

How smoking can affect music playing

In this video, Prof. Fitzpatrick tells a story about how quitting smoking improved his music performances.

Released on June 8, 2022

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DISCLAIMER: The views and the opinions expressed in this video are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Virtual Sheet Music and its employees.

Video Transcription

My wife was hospitalized in France with pulmonary issues. As I walked into her room her doctor stopped me and asked "do you smoke?" I said yes and he said "I'm going to give you 2 reasons why you are going to stop". Well I listened and after over 30 years of smoking, I stopped, cold turkey! All right. Two months later I was playing Zigeunerweisen and Tzigane with orchestra in Paris. With over 1,000 in attendance If there were ever a time to be nervous this was it. As I returned to my dressing room though, it suddenly occurred to me that I hadn't been nervous. For as long as I could remember my bow always shook at the beginning of a performance. It was then that I realized that this was this first time I hadn't had a cigarette before I performed. There was no nicotine in my body!
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Comments, Questions, Requests:

Tojo89 on June 8, 2022 @12:50 pm PST
Thank you for the inspiration; it has been a challenge for me.
reply
William - host, on June 9, 2022 @2:49 am PST
It is for all of us! Thanks!
George Mahida * VSM MEMBER * on June 8, 2022 @10:49 am PST
Thanks Dr William Fitzpatrick for sharing how smoking and being nervous are connected. Stimulants in our bodies effects our performance. I never made that connection.
reply
William - host, on June 9, 2022 @2:48 am PST
Thanks... I definitely stumbled onto the connection!
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