Eliminating Variables

As a musician continually striving for consistent and optimal performances, I am always looking for ways to make my life easier and make my performances better. One success that I had this summer was in eliminating an unnecessary variable in my performing.  For years, I had a bad habit of frowning and contorting my face when I played - do any of these sound familiar to you too? When the notes are low, we should move our face some weird way to manipulate the jaw; when the notes are high, we should look like our eyes are popping out; when we breathe, raise our eyebrows; when something is hard, frown so everyone knows how hard it is! And don't forget, when we screw up, make a face so they know that you know that you made a mistake!  Bottom line is that any facial contortion is creating unnecessary tension and an unnecessary variable that is distracting us from all the essential and beneficial elements of playing.  Sometimes we can be so preoccupied with the 'big stuff', we don't acknowledge our little quirks.  However, this can be a simple enough fix, and can open the doors to solving other issues such as extra tension in the body, and a more positive, relaxed (less panicked!) mindset. 
There are a few ways to solve this problem with some careful attention and a few tricks.  First- practice in front of a mirror whenever possible.  Watch how much your face moves even in simple exercises, and ask yourself if all of it is necessary. Can you achieve the same result with less contortion?  Next - Videotape yourself - sure when the music is easy, you might be able to keep it relaxed, but what about when it gets more complicated? Check not only your face, but your shoulders too, and how about your general posture?  Otherwise, if you need a constant reminder when you're on your own, try putting a piece of tape on your forehead, and see how much it pulls!  If your shoulders are going up, try practicing with a magic bag on your shoulders - it will keep them down, and it will feel great too!
Finally, think about your face and posture in performance settings - if you look comfortable when performing, your audience will be more comfortable, and will be more sold on your overall performance! Truth be told, listeners take in 20% of what is performed, and 80% of what they see.  So what will you show them today?
Good luck, and happy practicing!