Latest news with #perfectionist
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
"He's the one who really made me a perfectionist" - Magic Johnson praised the coach who brought all his 'Magic' out
"He's the one who really made me a perfectionist" - Magic Johnson praised the coach who brought all his 'Magic' out originally appeared on Basketball Network. Like most NBA all-time greats, Earvin Magic Johnson also had an impactful mentor in his career. He found his in Michigan State coach Jud Heathcote. According to Johnson, Heathcote played a pivotal role in his formative years as a player. He revealed that it was Heathcote who taught him the importance of mastering his craft and working on his expertise. As he reflected on his time with Heathcote, Johnson expressed his gratitude for how his former coach brought the best out of him. For the legendary point guard, there would be no "Magic" Johnson if it hadn't been for Heathcote. "I owe a lot to Jud Heathcote," Johnson said back in 2015. "He's the one who really made me a perfectionist. He brought all the Magic out. Jud was special, because Jud paid attention to every detail. He used to say, 'Earv, if you're going to take that leaping leaner (shot), we've got to practice it. So, let's practice it 200, 300 times a day.'" "I would come back after I turned pro, and he would hear the ball downstairs at Jenison (Field House), and I'd be shooting and shooting. He'd holler, 'E, I'm going to be down there in one second!' He would come down, put on his warm-up stuff, put on his sneakers and he'd get out there and work me out for two or three hours," he fondly recounted. "I never forget those days. I have the (video) tapes, so I put them in often and watch them, with those little short shorts," Johnson added. The person who made Magic realize he was special Johnson's legendary college basketball career proved that Heathcote really did a tremendous job honing his skills. Magic was able to translate everything he learned from Heathcote to on-court success. In his sophomore and final year at Michigan State, Johnson led the Spartans to a historic NCAA championship run. He won the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four award in the process. However, Heathcote wasn't the only influential figure in Johnson's amateur career. Magic also once credited his Everett High School in Lansing teammate and close friend Reggie Chastine for boosting his confidence as a player. As per Johnson, Chastine was the person who truly believed in his abilities, especially during the times when he doubted himself. "You have to say, 'I'm going to take all your best shots. I'm not looking to fight, but I'm looking to dominate you.' Reggie taught me that," Magic once revealed. "He was the first one who really believed in me. I doubted myself, but he was looking to big things...I needed that." Magic pays it forward For his part, Johnson did not let the influential figures in his career down. He went on to become the No. 1 overall pick in the 1979 NBA Draft. Magic was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers where he quickly rose to superstardom. He helped the team win five NBA championships and went down as one of the greatest players in the history of the franchise. After his playing years, Johnson took it upon himself to pay it forward. He has already established himself as a great mentor for young players both on and off the story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
05-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bears' Dayo Odeyingbo: Ben Johnson is a perfectionist, demanding, and what we need
First-year Bears head coach Ben Johnson has from all accounts been running a tough training camp, and defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo says that's what the Bears need. Odeyingbo, who signed a three-year, $48 million contract with the Bears in March, said Johnson has made it clear to the players that he sets a standard and they need to live up to it. "He's very demanding," Odeyingbo said. "You could tell he's a perfectionist. He wants it done a certain way and if it's not that way, he's going to call you out about it. That's something you definitely want from someone leading your team that's not afraid to call people out and see how they respond." Odeyingbo was drafted by the Colts in 2021 and was a backup for his first three seasons, but he became a starter last year and played well, and this year he thinks he's going to play even better. "That's the way I prepared this offseason," Odeyingbo said. "That's the way I feel. I feel like I'm in the best position and shape that I've been in to play, so I'm excited about this year and excited about what I can bring." The arrivals of Johnson and Odeyingbo are two of several big changes the Bears have made this offseason, a fresh start for a team that's finished .500 or worse six straight years and may need a coach who's more demanding.
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
I Followed My Doctor's Orders Religiously, But Didn't Seem To Get Better. Then I Made A Shocking Discovery.
I experienced my first concussion when I was 16. A poorly timed wave struck me while I was surfing and an abandoned kayak slammed into my head. I came home from the beach feeling nauseous and groggy, but I chalked it up to the rough day in the water. However, when I woke up the next morning with a piercing headache, I started to wonder if it was something more serious. I decided to go to school that day, but the moment I sat down for my calculus lecture, I knew something was wrong. The equations on the whiteboard blurred before my eyes, and the room spun like a carnival ride. I went to see a doctor and she confirmed my suspicions: I was concussed. Sitting in the exam room, I read the recovery instructions the doctor gave me with a mixture of pain and a slight sense of relief. I was told to stay in a dark room with no stimulation — no loud noise, bright light, strong smells or cognitive triggers — until I felt my symptoms start to improve. 'How long will it take?' I asked. The doctor assured me that most concussions resolve within a week or two. We scheduled a follow-up for the following week, and before I left, she handed me thick packet of return-to-play guidelines intended for high school football players. The irony wasn't lost on me — I wasn't a football player. I went straight home, popped an Advil, turned off the lights, and got in bed. As a perfectionist and a rule-follower, I stuck to the doctor's instructions religiously. My phone went on 'Do Not Disturb' and I committed myself to absolute rest. The following days were agonizing — an endless cycle of boredom and restlessness. I spent most of the time staring at the ceiling with my thoughts clouded by an aching brain. By the end of the week, I was desperate to return to my normal routine. However, when I tried to read the morning newspaper, the words swirled on the page, and a throbbing pain forced me back into bed. At my follow-up appointment, my doctor seemed unconcerned by my lingering symptoms. I was advised to continue brain rest and take another week off school. A month later, I was still struggling. Mundane tasks like walking the dog, driving to the grocery store, or having a five-minute conversation felt almost impossible. I was living in a constant haze, as though I was trapped behind a concussion-induced fog. I returned to my doctor, who finally referred me to the concussion sports clinic at UCSF, where I began a long and frustrating journey of treatments including physical therapy, an occipital nerve block, acupuncture and electrical nerve stimulation, just to name a few. It wasn't until the next year that I began to feel significantly better. The symptoms became more manageable, and I started resuming daily activities. But as anyone who has experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI) knows, the risk of reinjury is high. Like a sprained ankle prone to future sprains, a concussed brain is more susceptible to subsequent injuries. Physicians found that post-concussion, there is a greater chance of sustaining another concussion and that those injuries often occur even if less force is involved and take longer to resolve. My second concussion happened far less dramatically than my first. While laughing with a friend outside my senior high school history classroom, I stepped forward just as she stepped back, and our heads collided. It seemed absurd that something so minor could cause such a significant setback. After all, as a child, I'd surely hit my head countless times on the playground or in dance class. But the symptoms were undeniable. In the years that followed, I experienced additional head injuries — from car doors, on crowded dance floors, and other unremarkable incidents. While each concussion was uniquely challenging, there was a critical difference between my first and subsequent injuries: I had better information. During recovery from my second concussion, I stumbled upon a website called the Concussion Alliance. One section, in bold letters, read: Concussion Myths. One myth stood out: 'Do not lie in a dark room.' As I sat in the suffocating silence of my pitch-black room, tears streaming down my face, I realized I'd been doing everything wrong. After discovering this information, I scheduled an appointment with a new doctor at the concussion clinic. She was shocked by the outdated advice I had initially received, and explained that many physicians still relied on obsolete concussion protocols due to the recent and ongoing changes in concussion research. In 2022, the Concussion Sports Group published recovery guidelines based on the 6th International Conference on Concussion in Sport. Their findings confirmed that recommending strict rest until the complete resolution of concussion-related symptoms, sometimes referred to as cocooning or cocoon therapy, is often not beneficial. Relative rest (such as limiting screen time and other activities of daily living) is encouraged immediately and for up to the first two days after injury. Slowly, I began incorporating parts of my daily routine back into my life, pushing just beyond my comfort zone but not to the point of danger. Surprisingly, weightlifting became my greatest ally. Through cautious and deliberate exercise, I found a way to challenge my body and rebuild my confidence. With time, I felt stronger — both physically and mentally. With this new understanding, I began to approach concussion recovery in an entirely different way. To my pleasant surprise, I found that my subsequent concussions lasted only a fraction as long as my earlier ones did, and they didn't disrupt my social, academic, or daily life as much as they once had. I am currently in my second year of undergraduate studies at UC Berkeley. From bunk beds to frat parties to scooter accidents, there are numerous opportunities for concussions to occur. I have been disheartened by the number of peers who have been diagnosed with concussions and still follow the same outdated protocols my doctor prescribed to me when I was 16. One day, as I was aimlessly scrolling through Instagram, I stumbled upon a friend's story. In bold white letters on a black background, it read: 'No one ever tells you how bored you are with a concussion. Like, wtf am I supposed to do in the dark all alone? I'm bored.' I immediately swiped up. My friend explained that she was in her second week of isolating in her room. I offered to hop on a call, but she couldn't tolerate phone conversations due to her symptoms, so we exchanged voice notes instead. She had been in a car accident and felt hopeless, unable to return to her normal life. I shared my own experience, and that day, she made a small step toward recovery by listening to her favorite podcast. A week later, I woke up to a message that read, 'Thank you. You saved me.' Of course, I am not a physician and no one should attempt to heal from a concussion without professional medical advice. If you ever find yourself with a head injury, see a doctor immediately. However, it's never a bad idea to be informed and educated about TBI and the recent research that has upended the way concussions are treated. It is this information that could make a world of difference in your recovery. Today, I still grapple with the lasting effects of my initial concussion. Amid the usual worries of maintaining a good GPA, securing a summer internship, and getting to class on time, the fear of hitting my head remains ever-present. I've discovered that I may always have lingering symptoms from my concussions, some of which are more difficult to pinpoint than others, including frequent migraines and difficulty with balance and coordination. But I've also found a path forward. I've used Botox treatments to help with my residual headaches and I am extra careful about avoiding crowded spaces where collisions are more likely to occur. There is still so much we don't know about brain injuries, but what we do know should be used wisely. Recovery for me — and now the vast majority of people — isn't about shutting out the world and living in complete darkness. It's about balance, patience, and informed care. My experience taught me that healing is possible, but it starts with access to the right information. Sarah Goody is a social entrepreneur and climate activist currently studying at the University of California, Berkeley. She is the founder of Climate NOW, a global youth-led organization that has empowered over 10,000 young people to take action on climate change. Her activism has garnered political attention from leaders, and she has served as an advisory member for Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation. Recognized for her impact, Sarah received the prestigious Princess Diana Award in 2020. She is passionate about the intersections of public health, sustainability, business, and law. Do you have a compelling personal story you'd like to see published on HuffPost? Find out what we're looking for here and send us a pitch at pitch@ Related... My Husband's Medical Team Was Failing Him. Then A Stranger Stepped In And Said 6 Words That Saved His Life. An 88-Year-Old Woman Was Brought To My ER. When Her Family Told Me Why, I Was Stunned. My Doctor Emailed Me The Worst Possible News. It Sent Me Into A Tailspin — And Changed My Life.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
I Followed My Doctor's Orders Religiously, But Didn't Seem To Get Better. Then I Made A Shocking Discovery.
I experienced my first concussion when I was 16. A poorly timed wave struck me while I was surfing and an abandoned kayak slammed into my head. I came home from the beach feeling nauseous and groggy, but I chalked it up to the rough day in the water. However, when I woke up the next morning with a piercing headache, I started to wonder if it was something more serious. I decided to go to school that day, but the moment I sat down for my calculus lecture, I knew something was wrong. The equations on the whiteboard blurred before my eyes, and the room spun like a carnival ride. I went to see a doctor and she confirmed my suspicions: I was concussed. Sitting in the exam room, I read the recovery instructions the doctor gave me with a mixture of pain and a slight sense of relief. I was told to stay in a dark room with no stimulation — no loud noise, bright light, strong smells or cognitive triggers — until I felt my symptoms start to improve. 'How long will it take?' I asked. The doctor assured me that most concussions resolve within a week or two. We scheduled a follow-up for the following week, and before I left, she handed me thick packet of return-to-play guidelines intended for high school football players. The irony wasn't lost on me — I wasn't a football player. I went straight home, popped an Advil, turned off the lights, and got in bed. As a perfectionist and a rule-follower, I stuck to the doctor's instructions religiously. My phone went on 'Do Not Disturb' and I committed myself to absolute rest. The following days were agonizing — an endless cycle of boredom and restlessness. I spent most of the time staring at the ceiling with my thoughts clouded by an aching brain. By the end of the week, I was desperate to return to my normal routine. However, when I tried to read the morning newspaper, the words swirled on the page, and a throbbing pain forced me back into bed. At my follow-up appointment, my doctor seemed unconcerned by my lingering symptoms. I was advised to continue brain rest and take another week off school. A month later, I was still struggling. Mundane tasks like walking the dog, driving to the grocery store, or having a five-minute conversation felt almost impossible. I was living in a constant haze, as though I was trapped behind a concussion-induced fog. I returned to my doctor, who finally referred me to the concussion sports clinic at UCSF, where I began a long and frustrating journey of treatments including physical therapy, an occipital nerve block, acupuncture and electrical nerve stimulation, just to name a few. It wasn't until the next year that I began to feel significantly better. The symptoms became more manageable, and I started resuming daily activities. But as anyone who has experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI) knows, the risk of reinjury is high. Like a sprained ankle prone to future sprains, a concussed brain is more susceptible to subsequent injuries. Physicians found that post-concussion, there is a greater chance of sustaining another concussion and that those injuries often occur even if less force is involved and take longer to resolve. My second concussion happened far less dramatically than my first. While laughing with a friend outside my senior high school history classroom, I stepped forward just as she stepped back, and our heads collided. It seemed absurd that something so minor could cause such a significant setback. After all, as a child, I'd surely hit my head countless times on the playground or in dance class. But the symptoms were undeniable. In the years that followed, I experienced additional head injuries — from car doors, on crowded dance floors, and other unremarkable incidents. While each concussion was uniquely challenging, there was a critical difference between my first and subsequent injuries: I had better information. During recovery from my second concussion, I stumbled upon a website called the Concussion Alliance. One section, in bold letters, read: Concussion Myths. One myth stood out: 'Do not lie in a dark room.' As I sat in the suffocating silence of my pitch-black room, tears streaming down my face, I realized I'd been doing everything wrong. After discovering this information, I scheduled an appointment with a new doctor at the concussion clinic. She was shocked by the outdated advice I had initially received, and explained that many physicians still relied on obsolete concussion protocols due to the recent and ongoing changes in concussion research. In 2022, the Concussion Sports Group published recovery guidelines based on the 6th International Conference on Concussion in Sport. Their findings confirmed that recommending strict rest until the complete resolution of concussion-related symptoms, sometimes referred to as cocooning or cocoon therapy, is often not beneficial. Relative rest (such as limiting screen time and other activities of daily living) is encouraged immediately and for up to the first two days after injury. Slowly, I began incorporating parts of my daily routine back into my life, pushing just beyond my comfort zone but not to the point of danger. Surprisingly, weightlifting became my greatest ally. Through cautious and deliberate exercise, I found a way to challenge my body and rebuild my confidence. With time, I felt stronger — both physically and mentally. With this new understanding, I began to approach concussion recovery in an entirely different way. To my pleasant surprise, I found that my subsequent concussions lasted only a fraction as long as my earlier ones did, and they didn't disrupt my social, academic, or daily life as much as they once had. I am currently in my second year of undergraduate studies at UC Berkeley. From bunk beds to frat parties to scooter accidents, there are numerous opportunities for concussions to occur. I have been disheartened by the number of peers who have been diagnosed with concussions and still follow the same outdated protocols my doctor prescribed to me when I was 16. One day, as I was aimlessly scrolling through Instagram, I stumbled upon a friend's story. In bold white letters on a black background, it read: 'No one ever tells you how bored you are with a concussion. Like, wtf am I supposed to do in the dark all alone? I'm bored.' I immediately swiped up. My friend explained that she was in her second week of isolating in her room. I offered to hop on a call, but she couldn't tolerate phone conversations due to her symptoms, so we exchanged voice notes instead. She had been in a car accident and felt hopeless, unable to return to her normal life. I shared my own experience, and that day, she made a small step toward recovery by listening to her favorite podcast. A week later, I woke up to a message that read, 'Thank you. You saved me.' Of course, I am not a physician and no one should attempt to heal from a concussion without professional medical advice. If you ever find yourself with a head injury, see a doctor immediately. However, it's never a bad idea to be informed and educated about TBI and the recent research that has upended the way concussions are treated. It is this information that could make a world of difference in your recovery. Today, I still grapple with the lasting effects of my initial concussion. Amid the usual worries of maintaining a good GPA, securing a summer internship, and getting to class on time, the fear of hitting my head remains ever-present. I've discovered that I may always have lingering symptoms from my concussions, some of which are more difficult to pinpoint than others, including frequent migraines and difficulty with balance and coordination. But I've also found a path forward. I've used Botox treatments to help with my residual headaches and I am extra careful about avoiding crowded spaces where collisions are more likely to occur. There is still so much we don't know about brain injuries, but what we do know should be used wisely. Recovery for me — and now the vast majority of people — isn't about shutting out the world and living in complete darkness. It's about balance, patience, and informed care. My experience taught me that healing is possible, but it starts with access to the right information. Sarah Goody is a social entrepreneur and climate activist currently studying at the University of California, Berkeley. She is the founder of Climate NOW, a global youth-led organization that has empowered over 10,000 young people to take action on climate change. Her activism has garnered political attention from leaders, and she has served as an advisory member for Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation. Recognized for her impact, Sarah received the prestigious Princess Diana Award in 2020. She is passionate about the intersections of public health, sustainability, business, and law. Do you have a compelling personal story you'd like to see published on HuffPost? Find out what we're looking for here and send us a pitch at pitch@ Related... My Husband's Medical Team Was Failing Him. Then A Stranger Stepped In And Said 6 Words That Saved His Life. An 88-Year-Old Woman Was Brought To My ER. When Her Family Told Me Why, I Was Stunned. My Doctor Emailed Me The Worst Possible News. It Sent Me Into A Tailspin — And Changed My Life.
Irish Times
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Emma Rawicz: ‘I think jazz is made for people who don't necessarily fit into life's prescribed boxes'
When the young English saxophonist, composer and bandleader Emma Rawicz was 16 and a pupil at Chetham's in Manchester , the largest and most internationally renowned specialist youth music school in the UK, she somehow found time – in addition to her exacting music and academic studies – to practise between eight and 10 hours a day. Although she had been playing classical violin since the age of six – and also had piano, clarinet and singing lessons – Rawicz had only started to focus exclusively on the saxophone – first the alto and then the tenor – for a year. And she felt she had a lot of ground to catch up on. 'I was, like: 'Oh my God, everyone knows so much, and they can all do all this amazing stuff on their instruments,' so I spent every spare hour pretty much practising, to the point where I nearly hurt myself,' the 23-year-old says. 'Occasionally, I'd have to take Saturday off because my lip was swollen and I literally couldn't play. I'd try, but it would just be too painful.' In keeping with her remarkable personality – she is, she says, 'a massive perfectionist, complete workaholic and habitual overachiever', who speaks four languages and gained two private-school scholarships – all those thousands of hours of application and industry soon paid off. READ MORE Extravagantly gifted, Rawicz (pronounced 'RA-vich') began to show both a preternatural talent on the tenor saxophone, particularly in the tricky upper registers of the instrument, and an ability to write clever and captivating compositions that, as well as being firmly rooted in modern jazz, displayed fascinating connections to styles such as rock, fusion, folk, Brazilian and Afro-Cuban. To say she was mature beyond her years was at once abundantly clear and a gross understatement. Winning a place, aged 18, on the jazz course at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London, where Rawicz also further developed her not-inconsiderable skills on soprano saxophone, flute and bass clarinet, she began to play gigs, both as a side musician and leader, around the city. Word quickly got around. At the end of her second year, and still only 19, she made her debut, with her own band and music, at London's most storied jazz club, Ronnie Scott's. In 2022 Rawicz self-released a highly praised debut album, Incantation, featured as a soloist with the BBC Concert Orchestra and was named newcomer of the year at the annual Parliamentary Jazz Awards. Favourable comparisons started to be made to such virtuoso American tenor players as Chris Potter, Joshua Redman and Donny McCaslin, and she began to play clubs and festivals throughout Europe. Rawicz made her Irish debut at last year's Limerick Jazz Festival. Now she and her quartet are about embark on an eight-date Music Network tour of Ireland. The activity and acclaim continued. In 2023 Rawicz signed to ACT, a creative and progressive jazz label based in Germany, and began to write for, organise and conduct her own 20-piece jazz orchestra. She also built an audience of almost 50,000 followers on Instagram for her winning daily practice videos and live clips. Jamie Cullum – the English singer, pianist, songwriter and BBC Radio jazz presenter – hailed Rawicz as an astonishing talent. Reviewing her second album, Chroma, the Guardian 's jazz critic, John Fordham, wrote that 'the warp speed of her evolution is showing no sign of slowing.' And BBC Radio 3 declared, fairly accurately, that 'the name Emma Rawicz is on everyone's lips right now.' 'People say: 'Oh, you're so young to be doing X, Y or Z,' and I know this logically, and that I'm insanely hectic and busy, and I'm very grateful for and really value that, because I know it's rare,' she says, speaking from her flat in southeast London during a short break in touring. 'But I'm also just trying to live life as it comes, to relish every moment, to have as many of the experiences that I really want to have as I can.' Rawicz grew up an only child in rural north Devon, near to her maternal grandparent's farm, Exmoor National Park and the sea. 'I think being Devonian is quite close to my heart; it's about valuing peace, space, community and connection with people,' she says. 'But if you want to become a jazz musician, and be exposed to lots of different teachers, instruments and gigs, then growing up there may not be the simplest place to start.' Her mother was employed variously in the civil service, social work and commerce, and her father was an engineer; both were highly successful and spent considerable periods working abroad. Her paternal grandfather was born in Poland (Emma's full surname is Rawicz-Szczerbo), but he left, aged eight, with his mother during the second World War. They made their way, mostly on foot, to Britain, where they were eventually reunited with Rawicz's great-grandfather, a decorated general in the Polish army. While her father has always played piano 'for fun', and her maternal grandmother played organ at her local church, Rawicz did not grow up in an especially musical household. She did, however, have access to her father's iPod. 'He was a very eclectic listener, and on there was everything from AC/DC to Avril Lavigne, classical music and Turkish prepared piano, and I loved all of it and found it very inspiring. I feel it's good that I didn't get a conception of genre until much later on.' Emma Rawicz: 'The saxophone seemed like the coolest instrument ever, and I instantly wanted to play it.' In her teens she also listened avidly to singer-songwriters such as Joni Mitchell and Gabriel Kahane, film soundtracks and the music of the Brazilian guitarist Baden Powell; she also tried to play Irish jigs and reels on the violin. 'It was really very random,' she says. The first time she heard jazz was when her parents took her, aged 12, to a concert by an amateur big band at the nearby Dartington International Summer School. She was immediately hooked. 'The brass instruments and the harmony and the sound of the drums and the power behind that sound ... it just grabbed me,' she says. 'The saxophone also seemed like the coolest instrument ever, and I instantly wanted to play it.' Her parents, however, encouraged her to focus on the many other instruments, choirs, ensembles and orchestras in which she was already involved. Rawicz continued 'to beg'; when she reached 15 they relented. 'As soon as I started playing the saxophone, especially the tenor, I was like: 'Oh, okay, I haven't been playing the right instrument',' Rawicz says. 'The saxophone was the one I felt I could really express myself through, the instrument that could help make music my life. 'I could also sense that jazz was a real nerd-friendly genre, which suited me, because I was probably quite an unusual kid. I think jazz is made for people who don't necessarily fit into life's prescribed boxes.' That unusual kid may have been a dedicated bookworm who loved learning and was academically bright – she was one of only 730 pupils in England in 2018 to achieve the highest mark in all nine of her GCSEs – and in person, albeit over a video call, she is thoughtful, articulate and cheerful. But Rawicz has also faced more than her share of struggles throughout her young life. As a child she had encephalitis, which at the time affected her eyesight, among other things, and which she believes led to her suffering, from the age of 13 to 22, from complex regional pain syndrome. 'I was in pain for quite a lot of every day, and it was pretty rubbish,' she says. 'But more recently I've discovered powerlifting, and I've made some diet and lifestyle changes. My health is now in a much, much better place.' Emma Rawicz: 'It was a long, long time before I felt in any way confident about my playing. I suppose I have overcome it.' Photograph: Gregor Hohenberg/ACT Rawicz also experienced severe performance anxiety, especially when she started playing the saxophone. 'It was quite weird, because I loved playing the instrument, but I would freeze whenever I had to play in front of anyone, especially if I had to improvise,' she says. 'It caused quite a lot of trouble when I went to Chetham's and at the start of my time at the academy. I couldn't play in classes, or even in front of my one-to-one teachers. 'It was a long, long time before I felt in any way confident about my playing. I suppose I have overcome it. I think a lot of that is down to realising how important it is to surround yourself with people who want the best for you, on stage and off stage. And the idea of just having to get over myself and go out and do the best I can, because there's no better cure, in my experience, than necessity.' Positive audience and critical reception – and the Royal Academy awarding her, on graduating last year, the distinguished Musicians' Company Silver Medal, a prize not previously given to a jazz student – must also have helped shape a more affirmative view of herself. Her debut release on ACT, the adventurous and occasionally even prog-leaning Chroma, received almost universally enthusiastic reviews. (Its title reflects another example of the way her brain is wired differently: Rawicz has chromesthesia, a type of synaesthesia in which sound involuntarily evokes an experience of colour, shape and movement.) Its follow-up, Big Visit, a supple and sympathetic duo album with the star Welsh pianist and composer Gwilym Simcock that was released in March, went down equally well. Rawicz rejects the stereotype that jazz musicians have to suffer to create great work – a fact evidenced in the many online videos of her spirited and upbeat performances. 'I'm not saying the tortured artist doesn't exist, but, for me, music has been such a source of healing, growth, learning ... and joy. What I want more than anything is to continue being a musician that gets joy out of music and, more importantly, brings joy to the people that hear it. 'One of the biggest privileges of being a musician is getting to make other people's lives just even a little bit better from doing what you love to do. I mean, how amazing is that?' Emma Rawicz plays Letterkenny, Sligo, Roscommon, Tinahely, Dublin, Listowel, Cork and Newbridge between Wednesday, June 4th, and Friday, June 13th, on a Music Network tour
