Episoder
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As you might imagine, there are a ton of research papers out there.
Some are exceedingly useful. Others are interesting, but of questionable usefulness (like the one which explores the physics of buttered toast tending to land butter-side down).
And then there are those which might seem silly at first, but make you think, and end up being quite useful (like the one which found that cows which have been given names produce more milk).
So I thought it might be fun to look at a study in this latter category today.
Itâs a study that involves cute kitten and puppy photos, but is fundamentally about enhancing focus and performance on tasks that involve fine motor skills and attention.
So if you find that your attention tends to wander in the practice room, and you could use a little boost in your focus from time to time, this study might give you another tool in your attention control toolbox to try out.
Get all the nerdy details here:
An Unconventional Way to Enhance Your Focus in the Practice Room
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Have you ever wondered why it is that things often sound better at home than they do on stage?
If youâve been confused (and frustrated) by the inconsistency of your performances, I put together a FREE 4-minute quiz called the Mental Skills Audit, which will help you pinpoint your mental strengths and weaknesses, and figure out what exactly to adjust and tweak in your preparation for more consistently optimal performances.
Itâs 100% free, takes only 4 minutes, and youâll get a downloadable PDF with a personalized breakdown of where you stand in six key mental skill areas. You'll also get the Pressure Proof Practice Challenge, a free 1-week email course where you'll learn specific practice strategies that will help you perform your best, even under pressure.
Take the quiz here: bulletproofmusician.com/msa -
This episode is sponsored by Musician's Maintenance - safe, simple, maintenance exercises that specifically address the muscle groups that matter most for musicians.
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When you think of your favorite musicians or performers, how much fun do you think theyâre having on stage? And how much fun do you think they have in the practice room?
Wait...fun in the practice room is allowed? đ€š
I recently edited and polished up an old 2016 interview from the archives with violinist Frank Almond, who shares some of the ways in which he integrates fun and play into his practice routine.
Itâs reassuring to hear why this should not only be allowed, but encouraged. So if your practice sessions tend to be all work and no play, I hope this episode will not only give you permission to experience more joy in your daily practice, but also give you some ideas on how to make that happen.
Get all the nerdy details here:
Frank Almond: On Work, Fun, and the Importance of Both in Dealing with Adversity
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Have you ever wondered why it is that things often sound better at home than they do on stage?
If youâve been confused (and frustrated) by the inconsistency of your performances, I put together a FREE 4-minute quiz called the Mental Skills Audit, which will help you pinpoint your mental strengths and weaknesses, and figure out what exactly to adjust and tweak in your preparation for more consistently optimal performances.
Itâs 100% free, takes only 4 minutes, and youâll get a downloadable PDF with a personalized breakdown of where you stand in six key mental skill areas. You'll also get the Pressure Proof Practice Challenge, a free 1-week email course where you'll learn specific practice strategies that will help you perform your best, even under pressure.
Take the quiz here: bulletproofmusician.com/msa -
Manglende episoder?
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Whether it's our children, our students, or our pets, I think it's pretty natural and automatic to want to offer praise for a job well done.
We're happy for them, and pleased to see them do well. But what happens when they fall short in some way? Whether it's a subpar performance, a mediocre grade, or a mistake on the carpet, does our praise help to offset the pain (or shame) of these moments? Or do things not work quite this way?
A 2014 study reveals some interesting details on the specific kind of praise that works best, and the kind that can actually increase a child or student's feelings of shame - especially if they are already struggling with confidence and self-esteem.
Get all the nerdy details here:
How the Wrong Kind of Praise Could Increase a Studentâs Feelings of Shame
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Have you ever wondered why it is that things often sound better at home than they do on stage?
If youâve been confused (and frustrated) by the inconsistency of your performances, I put together a FREE 4-minute quiz called the Mental Skills Audit, which will help you pinpoint your mental strengths and weaknesses, and figure out what exactly to adjust and tweak in your preparation for more consistently optimal performances.
Itâs 100% free, takes only 4 minutes, and youâll get a downloadable PDF with a personalized breakdown of where you stand in six key mental skill areas. You'll also get the Pressure Proof Practice Challenge, a free 1-week email course where you'll learn specific practice strategies that will help you perform your best, even under pressure.
Take the quiz here: bulletproofmusician.com/msa -
This episode is sponsored by Musician's Maintenance - safe, simple, maintenance exercises that specifically address the muscle groups that matter most for musicians.
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Much like hair, there are good practice days, and there are not-so-good practice days. đ€Ł
The bad practice days can be filled with frustration, irritation, and maybe even a hint of shame. They can make you lose hope, question whether you have what it takes, and feel like giving up. At least for the day, if not sometimes longer.
On the flip side, the good practice days, can be pretty terrific. You feel confident, capable, and think to yourself, yes, you do deserve to have some guacamole on your burrito bowl!
How can we have more of those good days?
Well, it seems that an external focus of attention during practice could make a real difference.
What does that mean exactly?
Click below to get all the nerdy details:
Learn Faster by Thinking Less?
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Have you ever wondered why it is that things often sound better at home than they do on stage?
If youâve been confused (and frustrated) by the inconsistency of your performances, I put together a FREE 4-minute quiz called the Mental Skills Audit, which will help you pinpoint your mental strengths and weaknesses, and figure out what exactly to adjust and tweak in your preparation for more consistently optimal performances.
Itâs 100% free, takes only 4 minutes, and youâll get a downloadable PDF with a personalized breakdown of where you stand in six key mental skill areas. You'll also get the Pressure Proof Practice Challenge, a free 1-week email course where you'll learn specific practice strategies that will help you perform your best, even under pressure.
Take the quiz here: bulletproofmusician.com/msa -
When it comes to improving technical aspects of your playing, it's easy to assume that this is mostly a physical issue. Where the solution is to do more practice, and more "correct" repetitions.
But what if part of the problem was mental?
A 2009 golf study (and many others both before and since!) suggest that what we're thinking about when we're playing can affect our accuracy quite a bit. And that the thing we think we should be thinking about may actually be the least helpful!
Get all the nerdy details here:
To Play More Accurately, Change Your Focus?
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Have you ever wondered why it is that things often sound better at home than they do on stage?
If youâve been confused (and frustrated) by the inconsistency of your performances, I put together a FREE 4-minute quiz called the Mental Skills Audit, which will help you pinpoint your mental strengths and weaknesses, and figure out what exactly to adjust and tweak in your preparation for more consistently optimal performances.
Itâs 100% free, takes only 4 minutes, and youâll get a downloadable PDF with a personalized breakdown of where you stand in six key mental skill areas. You'll also get the Pressure Proof Practice Challenge, a free 1-week email course where you'll learn specific practice strategies that will help you perform your best, even under pressure.
Take the quiz here: bulletproofmusician.com/msa -
This episode is sponsored by Musician's Maintenance - safe, simple, maintenance exercises that specifically address the muscle groups that matter most to musicians.
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I think we've all been told that we should look at the conductor or at our musical colleagues in chamber music settings. But how important is this really?
Isn't it enough to have good ears, and simply listen really attentively? Or do we miss out on something when we're more focused on the music on the stand than our music-making partners?
A study of the Afiara and Cecilia string quartets provide some clues.
Get all the nerdy details here;
Why Good Ensemble Playing May Require More Than Just Your Ears
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Have you ever wondered why it is that things often sound better at home than they do on stage?
If youâve been confused (and frustrated) by the inconsistency of your performances, I put together a FREE 4-minute quiz called the Mental Skills Audit, which will help you pinpoint your mental strengths and weaknesses, and figure out what exactly to adjust and tweak in your preparation for more consistently optimal performances.
Itâs 100% free, takes only 4 minutes, and youâll get a downloadable PDF with a personalized breakdown of where you stand in six key mental skill areas. You'll also get the Pressure Proof Practice Challenge, a free 1-week email course where you'll learn specific practice strategies that will help you perform your best, even under pressure.
Take the quiz here: bulletproofmusician.com/msa -
For many toddlers, performing seems to come naturally and easily, whether it's an impromptu dance performance in the living room or comedy routine from the back seat of the car.
But as we get older, we can start to get self-conscious and worry about negative judgment or what other people will think.
Which makes us want to avoid performing. Which only makes performing seem scarier, gives us fewer opportunities to practice getting better at performing, and could lead to more negative experiences on stage, and more avoidance.
So how do we interuppt this cycle? if we're uncomfortable playing for an audience, how can we practice performing and build up more confidence and positive performance experiences? Short of just doing it anyway and hoping for the best?
A 2014 study about young readers (it's more relevant than you might think) may provide some clues!
Get all the nerdy details and this weekâs practice hack right here:A Gentle Way to Help Kids (or Adults) Build Performance Confidence?
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Have you ever wondered why it is that things often sound better at home than they do on stage?
If youâve been confused (and frustrated) by the inconsistency of your performances, I put together a FREE 4-minute quiz called the Mental Skills Audit, which will help you pinpoint your mental strengths and weaknesses, and figure out what exactly to adjust and tweak in your preparation for more consistently optimal performances.
Itâs 100% free, takes only 4 minutes, and youâll get a downloadable PDF with a personalized breakdown of where you stand in six key mental skill areas. You'll also get the Pressure Proof Practice Challenge, a free 1-week email course where you'll learn specific practice strategies that will help you perform your best, even under pressure.
Take the quiz here: bulletproofmusician.com/msa -
Ever find yourself being distracted in the practice room by random thoughts and worries?
Like worrying about all the other music that you need to learn. Or the entrance you missed in the last rehearsal. Or whether you're prepared for the upcoming SAT's.
Like in-laws who live across the street, these worrisome thoughts like to spontaneously pop into our personal mental space at the most inconvenient times, and make it difficult to focus effectively on the thing we're actually doing in that moment.
And there is an emotional cost too, as worrying can make us more stressed, anxious, and tense.
So...is there anything we can do to reduce these worries and get better at single-tasking and focusing on the thing in front of us at the moment?
Get all the nerdy details right here:
A Simple Strategy for Reducing Worries and Practicing With More Focus
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Have you ever wondered why it is that things often sound better at home than they do on stage?
If youâve been confused (and frustrated) by the inconsistency of your performances, I put together a FREE 4-minute quiz called the Mental Skills Audit, which will help you pinpoint your mental strengths and weaknesses, and figure out what exactly to adjust and tweak in your preparation for more consistently optimal performances.
Itâs 100% free, takes only 4 minutes, and youâll get a downloadable PDF with a personalized breakdown of where you stand in six key mental skill areas. You'll also get the Pressure Proof Practice Challenge, a free 1-week email course where you'll learn specific practice strategies that will help you perform your best, even under pressure.
Take the quiz here: bulletproofmusician.com/msa -
When I praise the family dog for doing a good thing, I'm not sure if it matters what words I say to him. He seems equally excited and happily wags his tail whether I say "good boy!" or "bad doggie!" as long as I use the same tone of voice.
Of course, people are different, and the words we use do matter in the feedback we offer.
So if we're trying to build up a student's confidence, and embolden them to take on new challenges, what kind of praise works best?
A 2014 study suggests that not all praise has the same effect. And that even if well-intentioned, one particular type of praise can backfire and even heighten a student's fear of failure. đł
Get all the nerdy details right here:
Why the Wrong Kind of Praise Could Heighten a Student's Fear of Failure
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Have you ever wondered why it is that things often sound better at home than they do on stage?
If youâve been confused (and frustrated) by the inconsistency of your performances, I put together a FREE 4-minute quiz called the Mental Skills Audit, which will help you pinpoint your mental strengths and weaknesses, and figure out what exactly to adjust and tweak in your preparation for more consistently optimal performances.
Itâs 100% free, takes only 4 minutes, and youâll get a downloadable PDF with a personalized breakdown of where you stand in six key mental skill areas. You'll also get the Pressure Proof Practice Challenge, a free 1-week email course where you'll learn specific practice strategies that will help you perform your best, even under pressure.
Take the quiz here: bulletproofmusician.com/msa -
I think we would all say that we value creativity and would enjoy having more creative students. But is this actually reflected in our actions?
Research suggests that we may not be as appreciative and supportive of creative students as we'd like to think. Wait...how can that be?
Get all the nerdy details and this week's practice hack here:
Do You Have a Bias Against Creative Students (Without Realizing It)?
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Have you ever wondered why it is that things often sound better at home than they do on stage?
If youâve been confused (and frustrated) by the inconsistency of your performances, I put together a FREE 4-minute quiz called the Mental Skills Audit, which will help you pinpoint your mental strengths and weaknesses, and figure out what exactly to adjust and tweak in your preparation for more consistently optimal performances.
Itâs 100% free, takes only 4 minutes, and youâll get a downloadable PDF with a personalized breakdown of where you stand in six key mental skill areas. You'll also get the Pressure Proof Practice Challenge, a free 1-week email course where you'll learn specific practice strategies that will help you perform your best, even under pressure.
Take the quiz here: bulletproofmusician.com/msa -
You know that famous quote attributed to Debussy? The one that goes something like "Music is the space between the notes."?
I don't know about you, but I was certainly guilty of compress things and rushing through these spaces on many an occasion...
And of course, there's an awful lot of music within each note as well. Which I also tended to rush through and pay too little attention to. (And where was I in such a rush to get to? No idea. Maybe the end of the piece so I could get off stage? đ€Ł)
This might seem like a really abstract concept at first. So it's the sort of thing that can be easy to push to the back burner, because there are always so many notes to learn on your music stand. But paying more attention to the life within each note can make practicing and performing a much more engaging and gratifying experience. And improve your sense of rhythm and phrasing as well.
In other words, it's worth keeping on the front burner, even if just at a simmer.
Umm...ok, but what does this mean or look like exactly?
In today's episode, violist Steven Tenenbom (Orion Quartet, Curtis, Juilliard, Mannes, Bard) explains, and illustrates what this means using concrete musical examples.
Get all the nerdy details right here:
Steven Tenenbom: On Rhythm, Phrasing, and the Life Within Each Note
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Have you ever wondered why it is that things often sound better at home than they do on stage?
If youâve been confused (and frustrated) by the inconsistency of your performances, I put together a FREE 4-minute quiz called the Mental Skills Audit, which will help you pinpoint your mental strengths and weaknesses, and figure out what exactly to adjust and tweak in your preparation for more consistently optimal performances.
Itâs 100% free, takes only 4 minutes, and youâll get a downloadable PDF with a personalized breakdown of where you stand in six key mental skill areas. You'll also get the Pressure Proof Practice Challenge, a free 1-week email course where you'll learn specific practice strategies that will help you perform your best, even under pressure.
Take the quiz here: bulletproofmusician.com/msa -
The legendary Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti famously had a quirky backstage ritual that he needed to complete before he could go on stage.
Apparently, he would wander around backstage, scanning the floor until he found a bent nail, which would serve as his good luck charm for that performance.
It sounds like a silly sort of thing to do, and itâs hard to imagine Pavarotti needing much in the way of luck, but could this have been more helpful than we think?
A 2010 study provides some answers and insights into whether good luck charms and superstitious rituals could help enhance your next performance or audition.
Spoiler alert - Pavarotti might have been onto something!
Of course, thereâs more to performing optimally under pressure than good luck charms and superstitious too. There are actually a handful of concrete, learnable skills - like anxiety regulation, attention control, grounded confidence, and retrieval-oriented practice - that can help make performing funner and a much more positive experience, even if youâve struggled with this for years.
If youâd like to develop these skills in 2024, that will be the focus of the upcoming live, online, 4-week Performance Psych Essentials class. Registration ends today, Sunday, Jan. 21st (2024), at 11:59pm Pacific time. Get the class dates and details here: Register for Performance Psych Essentials
But if nowâs not the right time for a class like this, thatâs ok too! In the meantime, you can get all the nerdy details about this weekâs study and practice hack right here:
Can Good Luck Charms and Superstitious Rituals Enhance Performance?
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Have you ever wondered why it is that things often sound better at home than they do on stage?
If youâve been confused (and frustrated) by the inconsistency of your performances, I put together a FREE 4-minute quiz called the Mental Skills Audit, which will help you pinpoint your mental strengths and weaknesses, and figure out what exactly to adjust and tweak in your preparation for more consistently optimal performances.
Itâs 100% free, takes only 4 minutes, and youâll get a downloadable PDF with a personalized breakdown of where you stand in six key mental skill areas. You'll also get the Pressure Proof Practice Challenge, a free 1-week email course where you'll learn specific practice strategies that will help you perform your best, even under pressure.
Take the quiz here: bulletproofmusician.com/msa -
The other day, I had to parallel park in a crowded neighborhood with narrow streets. Iâm usually pretty good about getting it right the first time, but this time, I was feeling a bit of pressure from the antsy drivers lined up behind me, who couldnât pass until I finished parking.
You can probably imagine what happened next, but the gist is that I bonked the curb and had to reset and do it all over as everyone behind me watched and (presumably) rolled their eyes at this doofus who canât park.
I just experienced âchoking.â And Iâm assuming youâve had some experience with this phenomenon too, whether itâs parking or performing.
Itâs tempting to assume that we can prevent choking by simply practicing more. But it turns out itâs a little more interesting than that, and there are several key skills that go into performing your best under pressure. Thereâs retrieval-oriented practice. Anxiety regulation skills. And learning how to get into a performance-enhancing headspace, and stay focused on the right things on stage too.
(BTW, if youâd like to develop these skills in 2024, that will be the focus of the upcoming live, online, 4-week Performance Psych Essentials class. Registration begins Sunday, Jan. 14 and runs through Sunday, Jan. 21. Get the class dates and details here: Register for Performance Psych Essentials)
Then again, thereâs a 2013 study, which suggests that a simple 30-second performance hack could prevent you from choking too. Hmm...could it really be that easy?
Get all the nerdy details and this weekâs practice hack right here:
A Simple Technique to Prevent Choking (Which Sounds Like it Couldn't Possibly Work)
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Have you ever wondered why it is that things often sound better at home than they do on stage?
If youâve been confused (and frustrated) by the inconsistency of your performances, I put together a FREE 4-minute quiz called the Mental Skills Audit, which will help you pinpoint your mental strengths and weaknesses, and figure out what exactly to adjust and tweak in your preparation for more consistently optimal performances.
Itâs 100% free, takes only 4 minutes, and youâll get a downloadable PDF with a personalized breakdown of where you stand in six key mental skill areas. You'll also get the Pressure Proof Practice Challenge, a free 1-week email course where you'll learn specific practice strategies that will help you perform your best, even under pressure.
Take the quiz here: bulletproofmusician.com/msa -
In the previous episode we looked at at study which suggested that having goals is good - but weâre more likely to achieve our goals if we write them down and create action plans as well (you can check that out here if you missed it).
Still, whether we write them down or not, New Yearâs resolutions and our most well-intentioned plans can start to go off the rails pretty quickly.
So if youâve found yourself slipping already, know that itâs not just you!
And thereâs no need to beat yourself up about this either. Because in all likelihood itâs not you, your commitment, or your willpower thatâs the issue. It might just be that thereâs a small (but often-overlooked) step missing from your goal-setting process that could make all the difference.
Get all the nerdy details right here:
WOOP: A Better Way to Set Goals?
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Have you ever wondered why it is that things often sound better at home than they do on stage?
If youâve been confused (and frustrated) by the inconsistency of your performances, I put together a FREE 4-minute quiz called the Mental Skills Audit, which will help you pinpoint your mental strengths and weaknesses, and figure out what exactly to adjust and tweak in your preparation for more consistently optimal performances.
Itâs 100% free, takes only 4 minutes, and youâll get a downloadable PDF with a personalized breakdown of where you stand in six key mental skill areas. You'll also get the Pressure Proof Practice Challenge, a free 1-week email course where you'll learn specific practice strategies that will help you perform your best, even under pressure.
Take the quiz here: bulletproofmusician.com/msa -
'Tis the season for New Year resolutions. Which means your inbox and news feeds are probably overflowing with articles about effective goal-setting and how to form new habits.
So I thought it might be best to keep things simple, and focus on just one question.
How important is it to write down your goals?
Get all the nerdy details here:
How Important Is It to Write Down Your Goals?
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Have you ever wondered why it is that things often sound better at home than they do on stage?
If youâve been confused (and frustrated) by the inconsistency of your performances, I put together a FREE 4-minute quiz called the Mental Skills Audit, which will help you pinpoint your mental strengths and weaknesses, and figure out what exactly to adjust and tweak in your preparation for more consistently optimal performances.
Itâs 100% free, takes only 4 minutes, and youâll get a downloadable PDF with a personalized breakdown of where you stand in six key mental skill areas. You'll also get the Pressure Proof Practice Challenge, a free 1-week email course where you'll learn specific practice strategies that will help you perform your best, even under pressure.
Take the quiz here: bulletproofmusician.com/msa -
It's not great to make mistakes on stage, but how big a deal are mistakes when you're learning something new?
Is it best to avoid them right from Day 1?
Or is it ok to set the bar a little lower in the early days of learning a new skill?
A 2011 study tests out two different approaches to learning - setting the bar high vs. setting the bar low - and provides some clues on which approach might be better for us (as well as our students).
Get all the nerdy details here: How Important Is âPerfect Practiceâ When Learning Something New?
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Have you ever wondered why it is that things often sound better at home than they do on stage?
If youâve been confused (and frustrated) by the inconsistency of your performances, I put together a FREE 4-minute quiz called the Mental Skills Audit, which will help you pinpoint your mental strengths and weaknesses, and figure out what exactly to adjust and tweak in your preparation for more consistently optimal performances.
Itâs 100% free, takes only 4 minutes, and youâll get a downloadable PDF with a personalized breakdown of where you stand in six key mental skill areas. You'll also get the Pressure Proof Practice Challenge, a free 1-week email course where you'll learn specific practice strategies that will help you perform your best, even under pressure.
Take the quiz here: bulletproofmusician.com/msa -
In last week's episode with clarinetist Jason Shafer, we chatted about the value of focusing on our strengths when performing - and not just our weaknesses (you can check that out here if you missed it).
And it turns out there is some research on the benefits of identifying and using our "signature strengths." If you're wondering what exactly the benefits might be, what focusing on your strengths might look like, and how exactly you can identify your signature strengths, I have a couple studies (and tips) for you this week that dig into this a bit!
You can get all the nerdy details, and take a short assessment that will help you identify your signature strengths, right here:
Why It's Important to Identify (and Use) Your "Signature Strengths"
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Have you ever wondered why it is that things often sound better at home than they do on stage?
If youâve been confused (and frustrated) by the inconsistency of your performances, I put together a FREE 4-minute quiz called the Mental Skills Audit, which will help you pinpoint your mental strengths and weaknesses, and figure out what exactly to adjust and tweak in your preparation for more consistently optimal performances.
Itâs 100% free, takes only 4 minutes, and youâll get a downloadable PDF with a personalized breakdown of where you stand in six key mental skill areas. You'll also get the Pressure Proof Practice Challenge, a free 1-week email course where you'll learn specific practice strategies that will help you perform your best, even under pressure.
Take the quiz here: bulletproofmusician.com/msa -
Is it possible to truly rid yourself of performance anxiety? Is practicing less as you get closer to a performance really better? How do you get past doubts and other mental roadblocks when returning from a significant playing injury? Is it a better use of time to focus on our strengths or our weaknesses? Why is it so important for us to take lessons with or play for musicians who play instrument other than our own?
If youâve ever tried Googling questions like this for an answer, todayâs episode is for you. đ
Colorado Symphony principal clarinetist Jason Shafer has enjoyed an active performing and teaching career, but two years ago began pursuing a masterâs degree in performance psychology seeking to integrate these concepts more deeply into his teaching and performing. He joins me today to share some insights on how we can all be healthier practicers and more confident and courageous performers.
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Have you ever wondered why it is that things often sound better at home than they do on stage?
If youâve been confused (and frustrated) by the inconsistency of your performances, I put together a FREE 4-minute quiz called the Mental Skills Audit, which will help you pinpoint your mental strengths and weaknesses, and figure out what exactly to adjust and tweak in your preparation for more consistently optimal performances.
Itâs 100% free, takes only 4 minutes, and youâll get a downloadable PDF with a personalized breakdown of where you stand in six key mental skill areas. You'll also get the Pressure Proof Practice Challenge, a free 1-week email course where you'll learn specific practice strategies that will help you perform your best, even under pressure.
Take the quiz here: bulletproofmusician.com/msa -
When you put a lot of time and energy into preparing for something thatâs important to you, and things donât go the way you hoped, itâs pretty natural to feel deflated or discouraged afterwards. And you might even have difficulty getting back into the flow of things, or finding the confidence to try again.
Heck, we can experience some version of this even a spectator. Believe it or not, researchers have found that we eat more unhealthily (e.g. 10% more calories and 16% more saturated fat than normal) the day after our favorite team has a tough loss, and we eat more healthily on days after a big win (5% fewer calories and 9% less saturated fat than normal).
But while some athletes respond to a subpar performances with more subpar performances, others bounce back and perform even better.
How do they do this?
A 2003 study provides some important clues. Get all the nerdy details here:A Mindset Shift That Can Help You Respond to Setbacks With Even Better Performances
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Have you ever wondered why it is that things often sound better at home than they do on stage?
If youâve been confused (and frustrated) by the inconsistency of your performances, I put together a FREE 4-minute quiz called the Mental Skills Audit, which will help you pinpoint your mental strengths and weaknesses, and figure out what exactly to adjust and tweak in your preparation for more consistently optimal performances.
Itâs 100% free, takes only 4 minutes, and youâll get a downloadable PDF with a personalized breakdown of where you stand in six key mental skill areas. You'll also get the Pressure Proof Practice Challenge, a free 1-week email course where you'll learn specific practice strategies that will help you perform your best, even under pressure.
Take the quiz here: bulletproofmusician.com/msa -
The winter holidays are just around the corner, which means family, festivities, food, and lots of good things. But it also means end-of-semester projects and grading, holiday recitals and gigs and performances, shopping, travel, cooking, hosting, and many other things that can leave us feeling drained and emotionally exhausted.
And if you're already feeling kind of drained post-Thanksgiving, it can be exhausting just thinking about getting through the next month.
The good news is that there's a simple, quick, 3-step exercise, that in a week or two, could reduce that feeling of emotional exhaustion and even increase your happiness. And better yet, these positive changes could last for up to a year - even after you've stopped doing the exercise!
It's been tested successfully in stressful healthcare settings with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare workers, so there's a good chance it'll be helpful in whatever stressful circumstances you find yourself in as well.
Get all the nerdy details here: Reduce Burnout With a Simple Three-Step Exercise
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Have you ever wondered why it is that things often sound better at home than they do on stage?
If youâve been confused (and frustrated) by the inconsistency of your performances, I put together a FREE 4-minute quiz called the Mental Skills Audit, which will help you pinpoint your mental strengths and weaknesses, and figure out what exactly to adjust and tweak in your preparation for more consistently optimal performances.
Itâs 100% free, takes only 4 minutes, and youâll get a downloadable PDF with a personalized breakdown of where you stand in six key mental skill areas. You'll also get the Pressure Proof Practice Challenge, a free 1-week email course where you'll learn specific practice strategies that will help you perform your best, even under pressure.
Take the quiz here: bulletproofmusician.com/msa - Vis mere
