The Bulletproof Musician
By: Noa Kageyama
Language: en
Categories: Science, Social, Music, Interviews, Education, Self Improvement
Ever wonder why you can practice for hours, sound great in the practice room, and still be frustratingly hit or miss on stage? Join performance psychologist and Juilliard alumnus/faculty Noa Kageyama, and explore research-based “practice hacks” for beating anxiety, practicing more effectively, and playing up to your full abilities when it matters most.
Episodes
When You Can’t Get Yourself to Start Practicing, Try This
Jan 11, 2026In some years it feels easier to begin the new year with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. Other years, it can be difficult to get going and build up those new habits that we’d love to develop.
Whichever kind of year this is shaping up to be for you, I have a few things planned these next few weeks to help make it a productive one.
Today, I have a couple studies to share that look at a popular technique for getting started when your motivation isn’t quite there.
Then, Cowo...
Duration: 00:08:28The Central Strategy Expert Musicians Use to Practice Difficult Passages
Dec 28, 2025We all get stuck on problem passages from time to time. And it can be very natural to simply throw more repetitions at it, in hopes that this will eventually unlock something.
But in doing so, we end up accumulating more and more incorrect repetitions and reinforcing mistakes. So what’s the alternative?
A new study took a rare, close-up, repetition by repetition look at how artist-level musicians practice difficult passages. And it identified some key similarities in how they approach problems and keep making progress - without reinforcing mistakes.
The result is a...
Duration: 00:09:57How a Small Change in Self-Talk Could Improve Performance Under Pressure
Dec 21, 2025The voice in our head can be an asset at times - but also kind of a jerk at the worst possible moments. And like that one person in the “quiet car” of the train that doesn’t seem to understand the rules, it never seems to be quiet when we need it to.
A 2014 study identified a self-talk strategy that led to improved performances, and less post-performance shame and rumination.
And it doesn’t require us to shush the inner critic entirely (whew, because that’s really difficult!). It’s just a small, simple - yet quirky...
Duration: 00:08:57A Learning Method That Outperformed Traditional Practice
Dec 14, 2025A few months ago, when a sportswriter published an article in The New York Times about an unusual and “revolutionary” practice method that NBA star Victor Wembanyama and other elite athletes and teams (like the World Series-winning LA Dodgers) were utilizing, I started getting emails from musicians, asking if this method, known as the “constraints-led approach,” might apply to practicing music too.
So what is the constraints-led approach? And is it relevant to musicians?
Spoiler alert - yes, it totally is. 😁
And if you’ve ever been frustrated by how you can play exactly the w...
Duration: 00:10:30How Much Perfectionism Do You Really Need to Succeed?
Dec 07, 2025A friend recently asked if it's true that becoming a virtuoso performer requires being a perfectionist.
Well, spoiler alert, it's not a simple yes or no answer. And there are a lot of fascinating nuances to explore.
One of which involves performance anxiety, and the question of whether perfectionism increases or decreases nerves.
Get all the nerdy details and find out how much perfectionism might work best:
How Much Perfectionism Do You Really Need to Succeed?
References
Racine, P., Laflamme, S. V., Gaudreau, P., & Langlois, F...
Duration: 00:08:48Pallavi Mahidhara: On Practicing for Flexibility, Not Perfection
Nov 30, 2025Playing for other people, whether it’s an audience of one, a dozen, or several hundred, can be a stressful thing! So it’s easy to focus on the negative aspects of performance, like how to manage nerves and avoid mistakes.
But performing can also be a real thrill, and one of the most satisfying and meaningful things we do in music. So I thought it might be fun to explore performing and practicing from this more positive angle as well.
My guest today is pianist Pallavi Mahidhara. A prizewinner at the Geneva International Piano Comp...
Duration: 00:49:00What Happened When Musicians Slept 90 Minutes More
Nov 23, 2025Sleep and recovery is an aspect of preparation that athletes prioritize, with teams hiring sleep consultants, and many athletes going to great lengths to ensure they’re getting enough sleep.
And studies suggest that this investment of time is very much worth their while, when it comes to high-level performance.
But how much of a difference would an additional 90 minutes of sleep make when it comes to music performance?
Get all the nerdy details and see what happened when a group of music students and professional musicians added an extra 90 minutes to their sl...
Duration: 00:06:45Why Being Too Quick to Offer Feedback Could Inhibit Learning
Nov 16, 2025I remember a lesson many years ago, when my teacher told me that her job was to teach me how to teach myself. So that I would one day no longer need a teacher.
I couldn’t have been more than 9 or 10 at the time, so the notion of me teaching myself was hard to fathom. It was difficult enough to just play in tune, never mind come up with my own bowings and fingerings, or making decisions about phrasing and all the musical details and nuances involved.
Of course, she was right. One day I...
Duration: 00:08:17Fewer Repetitions….But More Rapid Progress?
Nov 09, 2025Whether we’re baking a cake, driving to a new restaurant, or putting together a puzzle, we can usually get to the goal more efficiently and effectively if we have a clear idea what the destination looks like.
I think we all know that the same is true for learning a new piece of music too - but often, this is not actually what our practice looks like. While we might have a pretty good idea what we don’t want something to sound like, our approach to practicing suggests that we are typically much less clear abou...
Duration: 00:08:27Ida Kavafian: Habits That Separate Good Musicians from Great Ones
Nov 02, 2025This episode with violinist Ida Kavafian is packed with key points about effective practice, plus fascinating nerdy details about bowing and fingering principles, references to specific passages in the Sibelius concerto, Schubert Fantasy, Beethoven’s Kreutzer sonata, a clever hack for playing fifths in tune, and so much more.
And if you’re not a string player, don’t worry - many of the principles are equally applicable to other instruments too.
Get all the nerdy details and learn how to level up your practice in this month’s interview:
Ida Kavafian: Habits That Sep...
Duration: 00:58:31Can Memorizing Music Make You a More Expressive Performer?
Oct 26, 2025One of the arguments often made for why we should memorize music, is that performing from memory facilitates more expressive performances. But is that really true?
There's not a lot of direct data that speaks to this question, but there are some clues here and there, suggesting that the answer might be a little more nuanced than a simple yes or no.
Get all the nerdy details right here:
Can Memorizing Music Make You a More Expressive Performer?
A course on how to develop “bulletproof” memory (registration ends 10/26/25)
Mos...
Duration: 00:10:34Two Approaches to Memorization (Beware: One Could Leave You Stranded!)
Oct 19, 2025Memory can often feel like a mysterious, unknowable phenomenon. Something that happens magically by itself at times, with great effort at others, and sometimes deceives us by abandoning us suddenly when we need it most!
We’ve worked on unpacking various aspects of memory over the last couple weeks - with Jane Ginsborg two episodes here and why pianists can have more difficulty than other musicians here.
And today, we’ll be looking at the pros and cons of the two different types of memory that musicians rely on. Spoiler alert - the one that most...
Duration: 00:10:20A Hidden Reason You Forget Music on Stage
Oct 12, 2025Mistakes on stage are never fun, but missing a note here or there, or playing out of tune is over and done with pretty quick. Having a memory slip on stage is a whole other level of discomfort. 😳 It’s one of the things that makes many musicians most anxious about performing.
Researchers have taught us a ton in the last couple decades about how the best memorizers memorize music. And so I thought it’d be worth taking a look at various aspects of memory in the next couple weeks.
Today, we’ll take a look at...
Jane Ginsborg: On Building Stronger and More Reliable Musical Memory
Oct 05, 2025Talk to anyone who has ever performed from memory, and you’ll probably get a story of a time when their memory failed them. For instance, I remember a time, perhaps in elementary school, when I got lost in a piece on stage, and rather than stopping and looking over the pianist’s shoulder to see where I was, just started making stuff up, until I could figure out where I was. It wasn’t a very fun experience for me, but I think it actually freaked the pianist out even more. 😆
One of the problems, was that I ne...
Duration: 00:56:36How to Use Focus Cues to Play More Freely on Stage
Sep 28, 2025A pianist once told me the last thing their teacher said at their final lesson after years of study: “Now forget everything I ever told you.”
Not exactly the parting wisdom you’d expect, right?
But hidden in that odd-sounding advice is an important mental shift that could help you play with more freedom and confidence under pressure.
Get all the nerdy details in today's episode. Or, get the text version with references, links, and other details right here:
How to Use Focus Cues to Play More Freely on Stage
A...
Duration: 00:05:57Is There Hope for the Most Anxious Performers?
Sep 21, 2025One of the questions that I'm often asked, is the question of whether performance psychology can be helpful to those whose performance anxiety is a little more severe than most.
Well, a 2023 study looked at that exact question actually. And it even gives us some insight into which specific mental skills or strategies might be most helpful to work on in cases like this.
Get all the nerdy details in today's episode. Or, get the text version with references, links, and other details right here:
Is There Hope for the Most Anxious Performers?<...
Duration: 00:11:32How to Get Your Mind in the Right Place Before Going On Stage
Sep 14, 2025Staying in a good mental and emotional state before performances is critical to playing up to our abilities when it counts. And we're probably going to be less likely to shy away from performance opportunities too, if we have more control over how we feel in the leadup to auditions and concerts.
But how does one do this? What can we do in the hours and minutes before a performance to get into a good headspace?
Get all the nerdy details here:
How to Get Your Mind in the Right Place Before Going...
Duration: 00:09:13Graham Fitch: On Playful Practice and Muscle Memory You Can Trust
Sep 07, 2025When you think of practicing your instrument, what are some of the first words that come to mind? Are the words “fun” or “playful” anywhere on your list? 🤣
For most of my life, practicing felt an awful lot like memorizing my multiplication tables. A lot of mind-numbing repetition, and not much fun.
We know that mindless drudgery doesn’t make for very effective learning, of course - but what is the alternative? What might more playful practice actually look like?
Enter today’s guest, Graham Fitch. He’s a pianist, but the ideas and concepts that...
Duration: 00:55:31Does Aiming for Perfection Actually Hurt Performance?
Aug 31, 2025Ever worry that excellent performance might not be “good enough?” And maybe you've assumed that aiming for perfection is a safer bet? You’re not alone, for what it's worth!
But it's always interesting to get some actual data on this sort of thing, so a team of researchers conducted a series of studies to see if striving for perfection had benefits beyond aiming for excellence. The results might surprise you.
Get all the nerdy details:
Does Aiming for Perfection Actually Hurt Performance?
Additional resources
Robert Duke: On the Val... Duration: 00:09:48Could Performance Anxiety Be Causing Students to Quit?
Aug 24, 2025There are a lot of reasons why someone might decide to quit music at some point along the way. But could performance anxiety be one of them?
Indeed, performance anxiety can feel pretty uncomfortable! And it’s one thing if we still sound pretty good on stage regardless, and have a positive experience of performing overall. But when we get nervous and sound like just a shell of ourselves in performance, it could make us wonder why we keep putting ourselves up there...
So I was intrigued by a 2025 study which looked to see if de...
Duration: 00:09:43Worried About a Performance? 4 Reasons Why (And How to Stop)
Aug 17, 2025Worrying is never much fun, but it’s especially not fun in the leadup to a performance or audition. And even more so when we get stuck in a “worry loop” and can’t seem to get ourselves out of it.
It’s a little like the time my family visited Paris when I was a kid, and my dad got stuck in the roundabout around the Arc de Triomphe. I don’t know how long we drove around and around, but I do know that I fell asleep at some point, and when I woke up, we were stil...
Duration: 00:09:38Double Your Practice Gains With a Nap?
Aug 10, 2025Are you a regular napper? Or maybe not such a fan?
Either way, given that today is National Lazy Day, I thought it would be the perfect time to look at a couple studies which suggest that naps could play a significant role in accelerating the learning of physical skills.
Check out the episode for all the nerdy details about how long of a nap might be best and who perhaps should not try this.
References
Milner, C. E., Fogel, S. M., & Cote, K. A. (2006). Habitual napping moderates motor...
Duration: 00:07:43Ignasi Cambra: On Learning, Memorizing, and Interpreting Music
Aug 03, 2025I never got all that serious about playing the piano, but I did take lessons for a number of years and remember the many challenges I ran into as the number and density of black dots on the page increased.
Mostly I remember how dependent I was on my vision. On the violin, I didn’t look at my fingers or music much at all. But on the piano, I was constantly looking at either the music or my hands (I know, I know, I probably shouldn’t have let myself do that...).
But have you...
Duration: 00:45:43Notes First or Music First? Which Leads to Better Performance?
Jul 27, 2025Whether learning a new sport or playing an instrument, traditionally, we're often taught to start by building up some fundamental skills first, before we start adding in expression.
But there are others who argue that we should start with expression from the very beginning, rather than waiting.
Who's right? Which ultimately leads to better performances?
Get all the nerdy details, including the instructional videos used in the study right here:
Notes First or Music First? Which Leads to Better Performance?
More from The Bulletproof Musician
Get... Duration: 00:07:49A Way to Get More Useful Performance Feedback?
Jul 20, 2025It can be pretty uncomfortable to play for others and ask for feedback. I mean, putting ourselves out there to be judged and evaluated is never much fun, right?
But what if there's a different way to approach this? A way where you come out of the experience feeling less judged, and more supported instead? With concrete and useful advice that you can act on to get better, rather than a list of things that sound good or bad to stew on and feel crummy about?
A Harvard Business School study identified a simple strategy...
Duration: 00:07:43How to Unlock Your Students’ Hidden Practice Abilities
Jul 13, 2025Ineffective practice can be discouraging on so many levels. For one, practicing for time or repetitions is not much fun. And negative practice experiences can make students want to avoid practicing, or assume that they aren't very talented when improvement is slow or inconsistent.
But what if your students were already more savvy and capable practicers than they realize? What if we just need to create the conditions for these abilities to emerge?
Get all the nerdy details (and download the full case study) here:
How to Unlock Your Students’ Hidden Practice Abilities
... Duration: 00:08:05Judy Loman: On the Best Advice For an Aspiring Harpist (or Musician)
Jul 06, 2025“If I didn’t have the harp, I wouldn’t be me.”
Internationally renowned harpist Judy Loman remains an active practicer, performer, and teacher at 89 years of age - and still clearly enjoys and loves what she does.
So how does one maintain motivation and a sense of joy in making music through life’s ups and downs, good and bad practice days, and peak and not-so-peak performances?
In this episode, you’ll hear the five pieces of advice she would offer to an aspiring harpist (they’re applicable to singers and other musicians too...
Duration: 00:36:25A Comparison of Three Approaches to Teaching Expressiveness
Jun 29, 2025We learned last week that having more to say expressively with the music we’re playing could increase the likelihood of experiencing more flow states in performance (here, in case you missed it). But this study looked at a bunch of different strategies and classes that were spread out over 6 months.
Are there faster ways to help students play more expressively?
Like, what about the sorts of things that our teachers did for us when we were students? Like demonstrating certain passages in lessons, so we’d have a clearer model to aim for (or havi...
Duration: 00:08:43The Overlooked Skill That Could Make Performing More Enjoyable
Jun 22, 2025You know those really good days on stage? Where you’re totally present and in the moment, at one with your instrument, locked in on the music, not worried at all about what anyone might think, and just have this feeling that everything is going to work out, because playing just feels so easy and effortless?
Would be nice if we could have more of those kinds of days, no? 😅
Are these good days a function of simply practicing more? And making sure our technique is totally secure and solid so we have total confidence in ou...
Duration: 00:08:06How Do Effective Practicers Make the Most of Their Practice Time?
Jun 15, 2025Effective practicers tend to be more motivated, empowered, and persistent, whereas less effective practicers tend to feel more helpless and lower self-efficacy.
But what do they actually do differently?
One of the big differences between better and worse practicers in a 2021 study was the time spent in "non-playing" practice activities. Like, those periods between the playing and repetitions where our fingers aren't moving and making sounds come out of our instruments.
And what exactly is happening in those quiet moments? Get all the nerdy details in this week's episode, with links to additional re...
Duration: 00:09:44Do We Unconsciously Favor Talent Over Effort?
Jun 08, 2025You're probably heard the quote "Genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration."
But what do you think?
Both play some role of course, but which do you think is more important for achieving success - innate ability or effortful training?
What would you say if I said that you might be fooling yourself? Where even if you think that you believe effort and training to be more important, deep down, you might actually favor natural ability over hard work?
Are we all biased against effort without realizing it?
Get a...
Duration: 00:12:09Cellist Yumi Kendall: On Becoming a More Positive (And Effective) Practicer
Jun 01, 2025Cellist Yumi Kendall has been the assistant principal cellist of the Philadelphia Orchestra since 2004, serves on the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music, co-hosts the Tacet No More podcast with bassist Joseph Conyers, and is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Master of Applied Positive Psychology program.
In this episode, we explore…
Yumi’s early musical influencesWhat effective practice really means (and looks like)How Yumi balances competing demands and sets practice goals and intentionsWhen is something good enough, and it’s time to move on?Biggest takeaways from her studies in the Universi... Duration: 00:49:41How to Keep Your Inner Critic From Getting the Better of You
May 25, 2025We all have a voice in our head, that can sometimes get pretty loud and awfully critical.
Ever wonder where this voice and all that negativity comes from? And why it can suddenly become more critical at certain times more than others?
A 1990 study provides some intriguing clues!
Get all the nerdy details right here:
How to Keep Your Inner Critic From Getting the Better of You
More from The Bulletproof Musician
Get the free weekly newsletter, for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only content. Pressure... Duration: 00:08:45Pre-Performance Apathy (and the Importance of Mentally Disengaging From Practice)
May 18, 2025There's a famous quote attributed to Heifetz (or any number of different folks) - that if I don't practice one day, I know it; two days, the critics know it; three days, the public knows it.
So does that mean that we can't afford to take any days off, if we're truly serious about our craft? And what does it mean if we start to feel burned out and stale?
Well...it could be my imagination, but I swear I once saw a video in which Heifetz said that he always took one day off...
Duration: 00:08:10Your Brain Isn’t Built for Consistency - Here’s How to Make That Work for You
May 11, 2025Ever wonder why it's so difficult to do the same thing twice, in exactly the same way?
Like the same exact crescendo or the same exact speed of vibrato?
Do we just need to practice more? Or is there something else involved?
Turns out our brain isn't wired for this kind of consistency. But that's actually a good thing! And it has some interesting implications on how we ought to approach practicing too.
Get all the nerdy details here:
Your Brain Isn’t Built for Consistency - Here’s How...
Duration: 00:09:39Mitch Abrams: On Trauma and High-Level Performance
May 04, 2025I think the last couple decades have seen a growing change in the music community, where there's a greater openness to talking about nerves and certain mental health struggles. But one area that isn't yet being talked about so much is trauma.
What is trauma? What "counts" and what doesn't? How does this happen? How does it affect us? How can we know if a student has experienced trauma? Could we unintentionally (and unknowingly) be causing trauma?
To better understand trauma and its intersection with performance, I spoke with Dr. Mitch Abrams - a forensic...
Duration: 01:09:50Reward vs. Punishment: Which Leads to Faster Learning?
Apr 27, 2025When it comes to motivating students, musicians, or even ourselves, we all wonder: is it better to reward effort — or call out mistakes? It turns out, both approaches can work… but they lead to very different kinds of learning.
Get all the nerdy details here:
Reward vs. Punishment: Which Leads to Faster Learning?
More from The Bulletproof Musician
Get the free weekly newsletter, for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only content. Pressure Proof: A free 7-day performance practice crash course that will help you shrink the gap between the practice room... Duration: 00:09:07One Way Parents Can Help Their Kids Be Less Anxious
Apr 20, 2025It's hard to be a parent and not worry about one's kids. Especially when it comes to public performances, competitions, or auditions, whether big or small.
But doesn't it feel like sometimes a parents' worry is contagious? Where their stress or worry rubs off on their child, and the kid starts worrying or feeling more pressure as the performance approaches too?
The answer is not to tell your students' parents to chill out and stop worrying, of course. Because that's not likely to happen no matter what you say! 😅
But the research suggests tha...
Duration: 00:06:51A Self-Talk Tweak to Boost the Odds of Achieving Your Goals
Apr 13, 2025My daughter and I have been binge-watching past seasons of The Amazing Race for some months now, and the psychology nerd in me has become increasingly fascinated by one particular aspect of the show.
The participants’ self-talk.
As in, what do participants say when they run into a task that feels impossible or beyond their abilities?
“I can’t”
When participants start saying “I can’t,” they often stop trying and appear to be on the verge of quitting altogether. After all, “can’t” is a pretty disempowering word.
The reality of cours...
Duration: 00:07:21Linda Chesis: On Cultivating a More Beautiful Sound and Becoming a Better Practicer
Apr 06, 2025Ever get that overwhelmed feeling in the practice room? Where you know there’s a ton of work to be done, but you’re not quite sure where to start or what exactly to do?
Maybe you’re not happy with your sound, or your intonation is sketchy, or perhaps it’s one of those days when it feels like everything needs attention?
We only have so much time and energy, so what are we to do?
Flutist Linda Chesis is a soloist, chamber musician, educator, and festival director. She was a student of Jean...
Duration: 00:54:01Finding Your Optimal Anxiety Level: Why Calm Isn’t Always Better
Apr 04, 2025Even from a young age, I was always confused by the relationship between nerves and performance. There were times, for instance, when I’d be nervous and sound pretty terrible. But then there were other times when I’d be nervous and play better than ever. And then there were times when I’d be calm and sound very uninspired and mediocre.
It all felt like a crapshoot, and none of it ever made sense. Like, why were nerves sometimes helpful and sometimes not helpful? Should I be trying harder to calm down? And even if I could...
Duration: 00:10:33The 70% Rule: Why Practicing Shouldn’t Be Too Easy
Mar 23, 2025Somewhere along the line we learn that mistakes are bad, and perfect is good - but what if this is actually not true when it comes to learning?
What if mistakes are actually an essential part of learning? And what if we actually learn faster when we're in a challenge "sweet spot" and playing nowhere near perfectly?
If that were true...where might this sweet spot be?
Get all the nerdy details and learn why you don't want practicing to feel too easy right here:
The 70% Rule...
Duration: 00:07:52Sight Reading: The Ideal Error Rate for Optimal Learning
Mar 16, 2025When you're practicing sight-reading, how difficult should the music be?
Should it be easy enough that you can read it more or less perfectly, without any mistakes?
Should it be difficult enough that you're making lots of mistakes, and feeling really challenged?
Could there a specific "sweet spot" or Goldilocks zone where your sight-reading skills improve at the fastest possible rate?
Get all the nerdy details here:
Sight Reading: The Ideal Error Rate for Optimal Learning
More from The Bulletproof Musician
Get the free... Duration: 00:06:35Why Practicing While Distracted Is Actually Very Important
Mar 09, 2025Have you ever found yourself getting irritated or see your performance get derailed by distractions on stage? Maybe it was noises backstage, or movement in the audience, or people coughing and loudly unwrapping candy in the quiet moments?
These distractions often seem like such trivial things, but sometimes, they can take up more space in our thoughts than they ought to, and lead to little slip-ups. Which can be pretty frustrating, lead to more little mistakes, and then begin to send the whole performance into a downward spiral.
Is there any way to become more...
Duration: 00:07:13How to Help Students Remember More From Each Lesson
Mar 02, 2025A one-hour lesson can often go by really quickly, but also be packed with lots and lots to remember.
Have you ever found yourself repeating yourself from one week to the next? Having to remind students about things you've already talked about in previous lessons?
If you'd like to help students remember more from their lessons (and other classes too), I think you'll be intrigued by the finding of a 2014 study which compared two approaches to learning, and found one that significantly enhanced students' recall.
Get all the nerdy details here:
H...
Duration: 00:06:35How to Increase the Likelihood of Being Accepted by Others
Feb 23, 2025It's human nature to want to be liked and accepted by others. But while some seem to have a knack for it, for many of us, fear of rejection or fear of negative evaluation can get in the way.
Whether it's walking into a room for a job interview or college/grad school audition, playing in a new ensemble for the first time, or meeting your partner's family for the first time, how can we increase our chances of being liked and accepted?
A 2009 study suggests that our mindset could play a role in this.<...
Duration: 00:08:41Stumped by a Problem in the Practice Room? Try an “Incubation” Break
Feb 16, 2025Have you ever had one of those "aha" moments when a solution to a problem spontaneously popped into your head?
Wouldn't it be nice if we could have those moments more often?
Well, a 2012 study suggests that you may be able to cultivate these kinds of moments and increase your creative problem-solving abilities by taking a short break from the task. But not any old break will do - it has to be a specific type of break!
Get all the nerdy details here:
Stumped by a Problem in the Practice R...
Duration: 00:09:10Perfect Shmerfect. Could More “Mistakes” Accelerate Learning?
Feb 09, 2025Ever notice how some folks seem to learn faster than others? What’s their secret? Is it just natural ability? Sure, maybe there’s some of that.
But could it also be that they’re doing something different in the practice room? Like is there some sort of newfangled cutting-edge practice strategy they’re using that you’re not?
Well, these faster learners may be doing something quite different than what you’d expect. As a 2014 Harvard study found when they tested a strategy utilized by…birds. 🤔
Get all the nerdy details here:
Perfect Shme...
Duration: 00:08:21Carolyn Christie: On Overcoming Nerves With Healthier Internal Dialogue - and Phrasing!
Feb 02, 2025Ever notice how mean the voice in your head can become on stage? Where it generates YouTube comment section-like levels of criticism and abuse?
Or maybe you haven’t even gotten on stage yet. But as you’re waiting your turn, you overhear the person playing right before you, who sounds amazing? And then the voice suddenly makes you question and doubt everything?
Yeah, the voice that lives in our head is not always such a good friend. But what can we do about it? How can we turn that off when it’s not helpin...
Duration: 00:44:45Can We Train Ourselves to Worry Less About Others’ Opinions?
Jan 26, 2025I came across a study years ago which found that fear of negative evaluation was one of the key drivers of performance anxiety in musicians. Which of course makes perfect sense, as we're being evaluated all the time. Often, with meaningful consequences attached.
But that doesn't mean it's helpful - or very pleasant to experience either! So is there anything we can do to be less sensitive to what others around us might be thinking about us? At least in rehearsals, auditions, performances, or even dates for that matter, when it's way more useful for us to...
What Causes "Choking" Under Pressure? And What Can We Do About It?
Jan 19, 2025Have you ever had one of those days on stage where you suddenly can't seem to do a thing that normally is never an issue?
Or maybe it's one of those days where everything just spontaneously falls apart? And for seemingly no reason at all, even though you were as prepared as you've ever been?
Athletes call this "choking." Or the "yips" (which I think is funner to say). There's actually been quite a bit of interesting research on why this happens. And the answer is way more interesting than "nerves" or "pressure."
...
The Truth About Cramming: Why Your Brain Needs Breaks
Jan 12, 2025Taking breaks in the middle of practice or study sessions can be a pain. Often, it's a lot easier and more convenient to just power through and get it over with.
But what price do we pay by not spacing out our learning, over multiple days, or with practice or study breaks? Does this really make that much of a difference?
Two studies from the literature suggest that spaced learning can make quite a significant difference, actually. And one study explains why, highlighting the very different things that happen in the brain when we take...
Orli Shaham: On Overcoming Setbacks and Learning to Trust the Process
Jan 05, 2025Ever had one of those “I’m a total failure, and I’m never going to be invited to play with these folks again” moments?
In this month’s chat, pianist Orli Shaham shares a deeply personal story about a performance at the Spoleto Festival in Italy, where rehearsals went so badly, that the piece she prepared was pulled from the program. It felt like a “complete failure” at the time, but the experience prompted her to evaluate her preparation process. Which eventually led to one of her career highlights - a performance of John Adams’s first piano conc...
Duration: 00:54:00A Backward Strategy for Enhanced Goal-Setting Success
Dec 29, 2024Maybe you've set some goals for the coming year, but you're not quite sure where to start, and feeling a little overwhelmed? Or maybe you have a history of setting goals but not following through?
A 2017 study looked at a "backwards" strategy for goal-setting and found that this increased motivation, follow-through, and actual performance as well!
Get all the nerdy details here:
A Backward Strategy for Enhanced Goal-Setting Success
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Get the free weekly newsletter, for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only content. Pressure Proof... Duration: 00:08:074 Approaches to Goal Setting (And Which Works Best)
Dec 22, 2024Are you a little overwhelmed by all of the different year-in-review and goal-setting methods you're getting in your inbox?
If you're confused by the variety and range of approaches out there and just want a bare-bones minimalist option to ensure that you actually do it, a 2006 study of four different goal-setting strategies provides some simple, clear guidelines.
Get all the nerdy details here:
4 Approaches to Goal Setting (And Which Works Best)
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Get the free weekly newsletter, for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only content... Duration: 00:07:49Do Extroverts Make Better Performers Than Introverts?
Dec 15, 2024Have you ever wondered if there's an advantage to being an extrovert or introvert when it comes to performing?
Well, I'm afraid you're going to have to keep wondering, because I couldn't find a definitive answer one way or the other from the existing research.
But I did find an interesting study of figure skaters, which looked at the impact of *shyness* on performance. It's important to note that being introverted and being shy are NOT the same thing. But could being shy have some effect on how well we're able to perform?
...
Laurie Scott & Cornelia Watkins: On Going From the Stage to the Studio
Dec 08, 2024“See one, do one, teach one” is a model for learning that’s been utilized in medicine for many generations.
It’s quite a helpful model, but if you’ve ever tried your hand at teaching, you know how incredibly challenging that can be. Often, teaching a skill can be even more difficult that doing the skill itself!
Like, how can we teach a student to be more expressive? How can we ensure each student has a positive emotional connection with the music at each lesson - even if just for a moment? How can we turn st...
Duration: 00:51:05Does How We Look On Stage Matter More Than How We Sound...?
Dec 01, 2024Have you ever wondered how much the visual aspect of a performance matters to the listener?
Like, if you were going to enter two competitions, where one required submitting an audio recording and the other required a video recording, which one would you have a better chance of being accepted to? Or would it make any difference at all?
A 2013 study of international competition finalists went viral, when it seemed like the results suggested that how a musician looks on stage matters more than how they sound. But is that really what the study found?<...
Does Counting Our Blessings Really Change Anything?
Nov 24, 2024Thanksgiving is just a few days away, so whether your holiday will be of the turkey, turducken, or Tofurky variety, the one thing we all have in common is that someone will suggest that we go around the table and share one thing that we're grateful for, just as we're about to eat. 🥹
There are an awful lot of quotes out there about how we ought to count our blessings. And it does sound like a good thing to do. But does this actually do anything?
Get all the nerdy details right here:
Does Cou...
An Easier Way to Get Better at Mental Imagery?
Nov 17, 2024You've heard that mental practice and mental imagery can help enhance your learning - but what if your images are fuzzy and this is difficult for you? Is this something that you can get better at with practice?
Spoiler alert: yes - and a 2014 study provides some insights into a way to improve your mental imagery abilities that might be easier than practicing imagery the regular old-fashioned way. Through a technique called "action observation."
But is action observation as effective as the traditional way of practicing imagery?
Get all the nerdy details, references...
A Better Way to Do Mental Practice?
Nov 10, 2024The use of mental practice or mental imagery to enhance learning and performance is extremely common amongst athletes in sports. And it’s something that musicians like Horowitz, Rubinstein, Glenn Gould, and learners at all levels have been known to use in music as well.
But I’ve had students and professional musicians alike tell me that they sometimes have difficulty making the imagery feel real. Or that they have difficulty staying engaged with it. As in, one minute they’re visualizing some music, and the next, their mind has drifted off to food. Or they fall asleep...
Duration: 00:08:30Not an Optimist? How to Make Pessimism Work for You.
Nov 03, 2024Do optimists have an advantage when it comes to performing better under pressure?
Not necessarily! The research suggests that there are multiple types of pessimism. And that the right kind of pessimism can work too!
Get all the nerdy details at: https://bulletproofmusician.com/not-an-optimist-how-to-make-pessimism-work-for-you/
More from The Bulletproof Musician
Get the free weekly newsletter, for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only content. Pressure Proof: A free 7-day performance practice crash course that will help you shrink the gap between the practice room and the stage. Learning Lab: A continuing... Duration: 00:07:23Can Breathing Really Help Reduce Anxiety? Or Is It Just a Cliché?
Oct 27, 2024Can the right sort of breathing really reduce anxiety? The short answer is yes - but why?
A 2017 study illustrates how breathing could help reduce stress/anxiety, another 2017 study explains why, and a 2023 study highlights an unusual breathing technique that's worth trying!
Get all the nerdy details at: https://bulletproofmusician.com/does-just-breathe-really-help-us-lower-anxiety-or-is-it-just-a-total-cliche/
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Get the free weekly newsletter, for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only content. Pressure Proof: A free 7-day performance practice crash course that will help you shrink the gap between the practice room a... Duration: 00:08:52Go From Procrastination to Productivity With “Temptation Bundling”
Oct 20, 2024Have you ever struggled to maintain a new habit? Like exercising, or recording yourself more often, or transcribing lesson recordings?
A 2013 study found that a strategy called "temptation bundling" could boost your likelihood of sticking with your new behavior.
Click below for all the nerdy details:
Go From Procrastination to Productivity With “Temptation Bundling”
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Get the free weekly newsletter, for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only content. Pressure Proof: A free 7-day performance practice crash course that will help you shrink the... Duration: 00:06:58A Better Way to Bounce Back From Disappointing Setbacks
Oct 13, 2024A 2008 study highlights the two ways we often respond to disappointments and setbacks. They both work ok in the short term, but one is more effective in the long term.
So what determines which one we choose? And how can we ensure we choose the approach that is more effective in the long term?
Get all the nerdy details, references, and other links right here:
A Better Way to Bounce Back From Disappointing Setbacks
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Get the free weekly newsletter, for more nerdy details and... Duration: 00:09:12Why Giving Students Choices Could Dramatically Enhance Learning
Oct 06, 2024🎓 In this episode, we'll take a look at at 2017 ballet study which suggests that the simple element of choice could dramatically enhance learning outcomes.
🧠 Discover:
- Why giving students control over their learning process leads to improved performance
- How autonomy boosts confidence and happiness in learners
🚀 Whether you're an educator, parent, or lifelong learner, this episode will give you some ideas on how to tweak your approach to teaching and learning.
Get the full article and all the nerdy details:
Why Giving Students Choices Could Dramatically Enhance Learning
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Duration: 00:07:17What Are Audition Committees Really Listening For?
Sep 29, 2024Ever wish you could be psychic for a moment and find out what audition committees are thinking about your performance?
Where they focused more on the technical aspects of your playing? The musical aspects of your playing? Or something else entirely?
A 2022 study (Kegelaers et al.) took a look at feedback provided by members of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra to participants in their academy program in a series of mock auditions, and categorized these comments into 14 categories and 3 main themes.
The results were probably not what the academy fellows were expecting!
...
The Best Time to Exercise for Maximizing Practice Gains
Sep 22, 2024Research suggests that a short bout of exercise could enhance the effectiveness of your practice, by boosting encoding and memory consolidation.
But...if you were going to try this, when should you exercise? Before practicing? After practicing? For how long? At what level of intensity?
A 2023 study provides some answers!
Click through for all the nerdy details and references:
The Best Time to Exercise for Maximizing Practice Gains
(Oh - and if you’ve settled into a rather sedentary lifestyle in recent years and haven’t exercised in a while, do r...
How Important Is It Really to Practice Every Day?
Sep 15, 2024Let's say you had only 60 minutes to practice in the next week. Would it be better to do 60 minutes all in one day? Or 10 minutes per day for six days?
Would it make any difference at all?
Teachers often tell us to space our practice out, instead of cramming, but how much of a difference does it really make? Two Brazilian studies provide some answers!
Get all the nerdy details (and 500+ other practice tips) right here:
How Important Is It Really to Practice Every Day?
More from The Bulletproof...
Duration: 00:07:45Improve Coordination With Opposite-Side Practice
Sep 08, 2024Ever find yourself stumped by a tricky passage, where your fingers seem to be a little awkward and uncoordinated and they just don't do what they're supposed to do?
Maybe you tried slowing things down, or practicing with note groupings or rhythms, or doing your darnedest to identify any hints of hidden tension that might be getting in the way. All of which are excellent things to try, of course - but did you ever try practicing that passage with your other hand?
If you have, you know that this is often surprisingly helpful. And...
Nathan Cole: Lessons From 20 Years of Concertmaster Auditions
Sep 01, 2024Have you ever wondered...how to develop true confidence in yourself and your abilities amidst setbacks? What the right mindset is for auditions? How much of your expressive playing should be planned out, and how much is instinct? How to recover from very direct, critical audition feedback? And how do you stay in the present moment, instead of stressing out about nerves and all the bad things that could happen when you’re on stage?
If you’ve ever struggled with questions like this, I think you’ll find helpful answers in today’s episode with violinist Nathan C...
An Ironic Strategy to Stay Calmer and Avoid Rushing on Performance Days
Aug 25, 2024Whether it's picking a tempo that's too fast, or rushing a shift, it's easy for things to feel sped up on concert days when the adrenaline kicks in, and the butterflies are fluttering about.
Is there any way to be a little more centered on stage, and feel more at ease? Rather than hurried and rushed?
Today's studies provide a few clues about what we can do in advance, to slow things down and be less antsy on performance days, starting from the time we wake up, through our last moments backstage before it's time...
How Teachers' Expectations Can Shape Students' Learning & Performance
Aug 18, 2024In last week's episode, we looked at a study which illustrated how our own beliefs and expectations about ourselves can affect our performance.
It turns out that our beliefs and expectations - and subsequently, performance - can also be shaped by our teachers/coaches.
So...as teachers, how can we ensure that our natural snap judgments, beliefs, and expectations don't impede our students' learning?
A 2008 study of NCAA basketball coaching legend Pat Summitt provides some clues.
Get all the nerdy details:
How Teachers' Expectations Can Shape Students' Learning & Performance
How Much Do Positive or Negative Expectations Affect Performance?
Aug 11, 2024Even from a very early age, I remember being told to imagine things going well. The idea, was that if I could imagine a positive outcome, I'd be more likely to expect good things, which would help me perform better.
Is this just something that people say? Or do our expectations really have a meaningful effect on how we perform?
A classic 1972 study illustrates the effect that positive or negative expectations can have on performance.
Get all the nerdy details here:
How Much Do Positive or Negative Expectations Affect Performance?
<...
Duration: 00:05:49How to Keep Music Feeling Fresh Through Repeated Performances
Aug 04, 2024It's probably fairly common for our minds to go on autopilot when we're brushing our teeth, mowing the lawn, or folding laundry. And that's probably not all that big of a problem.
But have you ever found your mind going on autopilot in a performance, when you're playing something you've played for years, and it's begun to feel a little too familiar...or even a bit stale?
Or maybe this happens in the practice room, when you're working on music that you've already been playing for years or decades?
If you've struggled with...
Is It Really so Bad to Frown After Making a Mistake?
Jul 28, 2024My daughter loved playing card games as a young child. And what was fun about playing with her was how completely transparent she was. Anytime she got a good hand, or picked up a special card, the glee was written all over her face. Her eyes lit up, and I knew something unfortunate was about to happen to me. 😆
This sort of emotional expressivity is an important part of communicating from the stage - but there’s a negative side of this too, of course.
Because I'm guessing we've all been told by a teacher at so...
What’s the Optimal Practice-To-Rest Ratio?
Jul 21, 2024How frequently do you take breaks during practice?
Ever wonder how long your breaks should be? Or for that matter, how long your practice sessions should be?
If you've ever wondered if there's such a thing as an optimal practice-to-rest ratio that maximizes productivity and effective practice, there's some data out there which provides some clues. But the question is...will the data align with your own experience? 😁
Get all the nerdy details and this week's practice hack here:
What’s the Optimal Practice-To-Rest Ratio?
More from The Bulle...
Duration: 00:08:48Is There a Way to Make Self-Imposed Deadlines Work?
Jul 14, 2024Whether it's writing a paper, studying for finals, or preparing for a recital or audition, have you ever find yourself cramming at the last minute, wishing you had a time machine and could go back and give yourself more time to prepare?
Well, a 2002 study provides some clues on how to set better deadlines - and also, how to make self-imposed deadlines work better, if you haven't had much luck with that in the past.
Get all the nerdy details here:
Is There a Way to Make Self-Imposed Deadlines Work?
More...
Duration: 00:08:53Does Listening to Music Benefit the Music Learning Process?
Jul 07, 2024We're often told to listen to recordings of music that we're working on.
And we often tell our students to do so as well, but is there any research which suggests that this benefits the learning process in any way?
A 2012 study takes a look at this question, and compares both active and passive listening to see what sorts of benefits there might (or might not) be:
Get all the nerdy details here:
Does Listening to Music Benefit the Music Learning Process?
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... Duration: 00:07:57A Better Way to Learn, Teach, and Perform New Skills?
Jun 30, 2024Ever have one of those days in the practice room, where as soon as you fix one issue, another problem pops up? And just when you think you have that problem solved, the original thing "breaks" again? And when you try to think about both of those things, a third issue emerges?
This practice room whack-a-mole problem can be kind of frustrating. But it speaks to how difficult it can be to keep multiple things in mind simultaneously when the various parts of a new skill aren't yet in muscle memory.
Is there any way...
Is It Better to Perform With Eyes Open or Closed?
Jun 23, 2024Do you tend to play with your eyes open? Or do you sometimes close them?
Ever wonder if there might be any performance benefit to performing with eyes closed?
Turns out there might be - in certain circumstances.
Get all the nerdy details here:
Is It Better to Perform With Eyes Open or Closed?
More from The Bulletproof Musician
Get the free weekly newsletter, for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only content. Pressure Proof: A free 7-day performance practice crash course that will help you shrink the... Duration: 00:07:30A Teaching Method That Creates Smarter Practicers
Jun 16, 2024I remember my teacher saying to me quite early on in my studies, that her job was not to tell me what to do, but to teach me how to teach myself.
I think we all have that goal in our teaching, but like many things, this is often easier said than done. I mean, how exactly do we teach someone how to teach themself?
In a 2011 study, researchers recruited six music teachers and 45 students, and evaluated a teaching method that does exactly this. They were curious to see if it would lead to better...
The Subtle Habit That Might Be Undermining Your Confidence
Jun 09, 2024You know how people say that little kids don’t have a filter? How they just blurt out whatever thoughts pop into their minds?
Well, the voice in our head can kind of be like that unfiltered 1st grader. Because we often say some rather unkind and borderline abusive things to ourselves quite automatically.
We might not truly believe the mean and discouraging thoughts we think to ourselves - at least at first. But if you’ve ever found yourself struggling with confidence, and started questioning yourself, and wondering if maybe your inner critic was righ...
Duration: 00:09:11Learn More Effectively with This Lesser-Known Mindset Shift
Jun 02, 2024For most of my life, even through college and grad school, regular ol' repetition was probably my most-utilized learning strategy whether I was studying for a test or practicing for my next lesson or performance.
If you've gone through stages like this, you probably remember that this approach is not particularly enjoyable, and is also quite time-consuming. And pretty demotivating too, when you don't get the grade you want or perform as well as you'd like.
You're probably utilizing more effective learning strategies nowadays, but there's an interesting mindset shift that can make a big...
Are You the “Good” or “Bad” Kind of Procrastinator?
May 26, 2024We all procrastinate on things from time to time. And sometimes we pay the price for doing things at the last minute. But then there are times when it actually seems to work out pretty well!
So is procrastination all bad? Or could there be a productive and unproductive sort of procrastination?
Well, the research seems to suggest that the answer could be...yes?
Get all the nerdy details and find out how to know if you're the "good" or "bad" kind of procrastinator:
Are You the “Good” or “Bad” Kind of Procr...
Why Practicing for Consistency May Be Less Effective Than You’d Think
May 18, 2024This 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 I was first starting out on the violin, I remember there were more fun games and practice challenges involved in my daily practice. Like free improvisation. Or playing with various weights and stuffed animals clipped to my bow.
And then at some point, practice became much more "serious." Where the goal was to play things correctly. And to practice the same thing over and over, not just until I could...
Are Great Sight-Readers Born or Made?
May 12, 2024In the age-old debate about nature vs. nurture, I know the correct answer for most things is that it's a blend of both.
But sight-reading, at least for me, always felt like one of those things which leaned more on the nature side than nurture. Some folks just seem to have a knack for it, while I always struggled.
But what does the research say? Could I have gotten better at sight reading if I applied myself more diligently?
And what would that have even looked like anyways? Are there specific things that...
Michael Bridge: On Cultivating Expressive (vs Impressive) Virtuosity
May 05, 2024This 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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I think we’ve all had teachers tell us that the technical and expressive aspects of music-making are inextricably connected, and that we shouldn’t just work on technique, and expect to add the expressive details later.
But how exactly do you do this? Like, what does it look like to connect both the technical and expressive aspects of music-making into a practice session?
Michael Bridge is a virtuoso perf...
How Much of an Effect Does Hydration Have on Practice & Performance?
Apr 28, 2024Everyone seems to be pretty good about staying hydrated nowadays with the popularity of reusable water bottles and a growing number of public water refilling stations in schools, airports, etc.
But how much of a difference does hydration make when it comes to practicing and performing more effectively? How exactly might we benefit from being better hydrated? How dehydrated would we need to be to start seeing negative effects? And what would those negative effects even be?
There are a number of studies that provide some clues on the physical and mental effects of varying...
Feel Like You’re Getting Worse? Here’s Why That May Not Just Be Your Imagination.
Apr 21, 2024This episode is sponsored by Musician's Maintenance - safe, simple, maintenance exercises that specifically address the muscle groups that matter most for musicians.
* * *
Ever have one of those days where it feels like the more you practice, the worse you sound?
Or perhaps you've had a lesson with a student, where the more you try to help, the more frustrated and overwhelmed they seem to get?
Sometimes it only feels like we're getting worse or making things worse, and the reality is that this is just part of the learning process...
An Unconventional Way to Enhance Your Focus in the Practice Room
Apr 14, 2024As 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.
<...
Frank Almond: On Work, Fun, and the Importance of Both in Dealing with Adversity
Apr 07, 2024This episode is sponsored by Musician's Maintenance - safe, simple, maintenance exercises that specifically address the muscle groups that matter most for musicians.
* * *
When you think of your favorite musicians or performers, how much fun do you think they’re having on stage? And how much fun do you think they have in the practice room?
Wait...fun in the practice room is allowed? 🤨
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...
How the Wrong Kind of Praise Could Increase a Student’s Feelings of Shame
Mar 31, 2024Whether 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...
Can We Learn Faster by Thinking Less?
Mar 24, 2024This episode is sponsored by Musician's Maintenance - safe, simple, maintenance exercises that specifically address the muscle groups that matter most for musicians.
* * *
Much like hair, there are good practice days, and there are not-so-good practice days. 🤣
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 pre...
To Play More Accurately, Change Your Focus?
Mar 17, 2024When 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...
Why Good Ensemble Playing May Require More Than Just Your Ears
Mar 10, 2024This episode is sponsored by Musician's Maintenance - safe, simple, maintenance exercises that specifically address the muscle groups that matter most to musicians.
* * *
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...
A Gentle Way to Help Kids (or Adults) Build Performance Confidence?
Mar 03, 2024For 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...
A Simple Strategy for Reducing Worries and Practicing With More Focus
Feb 25, 2024Ever 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 m...
Why the Wrong Kind of Praise Could Heighten a Student's Fear of Failure
Feb 18, 2024When 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...
Do You Have a Bias Against Creative Students (Without Realizing It)?
Feb 11, 2024I 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)?
More from The Bulletproof Musician
Get the free weekly newsletter, for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only content... Duration: 00:07:19