The Bulletproof Musician Sun, 31 May 2026 12:30:00 -0400 https://bulletproofmusician.com en © 2026 The Bulletproof Musician yes e08cb31a-c290-5318-9630-6ca5d73c8124 Noa Kageyama episodic false 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.

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) performance psychology, psychology, performance anxiety, music, learning, practice Noa Kageyama https://storage.buzzsprout.com/i6bxtqthpzn619wlqv8d7n0e7mvc?.jpg The Bulletproof Musician https://bulletproofmusician.com Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse: The Science of Sleep for Musicians Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse: The Science of Sleep for Musicians What if one of the most overlooked factors affecting memory consolidation, emotional regulation, practice efficiency, and performance consistency wasn’t a new practice strategy - but sleep?

Dr. Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse is a triple board-certified neurologist, sleep specialist, and epileptologist at the University of Pittsburgh, where her work focuses on cognitive performance, sleep, and neurological recovery under high-demand conditions. In addition to her clinical and academic work, she consults with high-performing populations including professional athletes, executives, pilots, and first responders, and has served as a neurology consultant to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In this episode, we explore why practice sometimes doesn’t “stick,” how sleep affects emotional reactivity and performance anxiety, why pianists improved 10-13% overnight without additional practice, how naps and “sleep banking” can help before auditions and performances, what musicians should know about jet lag and chronotypes, and the surprisingly small sleep habits that may have the biggest impact on performing at your true level.

Get all the nerdy details in this month's interview:
Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse: The Science of Sleep for Musicians

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]]> What if one of the most overlooked factors affecting memory consolidation, emotional regulation, practice efficiency, and performance consistency wasn’t a new practice strategy - but sleep?

Dr. Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse is a triple board-certified neurologist, sleep specialist, and epileptologist at the University of Pittsburgh, where her work focuses on cognitive performance, sleep, and neurological recovery under high-demand conditions. In addition to her clinical and academic work, she consults with high-performing populations including professional athletes, executives, pilots, and first responders, and has served as a neurology consultant to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In this episode, we explore why practice sometimes doesn’t “stick,” how sleep affects emotional reactivity and performance anxiety, why pianists improved 10-13% overnight without additional practice, how naps and “sleep banking” can help before auditions and performances, what musicians should know about jet lag and chronotypes, and the surprisingly small sleep habits that may have the biggest impact on performing at your true level.

Get all the nerdy details in this month's interview:
Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse: The Science of Sleep for Musicians

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-19150214 Sun, 10 May 2026 03:00:00 -0400 2585 416 full false Paul Baxter: Why Bad Habits Keep Coming Back (And a Faster Way to Change Them) Paul Baxter: Why Bad Habits Keep Coming Back (And a Faster Way to Change Them) Have you ever had the experience of fixing something in the practice room…only to have it come back in performance?

Maybe it’s a passage where tension creeps back in. Or a section where your fingers revert to an old fingering. Or some aspect of your technique that you’ve worked hard to fix - until it shows up again at exactly the wrong moment.

Why does this happen?

In this month's episode, cognitive psychologist Paul Baxter explains why bad habits are so persistent, and shares a little-known research-based method that may help change stubborn habits more quickly - and permanently.

Get all the nerdy details in this month's interview:

Paul Baxter: Why Bad Habits Keep Coming Back (And a Faster Way to Change Them)

Additional Resources

The exact Old Way New Way protocol and examples across a wide range of performance domains can be found in Paul's book, Overcoming Performance Roadblocks

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Have you ever had the experience of fixing something in the practice room…only to have it come back in performance?

Maybe it’s a passage where tension creeps back in. Or a section where your fingers revert to an old fingering. Or some aspect of your technique that you’ve worked hard to fix - until it shows up again at exactly the wrong moment.

Why does this happen?

In this month's episode, cognitive psychologist Paul Baxter explains why bad habits are so persistent, and shares a little-known research-based method that may help change stubborn habits more quickly - and permanently.

Get all the nerdy details in this month's interview:

Paul Baxter: Why Bad Habits Keep Coming Back (And a Faster Way to Change Them)

Additional Resources

The exact Old Way New Way protocol and examples across a wide range of performance domains can be found in Paul's book, Overcoming Performance Roadblocks

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-18972728 Mon, 06 Apr 2026 20:00:00 -0400 2110 415 full false Micah Killion: The One Thing Artist-Level Musicians Do Differently in the Practice Room Micah Killion: The One Thing Artist-Level Musicians Do Differently in the Practice Room How should musicians actually practice to improve faster? In this conversation with researcher and trumpet professor Micah Killion, we explore what expert musicians do differently in the practice room and what research reveals about effective practice.

Micah Killion is Assistant Professor of Trumpet and Brass Coordinator at Montclair State University and former principal trumpet of the United States Air Force Band in Washington, D.C. A Yamaha Performing Artist with degrees from Juilliard, Teachers College–Columbia, and UT Austin, his research on expert practice and music learning has been presented at leading institutions including Juilliard, Eastman, and the Royal Academy of Music.

In this episode, Micah shares what he discovered after closely analyzing how elite performers actually practice - and why their approach looks very different from the way most musicians were taught. We explore the decision-making process behind effective practice, the surprising role of mistakes in learning, and a simple strategy that can help musicians practice more efficiently, musically, and consistently.

Get all the nerdy details right here:

Micah Killion: The One Thing Artist-Level Musicians Do Differently in the Practice Room

More from The Bulletproof Musician

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> How should musicians actually practice to improve faster? In this conversation with researcher and trumpet professor Micah Killion, we explore what expert musicians do differently in the practice room and what research reveals about effective practice.

Micah Killion is Assistant Professor of Trumpet and Brass Coordinator at Montclair State University and former principal trumpet of the United States Air Force Band in Washington, D.C. A Yamaha Performing Artist with degrees from Juilliard, Teachers College–Columbia, and UT Austin, his research on expert practice and music learning has been presented at leading institutions including Juilliard, Eastman, and the Royal Academy of Music.

In this episode, Micah shares what he discovered after closely analyzing how elite performers actually practice - and why their approach looks very different from the way most musicians were taught. We explore the decision-making process behind effective practice, the surprising role of mistakes in learning, and a simple strategy that can help musicians practice more efficiently, musically, and consistently.

Get all the nerdy details right here:

Micah Killion: The One Thing Artist-Level Musicians Do Differently in the Practice Room

More from The Bulletproof Musician

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-18807646 Sun, 08 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0400 3666 414 full false How to Start a Performance with More Accuracy (Without the Onstage Warm-Up) How to Start a Performance with More Accuracy (Without the Onstage Warm-Up) One of my teachers often used to say that no matter what you’re playing, when you’re on stage, the beginning of a piece is always the hardest part.

Not because the opening is more difficult technically, but because we’ve generally been sitting around for a little while, so we’re feeling kind of cold, a little disconnected from our instrument, and nervous and jittery.

And it often takes us a minute or two to get warmed up and really hit our stride. Which might not be the end of the world if you’re playing a 30-minute concerto. But if it’s an audition that only lasts a few minutes, this “warm-up” period can feel like a really long (and crappy) couple minutes.

Is there something we can do to be more accurate right from the start, and skip that “settling-in” period? (spoiler alert - yes, there is 😁).

Get all the nerdy details here:

How to Start a Performance with More Accuracy (Without the "Onstage Warm-Up")

Live mental skills class begins soon!

Learn research-based strategies for effective practice, managing nerves, getting into the zone, and performing more confidently with a month of live Zoom sessions, weekly homework, and feedback.

Registration ends January 25th.

👉 Join Performance Psych Essentials - Cohort 26 (February 1 - March 1)

References

Perry, I. S., and Katz, Y. J. (2015). Pre-performance routines, accuracy in athletic performance and self-control. Athens J. Sports 2, 137–152. doi: 10.30958/ajspo.2-3-1

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> One of my teachers often used to say that no matter what you’re playing, when you’re on stage, the beginning of a piece is always the hardest part.

Not because the opening is more difficult technically, but because we’ve generally been sitting around for a little while, so we’re feeling kind of cold, a little disconnected from our instrument, and nervous and jittery.

And it often takes us a minute or two to get warmed up and really hit our stride. Which might not be the end of the world if you’re playing a 30-minute concerto. But if it’s an audition that only lasts a few minutes, this “warm-up” period can feel like a really long (and crappy) couple minutes.

Is there something we can do to be more accurate right from the start, and skip that “settling-in” period? (spoiler alert - yes, there is 😁).

Get all the nerdy details here:

How to Start a Performance with More Accuracy (Without the "Onstage Warm-Up")

Live mental skills class begins soon!

Learn research-based strategies for effective practice, managing nerves, getting into the zone, and performing more confidently with a month of live Zoom sessions, weekly homework, and feedback.

Registration ends January 25th.

👉 Join Performance Psych Essentials - Cohort 26 (February 1 - March 1)

References

Perry, I. S., and Katz, Y. J. (2015). Pre-performance routines, accuracy in athletic performance and self-control. Athens J. Sports 2, 137–152. doi: 10.30958/ajspo.2-3-1

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-18524206 Sun, 18 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0500 475 413 full false When You Can’t Get Yourself to Start Practicing, Try This When You Can’t Get Yourself to Start Practicing, Try This In 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, Coworking Week begins Monday, where we’ll have five days of drop-in coworking calls to clear distractions, get unstuck, and check things off your list (join here).

And the week after that, I’ll be opening the doors for the Winter Psych Essentials class, where through a month of group classes and gentle peer accountability, you’ll learn how to accelerate your progress, and perform more confidently in 2026 with research-based techniques and exercises from performance science that you can apply to your daily practice (details here).

But for now, let's take a look at a strategy that could make it easier to start (and finish) tasks, whether that be practicing, studying, or doing the laundry:

When You Can’t Get Yourself to Start Practicing, Try This

References

Ara, Z., Rahim, I. B., Zhou, P., Yu, L., Esmaeili, B., Yu, L., & Hong, S. R. (2025). You are not alone: Designing body doubling for ADHD in virtual reality. arXiv (Cornell University). https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2509.12153

Eagle, T., Baltaxe-Admony, L. B., & Ringland, K. E. (2024). “It Was Something I Naturally Found Worked and Heard About Later”: An Investigation of Body Doubling with Neurodivergent Participants. ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing, 17(3), 1–30. https://doi.org/10.1145/3689648

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> In 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, Coworking Week begins Monday, where we’ll have five days of drop-in coworking calls to clear distractions, get unstuck, and check things off your list (join here).

And the week after that, I’ll be opening the doors for the Winter Psych Essentials class, where through a month of group classes and gentle peer accountability, you’ll learn how to accelerate your progress, and perform more confidently in 2026 with research-based techniques and exercises from performance science that you can apply to your daily practice (details here).

But for now, let's take a look at a strategy that could make it easier to start (and finish) tasks, whether that be practicing, studying, or doing the laundry:

When You Can’t Get Yourself to Start Practicing, Try This

References

Ara, Z., Rahim, I. B., Zhou, P., Yu, L., Esmaeili, B., Yu, L., & Hong, S. R. (2025). You are not alone: Designing body doubling for ADHD in virtual reality. arXiv (Cornell University). https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2509.12153

Eagle, T., Baltaxe-Admony, L. B., & Ringland, K. E. (2024). “It Was Something I Naturally Found Worked and Heard About Later”: An Investigation of Body Doubling with Neurodivergent Participants. ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing, 17(3), 1–30. https://doi.org/10.1145/3689648

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-18486084 Sun, 11 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0500 477 412 full false The Central Strategy Expert Musicians Use to Practice Difficult Passages The Central Strategy Expert Musicians Use to Practice Difficult Passages We 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 concrete practice framework that any musician can use to guide their practice. You might even argue that this is THE core process that underlies effective skill learning.

Get all the nerdy details here:

The Central Strategy Expert Musicians Use to Practice Difficult Passages

References

Killion, M. F., & Duke, R. A. (2025). The central strategy of music practice: A blow-by-blow account. Journal of Expertise, 8(2–3), 85–128.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> We 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 concrete practice framework that any musician can use to guide their practice. You might even argue that this is THE core process that underlies effective skill learning.

Get all the nerdy details here:

The Central Strategy Expert Musicians Use to Practice Difficult Passages

References

Killion, M. F., & Duke, R. A. (2025). The central strategy of music practice: A blow-by-blow account. Journal of Expertise, 8(2–3), 85–128.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-18419648 Sun, 28 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0500 566 411 full false How a Small Change in Self-Talk Could Improve Performance Under Pressure How a Small Change in Self-Talk Could Improve Performance Under Pressure The 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 - tweak that anyone can do.

Get all the nerdy details here:

How a Small Change in Self-Talk Could Improve Performance Under Pressure

References

Kross, E., Bruehlman-Senecal, E., Park, J., Burson, A., Dougherty, A., Shablack, H., Bremner, R., Moser, J., & Ayduk, O. (2014). Self-talk as a regulatory mechanism: How you do it matters. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 106(2), 304–324. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0035173

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> The 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 - tweak that anyone can do.

Get all the nerdy details here:

How a Small Change in Self-Talk Could Improve Performance Under Pressure

References

Kross, E., Bruehlman-Senecal, E., Park, J., Burson, A., Dougherty, A., Shablack, H., Bremner, R., Moser, J., & Ayduk, O. (2014). Self-talk as a regulatory mechanism: How you do it matters. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 106(2), 304–324. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0035173

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-18389419 Sun, 21 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0500 506 410 full false A Learning Method That Outperformed Traditional Practice A Learning Method That Outperformed Traditional Practice A 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 way you want in the practice room, but find that things start to break down when you’re surrounded by other musicians, or playing in a new hall, or on a different piano, this can not only help you be more comfortable in performance, but have way more fun in your daily practice too.

Get all the nerdy details right here:

A Learning Method That Outperformed Traditional Practice

More joy in the practice room and on stage in 2026?

Get the Beyond Practicing 2-for-1 offer (ends on December 14, 2025 at 11:59pm)

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> A 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 way you want in the practice room, but find that things start to break down when you’re surrounded by other musicians, or playing in a new hall, or on a different piano, this can not only help you be more comfortable in performance, but have way more fun in your daily practice too.

Get all the nerdy details right here:

A Learning Method That Outperformed Traditional Practice

More joy in the practice room and on stage in 2026?

Get the Beyond Practicing 2-for-1 offer (ends on December 14, 2025 at 11:59pm)

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-18349422 Sun, 14 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0500 598 409 full false How Much Perfectionism Do You Really Need to Succeed? How Much Perfectionism Do You Really Need to Succeed? A 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. (2025). Please don’t stop the music! A new look at the performance anxiety of musicians with the model of excellencism and perfectionism. Psychology of Music. https://doi.org/10.1177/03057356241300538

☃️ Holiday 2-for-1 Offer

Get the Beyond Practicing course, with bonus account and two additional bonuses for you and a buddy (ends December 7, 2025):

👉 Get the 2-for-1 offer + bonuses

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> A 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. (2025). Please don’t stop the music! A new look at the performance anxiety of musicians with the model of excellencism and perfectionism. Psychology of Music. https://doi.org/10.1177/03057356241300538

☃️ Holiday 2-for-1 Offer

Get the Beyond Practicing course, with bonus account and two additional bonuses for you and a buddy (ends December 7, 2025):

👉 Get the 2-for-1 offer + bonuses

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-18310996 Sun, 07 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0500 496 408 full false Pallavi Mahidhara: On Practicing for Flexibility, Not Perfection Pallavi Mahidhara: On Practicing for Flexibility, Not Perfection Playing 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 Competition and the International Prokofiev Competition in Saint Petersburg Russia, Pallavi has performed across five continents, and at festivals such as Marlboro and Verbier. She also hosts the “Conscious Artist” podcast, which promotes mental health awareness for performing artists, and is often invited to give workshops and master classes at universities and summer programs as well.

In this episode, you’ll hear Pallavi describe how practicing and performing are separate, how practicing and performing are connected, how she is able to look for the good rather than the bad in each piano she plays, how she is able to be present and trust herself in performance, and why it’s helpful - both in music and in life - to have no regrets.

Get all the nerdy details right here:

Pallavi Mahidhara: On Practicing for Flexibility, Not Perfection

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Playing 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 Competition and the International Prokofiev Competition in Saint Petersburg Russia, Pallavi has performed across five continents, and at festivals such as Marlboro and Verbier. She also hosts the “Conscious Artist” podcast, which promotes mental health awareness for performing artists, and is often invited to give workshops and master classes at universities and summer programs as well.

In this episode, you’ll hear Pallavi describe how practicing and performing are separate, how practicing and performing are connected, how she is able to look for the good rather than the bad in each piano she plays, how she is able to be present and trust herself in performance, and why it’s helpful - both in music and in life - to have no regrets.

Get all the nerdy details right here:

Pallavi Mahidhara: On Practicing for Flexibility, Not Perfection

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-18271208 Sun, 30 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0500 2909 407 full false What Happened When Musicians Slept 90 Minutes More What Happened When Musicians Slept 90 Minutes More Sleep 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 sleep for a week:

What Happened When Musicians Slept 90 Minutes More

References

Pelletier, B. (2025). Effects of sleep extension on musical performance skills. Music & Science, 8. https://doi.org/10.1177/20592043251385420

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Sleep 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 sleep for a week:

What Happened When Musicians Slept 90 Minutes More

References

Pelletier, B. (2025). Effects of sleep extension on musical performance skills. Music & Science, 8. https://doi.org/10.1177/20592043251385420

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-18236178 Sun, 23 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0500 374 406 full false Why Being Too Quick to Offer Feedback Could Inhibit Learning Why Being Too Quick to Offer Feedback Could Inhibit Learning I 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 wouldn’t have a teacher. Or even if I did, I would only have that teacher’s assistance for one brief hour out of each week. Which meant that for 99.4% of the week, I was on my own. And if I wanted to make meaningful progress during the week, I’d have to learn how to teach myself.

But how exactly do you teach someone to become a more independent learner?

Get all the nerdy details right here:

Why Being Too Quick to Offer Feedback Could Inhibit Learning

References

Swinnen, S. P., Schmidt, R. A., Nicholson, D. E., & Shapiro, D. C. (1990). Information feedback for skill acquisition: Instantaneous knowledge of results degrades learning. Journal of Experimental Psychology Learning Memory and Cognition, 16(4), 706–716. https://doi.org/10.1037/0278-7393.16.4.706

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> I 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 wouldn’t have a teacher. Or even if I did, I would only have that teacher’s assistance for one brief hour out of each week. Which meant that for 99.4% of the week, I was on my own. And if I wanted to make meaningful progress during the week, I’d have to learn how to teach myself.

But how exactly do you teach someone to become a more independent learner?

Get all the nerdy details right here:

Why Being Too Quick to Offer Feedback Could Inhibit Learning

References

Swinnen, S. P., Schmidt, R. A., Nicholson, D. E., & Shapiro, D. C. (1990). Information feedback for skill acquisition: Instantaneous knowledge of results degrades learning. Journal of Experimental Psychology Learning Memory and Cognition, 16(4), 706–716. https://doi.org/10.1037/0278-7393.16.4.706

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-18197110 Sun, 16 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0500 466 405 full false Fewer Repetitions….But More Rapid Progress? Fewer Repetitions….But More Rapid Progress? Whether 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 about what exactly we do want.

A 2023 study illustrates how taking a moment to be clearer about our musical intentions (with a 4-step process) could lead to more effective practice!

Get all the nerdy details here:

Fewer Repetitions….But More Rapid Progress?

References

Williams, S. G., van Ketel, J. E., & Schaefer, R. S. (2023). Practicing Musical Intention: The Effects of External Focus of Attention on Musicians’ Skill Acquisition. Music & Science, 6. https://doi.org/10.1177/20592043231151416

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Whether 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 about what exactly we do want.

A 2023 study illustrates how taking a moment to be clearer about our musical intentions (with a 4-step process) could lead to more effective practice!

Get all the nerdy details here:

Fewer Repetitions….But More Rapid Progress?

References

Williams, S. G., van Ketel, J. E., & Schaefer, R. S. (2023). Practicing Musical Intention: The Effects of External Focus of Attention on Musicians’ Skill Acquisition. Music & Science, 6. https://doi.org/10.1177/20592043231151416

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-18156073 Sun, 09 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0500 476 404 full false Ida Kavafian: Habits That Separate Good Musicians from Great Ones Ida Kavafian: Habits That Separate Good Musicians from Great Ones This 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 Separate Good Musicians from Great Ones

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> This 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 Separate Good Musicians from Great Ones

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-18117271 Sun, 02 Nov 2025 02:00:00 -0500 3479 403 full false Can Memorizing Music Make You a More Expressive Performer? Can Memorizing Music Make You a More Expressive Performer? One 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)

Most of us never learn how, but memorizing music is actually a concrete skill that can be learned. Discover a step-by-step, 3-phase, research-based framework for memorizing music that draws from the strategies that expert musicians and effective memorizers use to memorize music efficiently, and perform more confidently from memory - even under pressure.

Get the Bulletproof Memory course (Public release ends October 26, 2025)

References

Chaffin, R., Gerling, C. C., & Demos, A. P. (2024). How secure memorization promotes expression: A longitudinal case study of performing Chopin’s Barcarolle, Op. 60. Musicae Scientiae, 28(4), 703-722. https://doi.org/10.1177/10298649241241405

Williamon, A. (1999). The Value of Performing from Memory. Psychology of Music, 27(1), 84-95. https://doi.org/10.1177/0305735699271008

Woody, R. H. (2006). The effect of various instructional conditions on expressive music performance. Journal of Research in Music Education, 54(1), 21–36. https://doi.org/10.1177/002242940605400103

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> One 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)

Most of us never learn how, but memorizing music is actually a concrete skill that can be learned. Discover a step-by-step, 3-phase, research-based framework for memorizing music that draws from the strategies that expert musicians and effective memorizers use to memorize music efficiently, and perform more confidently from memory - even under pressure.

Get the Bulletproof Memory course (Public release ends October 26, 2025)

References

Chaffin, R., Gerling, C. C., & Demos, A. P. (2024). How secure memorization promotes expression: A longitudinal case study of performing Chopin’s Barcarolle, Op. 60. Musicae Scientiae, 28(4), 703-722. https://doi.org/10.1177/10298649241241405

Williamon, A. (1999). The Value of Performing from Memory. Psychology of Music, 27(1), 84-95. https://doi.org/10.1177/0305735699271008

Woody, R. H. (2006). The effect of various instructional conditions on expressive music performance. Journal of Research in Music Education, 54(1), 21–36. https://doi.org/10.1177/002242940605400103

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-18073887 Sun, 26 Oct 2025 03:00:00 -0400 603 402 full false Two Approaches to Memorization (Beware: One Could Leave You Stranded!) Two Approaches to Memorization (Beware: One Could Leave You Stranded!) Memory 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 of us rely on is the less reliable of the two, which is why our memory is often not as reliable under pressure as we’d like!

Also, if you’ve been a long-time listener, you might remember that I mentioned working on a memorization course a couple summers ago. Well, the Bulletproof Memory course is finally ready - and will be available on a limited basis through next Sunday, October 26th (you can get immediate access to the course right here).

Ready to see which type of memory you might be using?

Get all the nerdy details here:

Two Approaches to Memorization (Beware: One Could Leave You Stranded!)

Learn how to develop “bulletproof” memory

Memorizing music can be a gift, but is very much also a skill that can be learned. Discover a step-by-step, 3-phase, research-based framework for memorizing music that draws from the strategies that expert musicians and effective memorizers use to memorize music efficiently, and perform more confidently from memory - even under pressure.

Bulletproof Memory (available for a limited time only - Oct. 19-26)

References

Chaffin, R., Lisboa, T., Logan, T., & Begosh, K. T. (2009). Preparing for memorized cello performance: the role of performance cues. Psychology of Music, 38(1), 3–30. https://doi.org/10.1177/0305735608100377

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Memory 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 of us rely on is the less reliable of the two, which is why our memory is often not as reliable under pressure as we’d like!

Also, if you’ve been a long-time listener, you might remember that I mentioned working on a memorization course a couple summers ago. Well, the Bulletproof Memory course is finally ready - and will be available on a limited basis through next Sunday, October 26th (you can get immediate access to the course right here).

Ready to see which type of memory you might be using?

Get all the nerdy details here:

Two Approaches to Memorization (Beware: One Could Leave You Stranded!)

Learn how to develop “bulletproof” memory

Memorizing music can be a gift, but is very much also a skill that can be learned. Discover a step-by-step, 3-phase, research-based framework for memorizing music that draws from the strategies that expert musicians and effective memorizers use to memorize music efficiently, and perform more confidently from memory - even under pressure.

Bulletproof Memory (available for a limited time only - Oct. 19-26)

References

Chaffin, R., Lisboa, T., Logan, T., & Begosh, K. T. (2009). Preparing for memorized cello performance: the role of performance cues. Psychology of Music, 38(1), 3–30. https://doi.org/10.1177/0305735608100377

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-18032307 Sun, 19 Oct 2025 03:00:00 -0400 589 401 full false A Hidden Reason You Forget Music on Stage A Hidden Reason You Forget Music on Stage Mistakes 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 research which explains why pianists may have a tougher time with memory than other musicians (spoiler alert: it’s not because they have more notes), and what we can all learn from this to enhance our own memory security. Get all the nerdy details here:

A Hidden Reason You Forget Music on Stage

Wish you could perform more confidently from memory?

Memorization can feel like a mysterious process, but it's a more concrete and practical process than you might think. I’ve distilled a couple decades of research, and over a hundred studies, book chapters, dissertations, and case studies into a 5-module step-by-step course on memorization for musicians, that will be available for a limited public release from October 19 - 26, 2025. If you’d like to get on the waitlist so you don’t miss it, you can do that right here: bulletproofmusician.com/memory

References

Mishra, J., & Backlin, W. M. (2007). The effects of altering environmental and instrumental context on the performance of memorized music. Psychology of Music, 35(3), 453–472. https://doi.org/10.1177/0305735607077838

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Mistakes 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 research which explains why pianists may have a tougher time with memory than other musicians (spoiler alert: it’s not because they have more notes), and what we can all learn from this to enhance our own memory security. Get all the nerdy details here:

A Hidden Reason You Forget Music on Stage

Wish you could perform more confidently from memory?

Memorization can feel like a mysterious process, but it's a more concrete and practical process than you might think. I’ve distilled a couple decades of research, and over a hundred studies, book chapters, dissertations, and case studies into a 5-module step-by-step course on memorization for musicians, that will be available for a limited public release from October 19 - 26, 2025. If you’d like to get on the waitlist so you don’t miss it, you can do that right here: bulletproofmusician.com/memory

References

Mishra, J., & Backlin, W. M. (2007). The effects of altering environmental and instrumental context on the performance of memorized music. Psychology of Music, 35(3), 453–472. https://doi.org/10.1177/0305735607077838

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-17994487 Sun, 12 Oct 2025 03:00:00 -0400 520 400 full false Jane Ginsborg: On Building Stronger and More Reliable Musical Memory Jane Ginsborg: On Building Stronger and More Reliable Musical Memory Talk 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 never learned how to memorize music. And not because my teachers were negligent in any way. We just didn’t really know that much back then about how memory works! 

But thanks to the efforts of several researchers in the last couple decades, we now know quite a bit about the most - and least - effective ways to get all those notes into and out of our brains.

One of those researchers is Jane Ginsborg. And in today’s episode, Jane will share many key tips and details with us on the science of memorization, specifically as it relates to musicians. And because Jane’s background is in voice, there are some special nuances included for singers as well!

Get all the nerdy details right here: 

Jane Ginsborg: On Building Stronger and More Reliable Musical Memory

A memory course

If you'd like to learn more about the music memorization process and get more comfortable (and confident) performing from memory, you may be interested in the Bulletproof Memory course that will be released soon. You can join the waitlist for the limited public release right here.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Talk 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 never learned how to memorize music. And not because my teachers were negligent in any way. We just didn’t really know that much back then about how memory works! 

But thanks to the efforts of several researchers in the last couple decades, we now know quite a bit about the most - and least - effective ways to get all those notes into and out of our brains.

One of those researchers is Jane Ginsborg. And in today’s episode, Jane will share many key tips and details with us on the science of memorization, specifically as it relates to musicians. And because Jane’s background is in voice, there are some special nuances included for singers as well!

Get all the nerdy details right here: 

Jane Ginsborg: On Building Stronger and More Reliable Musical Memory

A memory course

If you'd like to learn more about the music memorization process and get more comfortable (and confident) performing from memory, you may be interested in the Bulletproof Memory course that will be released soon. You can join the waitlist for the limited public release right here.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-17952585 Sun, 05 Oct 2025 03:00:00 -0400 3365 399 full false How to Use Focus Cues to Play More Freely on Stage How to Use Focus Cues to Play More Freely on Stage A 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 live online performance enhancement class (registration closes on 9.28.2025)

Performance Psych Essentials: Work on practicing more effectively and performing more optimally alongside a global cohort of musicians, educators, and learners of all ages. Registration for the live online 4-week class is open! (Class runs from October 5 - November 2)

References

Aiken, C. A., & Becker, K. A. (2022). Utilising an internal focus of attention during preparation and an external focus during execution may facilitate motor learning. European Journal of Sport Science, 23(2), 259–266. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2022.2042604

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> A 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 live online performance enhancement class (registration closes on 9.28.2025)

Performance Psych Essentials: Work on practicing more effectively and performing more optimally alongside a global cohort of musicians, educators, and learners of all ages. Registration for the live online 4-week class is open! (Class runs from October 5 - November 2)

References

Aiken, C. A., & Becker, K. A. (2022). Utilising an internal focus of attention during preparation and an external focus during execution may facilitate motor learning. European Journal of Sport Science, 23(2), 259–266. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2022.2042604

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-17917690 Sun, 28 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0400 326 398 full false Is There Hope for the Most Anxious Performers? Is There Hope for the Most Anxious Performers? One 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?

Additional links

Pre-performance routines

Acclimatization training

Left-hand contractions

Deep breathing

Registration for Cohort 25 is open (signups close on 9.28.2025)

Performance Psych Essentials: Work on practicing more effectively and performing more optimally alongside a global cohort of musicians, educators, and learners of all ages. Registration for the live online 4-week class is open! (Class runs from October 5 - November 2)

References

Lubert, V. J., Nordin-Bates, S. M., & Gröpel, P. (2023). Effects of tailored interventions for anxiety management in choking-susceptible performing artists: a mixed-methods collective case study. Frontiers in Psychology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1164273

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> One 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?

Additional links

Pre-performance routines

Acclimatization training

Left-hand contractions

Deep breathing

Registration for Cohort 25 is open (signups close on 9.28.2025)

Performance Psych Essentials: Work on practicing more effectively and performing more optimally alongside a global cohort of musicians, educators, and learners of all ages. Registration for the live online 4-week class is open! (Class runs from October 5 - November 2)

References

Lubert, V. J., Nordin-Bates, S. M., & Gröpel, P. (2023). Effects of tailored interventions for anxiety management in choking-susceptible performing artists: a mixed-methods collective case study. Frontiers in Psychology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1164273

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-17877398 Sun, 21 Sep 2025 03:00:00 -0400 660 397 full false How to Get Your Mind in the Right Place Before Going On Stage How to Get Your Mind in the Right Place Before Going On Stage Staying 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 On Stage

References

Watanabe, A., Kondoh, S., Samma, T., & Fujii, S. (2025). Enhanced subjective performance achievement in wind instrument playing through positive memory recall: effects of sympathetic activation and emotional valence. Frontiers in Psychology, 16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1544069

Registration begins soon! (9.21.2025 - 9.28.2025)

Performance Psych Essentials: Work on practicing more effectively and performing more optimally alongside a global cohort of musicians, educators, and learners of all ages. Live 4-week class begins soon! (October 5 - November 2)

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Staying 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 On Stage

References

Watanabe, A., Kondoh, S., Samma, T., & Fujii, S. (2025). Enhanced subjective performance achievement in wind instrument playing through positive memory recall: effects of sympathetic activation and emotional valence. Frontiers in Psychology, 16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1544069

Registration begins soon! (9.21.2025 - 9.28.2025)

Performance Psych Essentials: Work on practicing more effectively and performing more optimally alongside a global cohort of musicians, educators, and learners of all ages. Live 4-week class begins soon! (October 5 - November 2)

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-17838050 Sun, 14 Sep 2025 03:00:00 -0400 522 396 full false Graham Fitch: On Playful Practice and Muscle Memory You Can Trust Graham Fitch: On Playful Practice and Muscle Memory You Can Trust When 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 he shares with us in today’s chat can be applied or translated to any instrument.

So if you haven’t been learning music or improving overall as quickly as you would like, or your practice has felt stale or stagnant, I think today’s episode will help to revitalize your practice and scooch it a few notches in the direction of fun. 😜

Get all the nerdy details on memorization, slow practice, fast practice, metronome practice, hands together vs. separate and more, in this month's episode:

​Graham Fitch: On Playful Practice and Muscle Memory You Can Trust

Additional Resources

Graham mentioned chaining and interleaved practice. Here's more on both of those concepts.

How to do chaining: Jason Sulliman: On Why Fast, At-Tempo Practice Can Be More Efficient and Effective Than Slow Practice

How to do interleaved practice: Why the Progress You Make in the Practice Room Seems to Disappear Overnight

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> When 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 he shares with us in today’s chat can be applied or translated to any instrument.

So if you haven’t been learning music or improving overall as quickly as you would like, or your practice has felt stale or stagnant, I think today’s episode will help to revitalize your practice and scooch it a few notches in the direction of fun. 😜

Get all the nerdy details on memorization, slow practice, fast practice, metronome practice, hands together vs. separate and more, in this month's episode:

​Graham Fitch: On Playful Practice and Muscle Memory You Can Trust

Additional Resources

Graham mentioned chaining and interleaved practice. Here's more on both of those concepts.

How to do chaining: Jason Sulliman: On Why Fast, At-Tempo Practice Can Be More Efficient and Effective Than Slow Practice

How to do interleaved practice: Why the Progress You Make in the Practice Room Seems to Disappear Overnight

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-17800832 Sun, 07 Sep 2025 03:00:00 -0400 3299 395 full false Does Aiming for Perfection Actually Hurt Performance? Does Aiming for Perfection Actually Hurt Performance? Ever 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

References

Gaudreau, P., Schellenberg, B. J. I., Gareau, A., Kljajic, K., & Manoni-Millar, S. (2022). Because excellencism is more than good enough: On the need to distinguish the pursuit of excellence from the pursuit of perfection. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 122(6), 1117–1145. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000411

Gaudreau, P. (2019). On the distinction between personal standards perfec- tionism and excellencism: A theory elaboration and research agenda. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 14(2), 197–215. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691618797940

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Ever 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

References

Gaudreau, P., Schellenberg, B. J. I., Gareau, A., Kljajic, K., & Manoni-Millar, S. (2022). Because excellencism is more than good enough: On the need to distinguish the pursuit of excellence from the pursuit of perfection. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 122(6), 1117–1145. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000411

Gaudreau, P. (2019). On the distinction between personal standards perfec- tionism and excellencism: A theory elaboration and research agenda. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 14(2), 197–215. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691618797940

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-17760654 Sun, 31 Aug 2025 03:00:00 -0400 557 394 full false Could Performance Anxiety Be Causing Students to Quit? Could Performance Anxiety Be Causing Students to Quit? There 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 deliberate practice might play a role in this equation between performance anxiety and performance success and thoughts about quitting. Check out the episode to see what they discovered!

Additional links

Deliberate practice

Self-regulated learning

Practice That Sticks (self-paced course)

References

Hash, P. M. (2021). Student Retention in School Bands and Orchestras: A Literature Review. Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, 40(3), 11-19. https://doi.org/10.1177/87551233211042585

Hatfield, J. L., & Williamon, A. (2025). Competitiveness and performance anxiety as predictors of performance success and intent to quit playing: deliberate practice as mediator and moderator. Music Education Research, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/14613808.2025.2543376

Hernández, S. O., Zarza-Alzugaray, F. J., & Casanova, O. (2018). Music performance anxiety. Substance use and career abandonment in Spanish music students. International Journal of Music Education, 36(3), 460–472. https://doi.org/10.1177/0255761418763903

Zimmerman, B. J. (2002). Becoming a Self-Regulated Learner: An Overview. Theory Into Practice, 41(2), 64–70. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15430421tip4102_2


More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> There 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 deliberate practice might play a role in this equation between performance anxiety and performance success and thoughts about quitting. Check out the episode to see what they discovered!

Additional links

Deliberate practice

Self-regulated learning

Practice That Sticks (self-paced course)

References

Hash, P. M. (2021). Student Retention in School Bands and Orchestras: A Literature Review. Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, 40(3), 11-19. https://doi.org/10.1177/87551233211042585

Hatfield, J. L., & Williamon, A. (2025). Competitiveness and performance anxiety as predictors of performance success and intent to quit playing: deliberate practice as mediator and moderator. Music Education Research, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/14613808.2025.2543376

Hernández, S. O., Zarza-Alzugaray, F. J., & Casanova, O. (2018). Music performance anxiety. Substance use and career abandonment in Spanish music students. International Journal of Music Education, 36(3), 460–472. https://doi.org/10.1177/0255761418763903

Zimmerman, B. J. (2002). Becoming a Self-Regulated Learner: An Overview. Theory Into Practice, 41(2), 64–70. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15430421tip4102_2


More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-17722104 Sun, 24 Aug 2025 03:00:00 -0400 551 393 full false Worried About a Performance? 4 Reasons Why (And How to Stop) Worried About a Performance? 4 Reasons Why (And How to Stop) Worrying 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 still looping around. 🤣🥲

So what causes these worry loops? And is there a way to stay in a better headspace in the leadup to performances?

Additional Links

David Juncos & Elvire de Paiva e Pona: On ACT and a New Approach to Overcoming Performance Anxiety

A Simple Strategy for Reducing Worries and Practicing With More Focus

References

Davey, G. C., Eldridge, F., Drost, J., & MacDonald, B. A. (2006). What ends a worry bout? An analysis of changes in mood and stop rule use across the catastrophising interview task. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 45(6), 1231–1243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2006.08.024

Davey, G. C., & Meeten, F. (2016). The perseverative worry bout: A review of cognitive, affective and motivational factors that contribute to worry perseveration. Biological Psychology, 121, 233–243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2016.04.003

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Worrying 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 still looping around. 🤣🥲

So what causes these worry loops? And is there a way to stay in a better headspace in the leadup to performances?

Additional Links

David Juncos & Elvire de Paiva e Pona: On ACT and a New Approach to Overcoming Performance Anxiety

A Simple Strategy for Reducing Worries and Practicing With More Focus

References

Davey, G. C., Eldridge, F., Drost, J., & MacDonald, B. A. (2006). What ends a worry bout? An analysis of changes in mood and stop rule use across the catastrophising interview task. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 45(6), 1231–1243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2006.08.024

Davey, G. C., & Meeten, F. (2016). The perseverative worry bout: A review of cognitive, affective and motivational factors that contribute to worry perseveration. Biological Psychology, 121, 233–243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2016.04.003

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-17680517 Sun, 17 Aug 2025 03:00:00 -0400 546 392 full false Double Your Practice Gains With a Nap? Double Your Practice Gains With a Nap? Are 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 performance improvements following a short daytime nap. Biological Psychology, 73(2), 141–156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2006.01.015

Morita, Y., Ogawa, K., & Uchida, S. (2016). Napping after complex motor learning enhances juggling performance. Sleep Science, 9(2), 112–116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.slsci.2016.04.002

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Are 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 performance improvements following a short daytime nap. Biological Psychology, 73(2), 141–156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2006.01.015

Morita, Y., Ogawa, K., & Uchida, S. (2016). Napping after complex motor learning enhances juggling performance. Sleep Science, 9(2), 112–116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.slsci.2016.04.002

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-17645636 Sun, 10 Aug 2025 03:00:00 -0400 432 391 full false Ignasi Cambra: On Learning, Memorizing, and Interpreting Music Ignasi Cambra: On Learning, Memorizing, and Interpreting Music I 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 ever wondered what it might be like to learn and perform music if you couldn’t see? Or what sighted musicians might be able to learn from musicians who are blind?

In today’s episode I’ll be chatting with concert pianist Ignasi Cambra, who will share insights on learning and performing that we can all apply to our own practicing and performing, from the perspective of a blind musician.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> I 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 ever wondered what it might be like to learn and perform music if you couldn’t see? Or what sighted musicians might be able to learn from musicians who are blind?

In today’s episode I’ll be chatting with concert pianist Ignasi Cambra, who will share insights on learning and performing that we can all apply to our own practicing and performing, from the perspective of a blind musician.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-17605167 Sun, 03 Aug 2025 03:00:00 -0400 2712 390 full false Notes First or Music First? Which Leads to Better Performance? Notes First or Music First? Which Leads to Better Performance? Whether 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

]]> Whether 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

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-17568314 Sun, 27 Jul 2025 03:00:00 -0400 437 389 full false A Way to Get More Useful Performance Feedback? A Way to Get More Useful Performance Feedback? It 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 that could help you get more useful feedback. Get all the nerdy details right here:

A Way to Get More Useful Performance Feedback?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> It 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 that could help you get more useful feedback. Get all the nerdy details right here:

A Way to Get More Useful Performance Feedback?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-17530510 Sun, 20 Jul 2025 03:00:00 -0400 432 388 full false How to Unlock Your Students’ Hidden Practice Abilities How to Unlock Your Students’ Hidden Practice Abilities Ineffective 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

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Ineffective 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

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-17452738 Sun, 13 Jul 2025 03:00:00 -0400 453 387 full false Judy Loman: On the Best Advice For an Aspiring Harpist (or Musician) Judy Loman: On the Best Advice For an Aspiring Harpist (or Musician) “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), learn how to approach pieces that you might not like, and find out the two things she would do if she had only 20 minutes to practice today.

Get the full transcript and watch the video version of the full interview right here:

Judy Loman: On the Best Advice For an Aspiring Harpist (or Musician)

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> “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), learn how to approach pieces that you might not like, and find out the two things she would do if she had only 20 minutes to practice today.

Get the full transcript and watch the video version of the full interview right here:

Judy Loman: On the Best Advice For an Aspiring Harpist (or Musician)

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-17454343 Sun, 06 Jul 2025 03:00:00 -0400 2154 386 full false A Comparison of Three Approaches to Teaching Expressiveness A Comparison of Three Approaches to Teaching Expressiveness We 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 having us listen to recordings, or encouraging us to go to concerts).

Or using metaphors or images to help us understand the mood or character of a particular moment more clearly.

Or simply telling us what to do - like explaining how short the dots should be, or where exactly the accelerando should start, etc.

Well, lucky for us, a 2006 study compared these strategies to see if they worked - and if any of them was more effective than the others.

Get all the nerdy details (and musical examples and links to additional resources and related podcast episodes not included in the audio version) here:

A Comparison of Three Approaches to Teaching Expressiveness

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> We 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 having us listen to recordings, or encouraging us to go to concerts).

Or using metaphors or images to help us understand the mood or character of a particular moment more clearly.

Or simply telling us what to do - like explaining how short the dots should be, or where exactly the accelerando should start, etc.

Well, lucky for us, a 2006 study compared these strategies to see if they worked - and if any of them was more effective than the others.

Get all the nerdy details (and musical examples and links to additional resources and related podcast episodes not included in the audio version) here:

A Comparison of Three Approaches to Teaching Expressiveness

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-17415514 Sun, 29 Jun 2025 03:00:00 -0400 492 385 full false The Overlooked Skill That Could Make Performing More Enjoyable The Overlooked Skill That Could Make Performing More Enjoyable You 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 our ability to play accurately and consistently? Or could it be that there’s something more involved?

Get all the nerdy details and learn more about the aspect of practice that could enhance your ability to get into flow states in performance:

The Overlooked Skill That Could Make Performing More Enjoyable

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> You 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 our ability to play accurately and consistently? Or could it be that there’s something more involved?

Get all the nerdy details and learn more about the aspect of practice that could enhance your ability to get into flow states in performance:

The Overlooked Skill That Could Make Performing More Enjoyable

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-17374400 Sun, 22 Jun 2025 03:00:00 -0400 455 384 full false How Do Effective Practicers Make the Most of Their Practice Time? How Do Effective Practicers Make the Most of Their Practice Time? Effective 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 resources here if you'd like to explore this further:

How Do Effective Practicers Make the Most of Their Practice Time?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Effective 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 resources here if you'd like to explore this further:

How Do Effective Practicers Make the Most of Their Practice Time?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-17338624 Sun, 15 Jun 2025 03:00:00 -0400 553 383 full false Do We Unconsciously Favor Talent Over Effort? Do We Unconsciously Favor Talent Over Effort? You'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 all the nerdy details here:

Do We Unconsciously Favor Talent Over Effort?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> You'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 all the nerdy details here:

Do We Unconsciously Favor Talent Over Effort?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-17296069 Sun, 08 Jun 2025 03:00:00 -0400 698 382 full false Cellist Yumi Kendall: On Becoming a More Positive (And Effective) Practicer Cellist Yumi Kendall: On Becoming a More Positive (And Effective) Practicer Cellist 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 influences
  • What effective practice really means (and looks like)
  • How Yumi balances competing demands and sets practice goals and intentions
  • When is something good enough, and it’s time to move on?
  • Biggest takeaways from her studies in the University of Pennsylvania’s positive psychology program
  • Self-compassion, positive teaching, overcoming negative self-talk
  • Identity and habit formation
  • Yumi’s experience with performance anxiety and how she learned to get past this in the early part of her career
  • Dealing with shaky bow
  • What change would she love to see in the music industry?

For the complete transcript and other notes and links, visit:

Cellist Yumi Kendall: On Becoming a More Positive (And Effective) Practicer

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Cellist 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 influences
  • What effective practice really means (and looks like)
  • How Yumi balances competing demands and sets practice goals and intentions
  • When is something good enough, and it’s time to move on?
  • Biggest takeaways from her studies in the University of Pennsylvania’s positive psychology program
  • Self-compassion, positive teaching, overcoming negative self-talk
  • Identity and habit formation
  • Yumi’s experience with performance anxiety and how she learned to get past this in the early part of her career
  • Dealing with shaky bow
  • What change would she love to see in the music industry?

For the complete transcript and other notes and links, visit:

Cellist Yumi Kendall: On Becoming a More Positive (And Effective) Practicer

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-17258647 Sun, 01 Jun 2025 03:00:00 -0400 2950 381 full false How to Keep Your Inner Critic From Getting the Better of You How to Keep Your Inner Critic From Getting the Better of You We 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

]]> We 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

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-17221098 Sun, 25 May 2025 03:00:00 -0400 494 380 full false Pre-Performance Apathy (and the Importance of Mentally Disengaging From Practice) Pre-Performance Apathy (and the Importance of Mentally Disengaging From Practice) There'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 from practicing a week. And I've heard a number of well-known musicians encourage students to take a day, or at least 24 hours off every week. 

So maybe it doesn't have to be "all gas, no brakes?"

Get all the nerdy details here:

Pre-Performance Apathy (and the Importance of Mentally Disengaging From Practice)

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> There'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 from practicing a week. And I've heard a number of well-known musicians encourage students to take a day, or at least 24 hours off every week. 

So maybe it doesn't have to be "all gas, no brakes?"

Get all the nerdy details here:

Pre-Performance Apathy (and the Importance of Mentally Disengaging From Practice)

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-17152411 Sun, 18 May 2025 03:00:00 -0400 458 379 full false Your Brain Isn’t Built for Consistency - Here’s How to Make That Work for You Your Brain Isn’t Built for Consistency - Here’s How to Make That Work for You Ever 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 to Make That Work for You

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Ever 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 to Make That Work for You

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-17135327 Sun, 11 May 2025 03:00:00 -0400 548 378 full false Mitch Abrams: On Trauma and High-Level Performance Mitch Abrams: On Trauma and High-Level Performance I 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 and sport psychologist who shares insights on how trauma shows up, and what steps we can begin to take towards healing.

Get a full transcript and all the nerdy details here:

Mitch Abrams: On Trauma and High-Level Performance

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> I 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 and sport psychologist who shares insights on how trauma shows up, and what steps we can begin to take towards healing.

Get a full transcript and all the nerdy details here:

Mitch Abrams: On Trauma and High-Level Performance

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-17093877 Sun, 04 May 2025 03:00:00 -0400 4159 377 full false Reward vs. Punishment: Which Leads to Faster Learning? Reward vs. Punishment: Which Leads to Faster Learning? When 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

]]> When 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

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-17048114 Sun, 27 Apr 2025 03:00:00 -0400 516 376 full false One Way Parents Can Help Their Kids Be Less Anxious One Way Parents Can Help Their Kids Be Less Anxious It'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 that there are better or more productive ways to worry. So if a parent is going to worry, they might as well worry the right way.

Wait...what? There are better and worse ways to worry?

Get all the nerdy details in today's episode. References available here:

One Way Parents Can Help Their Kids Be Less Anxious

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> It'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 that there are better or more productive ways to worry. So if a parent is going to worry, they might as well worry the right way.

Wait...what? There are better and worse ways to worry?

Get all the nerdy details in today's episode. References available here:

One Way Parents Can Help Their Kids Be Less Anxious

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-17006664 Sun, 20 Apr 2025 03:00:00 -0400 380 375 full false A Self-Talk Tweak to Boost the Odds of Achieving Your Goals A Self-Talk Tweak to Boost the Odds of Achieving Your Goals My 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 course, whether it’s eating snake meat or swimming laps in a bog or bungee jumping into a ravine, is that when push comes to shove, they discover that they absolutely can do these things.

So how much of an effect does self-talk like this have on us, actually?

Well, a 2011 study found that when participants replaced the word “can’t” with 🫢🫢🫢🫢, they were eight times more likely to achieve their goals!

Get all the nerdy details here:

A Self-Talk Tweak to Boost the Odds of Achieving Your Goals

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> My 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 course, whether it’s eating snake meat or swimming laps in a bog or bungee jumping into a ravine, is that when push comes to shove, they discover that they absolutely can do these things.

So how much of an effect does self-talk like this have on us, actually?

Well, a 2011 study found that when participants replaced the word “can’t” with 🫢🫢🫢🫢, they were eight times more likely to achieve their goals!

Get all the nerdy details here:

A Self-Talk Tweak to Boost the Odds of Achieving Your Goals

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-16966690 Sun, 13 Apr 2025 03:00:00 -0400 410 374 full false Linda Chesis: On Cultivating a More Beautiful Sound and Becoming a Better Practicer Linda Chesis: On Cultivating a More Beautiful Sound and Becoming a Better Practicer Ever 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-Pierre Rampal at the Paris Conservatory, a top prizewinner at the Paris and Barcelona International Competitions, and has been a longtime faculty member at the Manhattan School of Music and Chair of the Woodwind Department.

In this episode, Linda shares insights on how to cultivate a more beautiful sound, walks us through a checklist for what exactly to listen and look for when listening back to recordings of ourselves, and how to manage and organize our practice time when we have too much music to learn and not quite enough time:

Get all the nerdy details and connect with Linda here:

Linda Chesis: On Cultivating a More Beautiful Sound and Becoming a Better Practicer

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Ever 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-Pierre Rampal at the Paris Conservatory, a top prizewinner at the Paris and Barcelona International Competitions, and has been a longtime faculty member at the Manhattan School of Music and Chair of the Woodwind Department.

In this episode, Linda shares insights on how to cultivate a more beautiful sound, walks us through a checklist for what exactly to listen and look for when listening back to recordings of ourselves, and how to manage and organize our practice time when we have too much music to learn and not quite enough time:

Get all the nerdy details and connect with Linda here:

Linda Chesis: On Cultivating a More Beautiful Sound and Becoming a Better Practicer

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-16923182 Sun, 06 Apr 2025 03:00:00 -0400 3210 373 full false Finding Your Optimal Anxiety Level: Why Calm Isn’t Always Better Finding Your Optimal Anxiety Level: Why Calm Isn’t Always Better Even 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, given some of my subpar calm performances, was that even the answer?

If you’ve ever had questions like this, today’s article has some answers!

Get all the nerdy details and learn where the optimal anxiety level might be:

Finding Your Optimal Anxiety Level: Why Calm Isn’t Always Better


More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Even 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, given some of my subpar calm performances, was that even the answer?

If you’ve ever had questions like this, today’s article has some answers!

Get all the nerdy details and learn where the optimal anxiety level might be:

Finding Your Optimal Anxiety Level: Why Calm Isn’t Always Better


More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-16919514 Fri, 04 Apr 2025 18:00:00 -0400 601 372 full false The 70% Rule: Why Practicing Shouldn’t Be Too Easy The 70% Rule: Why Practicing Shouldn’t Be Too Easy Somewhere 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: Why Practicing Shouldn’t Be Too Easy

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Somewhere 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: Why Practicing Shouldn’t Be Too Easy

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-16840830 Sun, 23 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0400 441 371 full false Sight Reading: The Ideal Error Rate for Optimal Learning Sight Reading: The Ideal Error Rate for Optimal Learning When 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

]]> When 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

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-16797021 Sun, 16 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0400 364 370 full false Why Practicing While Distracted Is Actually Very Important Why Practicing While Distracted Is Actually Very Important Have 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 distraction-proof on stage? And perform better even when surrounded by unanticipated distractions of various sorts?

Get all the nerdy details here: 

Why Practicing While Distracted Is Actually Very Important

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Have 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 distraction-proof on stage? And perform better even when surrounded by unanticipated distractions of various sorts?

Get all the nerdy details here: 

Why Practicing While Distracted Is Actually Very Important

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-16755823 Sun, 09 Mar 2025 04:00:00 -0400 402 369 full false How to Help Students Remember More From Each Lesson How to Help Students Remember More From Each Lesson A 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: 

How to Help Students Remember More From Each Lesson

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> A 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: 

How to Help Students Remember More From Each Lesson

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-16715679 Sun, 02 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0500 364 368 full false How to Increase the Likelihood of Being Accepted by Others How to Increase the Likelihood of Being Accepted by Others It'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.

Get all the nerdy details here:

How to Increase the Likelihood of Being Accepted by Others

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> It'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.

Get all the nerdy details here:

How to Increase the Likelihood of Being Accepted by Others

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-16674092 Sun, 23 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0500 490 367 full false Stumped by a Problem in the Practice Room? Try an “Incubation” Break Stumped by a Problem in the Practice Room? Try an “Incubation” Break Have 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 Room? Try an “Incubation” Break 

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Have 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 Room? Try an “Incubation” Break 

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-16629093 Sun, 16 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0500 519 366 full false Perfect Shmerfect. Could More “Mistakes” Accelerate Learning? Perfect Shmerfect. Could More “Mistakes” Accelerate Learning? Ever 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 Shmerfect. Could More “Mistakes” Accelerate Learning?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Ever 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 Shmerfect. Could More “Mistakes” Accelerate Learning?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-16585733 Sun, 09 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0500 470 365 full false Carolyn Christie: On Overcoming Nerves With Healthier Internal Dialogue - and Phrasing! Carolyn Christie: On Overcoming Nerves With Healthier Internal Dialogue - and Phrasing! Ever 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 helping us?

In this month’s episode, flutist Carolyn Christie explains how she overcame her own experience with “terrifying” nerves when she was a member of the Montreal Symphony, and shares other insights on practice planning, how to avoid overthinking, and staying in a more positive headspace with “clinical” self-evaluation.

Get all the nerdy details and learn how to cultivate these essential mental skills for performance:
Carolyn Christie: On Overcoming Nerves With Healthier Internal Dialogue - and Phrasing!

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Ever 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 helping us?

In this month’s episode, flutist Carolyn Christie explains how she overcame her own experience with “terrifying” nerves when she was a member of the Montreal Symphony, and shares other insights on practice planning, how to avoid overthinking, and staying in a more positive headspace with “clinical” self-evaluation.

Get all the nerdy details and learn how to cultivate these essential mental skills for performance:
Carolyn Christie: On Overcoming Nerves With Healthier Internal Dialogue - and Phrasing!

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-16545876 Sun, 02 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0500 2654 364 full false Can We Train Ourselves to Worry Less About Others’ Opinions? Can We Train Ourselves to Worry Less About Others’ Opinions? I 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 focus on the things that we can actually control?

A 2007 study provides some clues on how we could potentially reduce our stress levels, increase self-esteem, exude more confidence in public, and even perform more effectively, by working on a particular kind of focus in our daily lives.

Get all the nerdy details and learn how to start working on this particular kind of selective attention right here:
Can We Train Ourselves to Worry Less About Others’ Opinions?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> I 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 focus on the things that we can actually control?

A 2007 study provides some clues on how we could potentially reduce our stress levels, increase self-esteem, exude more confidence in public, and even perform more effectively, by working on a particular kind of focus in our daily lives.

Get all the nerdy details and learn how to start working on this particular kind of selective attention right here:
Can We Train Ourselves to Worry Less About Others’ Opinions?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-16501778 Sun, 26 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0500 563 363 full false What Causes "Choking" Under Pressure? And What Can We Do About It? What Causes "Choking" Under Pressure? And What Can We Do About It? Have 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."

Get all the nerdy details on why this happens and what you can do about it here:
What Causes "Choking" Under Pressure? And What Can We Do About It?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Have 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."

Get all the nerdy details on why this happens and what you can do about it here:
What Causes "Choking" Under Pressure? And What Can We Do About It?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-16460519 Sun, 19 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0500 618 362 full false The Truth About Cramming: Why Your Brain Needs Breaks The Truth About Cramming: Why Your Brain Needs Breaks Taking 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 breaks vs when we don't.

Get all the nerdy details and references here:
The Truth About Cramming: Why Your Brain Needs Breaks

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Taking 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 breaks vs when we don't.

Get all the nerdy details and references here:
The Truth About Cramming: Why Your Brain Needs Breaks

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-16420171 Sun, 12 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0500 516 361 full false Orli Shaham: On Overcoming Setbacks and Learning to Trust the Process Orli Shaham: On Overcoming Setbacks and Learning to Trust the Process Ever 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 concerto, in Carnegie Hall, where Adams came onstage during the applause and gave her the greatest compliment she could have asked for, as he said “You got it. You really got it.”

If you’ve ever struggled with feeling out of your depth, this episode is for you.

Get all the nerdy details right here:
Orli Shaham: On Overcoming Setbacks and Learning to Trust the Process

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Ever 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 concerto, in Carnegie Hall, where Adams came onstage during the applause and gave her the greatest compliment she could have asked for, as he said “You got it. You really got it.”

If you’ve ever struggled with feeling out of your depth, this episode is for you.

Get all the nerdy details right here:
Orli Shaham: On Overcoming Setbacks and Learning to Trust the Process

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-16381296 Sun, 05 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0500 3208 360 full false A Backward Strategy for Enhanced Goal-Setting Success A Backward Strategy for Enhanced Goal-Setting Success Maybe 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

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Maybe 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

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-16349964 Sun, 29 Dec 2024 03:00:00 -0500 456 359 full false 4 Approaches to Goal Setting (And Which Works Best) 4 Approaches to Goal Setting (And Which Works Best) Are 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)

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Are 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)

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-16320092 Sun, 22 Dec 2024 03:00:00 -0500 438 358 full false Do Extroverts Make Better Performers Than Introverts? Do Extroverts Make Better Performers Than Introverts? Have 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?

Get all the nerdy details here:
Do Extroverts Make Better Performers Than Introverts?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Have 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?

Get all the nerdy details here:
Do Extroverts Make Better Performers Than Introverts?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-16279363 Sun, 15 Dec 2024 03:00:00 -0500 397 357 full false Laurie Scott & Cornelia Watkins: On Going From the Stage to the Studio Laurie Scott & Cornelia Watkins: On Going From the Stage to the Studio “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 students into active/inquisitive learners rather than passive/compliant learners?

Laurie Scott (University of Texas at Austin) and Cornelia Watkins (Northwestern University) co-authored From the Stage to the Studio: How Fine Musicians Become Great Teachers, which is written for university studio faculty, music pedagogy teachers, college music majors, and performing musicians, who are looking to be more effective in their teaching.

In this month’s chat, we’ll learn more about the synergistic relationship between playing and teaching, the problems of dividing music students into “pedagogy” and “performance” majors, how we can teach musical expression very early on in a student’s development, how we can all become better teachers using a technique that won’t come as a surprise but most of us will probably try to avoid, how to help your students become better noticers, and much more.

Get all the nerdy details here:
Laurie Scott & Cornelia Watkins: On Going From the Stage to the Studio

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> “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 students into active/inquisitive learners rather than passive/compliant learners?

Laurie Scott (University of Texas at Austin) and Cornelia Watkins (Northwestern University) co-authored From the Stage to the Studio: How Fine Musicians Become Great Teachers, which is written for university studio faculty, music pedagogy teachers, college music majors, and performing musicians, who are looking to be more effective in their teaching.

In this month’s chat, we’ll learn more about the synergistic relationship between playing and teaching, the problems of dividing music students into “pedagogy” and “performance” majors, how we can teach musical expression very early on in a student’s development, how we can all become better teachers using a technique that won’t come as a surprise but most of us will probably try to avoid, how to help your students become better noticers, and much more.

Get all the nerdy details here:
Laurie Scott & Cornelia Watkins: On Going From the Stage to the Studio

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-16239420 Sun, 08 Dec 2024 03:00:00 -0500 3034 356 full false Does How We Look On Stage Matter More Than How We Sound...? Does How We Look On Stage Matter More Than How We Sound...? Have 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?

Get all the nerdy details here:
Does How We Look On Stage Matter More Than How We Sound...?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Have 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?

Get all the nerdy details here:
Does How We Look On Stage Matter More Than How We Sound...?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-16198119 Sun, 01 Dec 2024 03:00:00 -0500 670 355 full false Does Counting Our Blessings Really Change Anything? Does Counting Our Blessings Really Change Anything? Thanksgiving 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 Counting Our Blessings Really Change Anything?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Thanksgiving 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 Counting Our Blessings Really Change Anything?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-16162645 Sun, 24 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0500 385 354 full false An Easier Way to Get Better at Mental Imagery? An Easier Way to Get Better at Mental Imagery? You'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, and more right here:
An Easier Way to Get Better at Mental Imagery?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> You'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, and more right here:
An Easier Way to Get Better at Mental Imagery?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-16118391 Sun, 17 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0500 568 353 full false A Better Way to Do Mental Practice? A Better Way to Do Mental Practice? The 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. 🤣

Could there be a better way to do visualization?

Get all the nerdy details and study links here:
A Better Way to Do Mental Practice?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> The 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. 🤣

Could there be a better way to do visualization?

Get all the nerdy details and study links here:
A Better Way to Do Mental Practice?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-16076061 Sun, 10 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0500 478 352 full false Not an Optimist? How to Make Pessimism Work for You. Not an Optimist? How to Make Pessimism Work for You. Do 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

]]> Do 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

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-16035840 Sun, 03 Nov 2024 02:00:00 -0500 411 351 full false Can Breathing Really Help Reduce Anxiety? Or Is It Just a Cliché? Can Breathing Really Help Reduce Anxiety? Or Is It Just a Cliché? Can 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/

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Can 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/

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-16035853 Sun, 27 Oct 2024 03:00:00 -0400 501 350 full false Go From Procrastination to Productivity With “Temptation Bundling” Go From Procrastination to Productivity With “Temptation Bundling” Have 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”


More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Have 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”


More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-15954399 Sun, 20 Oct 2024 03:00:00 -0400 387 349 full false A Better Way to Bounce Back From Disappointing Setbacks A Better Way to Bounce Back From Disappointing Setbacks A 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

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> A 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

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-15914625 Sun, 13 Oct 2024 03:00:00 -0400 521 348 full false Why Giving Students Choices Could Dramatically Enhance Learning Why Giving Students Choices Could Dramatically Enhance Learning 🎓 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

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> 🎓 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

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-15873184 Sun, 06 Oct 2024 03:00:00 -0400 406 347 full false What Are Audition Committees Really Listening For? What Are Audition Committees Really Listening For? Ever 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!

Get all the nerdy details here:
What Are Audition Committees Really Listening For?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Ever 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!

Get all the nerdy details here:
What Are Audition Committees Really Listening For?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-15832918 Sun, 29 Sep 2024 03:00:00 -0400 438 346 full false The Best Time to Exercise for Maximizing Practice Gains The Best Time to Exercise for Maximizing Practice Gains Research 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 remember to consult with your physician before jumping into any sort of vigorous high-intensity exercise all of a sudden!)

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Research 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 remember to consult with your physician before jumping into any sort of vigorous high-intensity exercise all of a sudden!)

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-15792004 Sun, 22 Sep 2024 03:00:00 -0400 433 345 full false How Important Is It Really to Practice Every Day? How Important Is It Really to Practice Every Day? Let'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 Musician

]]> Let'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 Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-15753401 Sun, 15 Sep 2024 03:00:00 -0400 434 344 full false Improve Coordination With Opposite-Side Practice Improve Coordination With Opposite-Side Practice Ever 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 if you haven't, I think you'll enjoy adding this new tool to your toolkit.

Either way, I think you'll be intrigued to learn more of the how's and why's about this phenomenon, known as bilateral transfer.

Get all the nerdy details right here:
Improve Coordination With Opposite-Side Practice

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Ever 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 if you haven't, I think you'll enjoy adding this new tool to your toolkit.

Either way, I think you'll be intrigued to learn more of the how's and why's about this phenomenon, known as bilateral transfer.

Get all the nerdy details right here:
Improve Coordination With Opposite-Side Practice

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-15711959 Sun, 08 Sep 2024 03:00:00 -0400 612 343 full false Nathan Cole: Lessons From 20 Years of Concertmaster Auditions Nathan Cole: Lessons From 20 Years of Concertmaster Auditions Have 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 Cole - who was recently appointed concertmaster of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Nathan shares insights, details, and lessons learned from his 20-year concertmaster audition journey, and also demonstrates an exercise (using an excerpt from Brahms’s 4th Symphony) that will help you form clearer musical intentions and play more expressively no matter what music you’re working on - especially in passages where you’re not quite sure what to do.

Get a transcript, show notes, and all the other nerdy details at:
Nathan Cole: Lessons From 20 Years of Concertmaster Auditions

====
You can connect with Nathan and get tons more insights, tips, and technical advice at:

Nathan will also be teaching a live, 4-day, guided (and free) practice workshop on the Scheherazade solos from September 19-22, 2024 (at 4pm Eastern). Whether you’re aspiring to take concertmaster auditions yourself, or simply want to learn some of Nathan practice techniques and strategies for better intonation, sound, and expressive clarity that you can apply to other music that you’re working on, this will be a great way to jumpstart your fall practice with some new tools.

You can also study with Nathan through his online group learning program - Daily Virtuoso - where each quarter, he leads an in-depth study of a new set of masterworks from the repertoire. You’ll learn how to approach both the technical and musical challenges in each piece through live calls, practice assignments, and video lessons, alongside a supportive community of fellow learners.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Have 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 Cole - who was recently appointed concertmaster of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Nathan shares insights, details, and lessons learned from his 20-year concertmaster audition journey, and also demonstrates an exercise (using an excerpt from Brahms’s 4th Symphony) that will help you form clearer musical intentions and play more expressively no matter what music you’re working on - especially in passages where you’re not quite sure what to do.

Get a transcript, show notes, and all the other nerdy details at:
Nathan Cole: Lessons From 20 Years of Concertmaster Auditions

====
You can connect with Nathan and get tons more insights, tips, and technical advice at:

Nathan will also be teaching a live, 4-day, guided (and free) practice workshop on the Scheherazade solos from September 19-22, 2024 (at 4pm Eastern). Whether you’re aspiring to take concertmaster auditions yourself, or simply want to learn some of Nathan practice techniques and strategies for better intonation, sound, and expressive clarity that you can apply to other music that you’re working on, this will be a great way to jumpstart your fall practice with some new tools.

You can also study with Nathan through his online group learning program - Daily Virtuoso - where each quarter, he leads an in-depth study of a new set of masterworks from the repertoire. You’ll learn how to approach both the technical and musical challenges in each piece through live calls, practice assignments, and video lessons, alongside a supportive community of fellow learners.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-15674844 Sun, 01 Sep 2024 03:00:00 -0400 3294 342 full false An Ironic Strategy to Stay Calmer and Avoid Rushing on Performance Days An Ironic Strategy to Stay Calmer and Avoid Rushing on Performance Days Whether 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 to play.

Get all the nerdy details here:
An Ironic Strategy to Stay Calmer and Avoid Rushing on Performance Days

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Whether 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 to play.

Get all the nerdy details here:
An Ironic Strategy to Stay Calmer and Avoid Rushing on Performance Days

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-15634498 Sun, 25 Aug 2024 03:00:00 -0400 481 341 full false How Teachers' Expectations Can Shape Students' Learning & Performance How Teachers' Expectations Can Shape Students' Learning & Performance In 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

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> In 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

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-15598243 Sun, 18 Aug 2024 03:00:00 -0400 534 340 full false How Much Do Positive or Negative Expectations Affect Performance? How Much Do Positive or Negative Expectations Affect Performance? Even 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?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Even 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?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-15561725 Sun, 11 Aug 2024 03:00:00 -0400 318 339 full false How to Keep Music Feeling Fresh Through Repeated Performances How to Keep Music Feeling Fresh Through Repeated Performances It'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 keeping old music fresh, a 2009 study looks at a strategy that might not only help you stay engaged with this music, but keep the audience more engaged too.

Get all the nerdy details here:
How to Keep Music Feeling Fresh Through Repeated Performances

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> It'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 keeping old music fresh, a 2009 study looks at a strategy that might not only help you stay engaged with this music, but keep the audience more engaged too.

Get all the nerdy details here:
How to Keep Music Feeling Fresh Through Repeated Performances

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-15524362 Sun, 04 Aug 2024 03:00:00 -0400 353 338 full false Is It Really so Bad to Frown After Making a Mistake? Is It Really so Bad to Frown After Making a Mistake? My 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 some point that we should walk out on stage confidently, with a smile. And that we should avoid frowning or expressing frustration when the performance isn’t going well.

Yet...how much does this really matter? Does any of it make a difference, as long as we play well?

A 2017 study by previous podcast guests Aaron Williamon and George Waddell provide some surprising answers.

Get all the nerdy details here:
Why Every Performer Needs a Good Poker Face

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> My 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 some point that we should walk out on stage confidently, with a smile. And that we should avoid frowning or expressing frustration when the performance isn’t going well.

Yet...how much does this really matter? Does any of it make a difference, as long as we play well?

A 2017 study by previous podcast guests Aaron Williamon and George Waddell provide some surprising answers.

Get all the nerdy details here:
Why Every Performer Needs a Good Poker Face

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-15481778 Sun, 28 Jul 2024 03:00:00 -0400 512 337 full false What’s the Optimal Practice-To-Rest Ratio? What’s the Optimal Practice-To-Rest Ratio? How 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 Bulletproof Musician

]]> How 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 Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-15444479 Sun, 21 Jul 2024 03:00:00 -0400 497 336 full false Is There a Way to Make Self-Imposed Deadlines Work? Is There a Way to Make Self-Imposed Deadlines Work? Whether 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 from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Whether 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 from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-15408200 Sun, 14 Jul 2024 03:00:00 -0400 502 335 full false Does Listening to Music Benefit the Music Learning Process? Does Listening to Music Benefit the Music Learning Process? We'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?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> We'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?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-15361783 Sun, 07 Jul 2024 03:00:00 -0400 445 334 full false A Better Way to Learn, Teach, and Perform New Skills? A Better Way to Learn, Teach, and Perform New Skills? Ever 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 around this? Well, a 2010 study provides some helpful clues!

Get all the nerdy details here:
A Better Way to Learn, Teach, and Perform New Skills?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Ever 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 around this? Well, a 2010 study provides some helpful clues!

Get all the nerdy details here:
A Better Way to Learn, Teach, and Perform New Skills?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-15332136 Sun, 30 Jun 2024 03:00:00 -0400 444 333 full false Is It Better to Perform With Eyes Open or Closed? Is It Better to Perform With Eyes Open or Closed? Do 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

]]> Do 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

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-15294255 Sun, 23 Jun 2024 03:00:00 -0400 419 332 full false A Teaching Method That Creates Smarter Practicers A Teaching Method That Creates Smarter Practicers I 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 learning and performance results than the "regular" teaching approach.

Spoiler alert: it did.

Click below for all the nerdy details:
A Teaching Method That Creates Smarter Practicers

References
Bathgate, M., Sims‐Knight, J., & Schunn, C. (2011). Thoughts on Thinking: Engaging novice music students in metacognition. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 26(3), 403–409. https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.1842

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> I 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 learning and performance results than the "regular" teaching approach.

Spoiler alert: it did.

Click below for all the nerdy details:
A Teaching Method That Creates Smarter Practicers

References
Bathgate, M., Sims‐Knight, J., & Schunn, C. (2011). Thoughts on Thinking: Engaging novice music students in metacognition. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 26(3), 403–409. https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.1842

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-15239350 Sun, 16 Jun 2024 03:00:00 -0400 587 331 full false The Subtle Habit That Might Be Undermining Your Confidence The Subtle Habit That Might Be Undermining Your Confidence You 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 right, you’re not alone.

A 1977 study (it’s an oldie, but goodie) explains why this happens - and gives us some clues on how we might interrupt the automatic habit that often undermines our confidence.

Get all the nerdy details here:
The Subtle Habit That Might Be Undermining Your Confidence

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> You 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 right, you’re not alone.

A 1977 study (it’s an oldie, but goodie) explains why this happens - and gives us some clues on how we might interrupt the automatic habit that often undermines our confidence.

Get all the nerdy details here:
The Subtle Habit That Might Be Undermining Your Confidence

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-15216335 Sun, 09 Jun 2024 03:00:00 -0400 520 330 full false Learn More Effectively with This Lesser-Known Mindset Shift Learn More Effectively with This Lesser-Known Mindset Shift For 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 difference in your learning and retention, that you may not yet have in your toolbox. And no, it's not the growth mindset, if that's what you were thinking! It's something else entirely. 😁

Get all the nerdy details and links to related articles right here:
Learn More Effectively with This Lesser-Known Mindset Shift

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> For 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 difference in your learning and retention, that you may not yet have in your toolbox. And no, it's not the growth mindset, if that's what you were thinking! It's something else entirely. 😁

Get all the nerdy details and links to related articles right here:
Learn More Effectively with This Lesser-Known Mindset Shift

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-15165831 Sun, 02 Jun 2024 03:00:00 -0400 374 329 full false Are You the “Good” or “Bad” Kind of Procrastinator? Are You the “Good” or “Bad” Kind of Procrastinator? We 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 Procrastinator?

Also, I mention spaced, interleaved, and variable practice at the end of the episode. If you're wondering what those things are, you can learn more about them here:

The Learning-Performance Distinction and Why Your Practice Gains Don't Stick

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> We 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 Procrastinator?

Also, I mention spaced, interleaved, and variable practice at the end of the episode. If you're wondering what those things are, you can learn more about them here:

The Learning-Performance Distinction and Why Your Practice Gains Don't Stick

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-15134994 Sun, 26 May 2024 03:00:00 -0400 431 328 full false Why Practicing for Consistency May Be Less Effective Than You’d Think Why Practicing for Consistency May Be Less Effective Than You’d Think This episode is sponsored by Musician's Maintenance - safe, simple, maintenance exercises that specifically address the muscle groups that matter most for musicians.

* * *
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 get it right, but as the saying goes, until I couldn't get it wrong.

But is this really the most efficient and effective approach to get to the consistency that we ultimately want on stage? Or is there a better way? (spoiler alert: there is 😁)

Get all the nerdy details here:
Why Practicing for Consistency May Be Less Effective Than You’d Think

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> This episode is sponsored by Musician's Maintenance - safe, simple, maintenance exercises that specifically address the muscle groups that matter most for musicians.

* * *
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 get it right, but as the saying goes, until I couldn't get it wrong.

But is this really the most efficient and effective approach to get to the consistency that we ultimately want on stage? Or is there a better way? (spoiler alert: there is 😁)

Get all the nerdy details here:
Why Practicing for Consistency May Be Less Effective Than You’d Think

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-15091988 Sat, 18 May 2024 11:00:00 -0400 544 327 full false Are Great Sight-Readers Born or Made? Are Great Sight-Readers Born or Made? In 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 I could have worked on, that would have made me a better sight reader?

A 2014 meta-analysis provides some clues and pinpoints a few specific skills that could help you improve your sight-reading ability as well.

Get all the nerdy details right here:
Are Great Sight-Readers Born or Made?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> In 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 I could have worked on, that would have made me a better sight reader?

A 2014 meta-analysis provides some clues and pinpoints a few specific skills that could help you improve your sight-reading ability as well.

Get all the nerdy details right here:
Are Great Sight-Readers Born or Made?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-15051498 Sun, 12 May 2024 03:00:00 -0400 500 326 full false Michael Bridge: On Cultivating Expressive (vs Impressive) Virtuosity Michael Bridge: On Cultivating Expressive (vs Impressive) Virtuosity This episode is sponsored by Musician's Maintenance - safe, simple, maintenance exercises that specifically address the muscle groups that matter most for musicians.

* * *
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 performer of an instrument that you probably don’t know very much about. I’m not even going to tell you what it is quite yet, to make sure your brain doesn’t jump to any premature conclusions. 😁

I’ll just say, that in this episode, you’ll learn how to use your daily practice to develop more expressive virtuosity (as opposed to impressive virtuosity). And you’ll also learn more about “horizontal” playing (as opposed to vertical playing), how to create more compelling and expressive phrases by “cheating” with your dynamics, the four key elements of effective performances, and much more.

Get all the nerdy details here:
Michael Bridge: On Cultivating Expressive (vs Impressive) Virtuosity

*NOTE: The audio in this episode is optimized for voice, rather than music, so my apologies in advance for the portions where the sound of the music is less than awesome. If you'd like to hear Michael's playing as it should be heard, check out the performance videos on his website here: https://www.michaelbridge.ca/music

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> This episode is sponsored by Musician's Maintenance - safe, simple, maintenance exercises that specifically address the muscle groups that matter most for musicians.

* * *
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 performer of an instrument that you probably don’t know very much about. I’m not even going to tell you what it is quite yet, to make sure your brain doesn’t jump to any premature conclusions. 😁

I’ll just say, that in this episode, you’ll learn how to use your daily practice to develop more expressive virtuosity (as opposed to impressive virtuosity). And you’ll also learn more about “horizontal” playing (as opposed to vertical playing), how to create more compelling and expressive phrases by “cheating” with your dynamics, the four key elements of effective performances, and much more.

Get all the nerdy details here:
Michael Bridge: On Cultivating Expressive (vs Impressive) Virtuosity

*NOTE: The audio in this episode is optimized for voice, rather than music, so my apologies in advance for the portions where the sound of the music is less than awesome. If you'd like to hear Michael's playing as it should be heard, check out the performance videos on his website here: https://www.michaelbridge.ca/music

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-15007591 Sun, 05 May 2024 03:00:00 -0400 3502 325 full false How Much of an Effect Does Hydration Have on Practice & Performance? How Much of an Effect Does Hydration Have on Practice & Performance? Everyone 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 levels of dehydration.

Get all the nerdy details here:
How Much of an Effect Does Hydration Have on Practice & Performance?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Everyone 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 levels of dehydration.

Get all the nerdy details here:
How Much of an Effect Does Hydration Have on Practice & Performance?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-14966212 Sun, 28 Apr 2024 03:00:00 -0400 365 324 full false Feel Like You’re Getting Worse? Here’s Why That May Not Just Be Your Imagination. Feel Like You’re Getting Worse? Here’s Why That May Not Just Be Your Imagination. This 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. Kind of like what happens when you clean out your closet, and have to make things messier, before you can make it better.

But sometimes this is not just in our imagination, and we could actually be regressing or slowing down the learning process! 😳 Fortunately, there's a very specific reason why this might be happening. As well as specific strategies we can use to get around this issue.

Get all the nerdy details right here:
Feel Like You’re Getting Worse? Here’s Why That May Not Just Be Your Imagination.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> This 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. Kind of like what happens when you clean out your closet, and have to make things messier, before you can make it better.

But sometimes this is not just in our imagination, and we could actually be regressing or slowing down the learning process! 😳 Fortunately, there's a very specific reason why this might be happening. As well as specific strategies we can use to get around this issue.

Get all the nerdy details right here:
Feel Like You’re Getting Worse? Here’s Why That May Not Just Be Your Imagination.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-14923493 Sun, 21 Apr 2024 03:00:00 -0400 540 323 full false An Unconventional Way to Enhance Your Focus in the Practice Room An Unconventional Way to Enhance Your Focus in the Practice Room 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.

It’s 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

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> 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.

It’s 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

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-14881809 Sun, 14 Apr 2024 03:00:00 -0400 423 322 full false Frank Almond: On Work, Fun, and the Importance of Both in Dealing with Adversity Frank Almond: On Work, Fun, and the Importance of Both in Dealing with Adversity This 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 into his practice routine.

It’s 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

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> This 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 into his practice routine.

It’s 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

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-14840921 Sun, 07 Apr 2024 03:00:00 -0400 2528 321 full false How the Wrong Kind of Praise Could Increase a Student’s Feelings of Shame How the Wrong Kind of Praise Could Increase a Student’s Feelings of Shame 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 Student’s Feelings of Shame

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> 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 Student’s Feelings of Shame

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-14797242 Sun, 31 Mar 2024 03:00:00 -0400 427 320 full false Can We Learn Faster by Thinking Less? Can We Learn Faster by Thinking Less? This 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 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?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> This 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 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?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-14753241 Sun, 24 Mar 2024 03:00:00 -0400 638 319 full false To Play More Accurately, Change Your Focus? To Play More Accurately, Change Your Focus? 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?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> 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?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-14701405 Sun, 17 Mar 2024 03:00:00 -0400 437 318 full false Why Good Ensemble Playing May Require More Than Just Your Ears Why Good Ensemble Playing May Require More Than Just Your Ears This 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 quartets provide some clues.

Get all the nerdy details here;
Why Good Ensemble Playing May Require More Than Just Your Ears

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> This 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 quartets provide some clues.

Get all the nerdy details here;
Why Good Ensemble Playing May Require More Than Just Your Ears

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-14658194 Sun, 10 Mar 2024 04:00:00 -0400 444 317 full false A Gentle Way to Help Kids (or Adults) Build Performance Confidence? A Gentle Way to Help Kids (or Adults) Build Performance Confidence? 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 week’s practice hack right here:

A Gentle Way to Help Kids (or Adults) Build Performance Confidence?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> 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 week’s practice hack right here:

A Gentle Way to Help Kids (or Adults) Build Performance Confidence?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-14614524 Sun, 03 Mar 2024 03:00:00 -0500 469 316 full false A Simple Strategy for Reducing Worries and Practicing With More Focus A Simple Strategy for Reducing Worries and Practicing With More Focus 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

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> 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

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-14566386 Sun, 25 Feb 2024 03:00:00 -0500 465 315 full false Why the Wrong Kind of Praise Could Heighten a Student's Fear of Failure Why the Wrong Kind of Praise Could Heighten a Student's Fear of Failure 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. 😳

Get all the nerdy details right here:
Why the Wrong Kind of Praise Could Heighten a Student's Fear of Failure

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> 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. 😳

Get all the nerdy details right here:
Why the Wrong Kind of Praise Could Heighten a Student's Fear of Failure

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-14509787 Sun, 18 Feb 2024 03:00:00 -0500 444 314 full false Do You Have a Bias Against Creative Students (Without Realizing It)? Do You Have a Bias Against Creative Students (Without Realizing It)? 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)?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> 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)?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-14478045 Sun, 11 Feb 2024 03:00:00 -0500 408 313 full false Steven Tenenbom: On Rhythm, Phrasing, and the Life Within Each Note Steven Tenenbom: On Rhythm, Phrasing, and the Life Within Each Note 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? 🤣)

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

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> 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? 🤣)

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

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-14433037 Sun, 04 Feb 2024 03:00:00 -0500 2258 312 full false Can Good Luck Charms and Superstitious Rituals Enhance Performance? Can Good Luck Charms and Superstitious Rituals Enhance Performance? 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 it’s 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, there’s 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 you’ve struggled with this for years.

If you’d 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 now’s not the right time for a class like this, that’s ok too! In the meantime, you can get all the nerdy details about this week’s study and practice hack right here:
Can Good Luck Charms and Superstitious Rituals Enhance Performance?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> 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 it’s 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, there’s 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 you’ve struggled with this for years.

If you’d 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 now’s not the right time for a class like this, that’s ok too! In the meantime, you can get all the nerdy details about this week’s study and practice hack right here:
Can Good Luck Charms and Superstitious Rituals Enhance Performance?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-14343868 Sun, 21 Jan 2024 03:00:00 -0500 434 311 full false A Simple Technique to Prevent Choking (Which Sounds Like it Couldn’t Possibly Work) A Simple Technique to Prevent Choking (Which Sounds Like it Couldn’t Possibly Work) The other day, I had to parallel park in a crowded neighborhood with narrow streets. I’m 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 couldn’t 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 can’t park.

I just experienced “choking.” And I’m assuming you’ve had some experience with this phenomenon too, whether it’s parking or performing.

It’s tempting to assume that we can prevent choking by simply practicing more. But it turns out it’s a little more interesting than that, and there are several key skills that go into performing your best under pressure. There’s 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 you’d 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, there’s 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 week’s practice hack right here:
A Simple Technique to Prevent Choking (Which Sounds Like it Couldn't Possibly Work)

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> The other day, I had to parallel park in a crowded neighborhood with narrow streets. I’m 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 couldn’t 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 can’t park.

I just experienced “choking.” And I’m assuming you’ve had some experience with this phenomenon too, whether it’s parking or performing.

It’s tempting to assume that we can prevent choking by simply practicing more. But it turns out it’s a little more interesting than that, and there are several key skills that go into performing your best under pressure. There’s 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 you’d 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, there’s 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 week’s practice hack right here:
A Simple Technique to Prevent Choking (Which Sounds Like it Couldn't Possibly Work)

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-14303206 Sun, 14 Jan 2024 03:00:00 -0500 535 310 full false WOOP: A Better Way to Set Goals? WOOP: A Better Way to Set Goals? In the previous episode we looked at at study which suggested that having goals is good - but we’re 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 Year’s resolutions and our most well-intentioned plans can start to go off the rails pretty quickly.

So if you’ve found yourself slipping already, know that it’s not just you!

And there’s no need to beat yourself up about this either. Because in all likelihood it’s not you, your commitment, or your willpower that’s the issue. It might just be that there’s 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?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> In the previous episode we looked at at study which suggested that having goals is good - but we’re 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 Year’s resolutions and our most well-intentioned plans can start to go off the rails pretty quickly.

So if you’ve found yourself slipping already, know that it’s not just you!

And there’s no need to beat yourself up about this either. Because in all likelihood it’s not you, your commitment, or your willpower that’s the issue. It might just be that there’s 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?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-14260183 Sun, 07 Jan 2024 03:00:00 -0500 433 309 full false How Important Is It to Write Down Your Goals? How Important Is It to Write Down Your Goals? '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?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> '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?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-14223923 Sun, 31 Dec 2023 03:00:00 -0500 405 308 full false How Important Is “Perfect Practice” When Learning Something New? How Important Is “Perfect Practice” When Learning Something New? 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 “Perfect Practice” When Learning Something New?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> 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 “Perfect Practice” When Learning Something New?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-14197181 Sun, 24 Dec 2023 03:00:00 -0500 413 307 full false Why It's Important to Identify (and Use) Your "Signature Strengths" Why It's Important to Identify (and Use) Your "Signature Strengths" 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"

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> 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"

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-14149897 Sun, 17 Dec 2023 03:00:00 -0500 558 306 full false Jason Shafer: On Healthier Practicing & Strengths-Based Performing Jason Shafer: On Healthier Practicing & Strengths-Based Performing 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 you’ve ever tried Googling questions like this for an answer, today’s episode is for you. 😅

Colorado Symphony principal clarinetist Jason Shafer has enjoyed an active performing and teaching career, but two years ago began pursuing a master’s 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.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> 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 you’ve ever tried Googling questions like this for an answer, today’s episode is for you. 😅

Colorado Symphony principal clarinetist Jason Shafer has enjoyed an active performing and teaching career, but two years ago began pursuing a master’s 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.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-14117486 Sun, 10 Dec 2023 03:00:00 -0500 3224 305 full false A Mindset Shift That Can Help You Respond to Setbacks With Even Better Performances A Mindset Shift That Can Help You Respond to Setbacks With Even Better Performances When you put a lot of time and energy into preparing for something that’s important to you, and things don’t go the way you hoped, it’s 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

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> When you put a lot of time and energy into preparing for something that’s important to you, and things don’t go the way you hoped, it’s 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

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-14076416 Sun, 03 Dec 2023 03:00:00 -0500 632 304 full false Reduce Burnout With a Simple Three-Step Exercise Reduce Burnout With a Simple Three-Step Exercise 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

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> 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

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-14032040 Sun, 26 Nov 2023 03:00:00 -0500 551 303 full false The Best Way to Breathe for Reducing Stress? The Best Way to Breathe for Reducing Stress? In last week's episode, we looked at a study which tested a particular sound for its ability to decrease our anxiety. (Which you can revisit here if you missed it.)

I figured we might as well stay on that theme, so this week I have a study which compared several different types of breathing, to see if there was a particular way of breathing that might reduce our stress more than others.

Turns out not all breathing techniques have the same effect! So whether you’re looking for a way to regulate your stress before a performance or keep your cool amidst family drama during the Thanksgiving holidays, I think you’ll find this week’s breathing technique to be a very handy addition to your emotional regulation toolkit. 😅

Get all the nerdy details here: The Best Way to Breathe for Reducing Stress?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> In last week's episode, we looked at a study which tested a particular sound for its ability to decrease our anxiety. (Which you can revisit here if you missed it.)

I figured we might as well stay on that theme, so this week I have a study which compared several different types of breathing, to see if there was a particular way of breathing that might reduce our stress more than others.

Turns out not all breathing techniques have the same effect! So whether you’re looking for a way to regulate your stress before a performance or keep your cool amidst family drama during the Thanksgiving holidays, I think you’ll find this week’s breathing technique to be a very handy addition to your emotional regulation toolkit. 😅

Get all the nerdy details here: The Best Way to Breathe for Reducing Stress?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-13995971 Sun, 19 Nov 2023 03:00:00 -0500 479 302 full false The Best Thing to Listen to Backstage for Reducing Anxiety? The Best Thing to Listen to Backstage for Reducing Anxiety? Managing pre-performance nerves on the day of a performance or audition can be a real challenge. And it can get even more difficult backstage as the moment draws nearer.

Should we study the score some more? Listen to music? Read a book? Try to meditate or  do some deep breathing? Color or doodle? Do some expressive writing? Visualize?

The best answer is that it's probably a combination of things that's most effective, but a recent pair of studies suggest that listening to one thing might really help to calm you down and put you in a better headspace.

Get all the nerdy details here:
The Best Thing to Listen to Backstage for Reducing Anxiety?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Managing pre-performance nerves on the day of a performance or audition can be a real challenge. And it can get even more difficult backstage as the moment draws nearer.

Should we study the score some more? Listen to music? Read a book? Try to meditate or  do some deep breathing? Color or doodle? Do some expressive writing? Visualize?

The best answer is that it's probably a combination of things that's most effective, but a recent pair of studies suggest that listening to one thing might really help to calm you down and put you in a better headspace.

Get all the nerdy details here:
The Best Thing to Listen to Backstage for Reducing Anxiety?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-13952144 Sun, 12 Nov 2023 03:00:00 -0500 441 301 full false Benjamin Kamins: On Self-Judgment, Slow Practice, and Reed-Making Benjamin Kamins: On Self-Judgment, Slow Practice, and Reed-Making In an ideal world, we’d be building confidence in the practice room from one day to the next, but sometimes that can be easier said than done. It’s easy for the voice in our head to get very judge-y and negative and make us feel like we’re playing a never-ending game of whack-a-mole. Where every time we think we’ve solved a problem, a new one pops up to take its place.

Whether it’s getting through challenging passages that have become “a thing,” troubleshooting intonation in an ensemble without judgment, or making sure you’re not accidentally reinforcing bad habits when practicing slowly, bassoonist Benjamin Kamins has seen it or worked through it in his years as an orchestral musician, chamber musician, soloist, educator, and Alexander Technique teacher.

In this month’s interview, you’ll hear lots of anecdotes and tips for overcoming some of the common challenges we often encounter in the practice room and on stage.

Get all the nerdy details (and transcript) here:
Benjamin Kamins: On Self-Judgment, Slow Practice, and Reed-Making

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> In an ideal world, we’d be building confidence in the practice room from one day to the next, but sometimes that can be easier said than done. It’s easy for the voice in our head to get very judge-y and negative and make us feel like we’re playing a never-ending game of whack-a-mole. Where every time we think we’ve solved a problem, a new one pops up to take its place.

Whether it’s getting through challenging passages that have become “a thing,” troubleshooting intonation in an ensemble without judgment, or making sure you’re not accidentally reinforcing bad habits when practicing slowly, bassoonist Benjamin Kamins has seen it or worked through it in his years as an orchestral musician, chamber musician, soloist, educator, and Alexander Technique teacher.

In this month’s interview, you’ll hear lots of anecdotes and tips for overcoming some of the common challenges we often encounter in the practice room and on stage.

Get all the nerdy details (and transcript) here:
Benjamin Kamins: On Self-Judgment, Slow Practice, and Reed-Making

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-13908138 Sun, 05 Nov 2023 02:00:00 -0500 3151 300 full false Why Lowering Standards Can Sometimes Promote Better Learning Why Lowering Standards Can Sometimes Promote Better Learning In many areas of our life (surgery, aviation, and dealing with bedbugs are a few things that come to mind), I think it’s fair to say that having really high standards is a very good thing.

Intuitively, you’d think that the same would be true when it comes to learning and performing an instrument as well.

But as you’ll see in today’s study, that’s not always the case. As in, there are times when relaxing or lowering our standards can actually lead to better learning, and better performance too.

How can that be?! Yeah, I know. This all sounds wrong, right?

Get all the nerdy details here: Why Lowering Standards Can Sometimes Promote Better Learning

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> In many areas of our life (surgery, aviation, and dealing with bedbugs are a few things that come to mind), I think it’s fair to say that having really high standards is a very good thing.

Intuitively, you’d think that the same would be true when it comes to learning and performing an instrument as well.

But as you’ll see in today’s study, that’s not always the case. As in, there are times when relaxing or lowering our standards can actually lead to better learning, and better performance too.

How can that be?! Yeah, I know. This all sounds wrong, right?

Get all the nerdy details here: Why Lowering Standards Can Sometimes Promote Better Learning

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-13864702 Sun, 29 Oct 2023 03:00:00 -0400 367 299 full false “Brain Fatigue” and the Best Thing to Do on Practice Breaks “Brain Fatigue” and the Best Thing to Do on Practice Breaks Other than putting our instruments down, what should we be doing during our practice breaks to mentally recharge our batteries and prepare ourselves best for the next chunk of practice?

Watch cute animal videos? Take a quick nap? Grab some coffee?

Is there such a thing as a "best" practice break activity? Maybe not, but there's some research in the creativity and stress-reduction domains which all point at one particular activity that could be worth experimenting with during your next practice break.

Get all the nerdy details here:
“Brain Fatigue” and the Best Thing to Do on Practice Breaks

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Other than putting our instruments down, what should we be doing during our practice breaks to mentally recharge our batteries and prepare ourselves best for the next chunk of practice?

Watch cute animal videos? Take a quick nap? Grab some coffee?

Is there such a thing as a "best" practice break activity? Maybe not, but there's some research in the creativity and stress-reduction domains which all point at one particular activity that could be worth experimenting with during your next practice break.

Get all the nerdy details here:
“Brain Fatigue” and the Best Thing to Do on Practice Breaks

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-13819817 Sun, 22 Oct 2023 03:00:00 -0400 446 298 full false Why Reflection Should Be Part of Your Daily Practice Routine Why Reflection Should Be Part of Your Daily Practice Routine 3-time Olympic diving coach Jeff Huber once said that he would get really excited when one of his athletes would approach him and say "Hey coach, I've been thinking..."

He explained that this phrase was often a sign that they were about to take a significant leap forward in their development as a diver (you can listen to his podcast episode here if you missed it).

Of course, it's not the words themselves that are so important, but an important learning process implied by this phrase that makes all the difference.

Unfortunately, it's an aspect of practice that we often skip. Heck, you may not even think of it as an important part of practice. But including this in your daily routine could make a big difference in your growth and development.

Get all the nerdy details here:
Why Reflection Should Be Part of Your Daily Practice Routine

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> 3-time Olympic diving coach Jeff Huber once said that he would get really excited when one of his athletes would approach him and say "Hey coach, I've been thinking..."

He explained that this phrase was often a sign that they were about to take a significant leap forward in their development as a diver (you can listen to his podcast episode here if you missed it).

Of course, it's not the words themselves that are so important, but an important learning process implied by this phrase that makes all the difference.

Unfortunately, it's an aspect of practice that we often skip. Heck, you may not even think of it as an important part of practice. But including this in your daily routine could make a big difference in your growth and development.

Get all the nerdy details here:
Why Reflection Should Be Part of Your Daily Practice Routine

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-13776395 Sun, 15 Oct 2023 03:00:00 -0400 370 297 full false How to Practice for More Consistent Performances How to Practice for More Consistent Performances Have you ever wished audiences (or your teacher) could hear the awesome private version of yourself that you hear in the practice room, instead of the slightly less awesome public version of yourself that appears on stage?

Sure, nerves can play a role in this, but part of the problem is how we practice. There's a tendency to strive for too much consistency in the practice room - which sounds like the right thing to do, but can actually be counterproductive. I know that seems bonkers, but we'll explore a couple studies today that will illustrate why aiming for too many "perfect" repetitions in a row can paradoxically lead to less consistency and accuracy on stage. And you'll learn what we should be doing more of instead.

Get all the nerdy details and this week’s practice hack right here:

​How to Practice for More Consistent Performances

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Have you ever wished audiences (or your teacher) could hear the awesome private version of yourself that you hear in the practice room, instead of the slightly less awesome public version of yourself that appears on stage?

Sure, nerves can play a role in this, but part of the problem is how we practice. There's a tendency to strive for too much consistency in the practice room - which sounds like the right thing to do, but can actually be counterproductive. I know that seems bonkers, but we'll explore a couple studies today that will illustrate why aiming for too many "perfect" repetitions in a row can paradoxically lead to less consistency and accuracy on stage. And you'll learn what we should be doing more of instead.

Get all the nerdy details and this week’s practice hack right here:

​How to Practice for More Consistent Performances

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-13732002 Sun, 08 Oct 2023 03:00:00 -0400 549 296 full false Christine Carter & Ellen Hendriksen: On the Perils of “Perfect Practice” Christine Carter & Ellen Hendriksen: On the Perils of “Perfect Practice” If you’re reading this, I’m guessing that you have pretty high standards of performance in at least one area of your life. I mean, you probably wouldn’t be interested in a performance psychology podcast if you didn’t, no? 😅

I'm also guessing that you've been accused, or praised, for being a perfectionist at some point or another. Maybe even both - because I think society sends us a lot of mixed messages about perfectionism.

On one hand, I think we know that it doesn’t make us look great to humblebrag about our perfectionism, and claim it as our biggest weakness in job interviews.

But on the other hand, we often get a pat on the back for our perfectionistic tendencies, when people marvel at our “attention to detail,” or how “dedicated” or “diligent” or “committed” we are.

It’s easy to confuse perfectionism with having high standards, and assume that being a perfectionist is a good thing in the practice room. But it turns out that perfectionism could push us to practice in a way that not only makes practicing less fun, but inhibits our learning, and could even make us less effective and compelling musicians.

So why exactly is “perfect practice” a problem? And what’s the more effective alternative?

Get all the nerdy details, and links to studies and practice strategies referenced in the episode right here:

​On the Perils of “Perfect Practice”: Christine Carter & Ellen Hendriksen

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> If you’re reading this, I’m guessing that you have pretty high standards of performance in at least one area of your life. I mean, you probably wouldn’t be interested in a performance psychology podcast if you didn’t, no? 😅

I'm also guessing that you've been accused, or praised, for being a perfectionist at some point or another. Maybe even both - because I think society sends us a lot of mixed messages about perfectionism.

On one hand, I think we know that it doesn’t make us look great to humblebrag about our perfectionism, and claim it as our biggest weakness in job interviews.

But on the other hand, we often get a pat on the back for our perfectionistic tendencies, when people marvel at our “attention to detail,” or how “dedicated” or “diligent” or “committed” we are.

It’s easy to confuse perfectionism with having high standards, and assume that being a perfectionist is a good thing in the practice room. But it turns out that perfectionism could push us to practice in a way that not only makes practicing less fun, but inhibits our learning, and could even make us less effective and compelling musicians.

So why exactly is “perfect practice” a problem? And what’s the more effective alternative?

Get all the nerdy details, and links to studies and practice strategies referenced in the episode right here:

​On the Perils of “Perfect Practice”: Christine Carter & Ellen Hendriksen

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-13691916 Sun, 01 Oct 2023 03:00:00 -0400 2845 295 full false Are Today’s Musicians More “Clone-Like?" Are Today’s Musicians More “Clone-Like?" A few weeks ago, violinist Nigel Kennedy was quoted as saying that today's young musicians are more "clone-like," noting that while so many have phenomenal technical fluency, this may have come at the expense of musical communication.

This was in the context of a larger (and intriguing) conversation about how funding in music is distributed, and how this might be part of the issue, but regardless, I was curious to see if there might be any studies on this particular issue.

Though I didn't find any data on this in the realm of classical music, I did find a 2012 study that explored this in the context of popular music. Which had some pretty interesting findings that I suspect could be related to classical music as well.

Click below for all the nerdy details, and how this could be related to your daily practice: Are Today’s Musicians More “Clone-Like?"

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> A few weeks ago, violinist Nigel Kennedy was quoted as saying that today's young musicians are more "clone-like," noting that while so many have phenomenal technical fluency, this may have come at the expense of musical communication.

This was in the context of a larger (and intriguing) conversation about how funding in music is distributed, and how this might be part of the issue, but regardless, I was curious to see if there might be any studies on this particular issue.

Though I didn't find any data on this in the realm of classical music, I did find a 2012 study that explored this in the context of popular music. Which had some pretty interesting findings that I suspect could be related to classical music as well.

Click below for all the nerdy details, and how this could be related to your daily practice: Are Today’s Musicians More “Clone-Like?"

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-13644567 Sun, 24 Sep 2023 03:00:00 -0400 456 294 full false Why Practicing Too Much Could Actually Increase Errors Why Practicing Too Much Could Actually Increase Errors I often get questions about specific topics or issues that haven't already been covered in  a podcast episode. Today's episode is devoted to a question that has come up a fair bit.

Specifically, it's about staying focused in the practice room. And in particular, for those who have been diagnosed with ADHD.

The study compares a group of college students who practice for 80 repetitions with a group that practices for 160. The main question being - how much additional benefit does practicing twice as much have when it comes to speed and accuracy?

And does this apply equally to students who have been diagnosed with ADHD and those who are non-ADHD?

Turns out the findings apply to both ADHD and non-ADHD populations. Click below for all the nerdy details:
Why Practicing Too Much Could Actually Increase Errors

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> I often get questions about specific topics or issues that haven't already been covered in  a podcast episode. Today's episode is devoted to a question that has come up a fair bit.

Specifically, it's about staying focused in the practice room. And in particular, for those who have been diagnosed with ADHD.

The study compares a group of college students who practice for 80 repetitions with a group that practices for 160. The main question being - how much additional benefit does practicing twice as much have when it comes to speed and accuracy?

And does this apply equally to students who have been diagnosed with ADHD and those who are non-ADHD?

Turns out the findings apply to both ADHD and non-ADHD populations. Click below for all the nerdy details:
Why Practicing Too Much Could Actually Increase Errors

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-13603076 Sun, 17 Sep 2023 03:00:00 -0400 491 293 full false How Consistent Do Pre-Performance Routines Need to Be? How Consistent Do Pre-Performance Routines Need to Be? If you've watched any sports - especially golf, basketball, and tennis - you've probably noticed that many athletes have a pre-shot, pre-free throw, or pre-serve ritual that they go through before performing that skill.

Many musicians have rituals too, even if it's as simple as wiping your hands on your pants or hearing the opening of a piece to get the tempo in mind before you begin playing.

Athletes' routines tend to be very consistent, and don't change from game to game or shot to shot. But how important is it to keep your routine consistent? Does it matter how long the routine takes, or whether the ingredients of your routine remain the same from one performance to the next?

Get all the nerdy details here:
How Consistent Do Pre-Performance Routines Need to Be?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> If you've watched any sports - especially golf, basketball, and tennis - you've probably noticed that many athletes have a pre-shot, pre-free throw, or pre-serve ritual that they go through before performing that skill.

Many musicians have rituals too, even if it's as simple as wiping your hands on your pants or hearing the opening of a piece to get the tempo in mind before you begin playing.

Athletes' routines tend to be very consistent, and don't change from game to game or shot to shot. But how important is it to keep your routine consistent? Does it matter how long the routine takes, or whether the ingredients of your routine remain the same from one performance to the next?

Get all the nerdy details here:
How Consistent Do Pre-Performance Routines Need to Be?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-13560253 Sun, 10 Sep 2023 03:00:00 -0400 527 292 full false The Surprising Truth about Learning Styles The Surprising Truth about Learning Styles At some point or another, you've probably come across learning styles theory. Which suggests that some of us are visual learners, others are auditory learners, or kinesthetic learners, etc., and that we learn best if we are taught in a way that aligns with our learning style.

This makes a lot of sense, and feels pretty true as well - but what does the research say?

A 2009 review of the literature gives us some answers. And, spoiler alert, basically there's no evidence to support this theory. In other words, learning styles theory seems to be a myth. 😳 Wait...what?!

For all the nerdy details and links to strategies that do work, check out the full article:
The Surprising Truth about Learning Styles


More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> At some point or another, you've probably come across learning styles theory. Which suggests that some of us are visual learners, others are auditory learners, or kinesthetic learners, etc., and that we learn best if we are taught in a way that aligns with our learning style.

This makes a lot of sense, and feels pretty true as well - but what does the research say?

A 2009 review of the literature gives us some answers. And, spoiler alert, basically there's no evidence to support this theory. In other words, learning styles theory seems to be a myth. 😳 Wait...what?!

For all the nerdy details and links to strategies that do work, check out the full article:
The Surprising Truth about Learning Styles


More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-13517416 Sun, 03 Sep 2023 03:00:00 -0400 535 291 full false Difficulty Staying Focused While Practicing? Why “Airplane Mode” May Not Be Enough Difficulty Staying Focused While Practicing? Why “Airplane Mode” May Not Be Enough You know those moments when you're practicing, and suddenly wonder what time the 49ers game is tonight? Or if so-and-so returned your email? Or if it's going to rain tomorrow? Or what you should eat for lunch?

Staying focused for extended periods of time can be a real challenge. And our phones dinging and buzzing every other minute certainly doesn't make this any easier. But airplane mode should solve that problem, right?

Well...according to a 2017 study, maybe not! But that's ok - there are some simple things we can do to make sure we can devote as much of our brainpower as possible to practicing, with as little cognitive "leakage" as possible.

Get all the nerdy details here:
Difficulty Staying Focused While Practicing? Why “Airplane Mode” May Not Be Enough

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> You know those moments when you're practicing, and suddenly wonder what time the 49ers game is tonight? Or if so-and-so returned your email? Or if it's going to rain tomorrow? Or what you should eat for lunch?

Staying focused for extended periods of time can be a real challenge. And our phones dinging and buzzing every other minute certainly doesn't make this any easier. But airplane mode should solve that problem, right?

Well...according to a 2017 study, maybe not! But that's ok - there are some simple things we can do to make sure we can devote as much of our brainpower as possible to practicing, with as little cognitive "leakage" as possible.

Get all the nerdy details here:
Difficulty Staying Focused While Practicing? Why “Airplane Mode” May Not Be Enough

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-13434441 Sun, 20 Aug 2023 03:00:00 -0400 503 290 full false A Hack to Boost Your Practice Efficiency A Hack to Boost Your Practice Efficiency You know how some practice sessions can feel really good? Where it seems like you're making lots of improvement? But then the next day, things don't sound much better?

And then sometimes, you have what feels like a crappy day in the practice room, where nothing seems to be improving...but then the next day, you sound so much better?

A 2009 study provides some clues on why this is, what's happening, and how you can tweak your practice for more lasting improvement from one day to the next.

Get all the nerdy details here:
A Hack to Boost Your Practice Efficiency

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> You know how some practice sessions can feel really good? Where it seems like you're making lots of improvement? But then the next day, things don't sound much better?

And then sometimes, you have what feels like a crappy day in the practice room, where nothing seems to be improving...but then the next day, you sound so much better?

A 2009 study provides some clues on why this is, what's happening, and how you can tweak your practice for more lasting improvement from one day to the next.

Get all the nerdy details here:
A Hack to Boost Your Practice Efficiency

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-13394292 Sun, 13 Aug 2023 03:00:00 -0400 548 289 full false On Building an Audience in 2023: Ken Kubota & Morgan Davison On Building an Audience in 2023: Ken Kubota & Morgan Davison About a month ago, we heard from violinist Sumina Studer and violist Drew Forde (click here if you missed it), who shared tips and insights on how they built their social media following (about half a million followers combined).

Today, in Part 2 of this two-part miniseries, we’ll hear from cellist Ken Kubota (160k+) and bassoonist Morgan Davison (35k+), who highlight some of the more meaningful, but less-obvious benefits of becoming a social media content creator. Benefits like improved practice motivation and efficiency, as well as more confidence in performance.

You’ll also hear about some early mistakes that were made (plus solutions), dealing with imposter syndrome, and more.

If you’re wondering if it’s worth dipping your toes into the social media waters, or whether it’s worth continuing your efforts, I think you’ll enjoy this episode.

Get all the nerdy details here:
On Building an Audience in 2023: Ken Kubota & Morgan Davison

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> About a month ago, we heard from violinist Sumina Studer and violist Drew Forde (click here if you missed it), who shared tips and insights on how they built their social media following (about half a million followers combined).

Today, in Part 2 of this two-part miniseries, we’ll hear from cellist Ken Kubota (160k+) and bassoonist Morgan Davison (35k+), who highlight some of the more meaningful, but less-obvious benefits of becoming a social media content creator. Benefits like improved practice motivation and efficiency, as well as more confidence in performance.

You’ll also hear about some early mistakes that were made (plus solutions), dealing with imposter syndrome, and more.

If you’re wondering if it’s worth dipping your toes into the social media waters, or whether it’s worth continuing your efforts, I think you’ll enjoy this episode.

Get all the nerdy details here:
On Building an Audience in 2023: Ken Kubota & Morgan Davison

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-13354674 Sun, 06 Aug 2023 03:00:00 -0400 3964 288 full false When Is the Best Time to Start Memorizing a New Piece? When Is the Best Time to Start Memorizing a New Piece? Like many other young kids, I never really thought twice about memorizing music. In the course of working on a piece, it usually just happened.

Of course, at some point, memorizing music becomes more difficult for everyone. The repertoire gets more challenging, you start having lots of repertoire to learn at the same time, and performance deadlines don't leave you with as much time as you'd like.

And this is when you probably began memorizing music on purpose. Intentionally. Using specific memorization strategies (a few linked below).

But this leads to a related question that I don't think we often ask. Which is, when should we start the process of memorizing a new piece? Once it's mostly in your fingers? When you can play it at tempo? A month before the performance? Two?

A 2002 study of singers provides some clues.

Get all the nerdy details here:
When Is the Best Time to Start Memorizing a New Piece?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Like many other young kids, I never really thought twice about memorizing music. In the course of working on a piece, it usually just happened.

Of course, at some point, memorizing music becomes more difficult for everyone. The repertoire gets more challenging, you start having lots of repertoire to learn at the same time, and performance deadlines don't leave you with as much time as you'd like.

And this is when you probably began memorizing music on purpose. Intentionally. Using specific memorization strategies (a few linked below).

But this leads to a related question that I don't think we often ask. Which is, when should we start the process of memorizing a new piece? Once it's mostly in your fingers? When you can play it at tempo? A month before the performance? Two?

A 2002 study of singers provides some clues.

Get all the nerdy details here:
When Is the Best Time to Start Memorizing a New Piece?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-13312325 Sun, 30 Jul 2023 03:00:00 -0400 438 287 full false The "Lazy" Person’s Guide to Mastering Self-Control The "Lazy" Person’s Guide to Mastering Self-Control Whether it's sticking to a regular practice routine, studying a little bit every day instead of cramming the night before an exam, or eating more healthily, I think it's pretty universal to wish that we had a little more self-discipline.

Because that's the key to doing these things consistently, right?

Well...what if there were an easier way to avoid temptations and distractions? One that didn't require as much willpower? And made it easier to practice, or go to the gym, or steer clear of TikTok when doing homework?

A 2016 study provides some insights on how to work towards your goals more easily. With less willpower required.

Get all the nerdy details here:
The Lazy Person’s Guide to Mastering Self-Control

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Whether it's sticking to a regular practice routine, studying a little bit every day instead of cramming the night before an exam, or eating more healthily, I think it's pretty universal to wish that we had a little more self-discipline.

Because that's the key to doing these things consistently, right?

Well...what if there were an easier way to avoid temptations and distractions? One that didn't require as much willpower? And made it easier to practice, or go to the gym, or steer clear of TikTok when doing homework?

A 2016 study provides some insights on how to work towards your goals more easily. With less willpower required.

Get all the nerdy details here:
The Lazy Person’s Guide to Mastering Self-Control

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-13268384 Sun, 23 Jul 2023 03:00:00 -0400 496 286 full false Two Things Experts Do Differently When Practicing Two Things Experts Do Differently When Practicing Whether it's changing your diet, investing your money, or practicing, it can sometimes be difficult to tell if you're doing it "right" because meaningful change usually happens gradually over time.

I guess in an ideal world, we'd be able to pick a strategy, hop into a time machine, and see how it pans out in the future. And then go back to the present, pick another strategy, peek at the future again, and see which worked better.

But for now, there's a 2001 study that basically does the time travel thing for us. Where it compares the practice behaviors of the best free throw shooters and that of the worst free throw shooters to see if they do anything different. 

Spoiler alert, there is a difference. Two important differences that we can apply to music practice.

It's actually one of the specific things we're going to work on in the live practice "bootcamp" that starts this week (details ​here​). 

But whether you plan to join in or not, do give this week's practice hack a try and see what you think. This is one of the most fundamental aspects of effective practice, and an approach to practicing that can completely transform how you feel about practicing - especially if you've always had a sort of tolerate/hate relationship with practicing. 😅

Get all the nerdy details and this week’s practice hack right here:

​Two Things Experts Do Differently When Practicing

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Whether it's changing your diet, investing your money, or practicing, it can sometimes be difficult to tell if you're doing it "right" because meaningful change usually happens gradually over time.

I guess in an ideal world, we'd be able to pick a strategy, hop into a time machine, and see how it pans out in the future. And then go back to the present, pick another strategy, peek at the future again, and see which worked better.

But for now, there's a 2001 study that basically does the time travel thing for us. Where it compares the practice behaviors of the best free throw shooters and that of the worst free throw shooters to see if they do anything different. 

Spoiler alert, there is a difference. Two important differences that we can apply to music practice.

It's actually one of the specific things we're going to work on in the live practice "bootcamp" that starts this week (details ​here​). 

But whether you plan to join in or not, do give this week's practice hack a try and see what you think. This is one of the most fundamental aspects of effective practice, and an approach to practicing that can completely transform how you feel about practicing - especially if you've always had a sort of tolerate/hate relationship with practicing. 😅

Get all the nerdy details and this week’s practice hack right here:

​Two Things Experts Do Differently When Practicing

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-13228057 Sun, 16 Jul 2023 03:00:00 -0400 409 285 full false On Building an Audience in 2023: Sumina Studer & Drew Forde On Building an Audience in 2023: Sumina Studer & Drew Forde So…everyone (and their dog 😅) seems to have a social media presence nowadays - whether on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Twitter, etc. But how important is it for musicians today to embrace social media, really?

Can growing an online audience have tangible benefits to one’s career? Or is the reality different from how it appears from the outside?

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to build a sizable online following, and whether it’s worth taking the leap, I think you’ll enjoy today’s episode with violinist Sumina Studer (340k followers) and violist Drew Forde (160k followers).

Spoiler alert: it turns out that the experience can be a nuanced mix of positives and negatives, and be different for each person too.

Get all the nerdy details here:
On Building an Audience in 2023: Sumina Studer & Drew Forde

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> So…everyone (and their dog 😅) seems to have a social media presence nowadays - whether on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Twitter, etc. But how important is it for musicians today to embrace social media, really?

Can growing an online audience have tangible benefits to one’s career? Or is the reality different from how it appears from the outside?

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to build a sizable online following, and whether it’s worth taking the leap, I think you’ll enjoy today’s episode with violinist Sumina Studer (340k followers) and violist Drew Forde (160k followers).

Spoiler alert: it turns out that the experience can be a nuanced mix of positives and negatives, and be different for each person too.

Get all the nerdy details here:
On Building an Audience in 2023: Sumina Studer & Drew Forde

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-13186541 Sun, 09 Jul 2023 03:00:00 -0400 4447 284 full false How to Make Practicing Feel Less Like a Chore How to Make Practicing Feel Less Like a Chore Effective practice isn't always easy or fun.

But a 2010 study reveals a psychological hack that could make longer and more challenging practice sessions, rehearsals, or lessons feel easier and more appealing than shorter and less effortful practice sessions. Which sounds totally backwards, but could come in handy if you have students who have a difficult time getting themselves to practice. Or if you have difficulty getting yourself to practice for that matter! 😅

Get all the nerdy details here:
How to Make Practicing Feel Less Like a Chore

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Effective practice isn't always easy or fun.

But a 2010 study reveals a psychological hack that could make longer and more challenging practice sessions, rehearsals, or lessons feel easier and more appealing than shorter and less effortful practice sessions. Which sounds totally backwards, but could come in handy if you have students who have a difficult time getting themselves to practice. Or if you have difficulty getting yourself to practice for that matter! 😅

Get all the nerdy details here:
How to Make Practicing Feel Less Like a Chore

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-13145193 Sun, 02 Jul 2023 03:00:00 -0400 382 283 full false Self-Compassion: Does It Help or Hurt Performance? Self-Compassion: Does It Help or Hurt Performance? Ever notice how critical the voice in your head can be? That voice can make us feel pretty crummy at times - but is it also responsible for pushing us to strive for better?

If we had been less self-abusive and more self-compassionate along the way, would we be where we are today? Or is it possible that we would have advanced even further, if we had been a little kinder to ourselves?

There has been increased research attention in the area of self-compassion in recent years. A recurring question amongst high-performers is whether it's "safe" to be more self-compassionate, or if greater self-compassion could lead to a drop in one's competitive edge.

I have a study for you today (Breines & Chen, 2012) that provides some clues to this question. And if you're curious how self-compassionate you are, there's also a short test you can take that will provide an answer!

Get all the nerdy details here:
Self-Compassion: Does It Help or Hurt Performance?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Ever notice how critical the voice in your head can be? That voice can make us feel pretty crummy at times - but is it also responsible for pushing us to strive for better?

If we had been less self-abusive and more self-compassionate along the way, would we be where we are today? Or is it possible that we would have advanced even further, if we had been a little kinder to ourselves?

There has been increased research attention in the area of self-compassion in recent years. A recurring question amongst high-performers is whether it's "safe" to be more self-compassionate, or if greater self-compassion could lead to a drop in one's competitive edge.

I have a study for you today (Breines & Chen, 2012) that provides some clues to this question. And if you're curious how self-compassionate you are, there's also a short test you can take that will provide an answer!

Get all the nerdy details here:
Self-Compassion: Does It Help or Hurt Performance?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-13099924 Sun, 25 Jun 2023 03:00:00 -0400 479 282 full false Why Singing Could Enhance Your Daily Practice Why Singing Could Enhance Your Daily Practice Have you ever studied with a teacher who encouraged you to sing during your practice?

There are lots of reasons for this, but aside from doing it in a lesson when my teacher made me sing in front of them, I never integrated any singing into my daily practice. It just felt silly, and I wasn't sold on the benefits.

Looking back, of course, I would have given it more of a chance. And if you need a little help convincing yourself, a 2017 study and 2021 study provide a bit of evidence suggesting this may be a worthwhile addition to your daily routine.

Get all the nerdy details here: Why Singing Could Enhance Your Daily Practice

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Have you ever studied with a teacher who encouraged you to sing during your practice?

There are lots of reasons for this, but aside from doing it in a lesson when my teacher made me sing in front of them, I never integrated any singing into my daily practice. It just felt silly, and I wasn't sold on the benefits.

Looking back, of course, I would have given it more of a chance. And if you need a little help convincing yourself, a 2017 study and 2021 study provide a bit of evidence suggesting this may be a worthwhile addition to your daily routine.

Get all the nerdy details here: Why Singing Could Enhance Your Daily Practice

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-13057337 Sun, 18 Jun 2023 03:00:00 -0400 353 281 full false For More Effective Practice, Try…Longer…Pauses For More Effective Practice, Try…Longer…Pauses When you to students practicing, there's one thing that is often conspicuously absent.

Silence.

You'll typically hear a good bit of repetition - but not a lot of quiet time or space between repetitions.

And why does this matter? Well, studies have found that too little space between repetitions - or too short an "inter-trial interval" can actually inhibit learning.

So...is there an optimal length of time to inject between repetitions?

Get all the nerdy details here:
For More Effective Practice, Try…Longer…Pauses

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> When you to students practicing, there's one thing that is often conspicuously absent.

Silence.

You'll typically hear a good bit of repetition - but not a lot of quiet time or space between repetitions.

And why does this matter? Well, studies have found that too little space between repetitions - or too short an "inter-trial interval" can actually inhibit learning.

So...is there an optimal length of time to inject between repetitions?

Get all the nerdy details here:
For More Effective Practice, Try…Longer…Pauses

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-13015070 Sun, 11 Jun 2023 03:00:00 -0400 439 280 full false George Waddell: On the Hidden Consequences of Music Competitions George Waddell: On the Hidden Consequences of Music Competitions We’ve all probably (at least secretly) enjoyed watching shows like American Idol or The Voice at one point or another.

But what has your experience (or that of your students) been as a participant in competitions? Whether it be small local competitions, or a regional, national or international competitions, have your experiences been largely positive? Or not so positive?

You might have some strong feelings about competitions, and whether your students should enter competitions or not. And so in this month’s conversation, I chat with both a researcher and a musician who can speak to different aspects of this question, and help you better prepare yourself, your students, and their parents for the music competition experience.

Get all the nerdy details in the full episode below (there’s also a transcript with timestamps if you’d like to jump right to a few key points of interest):

George Waddell: On the Hidden Consequences of Music Competitions

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> We’ve all probably (at least secretly) enjoyed watching shows like American Idol or The Voice at one point or another.

But what has your experience (or that of your students) been as a participant in competitions? Whether it be small local competitions, or a regional, national or international competitions, have your experiences been largely positive? Or not so positive?

You might have some strong feelings about competitions, and whether your students should enter competitions or not. And so in this month’s conversation, I chat with both a researcher and a musician who can speak to different aspects of this question, and help you better prepare yourself, your students, and their parents for the music competition experience.

Get all the nerdy details in the full episode below (there’s also a transcript with timestamps if you’d like to jump right to a few key points of interest):

George Waddell: On the Hidden Consequences of Music Competitions

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-12972339 Sun, 04 Jun 2023 03:00:00 -0400 3537 279 full false How to Make Mental Practice Even More Effective How to Make Mental Practice Even More Effective Whether it's running through a piece in your head to see if it's memorized, or imagining different fingering options while taking a practice break, you've probably used mental imagery to supplement your physical practice at one point or another.

Research in this area suggests that mental practice can indeed enhance learning and performance beyond physical practice alone, but how do we know if we're doing it right?

A 2015 study (Debarnot et al.) identified two things that boosted the effectiveness of participants' mental practice pretty substantially. And it wasn't anything crazy that would require much time or effort. Just a couple simple tweaks that you could use to level up your mental practice this week.

Get all the nerdy details here: How to Make Mental Practice Even More Effective

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Whether it's running through a piece in your head to see if it's memorized, or imagining different fingering options while taking a practice break, you've probably used mental imagery to supplement your physical practice at one point or another.

Research in this area suggests that mental practice can indeed enhance learning and performance beyond physical practice alone, but how do we know if we're doing it right?

A 2015 study (Debarnot et al.) identified two things that boosted the effectiveness of participants' mental practice pretty substantially. And it wasn't anything crazy that would require much time or effort. Just a couple simple tweaks that you could use to level up your mental practice this week.

Get all the nerdy details here: How to Make Mental Practice Even More Effective

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-12922410 Sun, 28 May 2023 03:00:00 -0400 499 278 full false The Superiority of Intentionally Imperfect Practice? The Superiority of Intentionally Imperfect Practice? Whether it's manipulating our air, making embouchure adjustments, or learning to use the weight of our arm to produce a beautiful sound, we spend a lot of time working really hard to get things just right.

We ask for feedback and suggestions from our teachers, we watch YouTube videos of our favorite musicians, and get tips from instructional videos on the correct way to perform a skill. All of which are invaluable parts of the learning process.

But there's another approach, that we rarely (if ever) utilize, which may be even more effective than the traditional approach. And what strategy is that?

Intentionally getting things wrong.

Like, producing a thin, weak sound instead of a clear, full, resonant sound. Or a harsh, gritty attack, instead of a smooth, velvety start.

Turns out, practicing the wrong way may lead to better learning and enhanced performance than only practicing the right way.

Get all the nerdy details here: The Superiority of Intentionally Imperfect Practice?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Whether it's manipulating our air, making embouchure adjustments, or learning to use the weight of our arm to produce a beautiful sound, we spend a lot of time working really hard to get things just right.

We ask for feedback and suggestions from our teachers, we watch YouTube videos of our favorite musicians, and get tips from instructional videos on the correct way to perform a skill. All of which are invaluable parts of the learning process.

But there's another approach, that we rarely (if ever) utilize, which may be even more effective than the traditional approach. And what strategy is that?

Intentionally getting things wrong.

Like, producing a thin, weak sound instead of a clear, full, resonant sound. Or a harsh, gritty attack, instead of a smooth, velvety start.

Turns out, practicing the wrong way may lead to better learning and enhanced performance than only practicing the right way.

Get all the nerdy details here: The Superiority of Intentionally Imperfect Practice?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-12884995 Sun, 21 May 2023 03:00:00 -0400 486 277 full false Menahem Pressler: On Following Your Heart Menahem Pressler: On Following Your Heart Have you ever watched your favorite musician perform, and wondered what goes through their head on stage?

Like, what are they thinking about? Do they ever worry? What do they worry about? Is playing as easy as it looks? Or do they have bad days too? Does it ever get easier? How do they deal with criticism or bad reviews or even the critic in their own head? How similar is their experience in performance to ours?

As you may have heard, renowned pianist Menahem Pressler passed away last weekend at the age of 99. A founding member of the Beaux Arts Trio, his performing career spanned over seven decades, and he taught generations of pianists who have gone on to hold teaching positions around the world and win prizes in all of the major competitions.

I got to know Mr. Pressler a tiny bit during my time at Indiana University, as he was my wife's teacher, and kindly included me in studio parties and events. He was also curious and encouraging of my interests in psychology at a time when I had no idea how things would pan out, which I always appreciated.

So in the summer of 2012, I reached out to see if I might ask him some questions about practicing and performing. He was very open about his mental experience on stage, his own doubts and fears at various points in his life, and what success and failure meant to him, as well as the more practical aspects of how he prepares for performance.

I hope you find it as insightful and inspiring a conversation as I did.

Note: This episode was recorded over the telephone/Skype, and I’ve done my best to clean up the audio, but if you would like a transcript, you can download one at:
https://bulletproofmusician.com/menahem-pressler-on-following-your-heart/

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Have you ever watched your favorite musician perform, and wondered what goes through their head on stage?

Like, what are they thinking about? Do they ever worry? What do they worry about? Is playing as easy as it looks? Or do they have bad days too? Does it ever get easier? How do they deal with criticism or bad reviews or even the critic in their own head? How similar is their experience in performance to ours?

As you may have heard, renowned pianist Menahem Pressler passed away last weekend at the age of 99. A founding member of the Beaux Arts Trio, his performing career spanned over seven decades, and he taught generations of pianists who have gone on to hold teaching positions around the world and win prizes in all of the major competitions.

I got to know Mr. Pressler a tiny bit during my time at Indiana University, as he was my wife's teacher, and kindly included me in studio parties and events. He was also curious and encouraging of my interests in psychology at a time when I had no idea how things would pan out, which I always appreciated.

So in the summer of 2012, I reached out to see if I might ask him some questions about practicing and performing. He was very open about his mental experience on stage, his own doubts and fears at various points in his life, and what success and failure meant to him, as well as the more practical aspects of how he prepares for performance.

I hope you find it as insightful and inspiring a conversation as I did.

Note: This episode was recorded over the telephone/Skype, and I’ve done my best to clean up the audio, but if you would like a transcript, you can download one at:
https://bulletproofmusician.com/menahem-pressler-on-following-your-heart/

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-12841290 Sun, 14 May 2023 03:00:00 -0400 1643 276 full false How to Find the Perfect Strings for You and Your Instrument How to Find the Perfect Strings for You and Your Instrument If you play a string instrument, you know that the strings you use can make a big difference in how your instrument sounds and feels. But how can you find the combination of strings that makes your instrument sound its best?

Which type of core material produces the type of sound you're going for, as well as the best response? What are the benefits of the different kinds of wraps? What gauge or tension makes your instrument speak best? What mix of string brands will result in the most balanced sound across all the strings?

It can be a time-consuming and expensive process to try each string that's out there. So I thought I'd ask a couple experts what they recommend.

In today's episode you'll hear from a string manufacturer (Markus Lawrenson from D'Addario) and a luthier (Jesse Maschmeyer), who will share time and money-saving tips and insights on how to find the right strings for your level, your playing style, the demands of the kind of playing/performing you do, and of course, your instrument.

If you've been wanting to get a little more out of your instrument, this episode will give you a few new ideas to try!

Get all the nerdy details here: How to Find the Perfect Strings for You and Your Instrument

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> If you play a string instrument, you know that the strings you use can make a big difference in how your instrument sounds and feels. But how can you find the combination of strings that makes your instrument sound its best?

Which type of core material produces the type of sound you're going for, as well as the best response? What are the benefits of the different kinds of wraps? What gauge or tension makes your instrument speak best? What mix of string brands will result in the most balanced sound across all the strings?

It can be a time-consuming and expensive process to try each string that's out there. So I thought I'd ask a couple experts what they recommend.

In today's episode you'll hear from a string manufacturer (Markus Lawrenson from D'Addario) and a luthier (Jesse Maschmeyer), who will share time and money-saving tips and insights on how to find the right strings for your level, your playing style, the demands of the kind of playing/performing you do, and of course, your instrument.

If you've been wanting to get a little more out of your instrument, this episode will give you a few new ideas to try!

Get all the nerdy details here: How to Find the Perfect Strings for You and Your Instrument

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-12796063 Sun, 07 May 2023 03:00:00 -0400 3266 275 full false How to Learn Better From Failures (And Successes Too) How to Learn Better From Failures (And Successes Too) It's often said that failure is the best teacher. Or at least, that failure is a better teacher than success.

But how exactly are we supposed to learn from failure without getting discouraged?

And why does success get such a bad rap as a teacher, anyhow? What if the problem is that we haven't been reflecting on our successes in the right way?

A 2014 study provides some clues on how to engage in a systematic post-performance review process that will help you learn better from both successful and unsuccessful performances or auditions.

Get all the nerdy details here: How Exactly to Learn From Failures (And Successes Too)

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> It's often said that failure is the best teacher. Or at least, that failure is a better teacher than success.

But how exactly are we supposed to learn from failure without getting discouraged?

And why does success get such a bad rap as a teacher, anyhow? What if the problem is that we haven't been reflecting on our successes in the right way?

A 2014 study provides some clues on how to engage in a systematic post-performance review process that will help you learn better from both successful and unsuccessful performances or auditions.

Get all the nerdy details here: How Exactly to Learn From Failures (And Successes Too)

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-12747830 Sun, 30 Apr 2023 03:00:00 -0400 522 274 full false “Productive Failure”: Why Early Floundering Leads to Better Learning “Productive Failure”: Why Early Floundering Leads to Better Learning Intuitively, I think we approach teaching with the goal of helping students avoid failure. So it's natural to step in if we see students floundering about and approaching a problem the wrong way.

But what if we are hindering students' learning by stepping in too soon? Like stepping in too soon to help with spotting someone at the gym, or helping them too much on that last repetition.

We certainly don't want anyone to get hurt or discouraged, of course! But a 2011 study suggests that too much guidance and instruction in the learning process can lead to the illusion of better performance at first - but significantly "shallower" learning and worse performance in the long run.

Get all the nerdy details here: “Productive Failure”: Why Early Floundering Leads to Better Learning

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Intuitively, I think we approach teaching with the goal of helping students avoid failure. So it's natural to step in if we see students floundering about and approaching a problem the wrong way.

But what if we are hindering students' learning by stepping in too soon? Like stepping in too soon to help with spotting someone at the gym, or helping them too much on that last repetition.

We certainly don't want anyone to get hurt or discouraged, of course! But a 2011 study suggests that too much guidance and instruction in the learning process can lead to the illusion of better performance at first - but significantly "shallower" learning and worse performance in the long run.

Get all the nerdy details here: “Productive Failure”: Why Early Floundering Leads to Better Learning

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-12701750 Sun, 23 Apr 2023 03:00:00 -0400 623 273 full false Why Improvisation Should Be Part of Every Young Musician's Training Why Improvisation Should Be Part of Every Young Musician's Training Improvisation has not traditionally been part of most young classical musicians' training. But should it be?

Research suggests that the answer may be yes, and that there are a number of benefits that improvisation could provide. Not just to our playing, but to our mental state on stage as well.

Read the full article for all the nerdy details:
Why Improvisation Should Be Part of Every Young Musician's Training

But...if you're new to improvising, where does one begin?

Well, whether you're a complete newbie, or an experienced improviser who's been frustrated by inconsistencies or feeling inhibited under pressure, have your instrument handy and block off 45-60 minutes on Wednesday, April 26th, from 2pm-3pm Eastern (calculate that in your timezone here).

Violinist (and childhood Suzuki buddy) Christian Howes will be teaching a live, free, play-along class where he'll share three approaches to improvisation that can work for you, and explain why other methods may not have worked before. You'll also learn (and experience) the difference between learning harmony and doing improvisation. And you'll get to do lots of playing the whole time (muted, of course)!

Sign up for the free improv session here: Free, live, play-along improvisation workshop with Christian Howes

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Improvisation has not traditionally been part of most young classical musicians' training. But should it be?

Research suggests that the answer may be yes, and that there are a number of benefits that improvisation could provide. Not just to our playing, but to our mental state on stage as well.

Read the full article for all the nerdy details:
Why Improvisation Should Be Part of Every Young Musician's Training

But...if you're new to improvising, where does one begin?

Well, whether you're a complete newbie, or an experienced improviser who's been frustrated by inconsistencies or feeling inhibited under pressure, have your instrument handy and block off 45-60 minutes on Wednesday, April 26th, from 2pm-3pm Eastern (calculate that in your timezone here).

Violinist (and childhood Suzuki buddy) Christian Howes will be teaching a live, free, play-along class where he'll share three approaches to improvisation that can work for you, and explain why other methods may not have worked before. You'll also learn (and experience) the difference between learning harmony and doing improvisation. And you'll get to do lots of playing the whole time (muted, of course)!

Sign up for the free improv session here: Free, live, play-along improvisation workshop with Christian Howes

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-12655231 Sun, 16 Apr 2023 03:00:00 -0400 400 272 full false Two Ways to Simulate Performance Pressure (and Which Works Best) Two Ways to Simulate Performance Pressure (and Which Works Best) We know it can be really helpful to do practice performances or mock auditions in advance of a high-pressure performance. However, it can be really difficult to simulate the nerves and pressure of a real performance or audition. Because for some, a mock audition feels pretty high-stress. While for others, the experience doesn't even come close.

However, there is some research in this area, and a couple studies provide insights on how to create more pressure in mocks and practice performances, and better prepare you for the live experience. Turns out some methods work better than others.

Get all the nerdy details and this week’s practice hack right here:

​Two Ways to Simulate Performance Pressure (and Which Works Best)

Also, if you've been looking for some new tools for enhancing the effectiveness of your practice or performance preparation, and would like to do more performance practice alongside a supportive cohort of other musicians, you may be interested in the live, 5-week Performance Psych Essentials class that begins next weekend. Get all the details here: Performance Psych Essentials

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> We know it can be really helpful to do practice performances or mock auditions in advance of a high-pressure performance. However, it can be really difficult to simulate the nerves and pressure of a real performance or audition. Because for some, a mock audition feels pretty high-stress. While for others, the experience doesn't even come close.

However, there is some research in this area, and a couple studies provide insights on how to create more pressure in mocks and practice performances, and better prepare you for the live experience. Turns out some methods work better than others.

Get all the nerdy details and this week’s practice hack right here:

​Two Ways to Simulate Performance Pressure (and Which Works Best)

Also, if you've been looking for some new tools for enhancing the effectiveness of your practice or performance preparation, and would like to do more performance practice alongside a supportive cohort of other musicians, you may be interested in the live, 5-week Performance Psych Essentials class that begins next weekend. Get all the details here: Performance Psych Essentials

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-12613345 Sun, 09 Apr 2023 03:00:00 -0400 601 271 full false ​Aaron Williamon: On Becoming a Better, Happier, and Healthier Musician ​Aaron Williamon: On Becoming a Better, Happier, and Healthier Musician If you’ve been a listener of this podcast for any period of time, you’ve probably already been influenced by today’s guest without realizing it - namely, performance science researcher Aaron Williamon.

Aaron's research has produced influential insights in many different facets of a musician's life, from effective practice and performance preparation, to managing nerves, optimizing focus, musician health, technology and recording, and even the importance of how we present ourselves visually on stage.

Whether you’re interested in practicing more effectively, looking for ways to tweak your preparation for an upcoming audition, or wondering how to help your students have a more positive and empowering experience on stage, I’ll bet my next box of Weetabix that you’ll take away some new details from today’s episode that will change some facet of your practice in the week ahead. The episode will also make you think more generally about the role (and value) of music in society, if you’ve had questions about that in recent years…

Get all the nerdy details and this week's practice hacks below (there’s also a transcript with timestamps if you’d like to jump right to a few key points of interest):

​Aaron Williamon: On Becoming a Better, Happier, and Healthier Musician

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> If you’ve been a listener of this podcast for any period of time, you’ve probably already been influenced by today’s guest without realizing it - namely, performance science researcher Aaron Williamon.

Aaron's research has produced influential insights in many different facets of a musician's life, from effective practice and performance preparation, to managing nerves, optimizing focus, musician health, technology and recording, and even the importance of how we present ourselves visually on stage.

Whether you’re interested in practicing more effectively, looking for ways to tweak your preparation for an upcoming audition, or wondering how to help your students have a more positive and empowering experience on stage, I’ll bet my next box of Weetabix that you’ll take away some new details from today’s episode that will change some facet of your practice in the week ahead. The episode will also make you think more generally about the role (and value) of music in society, if you’ve had questions about that in recent years…

Get all the nerdy details and this week's practice hacks below (there’s also a transcript with timestamps if you’d like to jump right to a few key points of interest):

​Aaron Williamon: On Becoming a Better, Happier, and Healthier Musician

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-12565983 Sun, 02 Apr 2023 03:00:00 -0400 3076 270 full false How Intentional Errors Could Accelerate Learning How Intentional Errors Could Accelerate Learning We spend a lot of time and energy avoiding mistakes in the practice room and on stage. And we work super hard to make sure our students avoid doing things the "wrong way" too.

But what if that's actually holding us back?

A 2008 study suggests that if you do things the "wrong way" the right way, you might actually be able to accelerate learning pretty dramatically. Wait, what?!

Get all the nerdy details here (and be sure to read the full study - or at least the Discussion section - for key details on how to get the most out of this counterintuitive strategy): How Intentional Errors Could Accelerate Learning

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> We spend a lot of time and energy avoiding mistakes in the practice room and on stage. And we work super hard to make sure our students avoid doing things the "wrong way" too.

But what if that's actually holding us back?

A 2008 study suggests that if you do things the "wrong way" the right way, you might actually be able to accelerate learning pretty dramatically. Wait, what?!

Get all the nerdy details here (and be sure to read the full study - or at least the Discussion section - for key details on how to get the most out of this counterintuitive strategy): How Intentional Errors Could Accelerate Learning

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-12513454 Sun, 26 Mar 2023 03:00:00 -0400 549 269 full false How to Stay in a More Positive Headspace Before Performances How to Stay in a More Positive Headspace Before Performances Ever notice how it's easy to be optimistic about an audition or performance a month or two out, but things feel much different when the big day is now just one or two weeks away? Let alone one or two days?

Willing ourselves to adopt a more positive, self-affirming, performance-enhancing headspace takes some effort. So it can be easier to just let our thoughts naturally turn to the dark side in the days, hours, or minutes before a performance.

But a 2017 study (Westgate et al., 2017) identified a simple strategy that can make it easier to stay in a better headspace when we need it most. And all you need is your phone or a 3x5 notecard.

Get all the nerdy details here:
How to Stay in a More Positive Headspace Before Performances

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Ever notice how it's easy to be optimistic about an audition or performance a month or two out, but things feel much different when the big day is now just one or two weeks away? Let alone one or two days?

Willing ourselves to adopt a more positive, self-affirming, performance-enhancing headspace takes some effort. So it can be easier to just let our thoughts naturally turn to the dark side in the days, hours, or minutes before a performance.

But a 2017 study (Westgate et al., 2017) identified a simple strategy that can make it easier to stay in a better headspace when we need it most. And all you need is your phone or a 3x5 notecard.

Get all the nerdy details here:
How to Stay in a More Positive Headspace Before Performances

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-12465372 Sun, 19 Mar 2023 03:00:00 -0400 412 268 full false Get Unstuck in the Practice Room With a “Creative Pause” Get Unstuck in the Practice Room With a “Creative Pause” If you ever watched the show Friends, you might remember the episode where Phoebe stayed on hold for two days with her phone company, because every time she was about to hang up, the voice on the other end would tell her "you're the next caller" and she didn't want to give up right before she might finally get to speak to a live representative.

Have you ever had a similar sort of day in the practice room? Where you keep working on the same thing over and over again, without much to show for your efforts, but can't bring yourself to move on because of a hope that things might finally start to click if you just keep at it a tiny bit longer?

Turns out that taking a particular kind of break might be just what you need to spark new ideas and find more effective solutions to that passage. Learn why, and how to use a "creative pause" to get unstuck and solve that tricky passage that has you stumped.

Get Unstuck in the Practice Room With a “Creative Pause”

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> If you ever watched the show Friends, you might remember the episode where Phoebe stayed on hold for two days with her phone company, because every time she was about to hang up, the voice on the other end would tell her "you're the next caller" and she didn't want to give up right before she might finally get to speak to a live representative.

Have you ever had a similar sort of day in the practice room? Where you keep working on the same thing over and over again, without much to show for your efforts, but can't bring yourself to move on because of a hope that things might finally start to click if you just keep at it a tiny bit longer?

Turns out that taking a particular kind of break might be just what you need to spark new ideas and find more effective solutions to that passage. Learn why, and how to use a "creative pause" to get unstuck and solve that tricky passage that has you stumped.

Get Unstuck in the Practice Room With a “Creative Pause”

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-12419505 Sat, 11 Mar 2023 03:00:00 -0500 355 267 full false Hans Jørgen Jensen: On Practicing With the Mind, Not Just the Fingers Hans Jørgen Jensen: On Practicing With the Mind, Not Just the Fingers A few weeks ago, my dog herniated a disk. He could barely sit, let alone walk and squat to do his business.

The vet gave him some drugs (apparently dogs take codeine?!), and told us that he needed to be kept in his crate, pretty much 24/7 for the next few weeks, to allow his spine to heal.

For the first week or so, it seemed like nothing was changing, and we began to worry - what do we do if this is how he is for the rest of his life?

But one day, suddenly, he had a smidge more pep in his step. The next day, things were better still. And he has continued to improve with each passing day.

Umm...and what does this have to do with music?

Well, have you ever had one of those days (or weeks), where nothing seems to be improving, and you start to wonder if the real problem is simply a lack of ability or talent?

It's easy for our mind to go there, but often, the issue is more a matter of having patience - and taking comfort in the knowledge that you're practicing the right way.

And how do you know if you're practicing the right way?

Whether it's learning how to play fast, be more in tune, nail those tricky shifts, or become a more expressive player, cellist Hans Jørgen Jensen shares insights on how to approach these issues in your daily practice.

Hans Jørgen Jensen: On Practicing With the Mind, Not Just the Fingers

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> A few weeks ago, my dog herniated a disk. He could barely sit, let alone walk and squat to do his business.

The vet gave him some drugs (apparently dogs take codeine?!), and told us that he needed to be kept in his crate, pretty much 24/7 for the next few weeks, to allow his spine to heal.

For the first week or so, it seemed like nothing was changing, and we began to worry - what do we do if this is how he is for the rest of his life?

But one day, suddenly, he had a smidge more pep in his step. The next day, things were better still. And he has continued to improve with each passing day.

Umm...and what does this have to do with music?

Well, have you ever had one of those days (or weeks), where nothing seems to be improving, and you start to wonder if the real problem is simply a lack of ability or talent?

It's easy for our mind to go there, but often, the issue is more a matter of having patience - and taking comfort in the knowledge that you're practicing the right way.

And how do you know if you're practicing the right way?

Whether it's learning how to play fast, be more in tune, nail those tricky shifts, or become a more expressive player, cellist Hans Jørgen Jensen shares insights on how to approach these issues in your daily practice.

Hans Jørgen Jensen: On Practicing With the Mind, Not Just the Fingers

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-12374082 Sun, 05 Mar 2023 03:00:00 -0500 3260 266 full false How to Give Students Critical Feedback Without Crushing Their Confidence How to Give Students Critical Feedback Without Crushing Their Confidence Praising a student is easy. Giving critical feedback can be much tougher.

I mean, how can we call their attention to the things that don't sound great, while still building up their confidence?

Are feedback sandwiches (praise-criticism-praise) the answer? Or do we just praise their efforts? Or compliment mediocre work anyway?

A 2014 study provides some clues, and highlights one specific ingredient that is important to include in whatever feedback we give students, that could make them feel more empowered and likely to not only accept our feedback but act on it too.

Get all the nerdy details: How to Give Students Critical Feedback Without Crushing Their Confidence

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Praising a student is easy. Giving critical feedback can be much tougher.

I mean, how can we call their attention to the things that don't sound great, while still building up their confidence?

Are feedback sandwiches (praise-criticism-praise) the answer? Or do we just praise their efforts? Or compliment mediocre work anyway?

A 2014 study provides some clues, and highlights one specific ingredient that is important to include in whatever feedback we give students, that could make them feel more empowered and likely to not only accept our feedback but act on it too.

Get all the nerdy details: How to Give Students Critical Feedback Without Crushing Their Confidence

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-12325528 Sun, 26 Feb 2023 01:00:00 -0500 468 265 full false How to Minimize Intrusive Thoughts When You’re Practicing How to Minimize Intrusive Thoughts When You’re Practicing Have you ever had one of those moments in the practice room, where you suddenly notice that physically, you've been going through the motions for the last couple minutes, but mentally, you've been spacing out or thinking about something else entirely?

It might mean that you could use a quick nap, practice break, or even a drink of water (yep, there's a study on that!) to clear your head. But it could also be that you've just got a lot of stuff on your to-do list competing for your time and attention.

Jotting down these tasks on a to-do list can help - but a 2011 study found that this may not be enough to stop them from randomly popping into your thoughts and being a distraction. Luckily, the researchers also found a simple technique that can help to increase your focus in the moment!

Get all the nerdy details and this week’s practice hack right here:

​How to Increase Your Focus in the Practice Room

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Have you ever had one of those moments in the practice room, where you suddenly notice that physically, you've been going through the motions for the last couple minutes, but mentally, you've been spacing out or thinking about something else entirely?

It might mean that you could use a quick nap, practice break, or even a drink of water (yep, there's a study on that!) to clear your head. But it could also be that you've just got a lot of stuff on your to-do list competing for your time and attention.

Jotting down these tasks on a to-do list can help - but a 2011 study found that this may not be enough to stop them from randomly popping into your thoughts and being a distraction. Luckily, the researchers also found a simple technique that can help to increase your focus in the moment!

Get all the nerdy details and this week’s practice hack right here:

​How to Increase Your Focus in the Practice Room

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-12280286 Sun, 19 Feb 2023 02:00:00 -0500 476 264 full false Boost Learning and Performance With Naps, Not Coffee! Boost Learning and Performance With Naps, Not Coffee! I actually never got into coffee myself. Not for any health or philosophical reason, but because I'm not a fan of hot liquids in general (is that weird?).

I can certainly appreciate the appeal of having something to boost your energy and get you through those mid-afternoon slumps. But what if there was a better way to not only get through the day but also increase the effectiveness of your practice, while improving learning and performance?

A 2008 study suggests that napping may be a better way to go for maximal practice gains, as caffeine might actually impair learning. Eek! 😳

Get all the nerdy details right here:

​Boost Learning and Performance With Naps, Not Coffee!

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> I actually never got into coffee myself. Not for any health or philosophical reason, but because I'm not a fan of hot liquids in general (is that weird?).

I can certainly appreciate the appeal of having something to boost your energy and get you through those mid-afternoon slumps. But what if there was a better way to not only get through the day but also increase the effectiveness of your practice, while improving learning and performance?

A 2008 study suggests that napping may be a better way to go for maximal practice gains, as caffeine might actually impair learning. Eek! 😳

Get all the nerdy details right here:

​Boost Learning and Performance With Naps, Not Coffee!

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-12231663 Sun, 12 Feb 2023 03:00:00 -0500 364 263 full false Robert Duke: On the Value of Errors, and How Learning Really Works Robert Duke: On the Value of Errors, and How Learning Really Works It's often said that "perfect practice makes perfect," but what does "perfect practice" actually look like?

Does it mean what it sounds like it means? And is the saying even true, anyhow?

Researcher Robert Duke has been studying learning for decades, and has conducted a number of studies specifically in the area of music learning and teaching. In today's episode, he shares many of the insights he's gained over the years, and dispels some common misunderstandings about learning, which have direct implications on how we practice and teach.

Whether it's the role of mistake-making in learning, whether advanced players make more or fewer mistakes than less-experienced players, what professionals and students do differently in the practice room, and the potential value of limiting the number of repetitions you allow yourself to do, I think you'll find at least one new thing in today's episode that will change how you approach practicing in the upcoming week.

Get all the nerdy details here:
Robert Duke: On the Value of Errors, and How Learning Really Works

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> It's often said that "perfect practice makes perfect," but what does "perfect practice" actually look like?

Does it mean what it sounds like it means? And is the saying even true, anyhow?

Researcher Robert Duke has been studying learning for decades, and has conducted a number of studies specifically in the area of music learning and teaching. In today's episode, he shares many of the insights he's gained over the years, and dispels some common misunderstandings about learning, which have direct implications on how we practice and teach.

Whether it's the role of mistake-making in learning, whether advanced players make more or fewer mistakes than less-experienced players, what professionals and students do differently in the practice room, and the potential value of limiting the number of repetitions you allow yourself to do, I think you'll find at least one new thing in today's episode that will change how you approach practicing in the upcoming week.

Get all the nerdy details here:
Robert Duke: On the Value of Errors, and How Learning Really Works

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-12185028 Sun, 05 Feb 2023 03:00:00 -0500 3499 262 full false 19 Things That Great Teachers Do 19 Things That Great Teachers Do Ever wonder what it is that makes great teachers great? Like, are there any commonalities in the pedagogical approaches of renowned teachers?

A 2006 analysis of 30 hours of lesson footage of violinist Donald McInnes, oboist Richard Killmer, and pianist Nelita True found 19 common elements in their teaching approach across a range of students, from high school to doctoral level.

Click through for all the nerdy details:

19 Things That Great Teachers Do

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Ever wonder what it is that makes great teachers great? Like, are there any commonalities in the pedagogical approaches of renowned teachers?

A 2006 analysis of 30 hours of lesson footage of violinist Donald McInnes, oboist Richard Killmer, and pianist Nelita True found 19 common elements in their teaching approach across a range of students, from high school to doctoral level.

Click through for all the nerdy details:

19 Things That Great Teachers Do

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-12136020 Sun, 29 Jan 2023 03:00:00 -0500 780 261 full false How the ‘Gift’ Reframe Could Enhance Performance How the ‘Gift’ Reframe Could Enhance Performance Have you ever had someone suggest that you "think of your performance as a gift that you are sharing with the audience" as a way to help you calm your nerves before a performance?

Did that resonate with you at all? And either way, is there any evidence that reframing performances in such a way would help at all?

A 2015 study provides some clues. Learn more in today's episode, or click through for all the nerdy details:

How the ‘Gift’ Reframe Could Enhance Performance

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Have you ever had someone suggest that you "think of your performance as a gift that you are sharing with the audience" as a way to help you calm your nerves before a performance?

Did that resonate with you at all? And either way, is there any evidence that reframing performances in such a way would help at all?

A 2015 study provides some clues. Learn more in today's episode, or click through for all the nerdy details:

How the ‘Gift’ Reframe Could Enhance Performance

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-12089784 Sun, 22 Jan 2023 03:00:00 -0500 548 260 full false How to Nail Shifts and Big Leaps More Consistently How to Nail Shifts and Big Leaps More Consistently Ever find yourself struggling to get a tricky shift or big leap in tune consistently?

There are lots of helpful ways to practice and problem-solve such challenges, but there's a method that comes from sports - involving a metronome, believe it or not - that might be helpful to add to your toolbox.

How to Nail Shifts and Big Leaps More Consistently


More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Ever find yourself struggling to get a tricky shift or big leap in tune consistently?

There are lots of helpful ways to practice and problem-solve such challenges, but there's a method that comes from sports - involving a metronome, believe it or not - that might be helpful to add to your toolbox.

How to Nail Shifts and Big Leaps More Consistently


More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-12033646 Sun, 15 Jan 2023 03:00:00 -0500 517 259 full false How to Keep Anxiety From Spiraling, on Stage and Off How to Keep Anxiety From Spiraling, on Stage and Off As a kid, I had a habit of scanning the audience to see if I could catch a glimpse of my mom's reactions to my performance.

Generally, she'd be making a frowny sort of face, which didn't feel great then, but I now understand was probably more a look of concern, rather than disapproval.

I don't know why I did that, because it didn't help. And how freaky must that have been for the people in the audience? Especially in the vicinity of my mom? Like, what the heck is this kid looking at? Wait...is he looking at me?

Anyhow, I mention this because I found a study that reminded me of this old habit. Essentially, a team of researchers found that high and low-anxious folks tend to focus on very different things during a stressful task, and that this difference in attention was associated with either a milder or more severe stress response.

With college auditions coming up in the next couple months, this seemed like a particularly relevant tip that could come in pretty handy, whether during the playing bits or interview bits.

Get all the nerdy details and this week’s practice hack right here:

​How to Keep Anxiety From Spiraling, on Stage and Off

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> As a kid, I had a habit of scanning the audience to see if I could catch a glimpse of my mom's reactions to my performance.

Generally, she'd be making a frowny sort of face, which didn't feel great then, but I now understand was probably more a look of concern, rather than disapproval.

I don't know why I did that, because it didn't help. And how freaky must that have been for the people in the audience? Especially in the vicinity of my mom? Like, what the heck is this kid looking at? Wait...is he looking at me?

Anyhow, I mention this because I found a study that reminded me of this old habit. Essentially, a team of researchers found that high and low-anxious folks tend to focus on very different things during a stressful task, and that this difference in attention was associated with either a milder or more severe stress response.

With college auditions coming up in the next couple months, this seemed like a particularly relevant tip that could come in pretty handy, whether during the playing bits or interview bits.

Get all the nerdy details and this week’s practice hack right here:

​How to Keep Anxiety From Spiraling, on Stage and Off

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-12000051 Sun, 08 Jan 2023 03:00:00 -0500 574 258 full false The Best Type of Goals for More Success in the Year Ahead The Best Type of Goals for More Success in the Year Ahead If you've ever wondered why New Year's resolutions have a way of falling by the wayside so quickly, today's episode might provide some insights (and suggestions on how to avoid the motivation slump).

A 2017 study compared the effectiveness of big goals and tiny goals, and found that there was a third option that worked significantly better than either of the two.

Learn how to set better goals in the new year with this goal-setting hack:

The Best Type of Goals for More Success in the Year Ahead

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> If you've ever wondered why New Year's resolutions have a way of falling by the wayside so quickly, today's episode might provide some insights (and suggestions on how to avoid the motivation slump).

A 2017 study compared the effectiveness of big goals and tiny goals, and found that there was a third option that worked significantly better than either of the two.

Learn how to set better goals in the new year with this goal-setting hack:

The Best Type of Goals for More Success in the Year Ahead

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> https://bulletproofmusician.com/the-best-type-of-goals-for-more-success-in-the-year-ahead Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-11957010 Sun, 01 Jan 2023 03:00:00 -0500 499 257 full false A Clever Practice Hack to Make Practicing More Enjoyable A Clever Practice Hack to Make Practicing More Enjoyable When it comes to practicing (or exercising or studying, etc.), there are a lot of times when we want to do the right thing...but we don't feel like it. And because feelings often win out, it can be easy to end up procrastinating, delaying, and putting things off.

But what if there were a way to make practicing (or working out/studying) more enjoyable?

Turns out there's a very crafty way to make practicing more enjoyable - while making sure we don't cheat ourselves by making practice easier.

Learn how in this week's practice hack, taken from a 2016 study in behavioral economics:

A Clever Practice Hack to Make Practicing More Enjoyable

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> When it comes to practicing (or exercising or studying, etc.), there are a lot of times when we want to do the right thing...but we don't feel like it. And because feelings often win out, it can be easy to end up procrastinating, delaying, and putting things off.

But what if there were a way to make practicing (or working out/studying) more enjoyable?

Turns out there's a very crafty way to make practicing more enjoyable - while making sure we don't cheat ourselves by making practice easier.

Learn how in this week's practice hack, taken from a 2016 study in behavioral economics:

A Clever Practice Hack to Make Practicing More Enjoyable

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama Buzzsprout-11928631 Sun, 25 Dec 2022 03:00:00 -0500 576 256 full false The Problem With Intense Laser-Like Focus in the Practice Room The Problem With Intense Laser-Like Focus in the Practice Room We tend to think of laser-like focus as a good thing - but sometimes this can lead to getting stuck obsessing about a particular section of music and working on it over and over, but with no real progress being made.

How can we avoid this, and approach practicing so that we are able to boost our creative problem-solving abilities and come up with more effective solutions in less time?

A 2017 study provides some surprising answers!

The Problem With Intense Laser-Like Focus in the Practice Room

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> We tend to think of laser-like focus as a good thing - but sometimes this can lead to getting stuck obsessing about a particular section of music and working on it over and over, but with no real progress being made.

How can we avoid this, and approach practicing so that we are able to boost our creative problem-solving abilities and come up with more effective solutions in less time?

A 2017 study provides some surprising answers!

The Problem With Intense Laser-Like Focus in the Practice Room

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama 7a7d92c8-2c6a-417f-9cb3-47174522ccfe Sun, 18 Dec 2022 01:00:37 -0500 579 255 full false Why a Little Self-Doubt Before Performing Could Be a Good Thing Why a Little Self-Doubt Before Performing Could Be a Good Thing Self-doubt is something that plagues us all from time to time. Whether it’s a rough semester in school, a trying week with a difficult conductor, or a string of auditions where it feels like we’ve stopped growing and hit a plateau, it can be easy to question our abilities and wonder if we have what it get any further down the path.

Conventional wisdom suggests that we have to find a way to eliminate this self-doubt, but it turns out the relationship between self-doubt and performance may not be what you’d expect.

Why a Little Self-Doubt Before Performing Could Be a Good Thing

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Self-doubt is something that plagues us all from time to time. Whether it’s a rough semester in school, a trying week with a difficult conductor, or a string of auditions where it feels like we’ve stopped growing and hit a plateau, it can be easy to question our abilities and wonder if we have what it get any further down the path.

Conventional wisdom suggests that we have to find a way to eliminate this self-doubt, but it turns out the relationship between self-doubt and performance may not be what you’d expect.

Why a Little Self-Doubt Before Performing Could Be a Good Thing

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama 357a583b-ae91-4738-af04-cba3e327f28c Sun, 11 Dec 2022 04:00:00 -0500 444 254 full false Jennifer Montone: On the Unspoken Mental and Emotional Aspects of Being a Musician Jennifer Montone: On the Unspoken Mental and Emotional Aspects of Being a Musician Jennifer Montone is Principal Horn of The Philadelphia Orchestra, and teaches at teaches at the Curtis Institute of Music and The Juilliard School. Jennifer is an active chamber musician, hs performed as a guest artist or soloist with numerous orchestras, and the recipient of an Avery Fisher Career Grant, also has a Grammy Award for her performance of the Penderecki Horn Concerto with the Warsaw National Philharmonic.

Today’s episode is made extra special, in that I’m joined by guest co-host Catherine Cho (violin). A top prize-winner at the Hannover, Queen Elizabeth, and Montreal competitions, Catherine maintains an active performing career, serves on the faculty at The Juilliard School, and has also recently been appointed Artistic Advisor of the biennial Starling-DeLay Symposium.

In today’s episode, we’ll explore…

4:12 - Why is playing horn such a mental game? And what do horn players worry about anyway? Jennifer illustrates the mind of a horn player by walking us through one of her recent low points - and how she recovered.

8:32 - How do you separate how you feel from how you sound? As in, how do you avoid getting sucked into the mental negativity spiral of assuming that if you feel bad you must sound bad?

11:29 - What do violinists (and string players) worry about? And whether as a horn player or violinist (or any musician, really), how can one get to a better place mentally?

14:05 - Jennifer describes the three ingredients that seem to contribute to an optimal mental balance during performing.

17:10 - A funny anecdote which illustrates how different musicians approach nerves differently.

18:38 - Are young musicians nowadays more open to talking about nerves than in previous generations? Or is that just because teachers are more open to providing a space to talk about this than in the past?

23:46 - How does parenthood affect you as a musician? What are the positive impacts, and what are some of the challenges?

28:43 - Jennifer and Catherine describe their teaching journeys and how they’ve worked at the craft of teaching over the years.

35:22 - What kinds of notes do Jennifer and Catherine take during (or after) lessons?

37:44 - What it says on the refrigerator magnet that Jennifer will look to for support on tough days.

35:08 - The thing Catherine did one year with her studio that made a “very, very significant” change in the growth of her students that year.

43:06 - What is something that was really difficult for Jennifer and Catherine? And what is something that has come pretty easily?

46:02 - The approach Jennifer adopted when recovering from a serious jaw injury that helped her go from feeling like a player with lots of technical shortcomings, to feeling like a much stronger and more confident technical player.

====

And, if you’ve been feeling stuck on a practice or performance or audition plateau lately, check out the Beyond Practicing mental skills course mentioned in the episode, which is available at  bulletproofmusician.com/beyondpracticing.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Jennifer Montone is Principal Horn of The Philadelphia Orchestra, and teaches at teaches at the Curtis Institute of Music and The Juilliard School. Jennifer is an active chamber musician, hs performed as a guest artist or soloist with numerous orchestras, and the recipient of an Avery Fisher Career Grant, also has a Grammy Award for her performance of the Penderecki Horn Concerto with the Warsaw National Philharmonic.

Today’s episode is made extra special, in that I’m joined by guest co-host Catherine Cho (violin). A top prize-winner at the Hannover, Queen Elizabeth, and Montreal competitions, Catherine maintains an active performing career, serves on the faculty at The Juilliard School, and has also recently been appointed Artistic Advisor of the biennial Starling-DeLay Symposium.

In today’s episode, we’ll explore…

4:12 - Why is playing horn such a mental game? And what do horn players worry about anyway? Jennifer illustrates the mind of a horn player by walking us through one of her recent low points - and how she recovered.

8:32 - How do you separate how you feel from how you sound? As in, how do you avoid getting sucked into the mental negativity spiral of assuming that if you feel bad you must sound bad?

11:29 - What do violinists (and string players) worry about? And whether as a horn player or violinist (or any musician, really), how can one get to a better place mentally?

14:05 - Jennifer describes the three ingredients that seem to contribute to an optimal mental balance during performing.

17:10 - A funny anecdote which illustrates how different musicians approach nerves differently.

18:38 - Are young musicians nowadays more open to talking about nerves than in previous generations? Or is that just because teachers are more open to providing a space to talk about this than in the past?

23:46 - How does parenthood affect you as a musician? What are the positive impacts, and what are some of the challenges?

28:43 - Jennifer and Catherine describe their teaching journeys and how they’ve worked at the craft of teaching over the years.

35:22 - What kinds of notes do Jennifer and Catherine take during (or after) lessons?

37:44 - What it says on the refrigerator magnet that Jennifer will look to for support on tough days.

35:08 - The thing Catherine did one year with her studio that made a “very, very significant” change in the growth of her students that year.

43:06 - What is something that was really difficult for Jennifer and Catherine? And what is something that has come pretty easily?

46:02 - The approach Jennifer adopted when recovering from a serious jaw injury that helped her go from feeling like a player with lots of technical shortcomings, to feeling like a much stronger and more confident technical player.

====

And, if you’ve been feeling stuck on a practice or performance or audition plateau lately, check out the Beyond Practicing mental skills course mentioned in the episode, which is available at  bulletproofmusician.com/beyondpracticing.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama cd401992-dcea-4d47-9199-06e72c9c1dc8 Sun, 04 Dec 2022 04:00:00 -0500 3077 253 full false Why Telling Yourself to “Calm Down” Backstage May Be Counterproductive Why Telling Yourself to “Calm Down” Backstage May Be Counterproductive Most people intuitively assume that the best way to address performance anxiety is to calm down, but research suggests that this may actually result in worse performances (?!).

A 2013 paper describes three studies in different performance domains that give us a counterintuitive - and more effective - way to respond to performance anxiety.

 Why Telling Yourself to “Calm Down” Backstage May Be Counterproductive

====


More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Most people intuitively assume that the best way to address performance anxiety is to calm down, but research suggests that this may actually result in worse performances (?!).

A 2013 paper describes three studies in different performance domains that give us a counterintuitive - and more effective - way to respond to performance anxiety.

 Why Telling Yourself to “Calm Down” Backstage May Be Counterproductive

====


More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama 8add2e9b-c968-4330-bab6-0da03ba93a77 Sun, 27 Nov 2022 04:00:00 -0500 730 252 full false Why Trying to "Think Positive" All the Time Could Make You Feel Worse Why Trying to "Think Positive" All the Time Could Make You Feel Worse We are often encouraged to maintain a positive mental attitude. And there are tons of books and blog posts devoted to explaining how important this is as well.

But sometimes it can be exhausting to keep it up!

So how important is it really, to maintain a positivity 24/7?

Or could there be some hidden downsides?

A 2018 study provides some counterintuitive findings, related not just to overall mental health and well-being, but performance as well.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> We are often encouraged to maintain a positive mental attitude. And there are tons of books and blog posts devoted to explaining how important this is as well.

But sometimes it can be exhausting to keep it up!

So how important is it really, to maintain a positivity 24/7?

Or could there be some hidden downsides?

A 2018 study provides some counterintuitive findings, related not just to overall mental health and well-being, but performance as well.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama 86f50333-380d-4c68-9764-b226e4833880 Sun, 13 Nov 2022 04:00:00 -0500 575 251 full false Kim Laskowski: On Developing a Beautiful Expressive Sound and Teaching Yourself How to Learn Kim Laskowski: On Developing a Beautiful Expressive Sound and Teaching Yourself How to Learn Kim Laskowski has been the associate principal bassoonist of the NY Philharmonic since 2003, winning her position at age 48 - without a prior symphonic background.

She shares her story in this episode, as well as tons of insights on practice and preparation, from how to listen, how to do repetitions in your practice without going on autopilot, and more.

 Kim Laskowski: On Developing a Beautiful Expressive Sound and Teaching Yourself How to Learn

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]]> Kim Laskowski has been the associate principal bassoonist of the NY Philharmonic since 2003, winning her position at age 48 - without a prior symphonic background.

She shares her story in this episode, as well as tons of insights on practice and preparation, from how to listen, how to do repetitions in your practice without going on autopilot, and more.

 Kim Laskowski: On Developing a Beautiful Expressive Sound and Teaching Yourself How to Learn

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]]> Noa Kageyama 7978845b-2b9d-4714-9017-5c9fda96f78e Sun, 06 Nov 2022 03:00:00 -0500 2764 250 full false How Important is Listening to Recordings, Really? How Important is Listening to Recordings, Really? You've probably had teachers who encouraged you to listen to recordings, and one of the Suzuki method's core elements is the importance of listening to recordings. But does this actually help learning? Or is it just one of those things that we do because it sounds like the right thing to do, and we've always done it that way?

A 2012 study provides some answers - and additional insights on different types of listening: passive listening and distracted listening.

 How Important is Listening to Recordings, Really?

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]]> You've probably had teachers who encouraged you to listen to recordings, and one of the Suzuki method's core elements is the importance of listening to recordings. But does this actually help learning? Or is it just one of those things that we do because it sounds like the right thing to do, and we've always done it that way?

A 2012 study provides some answers - and additional insights on different types of listening: passive listening and distracted listening.

 How Important is Listening to Recordings, Really?

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]]> Noa Kageyama 4f56ee92-ff3b-4e4d-b65c-277078475a8f Sun, 30 Oct 2022 04:00:00 -0400 512 249 full false The Practice Strategy That Could “Bulletproof” Your Memory Under PressureThe Practice Strategy That Could “Bulletproof” Your Memory Under Pressure The Practice Strategy That Could “Bulletproof” Your Memory Under PressureThe Practice Strategy That Could “Bulletproof” Your Memory Under Pressure Stress and nerves have a tendency to disrupt our memory, but a 2016 study suggests that this isn't inevitable. And that if we integrate a particular kind of practice into the learning and memorization process, we can make our memory more "bulletproof" under pressure.

 The Practice Strategy That Could “Bulletproof” Your Memory Under Pressure

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]]> Stress and nerves have a tendency to disrupt our memory, but a 2016 study suggests that this isn't inevitable. And that if we integrate a particular kind of practice into the learning and memorization process, we can make our memory more "bulletproof" under pressure.

 The Practice Strategy That Could “Bulletproof” Your Memory Under Pressure

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]]> Noa Kageyama 43589567-e350-46a4-9c76-591769f59cfa Sun, 23 Oct 2022 04:00:00 -0400 576 248 full false A Better Way to Do Mental Practice A Better Way to Do Mental Practice Most musicians (and athletes) have heard of mental practice, and have probably been encouraged to do it. But have you ever been taught *how* to do mental practice?

Most research centers on whether mental practice works, or what type is best, but today's study looks at a strategy for learning how to do mental practice. And it describes a technique for how to get better at mental practice - and see changes in performance - even if you've never been very good at imagery in the past.

 A Better Way to Do Mental Practice

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]]> Most musicians (and athletes) have heard of mental practice, and have probably been encouraged to do it. But have you ever been taught *how* to do mental practice?

Most research centers on whether mental practice works, or what type is best, but today's study looks at a strategy for learning how to do mental practice. And it describes a technique for how to get better at mental practice - and see changes in performance - even if you've never been very good at imagery in the past.

 A Better Way to Do Mental Practice

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]]> Noa Kageyama 4b337e02-1929-4b02-bdb5-5d1940b8af09 Sun, 16 Oct 2022 04:00:00 -0400 638 247 full false The Problem With Time and Repetition-Based Practice Goals (And What to Do Instead) The Problem With Time and Repetition-Based Practice Goals (And What to Do Instead) As common as it is to create practice goals centered around time or repetition (e.g. practice scales for 10 minutes every day), a 2012 study suggests that there could be a better way to set practice goals, that could lead to significantly greater improvements in the same amount of practice time.

 The Problem With Time and Repetition-Based Practice Goals (And What to Do Instead)

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]]> As common as it is to create practice goals centered around time or repetition (e.g. practice scales for 10 minutes every day), a 2012 study suggests that there could be a better way to set practice goals, that could lead to significantly greater improvements in the same amount of practice time.

 The Problem With Time and Repetition-Based Practice Goals (And What to Do Instead)

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]]> Noa Kageyama fe7e5d44-7e92-4730-8eb9-503c258a9f02 Sun, 09 Oct 2022 04:00:00 -0400 496 246 full false When is the Optimal Time to Start Doing Performance Practice? When is the Optimal Time to Start Doing Performance Practice? We all know how valuable practice performances and mock auditions can be - but I think it's probably human nature to wait until everything is "ready" before we start recording and playing for others.

Of course, how far in advance of an audition or performance should we be playing for others? Is it important that we wait until things are pretty close to being performance-ready? Or should we be aiming to play for others much sooner than we might otherwise assume?

 When is the Optimal Time to Start Doing Performance Practice?

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]]> We all know how valuable practice performances and mock auditions can be - but I think it's probably human nature to wait until everything is "ready" before we start recording and playing for others.

Of course, how far in advance of an audition or performance should we be playing for others? Is it important that we wait until things are pretty close to being performance-ready? Or should we be aiming to play for others much sooner than we might otherwise assume?

 When is the Optimal Time to Start Doing Performance Practice?

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]]> Noa Kageyama 7b17e015-c293-4d6c-8378-05bb55e4e54c Sun, 02 Oct 2022 04:00:00 -0400 651 245 full false What Is More Effective for Learning - Praise or Criticism? What Is More Effective for Learning - Praise or Criticism? Ever wonder what role praise and criticism plays in learning? Like, is there an optimal ratio of positive to negative that seems to work best?

A 1976 analysis of legendary basketball coach John Wooden's coaching provides some surprising insights into what might actually work best.

 What Is More Effective for Learning - Praise or Criticism?

Also, if you've been wanting to feel more comfortable performing, but aren't sure how to go about it, you might be interested in the live online 4-week class starting in October. Get all the details here:

 Performance Psych Essentials (for Musicians)

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]]> Ever wonder what role praise and criticism plays in learning? Like, is there an optimal ratio of positive to negative that seems to work best?

A 1976 analysis of legendary basketball coach John Wooden's coaching provides some surprising insights into what might actually work best.

 What Is More Effective for Learning - Praise or Criticism?

Also, if you've been wanting to feel more comfortable performing, but aren't sure how to go about it, you might be interested in the live online 4-week class starting in October. Get all the details here:

 Performance Psych Essentials (for Musicians)

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama 574fd6ff-be3e-44bb-bd24-ea982b880ddb Sun, 25 Sep 2022 04:00:00 -0400 638 244 full false Is It Possible to Increase Your “Immunity” to Nerves? The Research Suggests Yes - And Here’s How to Do It. Is It Possible to Increase Your “Immunity” to Nerves? The Research Suggests Yes - And Here’s How to Do It. Ever wish there were a way to be less affected by nerves under pressure. Like, if there could be a flu shot equivalent for nerves to help "inoculate" you to pressure?

Researchers have wondered this as well, and a pair of studies suggest that we totally can!

 Is It Possible to Increase Your “Immunity” to Nerves? The Research Suggests Yes - And Here’s How to Do It.

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]]> Ever wish there were a way to be less affected by nerves under pressure. Like, if there could be a flu shot equivalent for nerves to help "inoculate" you to pressure?

Researchers have wondered this as well, and a pair of studies suggest that we totally can!

 Is It Possible to Increase Your “Immunity” to Nerves? The Research Suggests Yes - And Here’s How to Do It.

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]]> Noa Kageyama 6ae81cda-e441-4076-97a7-989dc962cbd2 Sun, 18 Sep 2022 04:00:00 -0400 445 243 full false Wish You Could Memorize Better? Why a Little Bit of "Verbalization" Might Be the Missing Ingredient. Wish You Could Memorize Better? Why a Little Bit of "Verbalization" Might Be the Missing Ingredient. Fear of memory slips is a common issue for many musicians. But I don't know that many of us have ever been taught specifically how to memorize either...

Turns out there's a relatively simple strategy we can use to significantly improve how much of the new music we're learning "sticks" in our memory.

 Wish You Could Memorize Better? Why a Little Bit of "Verbalization" Might Be the Missing Ingredient.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Fear of memory slips is a common issue for many musicians. But I don't know that many of us have ever been taught specifically how to memorize either...

Turns out there's a relatively simple strategy we can use to significantly improve how much of the new music we're learning "sticks" in our memory.

 Wish You Could Memorize Better? Why a Little Bit of "Verbalization" Might Be the Missing Ingredient.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama 0efc2e36-fe81-44af-b097-f90b9b265da7 Sun, 11 Sep 2022 04:00:00 -0400 454 242 full false David Juncos & Elvire de Paiva e Pona: On ACT and a New Approach to Overcoming Performance Anxiety David Juncos & Elvire de Paiva e Pona: On ACT and a New Approach to Overcoming Performance Anxiety Eliminating nerves, or staying positive and turning your inner critic into an optimist can be difficult, frustrating, and exhausting.

But what if we didn't have to? What if there were another way, another path to performing optimally where we didn't have to fight our nerves quite so much?

Today's guests share insights into a relatively new approach to managing nerves and performance stress that is gaining increasing interest in both sport and music circles - ACT.

 David Juncos & Elvire de Paiva e Pona: On ACT and a New Approach to Overcoming Performance Anxiety

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Eliminating nerves, or staying positive and turning your inner critic into an optimist can be difficult, frustrating, and exhausting.

But what if we didn't have to? What if there were another way, another path to performing optimally where we didn't have to fight our nerves quite so much?

Today's guests share insights into a relatively new approach to managing nerves and performance stress that is gaining increasing interest in both sport and music circles - ACT.

 David Juncos & Elvire de Paiva e Pona: On ACT and a New Approach to Overcoming Performance Anxiety

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]]> Noa Kageyama 017d136f-5ad7-471b-bbb2-cc04b620fd64 Sun, 04 Sep 2022 04:00:00 -0400 3101 241 full false Optimizing Practice: 2 Things That the Best Performers Do & 1 Thing That the Best “Improvers” Do Optimizing Practice: 2 Things That the Best Performers Do & 1 Thing That the Best “Improvers” Do There are quite a few studies that have looked at the practice habits of top performers, but there are few that have looked at the practice habits of the top performers who also improve at the greatest rate.

Today's study does just that and identifies one key practice process that's associated with the most growth and improvement.

 Optimizing Practice: 2 Things That the Best Performers Do & 1 Thing That the Best “Improvers” Do

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]]> There are quite a few studies that have looked at the practice habits of top performers, but there are few that have looked at the practice habits of the top performers who also improve at the greatest rate.

Today's study does just that and identifies one key practice process that's associated with the most growth and improvement.

 Optimizing Practice: 2 Things That the Best Performers Do & 1 Thing That the Best “Improvers” Do

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama feba4e1c-57c4-404a-a2fd-fe11346f1c18 Sun, 28 Aug 2022 04:00:00 -0400 629 240 full false Why Ear Training Might Matter More Than You Think Why Ear Training Might Matter More Than You Think Ever wonder why ear training is such an emphasis in the standard music curriculum? How important is it that we be good at it? What does it actually help us with?

A 2004 study of pianists provides some answers!

 Why Ear Training Might Matter More Than You Think

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]]> Ever wonder why ear training is such an emphasis in the standard music curriculum? How important is it that we be good at it? What does it actually help us with?

A 2004 study of pianists provides some answers!

 Why Ear Training Might Matter More Than You Think

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]]> Noa Kageyama e4422a69-f681-4d39-ac85-f0e204761392 Sun, 21 Aug 2022 04:00:00 -0400 419 239 full false Two Helpful Things to Think About on Stage, Right Before You Start Playing Two Helpful Things to Think About on Stage, Right Before You Start Playing Turns out what we think about right before we start playing can have a significant effect on how well we perform! So if your brain tends to suddenly imagine worst-case scenarios, or blank out, or get distracted, a recent tennis study provides some clues on what would be more helpful to keep our mind focused on instead.

 Two Helpful Things to Think About on Stage, Right Before You Start Playing

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]]> Turns out what we think about right before we start playing can have a significant effect on how well we perform! So if your brain tends to suddenly imagine worst-case scenarios, or blank out, or get distracted, a recent tennis study provides some clues on what would be more helpful to keep our mind focused on instead.

 Two Helpful Things to Think About on Stage, Right Before You Start Playing

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]]> Noa Kageyama 0f96a66f-47ee-4913-830a-073e8a25b69e Sun, 14 Aug 2022 04:00:00 -0400 467 238 full false If You Have Difficulty Staying Focused While Practicing, Could Clutter Be a Factor? If You Have Difficulty Staying Focused While Practicing, Could Clutter Be a Factor? Could clutter be affecting your ability to focus in the practice room? Research suggests that it could - and potentially affecting your learning as well!

 If You Have Difficulty Staying Focused While Practicing, Could Clutter Be a Factor?

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]]> Could clutter be affecting your ability to focus in the practice room? Research suggests that it could - and potentially affecting your learning as well!

 If You Have Difficulty Staying Focused While Practicing, Could Clutter Be a Factor?

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]]> Noa Kageyama 7046a6a5-de15-4c6d-b965-d0dcf55d48ee Sun, 07 Aug 2022 04:00:00 -0400 519 237 full false Memory Reconsolidation: A Way to Dump Your Negative Audition and Performance Baggage? Memory Reconsolidation: A Way to Dump Your Negative Audition and Performance Baggage? Ever find yourself reacting negatively to certain pieces or orchestral excerpts, not because you can't play it, but because there's still some mental or emotional "baggage" lingering in the background from previous negative experiences?

Recent research suggests that it may be possible to "edit" or update these memories so that they don't carry so much weight.

 Memory Reconsolidation: A Way to Dump Your Negative Audition and Performance Baggage?

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]]> Ever find yourself reacting negatively to certain pieces or orchestral excerpts, not because you can't play it, but because there's still some mental or emotional "baggage" lingering in the background from previous negative experiences?

Recent research suggests that it may be possible to "edit" or update these memories so that they don't carry so much weight.

 Memory Reconsolidation: A Way to Dump Your Negative Audition and Performance Baggage?

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]]> Noa Kageyama 25fbd420-2f11-458e-9b47-29102def7a22 Sun, 31 Jul 2022 04:00:00 -0400 641 236 full false Three Ways to Teach Students How to Play More Expressively (Is There a “Best” Way?) Three Ways to Teach Students How to Play More Expressively (Is There a “Best” Way?) Ever find yourself struggling to help a student play more expressively. With so many different approaches to choose from - e.g. imagery/metaphors to instructions to demonstrations/listening assignments, is there one that works best?

 Three Ways to Teach Students How to Play More Expressively (Is There a “Best” Way?)

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]]> Ever find yourself struggling to help a student play more expressively. With so many different approaches to choose from - e.g. imagery/metaphors to instructions to demonstrations/listening assignments, is there one that works best?

 Three Ways to Teach Students How to Play More Expressively (Is There a “Best” Way?)

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]]> Noa Kageyama c54f484a-52a2-4efa-882b-edd22ef9c654 Sun, 24 Jul 2022 04:00:00 -0400 542 235 full false How Making Mistakes Can Accelerate Learning How Making Mistakes Can Accelerate Learning Ever worry that the mistakes you inadvertently make in the practice room could come back to bite you in the butt in performance?

Turns out you may not have to worry as much as you'd think - as long as you're making mistakes the right way.

Wait...what does that even mean?!

More details in today's episode. =)

 How Making Mistakes Can Accelerate Learning

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]]> Ever worry that the mistakes you inadvertently make in the practice room could come back to bite you in the butt in performance?

Turns out you may not have to worry as much as you'd think - as long as you're making mistakes the right way.

Wait...what does that even mean?!

More details in today's episode. =)

 How Making Mistakes Can Accelerate Learning

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]]> Noa Kageyama fb87e3d9-e475-4f3b-94a6-949758aca35e Sun, 17 Jul 2022 04:00:00 -0400 492 234 full false The Two Most Efficient (and Two Least Efficient) Memorization Strategies The Two Most Efficient (and Two Least Efficient) Memorization Strategies I think we've all wondered what the most effective strategies for memorization might be. But have you ever wondered what the most efficient strategy might be? The one that gets you the furthest in the least amount of time?

In today's episode, we'll explore four strategies for memorizing - all of which work, but two of which get you to the same place in much less time than the others.

 The Two Most Efficient (and Two Least Efficient) Memorization Strategies

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]]> I think we've all wondered what the most effective strategies for memorization might be. But have you ever wondered what the most efficient strategy might be? The one that gets you the furthest in the least amount of time?

In today's episode, we'll explore four strategies for memorizing - all of which work, but two of which get you to the same place in much less time than the others.

 The Two Most Efficient (and Two Least Efficient) Memorization Strategies

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]]> Noa Kageyama ff78d77a-1e50-41af-9737-927b29a2d774 Sun, 10 Jul 2022 04:00:00 -0400 645 233 full false Brian Alegant: On the Difference Between MUSIC Theory and Music THEORY Brian Alegant: On the Difference Between MUSIC Theory and Music THEORY Did you enjoy music theory in school? Or did it just make your head hurt and wish you could be almost anywhere else instead?

If you were never especially fond of music theory, this episode is for you. =) I'm joined by music theory professor Brian Alegant, and guest co-host violist Molly Gebrian (who taught music theory classes in her previous faculty position).

We won't talk about seventh chords or modes, but instead, have a chat about how we can make it feel more like MUSIC theory than music THEORY.

 

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Did you enjoy music theory in school? Or did it just make your head hurt and wish you could be almost anywhere else instead?

If you were never especially fond of music theory, this episode is for you. =) I'm joined by music theory professor Brian Alegant, and guest co-host violist Molly Gebrian (who taught music theory classes in her previous faculty position).

We won't talk about seventh chords or modes, but instead, have a chat about how we can make it feel more like MUSIC theory than music THEORY.

 

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama bcf754e0-794b-4416-ae19-32a66650dca5 Sun, 03 Jul 2022 04:00:00 -0400 3024 232 full false Why Your Playing (or Singing) Tends to Become Less Musically Expressive on Stage Why Your Playing (or Singing) Tends to Become Less Musically Expressive on Stage Ever wonder why your playing or singing (or that of your students) tends to be less expressive under pressure?

A 2015 study provides some clues on what exactly happens to the expressiveness of our playing when we're on stage, and even some details on what exactly happens with a particular aspect of expressiveness - phrasing that makes it sound less musical.

Why Your Playing (or Singing) Tends to Become Less Musically Expressive on Stage

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]]> Ever wonder why your playing or singing (or that of your students) tends to be less expressive under pressure?

A 2015 study provides some clues on what exactly happens to the expressiveness of our playing when we're on stage, and even some details on what exactly happens with a particular aspect of expressiveness - phrasing that makes it sound less musical.

Why Your Playing (or Singing) Tends to Become Less Musically Expressive on Stage

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama 3107d135-1e5f-4cd7-95fe-faa04497eacf Sun, 26 Jun 2022 04:00:00 -0400 522 false Do the Best Performers Also Provide the Best Advice? Do the Best Performers Also Provide the Best Advice? Whether in music, sports, fitness, or in business, there’s often a tendency for us to assume that the best performers in any domain have the most valuable advice to offer.

Of course, there’s a common counter-narrative which suggests that sometimes the best athletes, the top performers at work, and the most shredded folks at the gym, don’t necessarily make the best teachers.

So…which is it? Is a person’s performance a pretty good predictor of the quality of their advice? Or are performance and advice-giving two very different things?

Do the Best Performers Also Provide the Best Advice?

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]]> Whether in music, sports, fitness, or in business, there’s often a tendency for us to assume that the best performers in any domain have the most valuable advice to offer.

Of course, there’s a common counter-narrative which suggests that sometimes the best athletes, the top performers at work, and the most shredded folks at the gym, don’t necessarily make the best teachers.

So…which is it? Is a person’s performance a pretty good predictor of the quality of their advice? Or are performance and advice-giving two very different things?

Do the Best Performers Also Provide the Best Advice?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama 85e9d593-c2ff-43d9-aa66-e58824491567 Sun, 19 Jun 2022 04:00:00 -0400 581 false Why Thinking Out Loud Could Help You Become a More Efficient Practicer Why Thinking Out Loud Could Help You Become a More Efficient Practicer Ever find yourself getting sucked into mindless repetitions, despite your best intentions to practice more thoughtfully and efficiently?

Research suggests that thinking out loud could enhance problem-solving, essentially making you a more efficient and effective practicer.

Why Thinking Out Loud Could Help You Become a More Efficient Practicer

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]]> Ever find yourself getting sucked into mindless repetitions, despite your best intentions to practice more thoughtfully and efficiently?

Research suggests that thinking out loud could enhance problem-solving, essentially making you a more efficient and effective practicer.

Why Thinking Out Loud Could Help You Become a More Efficient Practicer

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama 686b3ebc-57c5-4614-9cb4-64b0212e0005 Sun, 12 Jun 2022 04:00:00 -0400 512 false Peter Keller: On Becoming More Skilled Ensemble Musicians with Insights from Cognitive Science Peter Keller: On Becoming More Skilled Ensemble Musicians with Insights from Cognitive Science Ever wonder what it is that makes for great ensemble "chemistry"? Like, what are the underlying skills that make some musicians especially easy and fun to play with?

Peter Keller is a trombonist/composer-turned-music psychologist, who studies the neural and behavioral bases underlying effective ensemble playing.

In this episode, he shares some insights from cognitive science that could enable us to be more effective musical collaborators, whether playing in a duo, quartet, or orchestra.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Ever wonder what it is that makes for great ensemble "chemistry"? Like, what are the underlying skills that make some musicians especially easy and fun to play with?

Peter Keller is a trombonist/composer-turned-music psychologist, who studies the neural and behavioral bases underlying effective ensemble playing.

In this episode, he shares some insights from cognitive science that could enable us to be more effective musical collaborators, whether playing in a duo, quartet, or orchestra.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama 8bd9e3c6-a6a8-4c7d-a256-1bc4f7db62d9 Sun, 05 Jun 2022 04:00:00 -0400 2962 false An “Awkward” Way to Increase Motivation and Make More Progress Towards Your Goals An “Awkward” Way to Increase Motivation and Make More Progress Towards Your Goals Ever find yourself wishing you could get better at something, but getting stuck somewhere along the way? And facing a lot of internal resistance to doing the uncomfortable, awkward things that you know would help you get there?

A recent study provides some insights on why this is, and what we can do about it.

An “Awkward” Way to Increase Motivation and Make More Progress Towards Your Goals.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Ever find yourself wishing you could get better at something, but getting stuck somewhere along the way? And facing a lot of internal resistance to doing the uncomfortable, awkward things that you know would help you get there?

A recent study provides some insights on why this is, and what we can do about it.

An “Awkward” Way to Increase Motivation and Make More Progress Towards Your Goals.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama b56d6808-d0a1-463e-95a1-7817f0247f6f Sun, 29 May 2022 04:00:00 -0400 559 false How to Clear Your Mind of Worries Before a Big Performance (revisited) How to Clear Your Mind of Worries Before a Big Performance (revisited) Ever notice how mean and distracting (and unhelpful) your inner critic can be on stage?

Previous research has found that writing out our worries right before a test (as counterintuitive as that sounds) can help to improve test performance. But would something like this work with musical performance as well?

How to Clear Your Mind of Worries Before a Big Performance (revisited)

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Ever notice how mean and distracting (and unhelpful) your inner critic can be on stage?

Previous research has found that writing out our worries right before a test (as counterintuitive as that sounds) can help to improve test performance. But would something like this work with musical performance as well?

How to Clear Your Mind of Worries Before a Big Performance (revisited)

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama 30ad7b26-fd61-48e9-817e-0868a90f4674 Sun, 22 May 2022 04:00:00 -0400 603 false Evidence That Performing From Memory May Be More Challenging for Pianists Than Others (What?!) Evidence That Performing From Memory May Be More Challenging for Pianists Than Others (What?!) Anecdotally at least, fear of memory slips seems to come up more often for pianists than for some other instruments. Is this because of how many notes they have? Or is there something else about the instrument itself that contributes to an increased risk of memory slips in performance (unless one adjusts their practice habits to account for this)?

Evidence That Performing From Memory May Be More Challenging for Pianists Than Others (What?!)

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]]> Anecdotally at least, fear of memory slips seems to come up more often for pianists than for some other instruments. Is this because of how many notes they have? Or is there something else about the instrument itself that contributes to an increased risk of memory slips in performance (unless one adjusts their practice habits to account for this)?

Evidence That Performing From Memory May Be More Challenging for Pianists Than Others (What?!)

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama a0e62207-a423-44a4-9ad4-f9bc57fcd449 Sun, 15 May 2022 04:00:00 -0400 460 false Do You Struggle With Unreliable Memory on Stage? Perhaps Your Memorization Strategy is Missing This Key ingredient... Do You Struggle With Unreliable Memory on Stage? Perhaps Your Memorization Strategy is Missing This Key ingredient... Memory slips can be a scary thing and a major cause of anxiety on stage. But it's not a skill that we tend to think of much in our daily practice...

We know from previous research that mental practice plus physical practice leads to better learning than physical practice alone.

Could the same thing be true for memory too? Like, could substituting a bit of mental practice for physical practice lead to more reliable memory than physical practice alone?

Do You Struggle With Unreliable Memory on Stage? Perhaps Your Memorization Strategy is Missing This Key ingredient...

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Memory slips can be a scary thing and a major cause of anxiety on stage. But it's not a skill that we tend to think of much in our daily practice...

We know from previous research that mental practice plus physical practice leads to better learning than physical practice alone.

Could the same thing be true for memory too? Like, could substituting a bit of mental practice for physical practice lead to more reliable memory than physical practice alone?

Do You Struggle With Unreliable Memory on Stage? Perhaps Your Memorization Strategy is Missing This Key ingredient...

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama a7a42075-a4b8-41df-aa17-655b432c0d90 Sun, 08 May 2022 04:00:00 -0400 430 false Keith Underwood (Part 2): On Breathing and the Problem With Thinking of Air as the Solution to Everything. Keith Underwood (Part 2): On Breathing and the Problem With Thinking of Air as the Solution to Everything. As instinctive and natural a process as breathing is in our moment-to-moment existence, breathing efficiently and effectively so as to produce a beautiful sound that projects, clear articulation, smooth, connected phrases, etc. can be a real challenge (or so I hear)!

In Part 2 of my chat with flutist Keith Underwood, we get into the topic of breathing, and Keith explains and demonstrates a whole range of concepts that will help you play more effortlessly, and better understand how to "play on the breath, not with the breath."

Keith Underwood (Part 2): On Breathing and the Problem With Thinking of Air as the Solution to Everything.

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]]> As instinctive and natural a process as breathing is in our moment-to-moment existence, breathing efficiently and effectively so as to produce a beautiful sound that projects, clear articulation, smooth, connected phrases, etc. can be a real challenge (or so I hear)!

In Part 2 of my chat with flutist Keith Underwood, we get into the topic of breathing, and Keith explains and demonstrates a whole range of concepts that will help you play more effortlessly, and better understand how to "play on the breath, not with the breath."

Keith Underwood (Part 2): On Breathing and the Problem With Thinking of Air as the Solution to Everything.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama f737ae55-c0bb-4884-9925-6cd4bd280df4 Sun, 01 May 2022 04:00:00 -0400 3081 false Keith Underwood (Part 1): On the Art of Imitation, and How to Glean Transformative Insights From Great Musicians to Level Up Your Playing. Keith Underwood (Part 1): On the Art of Imitation, and How to Glean Transformative Insights From Great Musicians to Level Up Your Playing. Flutist and educator Keith Underwood shares insights on what (and how) we can learn from our favorite musicians so as to level up our playing in some pretty transformative ways. And how doing so can potentially make practicing and recording way more fun as well!

Keith Underwood (Part 1): On the Art of Imitation, and How to Glean Insights From Great Musicians to Level Up Your Playing.

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]]> Flutist and educator Keith Underwood shares insights on what (and how) we can learn from our favorite musicians so as to level up our playing in some pretty transformative ways. And how doing so can potentially make practicing and recording way more fun as well!

Keith Underwood (Part 1): On the Art of Imitation, and How to Glean Insights From Great Musicians to Level Up Your Playing.

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]]> Noa Kageyama 16d91927-3ab1-4fee-9795-1fa1635fb294 Sun, 24 Apr 2022 04:00:00 -0400 2990 false How Mental Imagery Can Help You Become a Better (Or More "Psychic") Chamber Music Partner How Mental Imagery Can Help You Become a Better (Or More "Psychic") Chamber Music Partner You know how some musicians seem to be almost "psychic" in their ability to play together and be totally in sync with one another? Ever wonder how they do this? Is it just experience, or something else?

A couple imagery studies provide some intriguing clues on what they might be doing, that facilitates next-level ensemble coordination.

How Mental Imagery Can Help You Become a Better (Or More "Psychic") Chamber Music Partner

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]]> You know how some musicians seem to be almost "psychic" in their ability to play together and be totally in sync with one another? Ever wonder how they do this? Is it just experience, or something else?

A couple imagery studies provide some intriguing clues on what they might be doing, that facilitates next-level ensemble coordination.

How Mental Imagery Can Help You Become a Better (Or More "Psychic") Chamber Music Partner

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama 6a141376-6ce9-4997-b42a-9252933de9db Sun, 17 Apr 2022 04:00:00 -0400 442 false How Does One Learn to Play More Musically? How Does One Learn to Play More Musically? How much emotion should we be feeling internally for a musically effective performance? Is there such a thing as feeling too much emotion when performing? And is playing more musically something we can learn, or is it something innate?

How Does One Learn to Play More Musically?

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]]> How much emotion should we be feeling internally for a musically effective performance? Is there such a thing as feeling too much emotion when performing? And is playing more musically something we can learn, or is it something innate?

How Does One Learn to Play More Musically?

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]]> Noa Kageyama c3c5ba9b-cfbd-47b7-90d6-15375bf1178c Sun, 10 Apr 2022 04:00:00 -0400 614 false Do We Really Sound as Terrible on Stage as We Sometimes Think We Do? Do We Really Sound as Terrible on Stage as We Sometimes Think We Do? Ever notice how after performances, your family, friends, and teachers seem to think that the performance went better than you thought it went? Is this just because they're being nice, or is this a real thing? As in, is there something about being on stage that makes us perceive our own playing differently than how others perceive our playing?

Do We Really Sound as Terrible on Stage as We Sometimes Think We Do?

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]]> Ever notice how after performances, your family, friends, and teachers seem to think that the performance went better than you thought it went? Is this just because they're being nice, or is this a real thing? As in, is there something about being on stage that makes us perceive our own playing differently than how others perceive our playing?

Do We Really Sound as Terrible on Stage as We Sometimes Think We Do?

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]]> Noa Kageyama 142f1a17-5cae-4e88-99ba-59280a90496f Sun, 03 Apr 2022 04:00:00 -0400 470 false "Quiet Eye": A Technique to Enhance Performance When You're Nervous "Quiet Eye": A Technique to Enhance Performance When You're Nervous Ever notice how nerves can make us feel pressure to rush into the opening of a performance, and start before we feel truly settled and ready?

Turns out that one of the keys to starting off more effectively may have to do with our eyes, and what we look at or focus on in the moments right before beginning.

How so? A 2014 study gives us some intriguing clues...

"Quiet Eye": A Technique to Enhance Performance When You're Nervous

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]]> Ever notice how nerves can make us feel pressure to rush into the opening of a performance, and start before we feel truly settled and ready?

Turns out that one of the keys to starting off more effectively may have to do with our eyes, and what we look at or focus on in the moments right before beginning.

How so? A 2014 study gives us some intriguing clues...

"Quiet Eye": A Technique to Enhance Performance When You're Nervous

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]]> Noa Kageyama 1f4e449e-39f9-4c06-a896-a78a779bcf5d Sun, 27 Mar 2022 04:00:00 -0400 533 false Prone to Procrastinating? Why the Way You Set Deadlines Could Make Things Worse, Not Better. Prone to Procrastinating? Why the Way You Set Deadlines Could Make Things Worse, Not Better. When it comes to getting things done, do you find it helpful to set deadlines? And if so, do shorter deadlines work better, or longer ones?

Research suggests that in some cases, no deadline could be best (what?!). And at other times, the wrong kind of deadline can make us more, not less, likely to procrastinate.

Prone to Procrastinating? Why the Way You Set Deadlines Could Make Things Worse, Not Better.

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]]> When it comes to getting things done, do you find it helpful to set deadlines? And if so, do shorter deadlines work better, or longer ones?

Research suggests that in some cases, no deadline could be best (what?!). And at other times, the wrong kind of deadline can make us more, not less, likely to procrastinate.

Prone to Procrastinating? Why the Way You Set Deadlines Could Make Things Worse, Not Better.

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]]> Noa Kageyama 5df8a15c-ecab-423b-aaf6-a84f9ca24b28 Sun, 20 Mar 2022 04:00:00 -0400 456 false Having a Bad Practice Day? Turn It Into a Good One With This 3-Step Self-Coaching Technique. Having a Bad Practice Day? Turn It Into a Good One With This 3-Step Self-Coaching Technique. We've probably all had teachers who told us that their goal is to help us learn how to teach ourselves. But how do we do that exactly?

A 2006 study lays out a 3-step self-coaching process that we can use to become better teachers to ourselves. Or even share with our students as kind of a how-to-become-a-better-practicer cheat sheet.

Having a Bad Practice Day? Turn It Into a Good One With This 3-Step Self-Coaching Technique.

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]]> We've probably all had teachers who told us that their goal is to help us learn how to teach ourselves. But how do we do that exactly?

A 2006 study lays out a 3-step self-coaching process that we can use to become better teachers to ourselves. Or even share with our students as kind of a how-to-become-a-better-practicer cheat sheet.

Having a Bad Practice Day? Turn It Into a Good One With This 3-Step Self-Coaching Technique.

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]]> Noa Kageyama f9a95e5d-e62e-4ec1-9e5d-28070ed83766 Sat, 12 Mar 2022 16:07:18 -0500 546 false Adina Mornell: On Learning How to Practice in Such a Way That Performing Can Be Something We Enjoy, Rather Than Fear Adina Mornell: On Learning How to Practice in Such a Way That Performing Can Be Something We Enjoy, Rather Than Fear Pianist, educator, and music psychology researcher Adina Mornell shares insights on the four component of stage fright (and what to do about each), and describes some of the key takeaways from recent studies she has done on how to not only practice more effectively, but prepare in such a way that we can enjoy ourselves more on stage too.

Adina Mornell: On Learning How to Practice in Such a Way That Performing Can Be Something We Enjoy, Rather Than Fear

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]]> Pianist, educator, and music psychology researcher Adina Mornell shares insights on the four component of stage fright (and what to do about each), and describes some of the key takeaways from recent studies she has done on how to not only practice more effectively, but prepare in such a way that we can enjoy ourselves more on stage too.

Adina Mornell: On Learning How to Practice in Such a Way That Performing Can Be Something We Enjoy, Rather Than Fear

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]]> Noa Kageyama fd4f0a58-9785-4f32-9615-9cb959958fc1 Sun, 06 Mar 2022 04:00:00 -0500 3733 false How to Get Your Brain to Do More Learning BETWEEN Practice Sessions How to Get Your Brain to Do More Learning BETWEEN Practice Sessions When we think of optimizing learning, we tend to think of practice strategies and how to make our time in the practice room more effective. But much like working out and building muscle, a good bit of motor learning actually occurs outside of the practice room, BETWEEN practice sessions.

So what can we do to maximize the motor learning that occurs between practice sessions?

How to Get Your Brain to Do More Learning BETWEEN Practice Sessions

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]]> When we think of optimizing learning, we tend to think of practice strategies and how to make our time in the practice room more effective. But much like working out and building muscle, a good bit of motor learning actually occurs outside of the practice room, BETWEEN practice sessions.

So what can we do to maximize the motor learning that occurs between practice sessions?

How to Get Your Brain to Do More Learning BETWEEN Practice Sessions

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]]> Noa Kageyama 1b31dca1-6718-4c8e-8d73-fbcbd0f93dd0 Sun, 27 Feb 2022 04:00:00 -0500 505 false How to Get Yourself to Practice When You Don't Feel Like It How to Get Yourself to Practice When You Don't Feel Like It Ever have one of those days where you just can't get yourself to practice? Or maybe that's a little bit how every day feels?

Turns out there's an intriguing motivation "hack" of sorts that could make it easier to start practicing, and naturally increase your motivation to do so. It even has a cool name - the "Zeigarnik effect."

How to Get Yourself to Practice When You Don't Feel Like It

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]]> Ever have one of those days where you just can't get yourself to practice? Or maybe that's a little bit how every day feels?

Turns out there's an intriguing motivation "hack" of sorts that could make it easier to start practicing, and naturally increase your motivation to do so. It even has a cool name - the "Zeigarnik effect."

How to Get Yourself to Practice When You Don't Feel Like It

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama 14e48953-de6f-460a-a5fa-4d108f779f21 Sun, 20 Feb 2022 04:00:00 -0500 414 false Why You Get Sucked Down the YouTube Rabbit Hole When Practicing (And How to Prevent This Without Having to Break Up With YouTube) Why You Get Sucked Down the YouTube Rabbit Hole When Practicing (And How to Prevent This Without Having to Break Up With YouTube) Ever find yourself in the middle of a practice session, take a moment to check your texts, and then realize an hour has gone by as you got sucked down some random internet rabbit hole or another?

Why does this happen? And what can you do to prevent this without resorting to the nuclear option of airplane mode or an app that blocks you from the internet for a set period of time?

Why You Get Sucked Down the YouTube Rabbit Hole When Practicing (And How to Prevent This Without Having to Break Up With YouTube)

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]]> Ever find yourself in the middle of a practice session, take a moment to check your texts, and then realize an hour has gone by as you got sucked down some random internet rabbit hole or another?

Why does this happen? And what can you do to prevent this without resorting to the nuclear option of airplane mode or an app that blocks you from the internet for a set period of time?

Why You Get Sucked Down the YouTube Rabbit Hole When Practicing (And How to Prevent This Without Having to Break Up With YouTube)

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]]> Noa Kageyama 14bd8e82-3a3e-40eb-9eba-99cd0831030a Sun, 13 Feb 2022 04:00:00 -0500 511 false Joshua Weilerstein: On a Conductor’s Journey, and Why It Might Be Awesome if Every Musician Spent a Day in a Conductor’s Shoes Joshua Weilerstein: On a Conductor’s Journey, and Why It Might Be Awesome if Every Musician Spent a Day in a Conductor’s Shoes Ever wonder what's going through the mind of a conductor, in rehearsal or in a performance?

Conductor Joshua Weilerstein shares his own journey from violinist to conductor, and sheds some light on what a conductor is thinking about in the practice room, in rehearsal, and in performance. And why it might be kind of awesome if every musician had a chance to conduct for a day.

Joshua Weilerstein: On a Conductor’s Journey, and Why It Might Be Awesome if Every Musician Spent a Day in a Conductor’s Shoes

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]]> Ever wonder what's going through the mind of a conductor, in rehearsal or in a performance?

Conductor Joshua Weilerstein shares his own journey from violinist to conductor, and sheds some light on what a conductor is thinking about in the practice room, in rehearsal, and in performance. And why it might be kind of awesome if every musician had a chance to conduct for a day.

Joshua Weilerstein: On a Conductor’s Journey, and Why It Might Be Awesome if Every Musician Spent a Day in a Conductor’s Shoes

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]]> Noa Kageyama b654104f-7529-4469-ae93-18607df8506b Sun, 06 Feb 2022 04:00:00 -0500 3091 false Research-Tested Practice Strategies That Will Help You Learn New Pieces Faster Research-Tested Practice Strategies That Will Help You Learn New Pieces Faster Learning a bunch of practice strategies can elevate the effectiveness of your practice, but a 2015 study of college music students suggests that supplementing this with additional self-regulation strategies can elevate your practice effectiveness even more!

And what are self-regulation strategies, exactly?

Check out the episode to learn more about a couple simple and effective - but easy to neglect - self-regulation strategies.

Research-Tested Practice Strategies That Will Help You Learn New Pieces Faster

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]]> Learning a bunch of practice strategies can elevate the effectiveness of your practice, but a 2015 study of college music students suggests that supplementing this with additional self-regulation strategies can elevate your practice effectiveness even more!

And what are self-regulation strategies, exactly?

Check out the episode to learn more about a couple simple and effective - but easy to neglect - self-regulation strategies.

Research-Tested Practice Strategies That Will Help You Learn New Pieces Faster

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama 573919b1-d2b8-41e6-a3cb-3e414a081cb2 Sun, 30 Jan 2022 04:00:00 -0500 605 false How the Things You Say to Your Students Can Change the Positivity (Or Negativity) of Their Inner Voice How the Things You Say to Your Students Can Change the Positivity (Or Negativity) of Their Inner Voice We all have an inner voice. Sometimes it's a supportive presence, but often, it can be pretty critical and even a little abusive at times.

Research suggests that the way we talk to our students and provide feedback may actually be able to shape their inner dialogue - for better, or for worse.

How the Things You Say to Your Students Can Change the Positivity (Or Negativity) of Their Inner Voice

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]]> We all have an inner voice. Sometimes it's a supportive presence, but often, it can be pretty critical and even a little abusive at times.

Research suggests that the way we talk to our students and provide feedback may actually be able to shape their inner dialogue - for better, or for worse.

How the Things You Say to Your Students Can Change the Positivity (Or Negativity) of Their Inner Voice

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]]> Noa Kageyama 1ff74f76-739a-4559-9987-9be4a0176311 Sun, 23 Jan 2022 04:00:00 -0500 469 false Does Perfectionism Really “Kill” Creativity? If So, What’s the Alternative? Does Perfectionism Really “Kill” Creativity? If So, What’s the Alternative? There are a lot of articles on the internet suggesting that perfectionism "kills" creativity. But is that really true?

A team of Canadian researchers were curious about this exact question, and put together a study to find out if there was anything to this. And if so, what a better, creativity-optimizing alternative might be.

Does Perfectionism Really “Kill” Creativity? If So, What’s the Alternative?

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]]> There are a lot of articles on the internet suggesting that perfectionism "kills" creativity. But is that really true?

A team of Canadian researchers were curious about this exact question, and put together a study to find out if there was anything to this. And if so, what a better, creativity-optimizing alternative might be.

Does Perfectionism Really “Kill” Creativity? If So, What’s the Alternative?

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]]> Noa Kageyama 5c006220-305c-4e8d-a74a-244880451560 Sun, 16 Jan 2022 04:00:00 -0500 468 false A Practice Strategy That Could Potentially Be Twice as Effective as Regular Practice? A Practice Strategy That Could Potentially Be Twice as Effective as Regular Practice? Do you get bored of doing lots and lots of repetition in the practice room? The good news is that there's a better (and more interesting) way to get your repetitions in. A way that at least in one 2016 study led to a 2x performance improvement in the same amount of time!

A Practice Strategy That Could Potentially Be Twice as Effective as Regular Practice?

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]]> Do you get bored of doing lots and lots of repetition in the practice room? The good news is that there's a better (and more interesting) way to get your repetitions in. A way that at least in one 2016 study led to a 2x performance improvement in the same amount of time!

A Practice Strategy That Could Potentially Be Twice as Effective as Regular Practice?

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]]> Noa Kageyama d009e237-1f84-4329-b348-3fccee9ac3a6 Sun, 09 Jan 2022 04:00:00 -0500 501 false How to Be a Little More Awesome in 2022? Try These Top Tips and Insights From 2021. How to Be a Little More Awesome in 2022? Try These Top Tips and Insights From 2021. Looking for some new ways to freshen up your practice routine, get off of a plateau, or find some new inspiration for 2022? Try some of these tips and insights from 2021's podcast guests - Kristian Steenstrup, Vivian Hornik Weilerstein, Merry Peckham, Daniel Matsukawa, Ann Bergeron, Natasha Brofsky, Roger Tapping, Lori Schiff, Timothy Kantor, Paul Kantor, Virginia Weckstrom, Astrid Schween, and Kris Chesky.

How to Be a Little More Awesome in 2022? Try These Top Tips and Insights From 2021.

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]]> Looking for some new ways to freshen up your practice routine, get off of a plateau, or find some new inspiration for 2022? Try some of these tips and insights from 2021's podcast guests - Kristian Steenstrup, Vivian Hornik Weilerstein, Merry Peckham, Daniel Matsukawa, Ann Bergeron, Natasha Brofsky, Roger Tapping, Lori Schiff, Timothy Kantor, Paul Kantor, Virginia Weckstrom, Astrid Schween, and Kris Chesky.

How to Be a Little More Awesome in 2022? Try These Top Tips and Insights From 2021.

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]]> Noa Kageyama 9edca673-ddcf-4b56-9a6d-a1bf1bd0168b Sun, 02 Jan 2022 04:00:00 -0500 3510 false Why Practicing Practicing from an Early Age is So Important Why Practicing Practicing from an Early Age is So Important I stumbled across a home video of me practicing as a young child the other day and was horrified to hear how completely unorganized, unthoughtful, and un-deliberate my practice was at that age. Which made me wonder - can young kids be trusted to practice effectively?

A 2010 study provides some clues on what happens at home during the week between lessons, and a couple things teachers can do to make sure this time is being spent making things better, not worse!

Why Practicing Practicing from an Early Age is So Important

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> I stumbled across a home video of me practicing as a young child the other day and was horrified to hear how completely unorganized, unthoughtful, and un-deliberate my practice was at that age. Which made me wonder - can young kids be trusted to practice effectively?

A 2010 study provides some clues on what happens at home during the week between lessons, and a couple things teachers can do to make sure this time is being spent making things better, not worse!

Why Practicing Practicing from an Early Age is So Important

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama 11362eee-aaa2-4cb2-9efb-f791a302e89c Sun, 26 Dec 2021 04:00:00 -0500 607 false Two Approaches to Memorization - One of Which Can Leave You Lost and Stranded if You Rely on It Too Much! Two Approaches to Memorization - One of Which Can Leave You Lost and Stranded if You Rely on It Too Much! Some people seem to have a really easy time with memorizing new pieces. Or at least, they seem to be really confident and secure in their memory. Is there something they know that we don't? Are they doing anything differently in the practice room?

https://bulletproofmusician.com/musicians-seem-memorization-naturals-can-become-one

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]]> Some people seem to have a really easy time with memorizing new pieces. Or at least, they seem to be really confident and secure in their memory. Is there something they know that we don't? Are they doing anything differently in the practice room?

https://bulletproofmusician.com/musicians-seem-memorization-naturals-can-become-one

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]]> Noa Kageyama 39d1a8b6-eb4b-4d38-9b7a-ed8cd0348467 Sun, 19 Dec 2021 04:00:00 -0500 541 false Not Sure How to Do Mental Practice? Here's a 7-Point "How-To" Guide Not Sure How to Do Mental Practice? Here's a 7-Point "How-To" Guide We've all heard stories of athletes and musicians using visualization or mental practice to enhance their learning or performance. But how exactly are we supposed to do it?

In this episode, you'll learn about PETTLEP; a 7-point "how-to" set of guidelines, developed by two British researchers, drawing from the research in performance psych and neuroscience.

Not Sure How to Do Mental Practice? Here's a 7-Point "How-To" Guide

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> We've all heard stories of athletes and musicians using visualization or mental practice to enhance their learning or performance. But how exactly are we supposed to do it?

In this episode, you'll learn about PETTLEP; a 7-point "how-to" set of guidelines, developed by two British researchers, drawing from the research in performance psych and neuroscience.

Not Sure How to Do Mental Practice? Here's a 7-Point "How-To" Guide

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama ebff2850-5ca2-49b4-979b-23d2baf14ec1 Sun, 12 Dec 2021 04:00:00 -0500 595 false Kristian Steenstrup: On Singing, Solfège, and Cultivating a More Efficient Approach to Learning New Music. Kristian Steenstrup: On Singing, Solfège, and Cultivating a More Efficient Approach to Learning New Music. Have you ever wondered why solfège is such a constant in most music curricula? Or why teachers often ask us to sing in lessons? And if any of this is ever going to pay off in meaningful ways?

A recent Danish study suggests that integrating a bit of singing into one's practice might indeed have some real worthwhile benefits. Lead author and trumpet professor Kristian Steenstrup drops by to chat for a bit and shares more details on what they found, plus an intriguing 4-step process for learning new music a little more efficiently.

Kristian Steenstrup: On Singing, Solfège, and Cultivating a More Efficient Approach to Learning New Music.

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]]> Have you ever wondered why solfège is such a constant in most music curricula? Or why teachers often ask us to sing in lessons? And if any of this is ever going to pay off in meaningful ways?

A recent Danish study suggests that integrating a bit of singing into one's practice might indeed have some real worthwhile benefits. Lead author and trumpet professor Kristian Steenstrup drops by to chat for a bit and shares more details on what they found, plus an intriguing 4-step process for learning new music a little more efficiently.

Kristian Steenstrup: On Singing, Solfège, and Cultivating a More Efficient Approach to Learning New Music.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama c3b063ab-30eb-4360-880f-a6f9d9c605fb Sun, 05 Dec 2021 04:00:00 -0500 2992 false Struggling to Get a Tricky Passage up to Tempo? Why Slow, Accurate Practice May Actually Be the Problem. Struggling to Get a Tricky Passage up to Tempo? Why Slow, Accurate Practice May Actually Be the Problem. We've all been told that slow practice is important. And while it's certainly an important tool to have in your toolbox, there is research which suggests that slow practice can potentially cause problems too, if we are too focused on slow, accurate playing in the early stages of learning something new.

What?!

In today's episode, you'll learn why this is, and two strategies to help you learn a new piece at the goal tempo from day 1.

Struggling to Get a Tricky Passage up to Tempo? Why Slow, Accurate Practice May Actually Be the Problem.

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]]> We've all been told that slow practice is important. And while it's certainly an important tool to have in your toolbox, there is research which suggests that slow practice can potentially cause problems too, if we are too focused on slow, accurate playing in the early stages of learning something new.

What?!

In today's episode, you'll learn why this is, and two strategies to help you learn a new piece at the goal tempo from day 1.

Struggling to Get a Tricky Passage up to Tempo? Why Slow, Accurate Practice May Actually Be the Problem.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama f9e96680-f6b9-4602-8788-1cd745ee338c Sun, 28 Nov 2021 04:00:00 -0500 1079 false Evidence That Too Much Consistency in Practice Could Potentially Hinder the Learning Process (What?!) Evidence That Too Much Consistency in Practice Could Potentially Hinder the Learning Process (What?!) The traditional method of learning is to try to learn the correct "textbook" way of performing a skill, and to do lots and lots of repetitions of that exact movement. But there's some increasing research in the last 20 years which suggests that this may not always lead to the best learning or performance.

And that doing a bunch of goofy "wrong" repetitions that one would never do in performance could actually lead to more consistently and high-level execution of that skill.

What?!

Evidence That Too Much Consistency in Practice Could Potentially Hinder the Learning Process (What?!)

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> The traditional method of learning is to try to learn the correct "textbook" way of performing a skill, and to do lots and lots of repetitions of that exact movement. But there's some increasing research in the last 20 years which suggests that this may not always lead to the best learning or performance.

And that doing a bunch of goofy "wrong" repetitions that one would never do in performance could actually lead to more consistently and high-level execution of that skill.

What?!

Evidence That Too Much Consistency in Practice Could Potentially Hinder the Learning Process (What?!)

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama c43d678f-8e5f-4138-916e-8a1858fe5676 Sun, 21 Nov 2021 04:00:00 -0500 648 false Why Too-Short Practice Breaks Could Undermine Your Learning Why Too-Short Practice Breaks Could Undermine Your Learning I know we've all been told (and experienced first-hand) that cramming doesn't work, and learn better when our practice or study sessions are spaced out over time. But why?

What's actually happening in our brains, that makes spaced practice more effective?

Why Too-Short Practice Breaks Could Undermine Your Learning

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]]> I know we've all been told (and experienced first-hand) that cramming doesn't work, and learn better when our practice or study sessions are spaced out over time. But why?

What's actually happening in our brains, that makes spaced practice more effective?

Why Too-Short Practice Breaks Could Undermine Your Learning

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]]> Noa Kageyama 94751ceb-334f-4ecc-929b-6c72d0cbc755 Sun, 14 Nov 2021 04:00:00 -0500 451 false Vivian Hornik Weilerstein: On Listening, Leading, and Learning How to Be More in Sync With Your Music-Making Partners. Vivian Hornik Weilerstein: On Listening, Leading, and Learning How to Be More in Sync With Your Music-Making Partners. Whether you're a pianist, a singer, or instrumentalist, I'm sure you've had the experience of feeling a sort of musical "chemistry" when collaborating with other musicians.

In this month's conversation, pianist and educator Vivian Hornik Weilerstein shares insights on how pianists can be better listeners, leaders, and collaborators with their music-making partners. And though I originally approached this episode with pianists in mind, I think you'll find that everything Vivian talks about applies to non-pianists who wish to collaborate more effectively with their keyboard colleagues as well!

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Whether you're a pianist, a singer, or instrumentalist, I'm sure you've had the experience of feeling a sort of musical "chemistry" when collaborating with other musicians.

In this month's conversation, pianist and educator Vivian Hornik Weilerstein shares insights on how pianists can be better listeners, leaders, and collaborators with their music-making partners. And though I originally approached this episode with pianists in mind, I think you'll find that everything Vivian talks about applies to non-pianists who wish to collaborate more effectively with their keyboard colleagues as well!

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama 455b090a-451f-4e72-8490-aa20a2a983c0 Sun, 07 Nov 2021 03:00:00 -0500 2733 false How Do Experts Get Even Better? 5 Lessons From the Practice of Expert vs. Intermediate Athletes. How Do Experts Get Even Better? 5 Lessons From the Practice of Expert vs. Intermediate Athletes. Ever wish you could be a fly on the wall of the practice room of a well-known performer and watch or listen to how they practice?

A team of researchers did something close to this - they videotaped expert and intermediate-level athletes practicing for the same exact amount of time, measured their improvement (the experts improved more), and then traced this back to specific differences in what they each group did with their practice time.

There were four key differences - differences that I think musicians (or athletes) at any level could benefit from!

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Ever wish you could be a fly on the wall of the practice room of a well-known performer and watch or listen to how they practice?

A team of researchers did something close to this - they videotaped expert and intermediate-level athletes practicing for the same exact amount of time, measured their improvement (the experts improved more), and then traced this back to specific differences in what they each group did with their practice time.

There were four key differences - differences that I think musicians (or athletes) at any level could benefit from!

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama ea3d5c51-f92a-442c-8d78-1518676b101a Sun, 31 Oct 2021 04:00:00 -0400 674 false What to Do When Everyone Thinks You're Great - But You Feel Like a Failure What to Do When Everyone Thinks You're Great - But You Feel Like a Failure I think we all go through moments in life where we feel like failures. But has this ever gotten to a point where even though on paper, you are not at all a failure, you still feel like one? And even when everyone else seems to think you're pretty terrific?

It's not a silver bullet, but the "directed abstraction" technique could help all of us become a little more confident and cultivate a stronger belief in ourselves.

What to Do When Everyone Thinks You're Great - But You Feel Like a Failure

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]]> I think we all go through moments in life where we feel like failures. But has this ever gotten to a point where even though on paper, you are not at all a failure, you still feel like one? And even when everyone else seems to think you're pretty terrific?

It's not a silver bullet, but the "directed abstraction" technique could help all of us become a little more confident and cultivate a stronger belief in ourselves.

What to Do When Everyone Thinks You're Great - But You Feel Like a Failure

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama b5f4c5bf-07c2-407a-a8d2-685f67bcbde1 Sun, 24 Oct 2021 04:00:00 -0400 486 false If We Want to Maximize Learning, is It Better to Focus on Our Failures? Or Our Successes? If We Want to Maximize Learning, is It Better to Focus on Our Failures? Or Our Successes? Mistakes may be inevitable, and there sure are lots of inspirational quotes out there on how important it is to learn from failure... But is that really the best way to learn? Is there any value in learning from successes? Is one better than the other?

If We Want to Maximize Learning, is It Better to Focus on Our Failures? Or Our Successes?

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]]> Mistakes may be inevitable, and there sure are lots of inspirational quotes out there on how important it is to learn from failure... But is that really the best way to learn? Is there any value in learning from successes? Is one better than the other?

If We Want to Maximize Learning, is It Better to Focus on Our Failures? Or Our Successes?

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]]> Noa Kageyama 5b186882-0d2e-4a23-9b6b-95f998ad8d45 Sun, 17 Oct 2021 04:00:00 -0400 481 false Evidence That Listening to a Recording Could Accelerate the Learning Process for New Repertoire Evidence That Listening to a Recording Could Accelerate the Learning Process for New Repertoire Sometimes we don't have the luxury of time, and just have to get new repertoire into our fingers quickly, and up to a playable level asap.

When that's the case, can listening to a recording really help to accelerate that process? And by how much?

A 2014 study provides some clues on how much of a difference this might make in accelerating the learning process.

Evidence That Listening to a Recording Could Accelerate the Learning Process for New Repertoire

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Sometimes we don't have the luxury of time, and just have to get new repertoire into our fingers quickly, and up to a playable level asap.

When that's the case, can listening to a recording really help to accelerate that process? And by how much?

A 2014 study provides some clues on how much of a difference this might make in accelerating the learning process.

Evidence That Listening to a Recording Could Accelerate the Learning Process for New Repertoire

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama b06fb35a-4f6a-4ff0-9ef7-ee47f98dec3d Sun, 10 Oct 2021 04:00:00 -0400 444 false Merry Peckham: On Rehearsing, Performing, and Growing as a Musician (And Person!) in Chamber Music Merry Peckham: On Rehearsing, Performing, and Growing as a Musician (And Person!) in Chamber Music Navigating ensemble rehearsals can in many ways be trickier than figuring out how to practice effectively on your own. But it can be so much fun and incredibly rewarding too! Given that many musicians are returning to ensemble rehearsals after many months away, I thought I'd ask cellist and Cavani Quartet founding member Merry Peckham to share some of her insights on effective rehearsal techniques, score study, and how to not turn on each other in your next rehearsal!

Merry Peckham: On Rehearsing, Performing, and Growing as a Musician (And Person!) in Chamber Music

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]]> Navigating ensemble rehearsals can in many ways be trickier than figuring out how to practice effectively on your own. But it can be so much fun and incredibly rewarding too! Given that many musicians are returning to ensemble rehearsals after many months away, I thought I'd ask cellist and Cavani Quartet founding member Merry Peckham to share some of her insights on effective rehearsal techniques, score study, and how to not turn on each other in your next rehearsal!

Merry Peckham: On Rehearsing, Performing, and Growing as a Musician (And Person!) in Chamber Music

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]]> Noa Kageyama b46f3a66-07e9-42b4-a4f5-72fe4500620d Sun, 03 Oct 2021 04:00:00 -0400 2580 false A 5-Step Strategy for Enhanced Motor Skill Learning (Especially if You're an Older Learner!) A 5-Step Strategy for Enhanced Motor Skill Learning (Especially if You're an Older Learner!) Ever notice how learning new things seems to get harder (and slower) as you age?

It's not your imagination - but there do seem to be some strategies that could help us offset this a bit.

One is a learning "metastrategy" simply called the "Five-Step Strategy" and has been shown to enhance learning in both young adults and older learners (~65 years) as well!

A 5-Step Strategy for Enhanced Motor Skill Learning (Especially if You're an Older Learner!)

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Ever notice how learning new things seems to get harder (and slower) as you age?

It's not your imagination - but there do seem to be some strategies that could help us offset this a bit.

One is a learning "metastrategy" simply called the "Five-Step Strategy" and has been shown to enhance learning in both young adults and older learners (~65 years) as well!

A 5-Step Strategy for Enhanced Motor Skill Learning (Especially if You're an Older Learner!)

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama 54d1bc8f-0b4b-4161-ad18-59ea67cc8fb8 Sun, 26 Sep 2021 04:00:00 -0400 609 false Having Difficulty Turning Off the Worries? Here Are the Strategies That Research Suggests May Work Best. Having Difficulty Turning Off the Worries? Here Are the Strategies That Research Suggests May Work Best. Whether it's an upcoming performance, audition, or just life stuff, it can be difficult to stop worrying or ruminating about things that stress you out. But not only does this feel pretty crummy, it prolongs the stress response as well.

A recent meta-analysis looked through 10,000+ studies, and identified seven strategies that seemed to be the most effective in not only stopping worries and rumination, but contributed to better health outcomes as well.

Having Difficulty Turning Off the Worries? Here Are the Strategies That Research Suggests May Work Best.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Whether it's an upcoming performance, audition, or just life stuff, it can be difficult to stop worrying or ruminating about things that stress you out. But not only does this feel pretty crummy, it prolongs the stress response as well.

A recent meta-analysis looked through 10,000+ studies, and identified seven strategies that seemed to be the most effective in not only stopping worries and rumination, but contributed to better health outcomes as well.

Having Difficulty Turning Off the Worries? Here Are the Strategies That Research Suggests May Work Best.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama 25930d43-b72d-4b5d-a0ed-53e295983707 Sun, 19 Sep 2021 04:00:00 -0400 583 false Feeling a Bit Down and Unmotivated? This Motivation Hack Might Help You Get More Done and Perk Up a Bit. Feeling a Bit Down and Unmotivated? This Motivation Hack Might Help You Get More Done and Perk Up a Bit. Getting back into the rhythm of "normal" life is something that I think a lot of folks are grappling with at the moment. And so if your motivation isn't where you'd like it to be, it turns out there might be an interesting motivation "hack" that may help increase your chances of getting things done, and possibly even put you in a slightly more positive headspace too.

Feeling a Bit Down and Unmotivated? This Motivation Hack Might Help You Get More Done and Perk Up a Bit.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Getting back into the rhythm of "normal" life is something that I think a lot of folks are grappling with at the moment. And so if your motivation isn't where you'd like it to be, it turns out there might be an interesting motivation "hack" that may help increase your chances of getting things done, and possibly even put you in a slightly more positive headspace too.

Feeling a Bit Down and Unmotivated? This Motivation Hack Might Help You Get More Done and Perk Up a Bit.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama c40ea03c-1689-4c27-a754-344ae7641896 Sun, 12 Sep 2021 04:00:00 -0400 524 false Daniel Matsukawa: On Cultivating a Great Sound, and Three Components of Becoming a Better Practicer Daniel Matsukawa: On Cultivating a Great Sound, and Three Components of Becoming a Better Practicer In this month's conversation, Philadelphia Orchestra principal bassoonist Daniel Matsukawa shares insights on three things to focus on to become a better practicer, how to cultivate not just a good but a GREAT sound, and much more!

Daniel Matsukawa: On Cultivating a Great Sound, and Three Components of Becoming a Better Practicer

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]]> In this month's conversation, Philadelphia Orchestra principal bassoonist Daniel Matsukawa shares insights on three things to focus on to become a better practicer, how to cultivate not just a good but a GREAT sound, and much more!

Daniel Matsukawa: On Cultivating a Great Sound, and Three Components of Becoming a Better Practicer

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]]> Noa Kageyama 515d3469-da40-4344-b5a2-413c177c5fab Sun, 05 Sep 2021 04:00:00 -0400 3024 false Difficulty Getting to Sleep? Try “Serial Diverse Imaging” - a Crafty Way to Trick Your Brain Into Going to Sleep. Difficulty Getting to Sleep? Try “Serial Diverse Imaging” - a Crafty Way to Trick Your Brain Into Going to Sleep. Difficulty getting to sleep and staying asleep seems to be increasingly common in these pandemic times.

Which can not only have a negative on our physical and mental health and ability to learn and improve in the practice room, but can also just be plain annoying and frustrating too.

If you're tired of tossing and turning and clock-watching, the serial diverse imaging or "cognitive shuffle" strategy might be worth a try!

Difficulty Getting to Sleep? Try “Serial Diverse Imaging” - a Crafty Way to Trick Your Brain Into Going to Sleep.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Difficulty getting to sleep and staying asleep seems to be increasingly common in these pandemic times.

Which can not only have a negative on our physical and mental health and ability to learn and improve in the practice room, but can also just be plain annoying and frustrating too.

If you're tired of tossing and turning and clock-watching, the serial diverse imaging or "cognitive shuffle" strategy might be worth a try!

Difficulty Getting to Sleep? Try “Serial Diverse Imaging” - a Crafty Way to Trick Your Brain Into Going to Sleep.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama 9ace3f2e-e3e2-4122-b5ff-ee4616045e70 Sun, 29 Aug 2021 04:00:00 -0400 653 false Wish You Could Be Less Stressed on Concert Days? Try This Unexpected Activity, Used by an Olympic Gold Medalist (and Grandmothers Everywhere 🙂) Wish You Could Be Less Stressed on Concert Days? Try This Unexpected Activity, Used by an Olympic Gold Medalist (and Grandmothers Everywhere 🙂) Gold medal-winning diver Tom Daley was recently in the news for being spotted knitting in the stands at the Olympics. He said that this was his "secret weapon" for staying calm, managing stress, and staying in a better headspace before competing.

Does he know something we don't? Could knitting be a viable strategy for managing pre-competition stress?

There is actually a tiny bit of research on this, and that's what we'll take a look at in today's episode.

Wish You Could Be Less Stressed on Concert Days? Try This Unexpected Activity, Used by an Olympic Gold Medalist (and Grandmothers Everywhere 🙂)

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Gold medal-winning diver Tom Daley was recently in the news for being spotted knitting in the stands at the Olympics. He said that this was his "secret weapon" for staying calm, managing stress, and staying in a better headspace before competing.

Does he know something we don't? Could knitting be a viable strategy for managing pre-competition stress?

There is actually a tiny bit of research on this, and that's what we'll take a look at in today's episode.

Wish You Could Be Less Stressed on Concert Days? Try This Unexpected Activity, Used by an Olympic Gold Medalist (and Grandmothers Everywhere 🙂)

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama fac9d5ff-95d2-417e-9141-2eb963304bf1 Sun, 22 Aug 2021 04:00:00 -0400 445 false Adequate Learning Vs Overlearning: How Many Repetitions Is Enough? Adequate Learning Vs Overlearning: How Many Repetitions Is Enough? How many repetitions if a tricky passage is enough to get it securely into "muscle memory?"

Is two perfect repetitions in a row good enough? Is 5 better? 7? Is aiming for 10 just a waste of time and energy?

Research on "overlearning" provides some clues on how many repetitions might be "enough."

Adequate Learning Vs Overlearning: How Many Repetitions Is Enough?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> How many repetitions if a tricky passage is enough to get it securely into "muscle memory?"

Is two perfect repetitions in a row good enough? Is 5 better? 7? Is aiming for 10 just a waste of time and energy?

Research on "overlearning" provides some clues on how many repetitions might be "enough."

Adequate Learning Vs Overlearning: How Many Repetitions Is Enough?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama 3859cc27-81ee-4d39-9d64-acb6a81a3bc2 Sun, 15 Aug 2021 04:00:00 -0400 576 false Two Things Experts Do Differently Than Non-Experts When Practicing Two Things Experts Do Differently Than Non-Experts When Practicing Ever wonder what EXACTLY more effective and efficient practicers do differently than the rest of us?

A 2010 basketball study reveals two specific differences in the practice habits of good and bad free throw shooters. Differences that can totally be applied to music as well.

Two Things Experts Do Differently Than Non-Experts When Practicing

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]]> Ever wonder what EXACTLY more effective and efficient practicers do differently than the rest of us?

A 2010 basketball study reveals two specific differences in the practice habits of good and bad free throw shooters. Differences that can totally be applied to music as well.

Two Things Experts Do Differently Than Non-Experts When Practicing

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama 67531740-4252-414a-a609-47780213b79d Sun, 08 Aug 2021 04:00:00 -0400 325 false Ann Bergeron: On Facilitating a More Positive Learning Experience, More Effective Skill Acquisition, and More Creative Artists Ann Bergeron: On Facilitating a More Positive Learning Experience, More Effective Skill Acquisition, and More Creative Artists Have you ever found it a struggle to take risks and learn effectively in lessons because it feels important to avoid mistakes and get things right? Even if you know your teacher is doing their best to foster a safe environment?

Director and choreographer Ann Bergeron explains how her experience training her dogs through positive reinforcement methods led to changes in her approach to teaching her dance students - and how perhaps we can all borrow a few things from those who teach our furry friends (wait...what?!).

Ann Bergeron: On Facilitating a More Positive Learning Experience, More Effective Skill Acquisition, and More Creative Artists

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Have you ever found it a struggle to take risks and learn effectively in lessons because it feels important to avoid mistakes and get things right? Even if you know your teacher is doing their best to foster a safe environment?

Director and choreographer Ann Bergeron explains how her experience training her dogs through positive reinforcement methods led to changes in her approach to teaching her dance students - and how perhaps we can all borrow a few things from those who teach our furry friends (wait...what?!).

Ann Bergeron: On Facilitating a More Positive Learning Experience, More Effective Skill Acquisition, and More Creative Artists

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama 8ac809ff-df10-4ebc-9fe7-5a463da14c57 Sun, 01 Aug 2021 04:00:00 -0400 2888 false A Simple Practice Scheduling Hack That Couldn’t Possibly Be as Effective as It Seems A Simple Practice Scheduling Hack That Couldn’t Possibly Be as Effective as It Seems We know that spacing one's practice leads to better learning. And that sleep is an important factor in memory consolidation too. So what happens if we combine these two factors in a strategic way? Research suggests that this might lead not only to accelerated learning, but much more durable memory and recall too!

A Simple Practice Scheduling Hack That Couldn’t Possibly Be as Effective as It Seems

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]]> We know that spacing one's practice leads to better learning. And that sleep is an important factor in memory consolidation too. So what happens if we combine these two factors in a strategic way? Research suggests that this might lead not only to accelerated learning, but much more durable memory and recall too!

A Simple Practice Scheduling Hack That Couldn’t Possibly Be as Effective as It Seems

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama f0f48aef-204b-4147-8727-8a4dc0e53759 Sun, 25 Jul 2021 04:00:00 -0400 513 false Why Thought Stopping Doesn’t Work (And the Paradoxical Strategy That Might Work Better) Why Thought Stopping Doesn’t Work (And the Paradoxical Strategy That Might Work Better) Have you ever heard it said that trying NOT to think of something only triggers more thoughts of that thing? It makes sense, but is this actually true? And if so, and thought suppression really doesn't work, is there anything else we can do, to avoid thinking negative thoughts on stage?

Why Thought Stopping Doesn’t Work (And the Paradoxical Strategy That Might Work Better)

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]]> Have you ever heard it said that trying NOT to think of something only triggers more thoughts of that thing? It makes sense, but is this actually true? And if so, and thought suppression really doesn't work, is there anything else we can do, to avoid thinking negative thoughts on stage?

Why Thought Stopping Doesn’t Work (And the Paradoxical Strategy That Might Work Better)

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]]> Noa Kageyama 5db1ebd5-0f1f-427d-9802-c81045fc7828 Sun, 18 Jul 2021 04:00:00 -0400 458 false Evidence That You Should Probably Be Taking Practice "Micro-Breaks," if You Want to Maximize Learning. Evidence That You Should Probably Be Taking Practice "Micro-Breaks," if You Want to Maximize Learning. I think we all know that taking short breaks between practice sessions is a good thing. But a recent study suggests that to maximize learning, we also ought to be taking short micro-breaks within each practice session. Because it seems that most of our learning doesn't take place when our fingers are moving, but in the short rest periods between the moments when we're actively performing a skill.

Evidence That You Should Probably Be Taking Practice "Micro-Breaks," if You Want to Maximize Learning.

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]]> I think we all know that taking short breaks between practice sessions is a good thing. But a recent study suggests that to maximize learning, we also ought to be taking short micro-breaks within each practice session. Because it seems that most of our learning doesn't take place when our fingers are moving, but in the short rest periods between the moments when we're actively performing a skill.

Evidence That You Should Probably Be Taking Practice "Micro-Breaks," if You Want to Maximize Learning.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama 415f73f0-87a3-4443-9a92-b57e23f2b018 Sun, 11 Jul 2021 04:00:00 -0400 538 false Natasha Brofsky and Roger Tapping: On Learning New Repertoire and Getting to Know a Composer’s Unique Language Natasha Brofsky and Roger Tapping: On Learning New Repertoire and Getting to Know a Composer’s Unique Language In this episode cellist Natasha Brofsky and violist Roger Tapping share insights on how to approach and practice new repertoire - from whether to begin from the score or a recording, to how to learn a composer's unique language, to cultivating patience in the practice room and how to prevent fear or cautious playing from transferring from the practice room to the stage.

Natasha Brofsky and Roger Tapping: On Learning New Repertoire and Getting to Know a Composer’s Unique Language

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> In this episode cellist Natasha Brofsky and violist Roger Tapping share insights on how to approach and practice new repertoire - from whether to begin from the score or a recording, to how to learn a composer's unique language, to cultivating patience in the practice room and how to prevent fear or cautious playing from transferring from the practice room to the stage.

Natasha Brofsky and Roger Tapping: On Learning New Repertoire and Getting to Know a Composer’s Unique Language

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama a4374d72-78fd-40d9-ba73-eef66c5d99ad Sun, 04 Jul 2021 04:00:00 -0400 3095 false Can’t Stop Worrying About an Upcoming Performance? Here’s Why Practicing More Might Not Be the Answer. Can’t Stop Worrying About an Upcoming Performance? Here’s Why Practicing More Might Not Be the Answer. Have you ever found yourself struggling to quiet those increasing doubts and worries and fears in the last week before a big audition or performance? Where even if you tell yourself you're prepared and things will be fine, the thoughts keep popping into your head, stressing you out, and making you kind of miserable, wishing the moment would just come so you could get it over with already?

A 2014 study provides some clues on a strategy that could help to reduce the repetitive negative thoughts, and make it easier for us to quiet our inner doomsday monkey.

Can’t Stop Worrying About an Upcoming Performance? Here’s Why Practicing More Might Not Be the Answer.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Have you ever found yourself struggling to quiet those increasing doubts and worries and fears in the last week before a big audition or performance? Where even if you tell yourself you're prepared and things will be fine, the thoughts keep popping into your head, stressing you out, and making you kind of miserable, wishing the moment would just come so you could get it over with already?

A 2014 study provides some clues on a strategy that could help to reduce the repetitive negative thoughts, and make it easier for us to quiet our inner doomsday monkey.

Can’t Stop Worrying About an Upcoming Performance? Here’s Why Practicing More Might Not Be the Answer.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama 53e02796-51bc-47b7-90b4-2c43c367c532 Sun, 27 Jun 2021 04:00:00 -0400 454 false What’s the Best Type of Feedback to Provide, if the Goal Is to Increase Students’ Intrinsic Motivation? What’s the Best Type of Feedback to Provide, if the Goal Is to Increase Students’ Intrinsic Motivation? There are a lot of extrinsic motivators that naturally incentivize students to practice - like parental pressure, not wanting to let teachers down, seating auditions, recitals, competitions, and more. But there can be some negative costs of relying too much on extrinsic motivation. So...are there things we can do to increase students' intrinsic motivation to practice and hone their craft as well?

What’s the Best Type of Feedback to Provide, if the Goal Is to Increase Students’ Intrinsic Motivation?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> There are a lot of extrinsic motivators that naturally incentivize students to practice - like parental pressure, not wanting to let teachers down, seating auditions, recitals, competitions, and more. But there can be some negative costs of relying too much on extrinsic motivation. So...are there things we can do to increase students' intrinsic motivation to practice and hone their craft as well?

What’s the Best Type of Feedback to Provide, if the Goal Is to Increase Students’ Intrinsic Motivation?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama 0bcb56d1-537c-4cf4-a43d-acfc7b80a88f Sun, 20 Jun 2021 04:00:00 -0400 530 false Forget White Noise. There May Be a Better Type of Noise That Could Potentially Enhance Memory While You Sleep. Forget White Noise. There May Be a Better Type of Noise That Could Potentially Enhance Memory While You Sleep. You're probably familiar with white noise, which you may already be using to help you get to sleep at night. But recent research suggests that it might be worth experimenting with pink noise. Which seems to enhance slow wave activity during certain phases of sleep, and boost memory consolidation, which can help you retain more of what you learned or studied the day before.

Forget White Noise. There May Be a Better Type of Noise That Could Potentially Enhance Memory While You Sleep.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> You're probably familiar with white noise, which you may already be using to help you get to sleep at night. But recent research suggests that it might be worth experimenting with pink noise. Which seems to enhance slow wave activity during certain phases of sleep, and boost memory consolidation, which can help you retain more of what you learned or studied the day before.

Forget White Noise. There May Be a Better Type of Noise That Could Potentially Enhance Memory While You Sleep.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama 782f8f71-c503-4df1-9ecc-b2c8831846cc Sun, 13 Jun 2021 04:00:00 -0400 521 false Lori Schiff: On Adapting to Remote Instruction, and Learning to Teach Alexander Technique Online Lori Schiff: On Adapting to Remote Instruction, and Learning to Teach Alexander Technique Online Having to suddenly transition to teaching online in March 2020 was quite a challenge for many (if not all!) of us. It's looking like we may be able to return to live instruction soon, but this seemed like a good time to reflect on what we've learned, and how we've grown in the months since.

To that end, here's Alexander Technique teacher Lori Schiff's story of how she went from believing that Zoom was not a viable medium for teaching Alexander Technique, to finding ways to adapt and grow as a teacher, discovering that she could indeed make online Alexander Technique lessons a meaningful experience for students.

Lori Schiff: On Adapting to Remote Instruction, and Learning to Teach Alexander Technique Online

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Having to suddenly transition to teaching online in March 2020 was quite a challenge for many (if not all!) of us. It's looking like we may be able to return to live instruction soon, but this seemed like a good time to reflect on what we've learned, and how we've grown in the months since.

To that end, here's Alexander Technique teacher Lori Schiff's story of how she went from believing that Zoom was not a viable medium for teaching Alexander Technique, to finding ways to adapt and grow as a teacher, discovering that she could indeed make online Alexander Technique lessons a meaningful experience for students.

Lori Schiff: On Adapting to Remote Instruction, and Learning to Teach Alexander Technique Online

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama e79700fa-b054-436b-b48c-22d89619f3d2 Sun, 06 Jun 2021 04:00:00 -0400 3279 false Which Is Better - A Verbal Pep Talk or a Visualization Pep Talk? Which Is Better - A Verbal Pep Talk or a Visualization Pep Talk? Have you ever found yourself talking yourself up backstage before a concert, trying to quiet the last-minute doubts and boost your confidence?

Sometimes this works, but sometimes the words just don't seem to resonate or sink in. A 2012 study suggests that there might be a better way to shift our mood in a more positive direction than simply talking to ourselves in a more positive way.

Which Is Better - A Verbal Pep Talk or a Visualization Pep Talk?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Have you ever found yourself talking yourself up backstage before a concert, trying to quiet the last-minute doubts and boost your confidence?

Sometimes this works, but sometimes the words just don't seem to resonate or sink in. A 2012 study suggests that there might be a better way to shift our mood in a more positive direction than simply talking to ourselves in a more positive way.

Which Is Better - A Verbal Pep Talk or a Visualization Pep Talk?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama 6b277af2-88e3-4c44-9fe2-1ff85f8fe61f Sun, 30 May 2021 04:00:00 -0400 486 false A Test of Three Practice Schedules, and the One That Works Best (Especially for Older Learners) A Test of Three Practice Schedules, and the One That Works Best (Especially for Older Learners) Even though we know that learning can and does continue throughout our lifespan, it often feels like it's more of a struggle to learn new things as we get older.

So are there practice strategies that could help to offset this a bit? A recent study tested out three different practice schedules, and identified one that leads to better retention, more flexible/adaptable skills, and more motivation too!

A Test of Three Practice Schedules, and the One That Works Best (Especially for Older Learners)

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Even though we know that learning can and does continue throughout our lifespan, it often feels like it's more of a struggle to learn new things as we get older.

So are there practice strategies that could help to offset this a bit? A recent study tested out three different practice schedules, and identified one that leads to better retention, more flexible/adaptable skills, and more motivation too!

A Test of Three Practice Schedules, and the One That Works Best (Especially for Older Learners)

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]]> Noa Kageyama 06a42f69-8cd9-4ab8-9a5c-4f9317ea052b Sun, 23 May 2021 04:00:00 -0400 725 false Need to Work on Shifting or Leaps From One Note to Another? Here’s How Mental Practice Could Help. Need to Work on Shifting or Leaps From One Note to Another? Here’s How Mental Practice Could Help. I think we've all heard that mental practice can help us improve some aspects of our playing. But is shifting or leaping from one note to another one of those areas that visualization can help with?

A 2013 study of pianists provides a few clues...

Need to Work on Shifting or Leaps From One Note to Another? Here’s How Mental Practice Could Help.

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]]> I think we've all heard that mental practice can help us improve some aspects of our playing. But is shifting or leaping from one note to another one of those areas that visualization can help with?

A 2013 study of pianists provides a few clues...

Need to Work on Shifting or Leaps From One Note to Another? Here’s How Mental Practice Could Help.

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]]> Noa Kageyama 05b8f299-3e3f-4a7a-bb2e-6779c71dca9e Sun, 16 May 2021 04:00:00 -0400 627 false The Kantor Family: On Being Effective Music Parents to Musical Children The Kantor Family: On Being Effective Music Parents to Musical Children This episode is for all of the parents out there who worry when their kids don't practice, or who aren't sure how much to push when the child says they want to quit. There isn't one single correct way to approach any of this, of course, but if you've ever wondered how professional musicians might handle these situations, here is one family's recollection of how they navigated this tricky path.

The Kantor Family: On Being Effective Music Parents to Musical Children

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]]> This episode is for all of the parents out there who worry when their kids don't practice, or who aren't sure how much to push when the child says they want to quit. There isn't one single correct way to approach any of this, of course, but if you've ever wondered how professional musicians might handle these situations, here is one family's recollection of how they navigated this tricky path.

The Kantor Family: On Being Effective Music Parents to Musical Children

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]]> Noa Kageyama 2537b798-d151-4879-acf5-2fb2a9067ba0 Sun, 02 May 2021 04:00:00 -0400 2747 false Finals Coming Up Soon? Here’s Why You Shouldn't Just Read and Review Your Notes. Finals Coming Up Soon? Here’s Why You Shouldn't Just Read and Review Your Notes. You've probably heard that it's helpful to make your own test questions when studying for a test or exam. But is this actually true?

A recent study suggests that there are a couple study strategies that could be more effective than the standard approach of reading/rereading/reviewing your notes and assigned readings for a class.

Finals Coming Up Soon? Here’s Why You Shouldn't Just Read and Review Your Notes.

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]]> You've probably heard that it's helpful to make your own test questions when studying for a test or exam. But is this actually true?

A recent study suggests that there are a couple study strategies that could be more effective than the standard approach of reading/rereading/reviewing your notes and assigned readings for a class.

Finals Coming Up Soon? Here’s Why You Shouldn't Just Read and Review Your Notes.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama acc6dcb9-0fd6-4b98-bbcb-8ce5a99df99f Sun, 25 Apr 2021 04:00:00 -0400 474 false Is “Perfect” Practice as Essential a Thing As We Tend to Assume It Is? Is “Perfect” Practice as Essential a Thing As We Tend to Assume It Is? You've probably heard the saying that "practice doesn't make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect."

But is that true? Or just a myth?

Research on errors in learning suggest that error-free practice might actually hinder the learning process, and that how we respond to errors might be the more interesting factor to consider.

Is “Perfect” Practice as Essential a Thing As We Tend to Assume It Is?

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]]> You've probably heard the saying that "practice doesn't make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect."

But is that true? Or just a myth?

Research on errors in learning suggest that error-free practice might actually hinder the learning process, and that how we respond to errors might be the more interesting factor to consider.

Is “Perfect” Practice as Essential a Thing As We Tend to Assume It Is?

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]]> Noa Kageyama fb40320d-46c3-4d79-8406-aeada32dc7b1 Sun, 18 Apr 2021 04:00:00 -0400 532 false Having Difficulty Moving Past a Particularly Distressing Audition or Performance? “Just Think Positive” May Not Be the Best Strategy... Having Difficulty Moving Past a Particularly Distressing Audition or Performance? “Just Think Positive” May Not Be the Best Strategy... Ever have one of those performances that makes you cringe to think of it, even years after the fact? And discover that it still continues to affect you a little bit even in performances today?

A recent study identified a strategy that may not wipe your memory clean of the negative performance, but could help you move past it a bit more effectively.

Having Difficulty Moving Past a Particularly Distressing Audition or Performance? “Just Think Positive” May Not Be the Best Strategy...

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]]> Ever have one of those performances that makes you cringe to think of it, even years after the fact? And discover that it still continues to affect you a little bit even in performances today?

A recent study identified a strategy that may not wipe your memory clean of the negative performance, but could help you move past it a bit more effectively.

Having Difficulty Moving Past a Particularly Distressing Audition or Performance? “Just Think Positive” May Not Be the Best Strategy...

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]]> Noa Kageyama 61d31807-64a9-4a2a-a7aa-f4db913a3ebc Sun, 11 Apr 2021 04:00:00 -0400 569 false Does the “Memory Palace” Strategy Really Work? And Is It Something Musicians Could Use? Does the “Memory Palace” Strategy Really Work? And Is It Something Musicians Could Use? The "memory palace" or method of loci technique, is a strategy often used by memory champions to achieve some pretty impressive feats of memory. Like being able to memorize the order of a deck of cards in less than a minute, for instance.

Typically though, memory athletes are asked to recall the information relatively soon after encoding the information into memory.

So...does this strategy work for more long-term memory too? And could it be used for music too?

Does the “Memory Palace” Strategy Really Work? And Is It Something Musicians Could Use?

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]]> The "memory palace" or method of loci technique, is a strategy often used by memory champions to achieve some pretty impressive feats of memory. Like being able to memorize the order of a deck of cards in less than a minute, for instance.

Typically though, memory athletes are asked to recall the information relatively soon after encoding the information into memory.

So...does this strategy work for more long-term memory too? And could it be used for music too?

Does the “Memory Palace” Strategy Really Work? And Is It Something Musicians Could Use?

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]]> Noa Kageyama 2a7fb54c-79d7-4e6c-9c0c-186f806a2bf8 Sun, 04 Apr 2021 04:00:00 -0400 564 false Evidence That Most of Us Are Terrible at Knowing When to End Conversations Evidence That Most of Us Are Terrible at Knowing When to End Conversations Ever find yourself in a conversation that you think should have ended some time ago, but you're still hanging in there because you think the other person wants to continue, and you don't want to be rude? What if that person actually wished the conversation were over too, but is sticking around so as not to be rude to you?

A new study suggests that this sort of thing might be happening more than you'd think - and that we may all be a lot worse at knowing when to end conversations than you'd think.

Evidence That Most of Us Are Terrible at Knowing When to End Conversations

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]]> Ever find yourself in a conversation that you think should have ended some time ago, but you're still hanging in there because you think the other person wants to continue, and you don't want to be rude? What if that person actually wished the conversation were over too, but is sticking around so as not to be rude to you?

A new study suggests that this sort of thing might be happening more than you'd think - and that we may all be a lot worse at knowing when to end conversations than you'd think.

Evidence That Most of Us Are Terrible at Knowing When to End Conversations

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]]> Noa Kageyama eed8623c-e134-4a2d-80ad-cf81f04705a2 Sun, 28 Mar 2021 04:00:00 -0400 641 false “Zoom Fatigue” - Why It Happens, and a Couple Things You Can Do About It “Zoom Fatigue” - Why It Happens, and a Couple Things You Can Do About It Have you been experiencing "Zoom fatigue?" There isn't a ton of research on this phenomenon quite yet - but a paper did come out recently identifying four potential causes, and a couple tips on how to manage this. I tried one of the Zoom fatigue "hacks" and found it surprisingly helpful!

“Zoom Fatigue” - Why It Happens, and a Couple Things You Can Do About It

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]]> Have you been experiencing "Zoom fatigue?" There isn't a ton of research on this phenomenon quite yet - but a paper did come out recently identifying four potential causes, and a couple tips on how to manage this. I tried one of the Zoom fatigue "hacks" and found it surprisingly helpful!

“Zoom Fatigue” - Why It Happens, and a Couple Things You Can Do About It

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]]> Noa Kageyama b4c6882c-d77d-4458-8935-470ec4a2e1f7 Sun, 21 Mar 2021 04:00:00 -0400 573 false A Simple Writing Exercise That Could Help You Perform More Confidently A Simple Writing Exercise That Could Help You Perform More Confidently Some athletes have noted that visualizing past successes has helped them get into a more positive and confident headspace before competition. Which makes perfect sense, but is there any research evidence supporting this? A 2013 study provides some clues, and tests out a simple writing exercise that could help you present yourself more effectively - especially in performance situations where you are being evaluated by an expert (e.g. auditions, juries, competitions).

A Simple Writing Exercise That Could Help You Perform More Confidently

 

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Some athletes have noted that visualizing past successes has helped them get into a more positive and confident headspace before competition. Which makes perfect sense, but is there any research evidence supporting this? A 2013 study provides some clues, and tests out a simple writing exercise that could help you present yourself more effectively - especially in performance situations where you are being evaluated by an expert (e.g. auditions, juries, competitions).

A Simple Writing Exercise That Could Help You Perform More Confidently

 

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]]> Noa Kageyama 1b6026bf-1caa-4627-9c5f-c91082860d69 Sun, 14 Mar 2021 05:00:00 -0400 547 false Astrid Schween: On Cultivating Routines, Curiosity, and 800 Different Spiccatos Astrid Schween: On Cultivating Routines, Curiosity, and 800 Different Spiccatos Cellist Astrid Schween (Juilliard String Quartet) shares some of the daily routines she relies on to set herself up for a productive day of practice, as well as how to approach new repertoire, remain open to one's colleagues' ideas in rehearsal, and much more.

Astrid Schween: On Cultivating Routines, Curiosity, and 800 Different Spiccatos

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]]> Cellist Astrid Schween (Juilliard String Quartet) shares some of the daily routines she relies on to set herself up for a productive day of practice, as well as how to approach new repertoire, remain open to one's colleagues' ideas in rehearsal, and much more.

Astrid Schween: On Cultivating Routines, Curiosity, and 800 Different Spiccatos

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]]> Noa Kageyama 4f17644e-0e70-45e6-a548-c54282c79167 Sun, 07 Mar 2021 04:00:00 -0500 2895 false How NOT to Support a Student Who Is Struggling (and What TO Do as Well) How NOT to Support a Student Who Is Struggling (and What TO Do as Well) This week we take a look at a study which shows how a teacher's mindset beliefs (growth vs. fixed) can affect the way they try to support or console a student who is struggling. And how we can inadvertently do more harm than good, even if we have the best of intentions!

How NOT to Support a Student Who Is Struggling (and What TO Do as Well)

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]]> This week we take a look at a study which shows how a teacher's mindset beliefs (growth vs. fixed) can affect the way they try to support or console a student who is struggling. And how we can inadvertently do more harm than good, even if we have the best of intentions!

How NOT to Support a Student Who Is Struggling (and What TO Do as Well)

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]]> Noa Kageyama a1d0f395-6477-45b0-8226-85501da1214b Sun, 28 Feb 2021 04:00:00 -0500 577 false Want Your Students to Be More Engaged, Take More Risks, and Get Better Grades in Class? Here’s Why Your Mindset Matters. Want Your Students to Be More Engaged, Take More Risks, and Get Better Grades in Class? Here’s Why Your Mindset Matters. You're probably familiar with the idea of a growth vs. fixed mindset, and how this affects your own learning and performance. But recent research has begun to look at how at teacher's mindset beliefs affect the learning and performance of their students too. Spoiler alert: it matters!

Want Students to Be More Engaged, Take More Risks, and Get Better Grades in Class? Here’s Why Your Mindset Matters.

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]]> You're probably familiar with the idea of a growth vs. fixed mindset, and how this affects your own learning and performance. But recent research has begun to look at how at teacher's mindset beliefs affect the learning and performance of their students too. Spoiler alert: it matters!

Want Students to Be More Engaged, Take More Risks, and Get Better Grades in Class? Here’s Why Your Mindset Matters.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama dff09f74-d1fc-4e66-9c31-69a56c6c1677 Sun, 21 Feb 2021 04:00:00 -0500 387 false Specific Times When Smart Goals Can Be Counterproductive (and What Strategy to Use Instead) Specific Times When Smart Goals Can Be Counterproductive (and What Strategy to Use Instead) You've probably been told that when setting goals, they need to be SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timed). But recent research suggests that there are specific times when SMART goals can actually be counterproductive, where vague, open-ended goals can actually be more effective.

What?!

Specific Times When Smart Goals Can Be Counterproductive (and What Strategy to Use Instead)

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]]> You've probably been told that when setting goals, they need to be SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timed). But recent research suggests that there are specific times when SMART goals can actually be counterproductive, where vague, open-ended goals can actually be more effective.

What?!

Specific Times When Smart Goals Can Be Counterproductive (and What Strategy to Use Instead)

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]]> Noa Kageyama aac3871f-cc2f-464e-b7f3-0359c18d45fd Sun, 14 Feb 2021 04:00:00 -0500 563 false Kris Chesky: On Hearing Health, Earplugs, and How the Best Strategy for Protecting Young Musicians’ Ears Might Help Them Become Better Musicians Too Kris Chesky: On Hearing Health, Earplugs, and How the Best Strategy for Protecting Young Musicians’ Ears Might Help Them Become Better Musicians Too I think all musicians are much more aware of tendonitis and other playing-related injuries than even just 10 or 20 years ago, but one health issue that isn't on many of our radars quite yet is noise-induced hearing loss. As in, hearing loss that results from exposure to loud music.

Is this something that classical musicians need to be mindful of? And if so, what can we do to protect our ears?

Kris Chesky: On Hearing Health, Earplugs, and How the Best Strategy for Protecting Young Musicians’ Ears Might Help Them Become Better Musicians Too

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]]> I think all musicians are much more aware of tendonitis and other playing-related injuries than even just 10 or 20 years ago, but one health issue that isn't on many of our radars quite yet is noise-induced hearing loss. As in, hearing loss that results from exposure to loud music.

Is this something that classical musicians need to be mindful of? And if so, what can we do to protect our ears?

Kris Chesky: On Hearing Health, Earplugs, and How the Best Strategy for Protecting Young Musicians’ Ears Might Help Them Become Better Musicians Too

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]]> Noa Kageyama dc08a7b0-10d0-41a9-9fbc-ffd4c513edbf Sun, 07 Feb 2021 04:00:00 -0500 3419 false Does a Musician’s Physical Movements and Gestures Affect How Musical We Think They Are? Does a Musician’s Physical Movements and Gestures Affect How Musical We Think They Are? We tend to think of music as a sound-based art form (as opposed to dance, for instance, which has more of a visual component). But does a musician's physical movements on stage affect our impression of the performance more than we realize? Like, does a more physically communicative performance appear to sound more musical - even if it isn't?

Does a Musician’s Physical Movements and Gestures Affect How Musical We Think They Are?

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]]> We tend to think of music as a sound-based art form (as opposed to dance, for instance, which has more of a visual component). But does a musician's physical movements on stage affect our impression of the performance more than we realize? Like, does a more physically communicative performance appear to sound more musical - even if it isn't?

Does a Musician’s Physical Movements and Gestures Affect How Musical We Think They Are?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama 4a96ab06-5847-45bc-9213-3f3270bad26b Sun, 31 Jan 2021 04:00:00 -0500 627 false How to Cultivate Better Rhythm and Avoid Clipping Notes (and Rests) Short How to Cultivate Better Rhythm and Avoid Clipping Notes (and Rests) Short Research suggests that in general, we may have a tendency to cut notes or rests short, and come in early, rather than late. If you've found yourself struggling to keep accurate time on long notes or in rests, a 2010 study tested a technique that can help you develop much more accurate timing and cultivate a stronger sense of internal rhythm.

How to Cultivate Better Rhythm and Avoid Clipping Notes (and Rests) Short

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]]> Research suggests that in general, we may have a tendency to cut notes or rests short, and come in early, rather than late. If you've found yourself struggling to keep accurate time on long notes or in rests, a 2010 study tested a technique that can help you develop much more accurate timing and cultivate a stronger sense of internal rhythm.

How to Cultivate Better Rhythm and Avoid Clipping Notes (and Rests) Short

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]]> Noa Kageyama 8c952612-d71d-489d-8f25-8e4168b076f7 Sun, 24 Jan 2021 04:00:00 -0500 483 false For Better Rhythm and Timing, Count With Your Body Too, Not Just Your Mind For Better Rhythm and Timing, Count With Your Body Too, Not Just Your Mind Maintaining good rhythm and timing is often a real challenge. Especially since our mind can be pretty squirrely and make us think we're totally playing in time when we're not (and get an earful from our pianist, quartet-mates, or conductor).

Research suggests that we may actually be able to heighten the accuracy of our timing perception if we keep time with our bodies too, not just in our heads. Err...and what does that mean exactly?

For Better Rhythm and Timing, Count With Your Body Too, Not Just Your Mind

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]]> Maintaining good rhythm and timing is often a real challenge. Especially since our mind can be pretty squirrely and make us think we're totally playing in time when we're not (and get an earful from our pianist, quartet-mates, or conductor).

Research suggests that we may actually be able to heighten the accuracy of our timing perception if we keep time with our bodies too, not just in our heads. Err...and what does that mean exactly?

For Better Rhythm and Timing, Count With Your Body Too, Not Just Your Mind

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama c9be8d53-2ebd-43c5-9fa8-a2a446b5d9b1 Sun, 17 Jan 2021 04:00:00 -0500 715 false Stressed and Having Difficulty Getting Out of a Negative Thought Spiral? Here's How (and Why) Mother Nature May Be Able to Help Stressed and Having Difficulty Getting Out of a Negative Thought Spiral? Here's How (and Why) Mother Nature May Be Able to Help You know those times when life or stress sucks you into one of those negative thought spirals, where you start getting more and more stressed and worried and can't seem to focus on anything else?

Recent research suggests that there's at least one way to shift your brain into a more positive headspace. And the nice thing is that it's pretty simple. And doesn't involve much thinking or require you to wrestle your thoughts into submission.

Stressed and Having Difficulty Getting Out of a Negative Thought Spiral? Here's How (and Why) Mother Nature May Be Able to Help

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]]> You know those times when life or stress sucks you into one of those negative thought spirals, where you start getting more and more stressed and worried and can't seem to focus on anything else?

Recent research suggests that there's at least one way to shift your brain into a more positive headspace. And the nice thing is that it's pretty simple. And doesn't involve much thinking or require you to wrestle your thoughts into submission.

Stressed and Having Difficulty Getting Out of a Negative Thought Spiral? Here's How (and Why) Mother Nature May Be Able to Help

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]]> Noa Kageyama 685c5226-b8cb-46f4-baa6-d8003041aa82 Sun, 10 Jan 2021 04:00:00 -0500 594 false Make Practicing in 2021 a Little More Effective With These Top Tips From 2020 Make Practicing in 2021 a Little More Effective With These Top Tips From 2020 If practicing has felt a little stale lately, and you're looking for a bit of inspiration to jump start your routine, here are some of the most intriguing and potentially transformative things we learned on the podcast in 2020.

Make Practicing in 2021 a Little More Effective With These Top Tips From 2020

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]]> If practicing has felt a little stale lately, and you're looking for a bit of inspiration to jump start your routine, here are some of the most intriguing and potentially transformative things we learned on the podcast in 2020.

Make Practicing in 2021 a Little More Effective With These Top Tips From 2020

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]]> Noa Kageyama 275599cc-375c-4ede-b5fa-4508ab1ae477 Sun, 03 Jan 2021 04:00:00 -0500 4755 false A Better Way to Present Ourselves on Social Media? A Simple Adjustment for Improved Mood and Greater Well-Being. A Better Way to Present Ourselves on Social Media? A Simple Adjustment for Improved Mood and Greater Well-Being. There's a natural tendency for us to want to put our best foot forward online, whether in Facebook, Instagram, or Youtube. But sometimes, we can end up presenting an overly idealized version of ourselves that isn't really true and authentic.

Recent research suggests that this can have an effect on our mood and various aspects of well-being. And that posting more authentically, might actually leave us feeling better.

A Better Way to Present Ourselves on Social Media? A Simple Adjustment for Improved Mood and Greater Well-Being.

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]]> There's a natural tendency for us to want to put our best foot forward online, whether in Facebook, Instagram, or Youtube. But sometimes, we can end up presenting an overly idealized version of ourselves that isn't really true and authentic.

Recent research suggests that this can have an effect on our mood and various aspects of well-being. And that posting more authentically, might actually leave us feeling better.

A Better Way to Present Ourselves on Social Media? A Simple Adjustment for Improved Mood and Greater Well-Being.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama ba5bffcf-99e7-4b61-a820-3b80bc06eb6d Sun, 27 Dec 2020 04:00:00 -0500 651 false Regular Bragging vs. Humblebragging: Which Works Better? Regular Bragging vs. Humblebragging: Which Works Better? Presenting ourselves effectively to others is a really important skill. After all, there are a lot of benefits to being well-liked, and well-respected.

But I think we all intuitively know that achieving both likability and respect is kind of a tricky thing. In that bragging might achieve respect, but come at the expense of likability.

So what about the humblebrag? Is that a viable way to soften the brag a bit, so as to establish our competence but remain likable? Or is regular old bragging actually better?

Regular Bragging vs. Humblebragging: Which Works Better?

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]]> Presenting ourselves effectively to others is a really important skill. After all, there are a lot of benefits to being well-liked, and well-respected.

But I think we all intuitively know that achieving both likability and respect is kind of a tricky thing. In that bragging might achieve respect, but come at the expense of likability.

So what about the humblebrag? Is that a viable way to soften the brag a bit, so as to establish our competence but remain likable? Or is regular old bragging actually better?

Regular Bragging vs. Humblebragging: Which Works Better?

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]]> Noa Kageyama e6b8d98c-5eeb-43c7-8dee-54487c67489e Sun, 20 Dec 2020 04:00:00 -0500 848 false Need a Break? Here’s a Simple Way to Boost Your Mood and Feel More Refreshed After a Long Week of Practice. Need a Break? Here’s a Simple Way to Boost Your Mood and Feel More Refreshed After a Long Week of Practice. Feel like you need a break or a vacation? But just can't take one at the moment, for one reason or another?

Research suggests that there is a way for us to gain some of the mental and emotional benefits of a vacation - without actually taking one!

Need a Break? Here’s a Simple Way to Boost Your Mood and Feel More Refreshed After a Long Week of Practice.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Feel like you need a break or a vacation? But just can't take one at the moment, for one reason or another?

Research suggests that there is a way for us to gain some of the mental and emotional benefits of a vacation - without actually taking one!

Need a Break? Here’s a Simple Way to Boost Your Mood and Feel More Refreshed After a Long Week of Practice.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama e303b6ab-dab8-4e47-ae56-50fb049cf04c Sun, 13 Dec 2020 04:00:00 -0500 598 false David Leisner: On Overcoming Focal Dystonia and Learning to Play With Ease David Leisner: On Overcoming Focal Dystonia and Learning to Play With Ease Guitarist David Leisner describes his journey with focal dystonia - and what he learned that enabled him to regain full use of his hands and fingers after years of being unable to play.

David Leisner: On Overcoming Focal Dystonia and Learning to Play With Ease

* * *

A quick heads-up that next weekend is the annual Beyond Practicing 2-for-1 event!

If you’ve been wanting to perform more consistently, but haven’t been sure exactly what adjustments to make to your practice to make that happen, or maybe you’ve just felt stuck in a bit of a practice rut lately, next weekend might be the ideal time to start learning the mental skills and practice techniques that can help you get where you’re trying to go.

To learn more about Beyond Practicing and the 2-for-1 offer, go to bulletproofmusician.com/beyondpracticing

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Guitarist David Leisner describes his journey with focal dystonia - and what he learned that enabled him to regain full use of his hands and fingers after years of being unable to play.

David Leisner: On Overcoming Focal Dystonia and Learning to Play With Ease

* * *

A quick heads-up that next weekend is the annual Beyond Practicing 2-for-1 event!

If you’ve been wanting to perform more consistently, but haven’t been sure exactly what adjustments to make to your practice to make that happen, or maybe you’ve just felt stuck in a bit of a practice rut lately, next weekend might be the ideal time to start learning the mental skills and practice techniques that can help you get where you’re trying to go.

To learn more about Beyond Practicing and the 2-for-1 offer, go to bulletproofmusician.com/beyondpracticing

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama 227a1455-ef66-4616-b32a-b85a5ea0297b Sun, 06 Dec 2020 04:00:00 -0500 3538 false Toby Appel: On Learning to Trust Yourself Toby Appel: On Learning to Trust Yourself In this 2013 interview pulled from the archives, Juilliard viola faculty member Toby Appel shares insights on practicing, teaching, and some of the things he's been grateful for over the course of his career.

NOTE: This was recorded way back before I had the kind of gear that's necessary for capturing interviews, so the audio quality was pretty subpar, you could hear kids playing outside, etc. I've since remastered it to remove background noise, but it's still a little funky. It may help to refer to the transcript, which you can access here:

 Toby Appel: On Learning to Trust Yourself

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]]> In this 2013 interview pulled from the archives, Juilliard viola faculty member Toby Appel shares insights on practicing, teaching, and some of the things he's been grateful for over the course of his career.

NOTE: This was recorded way back before I had the kind of gear that's necessary for capturing interviews, so the audio quality was pretty subpar, you could hear kids playing outside, etc. I've since remastered it to remove background noise, but it's still a little funky. It may help to refer to the transcript, which you can access here:

 Toby Appel: On Learning to Trust Yourself

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]]> Noa Kageyama 4fd8042a-8df8-474c-ae22-04739cada95c Sun, 22 Nov 2020 04:00:00 -0500 2498 150 full false How Effective Is Mental Practice for Memorizing New Pieces? How Effective Is Mental Practice for Memorizing New Pieces? We've all heard how helpful a tool mental practice can be for honing and refining the level of our playing away from our instruments. But how useful a tool is it for memorizing music?

How Effective Is Mental Practice for Memorizing New Pieces?

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]]> We've all heard how helpful a tool mental practice can be for honing and refining the level of our playing away from our instruments. But how useful a tool is it for memorizing music?

How Effective Is Mental Practice for Memorizing New Pieces?

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]]> Noa Kageyama 1c99df4c-a625-4358-b3d6-21fe24d8477e Sun, 15 Nov 2020 04:00:00 -0500 593 false Stressed, Anxious, and Feeling a Little Burned Out? Here’s How an “Awe Walk” Could Help. Stressed, Anxious, and Feeling a Little Burned Out? Here’s How an “Awe Walk” Could Help. Learning how to manage our emotional health and recharge our batteries is an important part of cultivating mental toughness and resilience. "Awe walks" could be a simple, quick, research-based strategy to try that might be a useful strategy to add to your toolbox.

Stressed, Anxious, and Feeling a Little Burned Out? Here’s How an “Awe Walk” Could Help.

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]]> Learning how to manage our emotional health and recharge our batteries is an important part of cultivating mental toughness and resilience. "Awe walks" could be a simple, quick, research-based strategy to try that might be a useful strategy to add to your toolbox.

Stressed, Anxious, and Feeling a Little Burned Out? Here’s How an “Awe Walk” Could Help.

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]]> Noa Kageyama 2e1fce0a-d5cb-4a49-8fb9-7be8f9f5c3d2 Sun, 08 Nov 2020 04:00:00 -0500 520 false Bob Fisher: On What It Takes to Become Great at Something and Set Multiple World Records (at Age 50+) Bob Fisher: On What It Takes to Become Great at Something and Set Multiple World Records (at Age 50+) Bob Fisher has set 25 Guinness world records in free throw shooting - all after the age of 50. How did he become so good at shooting free throws?

He once said that "anyone could do what I do if they knew what I know." And in this episode, he shares some of the key learning principles that he believes helped him achieve this enviable level of skill.

 

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Bob Fisher has set 25 Guinness world records in free throw shooting - all after the age of 50. How did he become so good at shooting free throws?

He once said that "anyone could do what I do if they knew what I know." And in this episode, he shares some of the key learning principles that he believes helped him achieve this enviable level of skill.

 

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]]> Noa Kageyama 9453b3d2-8248-4ab8-b1a0-dca6a70d2007 Sun, 01 Nov 2020 03:00:00 -0500 2428 false Having Long-Term Goals Is Important, but Research Suggests That We Should Enjoy the Little Things Too Having Long-Term Goals Is Important, but Research Suggests That We Should Enjoy the Little Things Too 2020 has been an unusually stressful year for most. So when it comes to maximizing well-being, and being in as good a place mentally, physically, and emotionally, as we can be, is it more important that we set goals and stick to the path? Or that we take the time to relax and look for positive moments during each day (even if they're tiny and trivial in the grand scheme of things)?

Having Long-Term Goals Is Important, but Research Suggests That We Should Enjoy the Little Things Too

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]]> 2020 has been an unusually stressful year for most. So when it comes to maximizing well-being, and being in as good a place mentally, physically, and emotionally, as we can be, is it more important that we set goals and stick to the path? Or that we take the time to relax and look for positive moments during each day (even if they're tiny and trivial in the grand scheme of things)?

Having Long-Term Goals Is Important, but Research Suggests That We Should Enjoy the Little Things Too

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]]> Noa Kageyama 663b5c06-b64a-4c09-afb2-c425dfe70a12 Sun, 25 Oct 2020 04:00:00 -0400 500 false Have a Tendency to Play “Too Safe” Under Pressure? Here’s a Daily Habit That Could Help You Play More Fearlessly on Stage. Have a Tendency to Play “Too Safe” Under Pressure? Here’s a Daily Habit That Could Help You Play More Fearlessly on Stage. Ever find yourself playing more cautiously and tentatively under pressure, and wondering how to loosen up, trust yourself, and play more freely like your teacher keeps encouraging you to do?

It seems that self-efficacy is an important ingredient in risk-taking, and in today's episode, I'll describe a simple exercise that can help with building some of this particular kind of confidence.

Have a Tendency to Play “Too Safe” Under Pressure? Here’s a Daily Habit That Could Help You Play More Fearlessly on Stage.

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]]> Ever find yourself playing more cautiously and tentatively under pressure, and wondering how to loosen up, trust yourself, and play more freely like your teacher keeps encouraging you to do?

It seems that self-efficacy is an important ingredient in risk-taking, and in today's episode, I'll describe a simple exercise that can help with building some of this particular kind of confidence.

Have a Tendency to Play “Too Safe” Under Pressure? Here’s a Daily Habit That Could Help You Play More Fearlessly on Stage.

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]]> Noa Kageyama 0e57c879-04d2-41e9-bbbf-5c9d936fa0a2 Sun, 18 Oct 2020 04:00:00 -0400 535 false A Counterintuitive Way to Build Confidence, a Tiny Bit Each Day A Counterintuitive Way to Build Confidence, a Tiny Bit Each Day If you had a choice between starting with your most challenging tasks and progressing towards the easier ones or starting with your easiest tasks and progressing towards the most challenging ones, what would you choose? And which one do you think would lead to greater confidence and self-efficacy? A recent study suggests that if your goal is to build confidence, one might be much more effective than the other.

A Counterintuitive Way to Build Confidence, a Tiny Bit Each Day

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]]> If you had a choice between starting with your most challenging tasks and progressing towards the easier ones or starting with your easiest tasks and progressing towards the most challenging ones, what would you choose? And which one do you think would lead to greater confidence and self-efficacy? A recent study suggests that if your goal is to build confidence, one might be much more effective than the other.

A Counterintuitive Way to Build Confidence, a Tiny Bit Each Day

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]]> Noa Kageyama a9550463-6951-43de-a85c-019bb5a2bf41 Sun, 11 Oct 2020 04:00:00 -0400 476 false Jason Sulliman: On Why Fast, At-Tempo Practice Can Be More Efficient and Effective Than Slow Practice Jason Sulliman: On Why Fast, At-Tempo Practice Can Be More Efficient and Effective Than Slow Practice Conventional wisdom suggests that when we're learning a difficult passage, we should start slow, and gradually work it up to tempo with a metronome.

But what if I told you that there's a more efficient and effective way to get a difficult passage up to tempo? And that this slow-to-fast process can actually lead to bad habits that we later have to waste a lot of time unlearning?

Trombonist Jason Sulliman walks us through the motor learning/control research which suggests that there are many times when learning things at-tempo, from Day 1, may actually be the smarter, more effective approach.

Jason Sulliman: On Why Fast, At-Tempo Practice Can Be More Efficient and Effective Than Slow Practice

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]]> Conventional wisdom suggests that when we're learning a difficult passage, we should start slow, and gradually work it up to tempo with a metronome.

But what if I told you that there's a more efficient and effective way to get a difficult passage up to tempo? And that this slow-to-fast process can actually lead to bad habits that we later have to waste a lot of time unlearning?

Trombonist Jason Sulliman walks us through the motor learning/control research which suggests that there are many times when learning things at-tempo, from Day 1, may actually be the smarter, more effective approach.

Jason Sulliman: On Why Fast, At-Tempo Practice Can Be More Efficient and Effective Than Slow Practice

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]]> Noa Kageyama ff7df505-70cf-48b1-badf-b3336a99adbd Sun, 04 Oct 2020 04:00:00 -0400 3352 false How Using Social Media Apps Before Practicing Could Sabotage Practice Quality (and Performance) Over Time How Using Social Media Apps Before Practicing Could Sabotage Practice Quality (and Performance) Over Time We've all been told that having phones nearby while studying or practicing can be a distraction and degrade the quality of our practicing/studying. But what about engaging in social media before we practice? Does what we do in the 30 minutes or so before practicing also matter? And if so, why?

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]]> We've all been told that having phones nearby while studying or practicing can be a distraction and degrade the quality of our practicing/studying. But what about engaging in social media before we practice? Does what we do in the 30 minutes or so before practicing also matter? And if so, why?

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]]> Noa Kageyama 381bc6a7-61fc-4593-b12e-41873406bb3c Sun, 27 Sep 2020 04:00:00 -0400 483 false What Does the Research Say About Having a Couple Drinks Before Performing? What Does the Research Say About Having a Couple Drinks Before Performing? We've all heard stories about famous musicians who had a drink (or two) before performing to calm their nerves. But does this really make things better - or does it actually make things worse? A recent study provides some clues.

 What Does the Research Say About Having a Couple Drinks Before Performing?

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]]> We've all heard stories about famous musicians who had a drink (or two) before performing to calm their nerves. But does this really make things better - or does it actually make things worse? A recent study provides some clues.

 What Does the Research Say About Having a Couple Drinks Before Performing?

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]]> Noa Kageyama e1f84dd1-a426-42ed-8e5a-7a53fa031033 Sun, 20 Sep 2020 04:00:00 -0400 455 140 full false 8 Things Top Practicers Do Differently 8 Things Top Practicers Do Differently What are some of the practice strategies that help the most effective practicers improve faster (and play better) than the rest of us? A University of Texas study of 17 pianists, found 8 specific differences - and 3 in particular, that seemed to make the biggest difference.

8 Things Top Practicers Do Differently

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]]> What are some of the practice strategies that help the most effective practicers improve faster (and play better) than the rest of us? A University of Texas study of 17 pianists, found 8 specific differences - and 3 in particular, that seemed to make the biggest difference.

8 Things Top Practicers Do Differently

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]]> Noa Kageyama f41c32f9-6233-4925-b79f-fb53fb6089f0 Sun, 13 Sep 2020 04:00:00 -0400 550 false Minna Chung: On the Mysteries of Intonation and a Few Things We Can Do to Play Better in Tune Minna Chung: On the Mysteries of Intonation and a Few Things We Can Do to Play Better in Tune Cellist Minna Chung describes the three systems of intonation (what?! there are 3?), which one to use when, and how we can all play a little better in tune.

Minna Chung: On the Mysteries of Intonation and a Few Things We Can Do to Play Better in Tune

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]]> Cellist Minna Chung describes the three systems of intonation (what?! there are 3?), which one to use when, and how we can all play a little better in tune.

Minna Chung: On the Mysteries of Intonation and a Few Things We Can Do to Play Better in Tune

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]]> Noa Kageyama cba84abc-d096-4379-8318-533fd3d8b405 Sun, 06 Sep 2020 04:00:00 -0400 3776 false How Many of Our Mistakes Do Audiences (and Other Musicians) Actually Notice? How Many of Our Mistakes Do Audiences (and Other Musicians) Actually Notice? We often cringe at the mistakes we make on stage - but how many of these do audiences, or our fellow musicians, actually notice?

A Yale study of pianists provides some clues - and the numbers might surprise you.

How Many of Our Mistakes Do Audiences (and Other Musicians) Actually Notice?

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]]> We often cringe at the mistakes we make on stage - but how many of these do audiences, or our fellow musicians, actually notice?

A Yale study of pianists provides some clues - and the numbers might surprise you.

How Many of Our Mistakes Do Audiences (and Other Musicians) Actually Notice?

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]]> Noa Kageyama 129bcc6a-4071-4023-b80a-31f9d028e1a1 Sun, 30 Aug 2020 04:00:00 -0400 444 false Handling Conflicts in Ensembles: A Few Things We May Be Able to Learn From the Research on Marital Satisfaction...? Handling Conflicts in Ensembles: A Few Things We May Be Able to Learn From the Research on Marital Satisfaction...? It's been said that being in a quartet is like being in a marriage. And like any relationship, there's bound to be conflict from time to time. Research suggests that how we respond to these conflicts may have a significant impact on our relationship satisfaction, not to mention our mood afterwards. So might there be a few things we can apply from the research on marital satisfaction to having more satisfying relationships with our musical colleagues too?

Handling Conflicts in Ensembles: A Few Things We May Be Able to Learn From the Research on Marital Satisfaction...?

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]]> It's been said that being in a quartet is like being in a marriage. And like any relationship, there's bound to be conflict from time to time. Research suggests that how we respond to these conflicts may have a significant impact on our relationship satisfaction, not to mention our mood afterwards. So might there be a few things we can apply from the research on marital satisfaction to having more satisfying relationships with our musical colleagues too?

Handling Conflicts in Ensembles: A Few Things We May Be Able to Learn From the Research on Marital Satisfaction...?

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]]> Noa Kageyama 683aaf6a-9c5e-4aaf-b30b-ff6dfea20811 Sun, 23 Aug 2020 04:00:00 -0400 505 false Is This Really a Significant Factor in How We Choose Our Teachers and Mentors? Is This Really a Significant Factor in How We Choose Our Teachers and Mentors? Logic would suggest that when choosing a teacher or mentor, we would select people based more on their expertise and advising experience than anything else. But is this what we actually do? A recent study suggests that we may actually be more influenced by flattery and positive comments about our abilities than we'd like to think...

Is This Really a Significant Factor in How We Choose Our Teachers and Mentors?

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]]> Logic would suggest that when choosing a teacher or mentor, we would select people based more on their expertise and advising experience than anything else. But is this what we actually do? A recent study suggests that we may actually be more influenced by flattery and positive comments about our abilities than we'd like to think...

Is This Really a Significant Factor in How We Choose Our Teachers and Mentors?

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]]> Noa Kageyama 662ae720-466b-40e3-a835-01cb07e2eb87 Sun, 16 Aug 2020 04:00:00 -0400 493 false Why It May Be Useful to Laugh a Bit More in the Months Ahead Why It May Be Useful to Laugh a Bit More in the Months Ahead It's often said that laughter is the best medicine. But is there any truth to this? Surprisingly, there doesn't seem to be a ton of research on this, but a recent study does provide some clues...

Why It May Be Useful to Laugh a Bit More in the Months Ahead

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]]> It's often said that laughter is the best medicine. But is there any truth to this? Surprisingly, there doesn't seem to be a ton of research on this, but a recent study does provide some clues...

Why It May Be Useful to Laugh a Bit More in the Months Ahead

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]]> Noa Kageyama e8b0bef4-4287-47f6-aba8-f516bc002b78 Sun, 09 Aug 2020 04:00:00 -0400 383 false Stephen Hough: On the Question “Is Memorizing Music Really All That Important?” Stephen Hough: On the Question “Is Memorizing Music Really All That Important?” Almost every musician has either had a memory slip or worried about having one at some point in their lives. So how important is it really to play from memory? Is it just one of those things we do for show, or is there real value in memorizing?

Pianist Stephen Hough weighs in on this question, and as you can imagine, the answer is rather complex and nuanced - but certainly a meaningful one for us all to think about!

Stephen Hough: On the Question “Is Memorizing Music Really All That Important?”

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]]> Almost every musician has either had a memory slip or worried about having one at some point in their lives. So how important is it really to play from memory? Is it just one of those things we do for show, or is there real value in memorizing?

Pianist Stephen Hough weighs in on this question, and as you can imagine, the answer is rather complex and nuanced - but certainly a meaningful one for us all to think about!

Stephen Hough: On the Question “Is Memorizing Music Really All That Important?”

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]]> Noa Kageyama 35360199-654d-47c6-bab8-d98d5d9f31ff Sun, 02 Aug 2020 04:00:00 -0400 2931 false How to Keep the Critic in Your Head From Wrecking Your Practice Session How to Keep the Critic in Your Head From Wrecking Your Practice Session I think we all assume that negative self-talk is bad, but the research is actually somewhat mixed. As in, there are some studies in which negative self-talk is associated with the same or better performance.

How could that be? Well, a recent study suggests that the answer may lie in how we respond to this inner critic. And there might be a simple tweak we can make to our inner dialogue that could help us become more resilient in the face of the bully that lives in our head.

How to Keep the Critic in Your Head From Wrecking Your Practice Session

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]]> I think we all assume that negative self-talk is bad, but the research is actually somewhat mixed. As in, there are some studies in which negative self-talk is associated with the same or better performance.

How could that be? Well, a recent study suggests that the answer may lie in how we respond to this inner critic. And there might be a simple tweak we can make to our inner dialogue that could help us become more resilient in the face of the bully that lives in our head.

How to Keep the Critic in Your Head From Wrecking Your Practice Session

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]]> Noa Kageyama ce1d31dd-f7d9-4b60-91ea-85ff53f2b3d2 Sun, 26 Jul 2020 04:00:00 -0400 417 false Why the Progress You Make in the Practice Room Seems to Disappear Overnight - PART 2 Why the Progress You Make in the Practice Room Seems to Disappear Overnight - PART 2 Have you ever tried to experiment with random (aka interleaved) practice, but quit, because you weren't sure if you were doing it right? Or worried that you were letting bad habits stay in your hands, because you were moving on to other things too quickly?

Clarinetist Christine Carter is back to answer many of the most common questions people encounter in trying to incorporate more interleaved practice into their daily practice routine.

Oh, and if the voice in your head is like "what the heck is interleaved practice?", this is going to change your practice week for sure!

Why the Progress You Make in the Practice Room Seems to Disappear Overnight - PART 2

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]]> Have you ever tried to experiment with random (aka interleaved) practice, but quit, because you weren't sure if you were doing it right? Or worried that you were letting bad habits stay in your hands, because you were moving on to other things too quickly?

Clarinetist Christine Carter is back to answer many of the most common questions people encounter in trying to incorporate more interleaved practice into their daily practice routine.

Oh, and if the voice in your head is like "what the heck is interleaved practice?", this is going to change your practice week for sure!

Why the Progress You Make in the Practice Room Seems to Disappear Overnight - PART 2

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]]> Noa Kageyama c4d68059-e532-40b4-8e5f-ad426e5db6fc Sun, 19 Jul 2020 04:00:00 -0400 1252 false An Email Hack That Could Increase the Likelihood of Getting a Reply (and Possibly Make the World a Slightly Better Place for Everyone Too) An Email Hack That Could Increase the Likelihood of Getting a Reply (and Possibly Make the World a Slightly Better Place for Everyone Too) Ever send an email to someone, and get a little bummed out (or annoyed) when you never hear back?

Research suggests that the way we close our emails can have more of an impact than we realize - and in some pretty surprising and unexpected ways that go beyond whether we get a response or not.

An Email Hack That Could Increase the Likelihood of Getting a Reply (and Possibly Make the World a Slightly Better Place for Everyone Too)

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]]> Ever send an email to someone, and get a little bummed out (or annoyed) when you never hear back?

Research suggests that the way we close our emails can have more of an impact than we realize - and in some pretty surprising and unexpected ways that go beyond whether we get a response or not.

An Email Hack That Could Increase the Likelihood of Getting a Reply (and Possibly Make the World a Slightly Better Place for Everyone Too)

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]]> Noa Kageyama 394191c7-79e2-4f86-9794-00b22270e772 Sun, 12 Jul 2020 04:00:00 -0400 561 false Jason Haaheim: On “Deliberate Lessons” and How to Become a Better Teacher to Yourself Jason Haaheim: On “Deliberate Lessons” and How to Become a Better Teacher to Yourself Like many other musicians, perhaps you've recorded your weekly lessons in the past. Or had a parent who recorded them.

But given how much time it takes to listen back, how useful is this really? Met timpanist Jason Haaheim explains why he believes recording and transcribing your lessons is essential, and why this can significantly increase the effectiveness of your daily practice.

Jason Haaheim: On “Deliberate Lessons” and How to Become a Better Teacher to Yourself

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]]> Like many other musicians, perhaps you've recorded your weekly lessons in the past. Or had a parent who recorded them.

But given how much time it takes to listen back, how useful is this really? Met timpanist Jason Haaheim explains why he believes recording and transcribing your lessons is essential, and why this can significantly increase the effectiveness of your daily practice.

Jason Haaheim: On “Deliberate Lessons” and How to Become a Better Teacher to Yourself

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]]> Noa Kageyama 4d7cab4e-f431-492f-b869-4cdf3c67aeff Sun, 05 Jul 2020 04:00:00 -0400 4408 false 3 Questions to Ask Yourself That Could Boost the Effectiveness of Your Next Practice Session 3 Questions to Ask Yourself That Could Boost the Effectiveness of Your Next Practice Session Ever wonder why some people seem to always be coming up with effective and creative ways to overcome challenges, and some folks get stuck kind of going in circles even though they're putting in a ton of effort and energy?

Research suggests that there may be a particular "strategic mindset" (and a few questions) that lends itself to thinking about problems in a more effective, strategic way. And that we could all use this to become more effective problem-solvers both in and out of the practice room.

3 Questions to Ask Yourself That Could Boost the Effectiveness of Your Next Practice Session

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]]> Ever wonder why some people seem to always be coming up with effective and creative ways to overcome challenges, and some folks get stuck kind of going in circles even though they're putting in a ton of effort and energy?

Research suggests that there may be a particular "strategic mindset" (and a few questions) that lends itself to thinking about problems in a more effective, strategic way. And that we could all use this to become more effective problem-solvers both in and out of the practice room.

3 Questions to Ask Yourself That Could Boost the Effectiveness of Your Next Practice Session

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]]> Noa Kageyama 5f133ece-a7f3-45d9-a6c0-92866b4fa53a Sun, 28 Jun 2020 04:00:00 -0400 441 false Having Difficulty Motivating Yourself to Practice? Research Suggests That Copycatting a Friend Could Help. Having Difficulty Motivating Yourself to Practice? Research Suggests That Copycatting a Friend Could Help. Ever find yourself struggling with motivation and difficulty following through? Whether it's practicing or exercising, research suggests that asking a friend or acquaintance for advice could lead to more success than simply trying to think up strategies to try on our own, without it coming from a friend.

Having Difficulty Motivating Yourself to Practice? Research Suggests That Copycatting a Friend Could Help.

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]]> Ever find yourself struggling with motivation and difficulty following through? Whether it's practicing or exercising, research suggests that asking a friend or acquaintance for advice could lead to more success than simply trying to think up strategies to try on our own, without it coming from a friend.

Having Difficulty Motivating Yourself to Practice? Research Suggests That Copycatting a Friend Could Help.

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]]> Noa Kageyama 344b3cc4-82cd-43b3-bfae-5b97250909d1 Sun, 21 Jun 2020 04:00:00 -0400 390 false Evidence That You're Probably Not Great at Performing and Critiquing Your Performance at the Same Time Evidence That You're Probably Not Great at Performing and Critiquing Your Performance at the Same Time If you've been trying to convince yourself (or your students) to do more self-recording, here's a study that illustrates why this is such a useful practice tool. And also suggests that we might not be quite as good at simultaneously performing and critiquing as we'd like to think.

Evidence That You're Probably Not Great at Performing and Critiquing Your Performance at the Same Time

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]]> If you've been trying to convince yourself (or your students) to do more self-recording, here's a study that illustrates why this is such a useful practice tool. And also suggests that we might not be quite as good at simultaneously performing and critiquing as we'd like to think.

Evidence That You're Probably Not Great at Performing and Critiquing Your Performance at the Same Time

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]]> Noa Kageyama f4da0bc3-d5f5-4b01-8023-3359f065ceb5 Sun, 14 Jun 2020 04:00:00 -0400 354 false Christian Howes: On Overcoming Improvisation Anxiety, Making Technical Practice More Creatively Satisfying, and Becoming a Better Friend to Yourself Christian Howes: On Overcoming Improvisation Anxiety, Making Technical Practice More Creatively Satisfying, and Becoming a Better Friend to Yourself Violinist and educator Christian Howes drops by to chat about learning how to improvise, how to overcome overwhelm, connect and collaborate more effectively with a diverse range of other musicians, and hopefully become a better friend to ourselves through it all.

Christian Howes: On Overcoming Improvisation Anxiety, Making Technical Practice More Creatively Satisfying, and Becoming a Better Friend to Yourself

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]]> Violinist and educator Christian Howes drops by to chat about learning how to improvise, how to overcome overwhelm, connect and collaborate more effectively with a diverse range of other musicians, and hopefully become a better friend to ourselves through it all.

Christian Howes: On Overcoming Improvisation Anxiety, Making Technical Practice More Creatively Satisfying, and Becoming a Better Friend to Yourself

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]]> Noa Kageyama de8c3557-71fc-4a62-a822-df03510366ab Sun, 07 Jun 2020 04:00:00 -0400 3392 false How the Things You Think about Backstage Could Carry over into Your Performance How the Things You Think about Backstage Could Carry over into Your Performance Why is that in some performances, we're totally focused, and the critic in our head leaves us alone, and on other days, it's a total nightmare?

Research suggests that it might have a little something to do with what we think about in the moments leading up to the performance, and that we might be able to manage our nerves a little better if we engage in the right sort of mental script backstage.

How the Things You Think about Backstage Could Carry over into Your Performance

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]]> Why is that in some performances, we're totally focused, and the critic in our head leaves us alone, and on other days, it's a total nightmare?

Research suggests that it might have a little something to do with what we think about in the moments leading up to the performance, and that we might be able to manage our nerves a little better if we engage in the right sort of mental script backstage.

How the Things You Think about Backstage Could Carry over into Your Performance

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]]> Noa Kageyama 45f82b8b-900f-4d26-94bd-12a391e09164 Sun, 31 May 2020 04:00:00 -0400 488 false How to Talk to Yourself When You’re Having a Bad Practice Day (or Week) How to Talk to Yourself When You’re Having a Bad Practice Day (or Week) We all naturally react to failure a little differently, but ever wonder what's different about those folks who seem to bounce back more effortlessly from repeated failure? This study provides some pretty fascinating insights, as the researchers explore the differences between what more and less persistent kids say to themselves when they experience failure.

How to Talk to Yourself When You’re Having a Bad Practice Day (or Week)

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]]> We all naturally react to failure a little differently, but ever wonder what's different about those folks who seem to bounce back more effortlessly from repeated failure? This study provides some pretty fascinating insights, as the researchers explore the differences between what more and less persistent kids say to themselves when they experience failure.

How to Talk to Yourself When You’re Having a Bad Practice Day (or Week)

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]]> Noa Kageyama 5567f18b-220a-432f-a000-0043cc68acf2 Sun, 24 May 2020 04:00:00 -0400 733 false Having Difficulty Believing in Yourself? Here’s a Confidence-Building Technique That Doesn’t Feel Like You're Lying to Yourself. Having Difficulty Believing in Yourself? Here’s a Confidence-Building Technique That Doesn’t Feel Like You're Lying to Yourself. We've all been told that it's important to go into auditions or performances with positive expectations - but that's often easier said than done. If you've ever gotten frustrated with positive visualization or affirmations, there's another strategy you could try - that might not elicit quite so much pushback from your inner critic.

Having Difficulty Believing in Yourself? Here’s a Confidence-Building Technique That Doesn’t Feel Like You're Lying to Yourself.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> We've all been told that it's important to go into auditions or performances with positive expectations - but that's often easier said than done. If you've ever gotten frustrated with positive visualization or affirmations, there's another strategy you could try - that might not elicit quite so much pushback from your inner critic.

Having Difficulty Believing in Yourself? Here’s a Confidence-Building Technique That Doesn’t Feel Like You're Lying to Yourself.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama a0ee37a0-7b51-4021-92b3-e29357ecd6af Sun, 17 May 2020 04:00:00 -0400 477 false Struggling with Practice Apathy? You Might Be Neglecting “Psychological Rest” Struggling with Practice Apathy? You Might Be Neglecting “Psychological Rest” We have all been told that bringing our "A" game in the practice room and on stage requires a certain amount of physical rest and recovery. But I don't know that we as acutely aware of the importance of psychological rest and recovery as well.

Recent research suggests that learning to "switch off" might be an important key to maintaining a consistently high level of practice and performance as well.

Struggling with Practice Apathy? You Might Be Neglecting “Psychological Rest”

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]]> We have all been told that bringing our "A" game in the practice room and on stage requires a certain amount of physical rest and recovery. But I don't know that we as acutely aware of the importance of psychological rest and recovery as well.

Recent research suggests that learning to "switch off" might be an important key to maintaining a consistently high level of practice and performance as well.

Struggling with Practice Apathy? You Might Be Neglecting “Psychological Rest”

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]]> Noa Kageyama 9b3c309e-a819-40b6-805a-2ad90323e9ed Sun, 10 May 2020 04:00:00 -0400 570 false Howard Nelson & Pamela Frank: On Recovering from Injury, the Importance of Being Non-Judgmental, and Practicing with 1000% Expression Howard Nelson & Pamela Frank: On Recovering from Injury, the Importance of Being Non-Judgmental, and Practicing with 1000% Expression Physical therapist Howard Nelson and renowned violinist Pamela Frank share simple and practical insights on smart, effective practice that transfers to the stage, and ways to ensure that you have a long and pain-free playing career.

Howard Nelson & Pamela Frank: On Recovering from Injury, the Importance of Being Non-Judgmental, and Practicing with 1000% Expression

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]]> Physical therapist Howard Nelson and renowned violinist Pamela Frank share simple and practical insights on smart, effective practice that transfers to the stage, and ways to ensure that you have a long and pain-free playing career.

Howard Nelson & Pamela Frank: On Recovering from Injury, the Importance of Being Non-Judgmental, and Practicing with 1000% Expression

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]]> Noa Kageyama 89669876-ae03-4bf5-b909-c467f6d7bb79 Sun, 03 May 2020 04:00:00 -0400 2997 false Sarah Lewis: On Thinking Useful Thoughts, Gratitude, and the Challenge of Juggling Auditions and a 3-Month Old Sarah Lewis: On Thinking Useful Thoughts, Gratitude, and the Challenge of Juggling Auditions and a 3-Month Old A few months ago, percussionist Rob Knopper and I had a chance to sit down and chat with three musicians from the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, to see what sorts of similarities and differences there might be in different musicians' approaches to audition preparation.

In Episode 3 of this mini-series, oboist Sarah Lewis shares insights on how she stays in a good headspace backstage, what her ideal day-of-audition routine looks like, and what she prioritized in the final week leading up to audition day, while also caring for her 3-month old daughter.

Sarah Lewis: On Thinking Useful Thoughts, Gratitude, and the Challenge of Juggling Auditions and a 3-Month Old

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]]> A few months ago, percussionist Rob Knopper and I had a chance to sit down and chat with three musicians from the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, to see what sorts of similarities and differences there might be in different musicians' approaches to audition preparation.

In Episode 3 of this mini-series, oboist Sarah Lewis shares insights on how she stays in a good headspace backstage, what her ideal day-of-audition routine looks like, and what she prioritized in the final week leading up to audition day, while also caring for her 3-month old daughter.

Sarah Lewis: On Thinking Useful Thoughts, Gratitude, and the Challenge of Juggling Auditions and a 3-Month Old

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]]> Noa Kageyama 35bae18e-175f-400c-adf8-c0c1795cf13a Sun, 26 Apr 2020 04:00:00 -0400 1556 false Amanda Blaikie: On Believing in Yourself, Letting Go of Attachments, and Giving Yourself Permission to Be Kind to Yourself Amanda Blaikie: On Believing in Yourself, Letting Go of Attachments, and Giving Yourself Permission to Be Kind to Yourself A few months ago, percussionist Rob Knopper and I had a chance to sit down and chat with three musicians from the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, to see what sorts of similarities and differences there might be in different musicians' approaches to audition preparation.

In Episode 2 of this mini-series, flutist Amanda Blaikie shares her insights on how to stay in a good headspace backstage, what her ideal day-of-audition routine looks like, and what she prioritized in the final week leading up to audition day.

Amanda Blaikie: On Believing in Yourself, Letting Go of Attachments, and Giving Yourself Permission to Be Kind to Yourself

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> A few months ago, percussionist Rob Knopper and I had a chance to sit down and chat with three musicians from the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, to see what sorts of similarities and differences there might be in different musicians' approaches to audition preparation.

In Episode 2 of this mini-series, flutist Amanda Blaikie shares her insights on how to stay in a good headspace backstage, what her ideal day-of-audition routine looks like, and what she prioritized in the final week leading up to audition day.

Amanda Blaikie: On Believing in Yourself, Letting Go of Attachments, and Giving Yourself Permission to Be Kind to Yourself

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]]> Noa Kageyama 22c4be16-1a75-462f-8bb1-d65e115f90b5 Wed, 22 Apr 2020 04:00:00 -0400 1348 false Caroline Coade: On Being Flexible and "Practicing to Bulletproof” Caroline Coade: On Being Flexible and "Practicing to Bulletproof” A few months ago, percussionist Rob Knopper and I had a chance to sit down and chat with three musicians from the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, to see what sorts of similarities and differences there might be in different musicians' approaches to audition preparation.

In Episode 1 of this mini-series, violist Caroline Coade shares her insights on how she stays in a good headspace backstage, what her ideal day-of-audition routine looks like, and what she prioritized in the final week leading up to audition day.

What Are the Audition Preparation Strategies That Work Best for You? | Caroline Coade: On Being Flexible and "Practicing to Bulletproof”

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]]> A few months ago, percussionist Rob Knopper and I had a chance to sit down and chat with three musicians from the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, to see what sorts of similarities and differences there might be in different musicians' approaches to audition preparation.

In Episode 1 of this mini-series, violist Caroline Coade shares her insights on how she stays in a good headspace backstage, what her ideal day-of-audition routine looks like, and what she prioritized in the final week leading up to audition day.

What Are the Audition Preparation Strategies That Work Best for You? | Caroline Coade: On Being Flexible and "Practicing to Bulletproof”

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]]> Noa Kageyama d80314c8-a0be-4dcd-b24d-37860dd089b4 Sun, 19 Apr 2020 04:00:00 -0400 1554 false A Mental Time Travel Technique That Could Reduce Anxiety and Enhance Performance A Mental Time Travel Technique That Could Reduce Anxiety and Enhance Performance Athletes, coaches, and sport psychologists often recommend visualizing yourself having a successful performance in the future. But sometimes it can be difficult to get your brain to imagine or buy into future success in that way... So if future-oriented visualization isn't happening for you, is there any performance benefit to visualizing successful performances in your past?

A Mental Time Travel Technique That Could Reduce Anxiety and Enhance Performance

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]]> Athletes, coaches, and sport psychologists often recommend visualizing yourself having a successful performance in the future. But sometimes it can be difficult to get your brain to imagine or buy into future success in that way... So if future-oriented visualization isn't happening for you, is there any performance benefit to visualizing successful performances in your past?

A Mental Time Travel Technique That Could Reduce Anxiety and Enhance Performance

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]]> Noa Kageyama 3f35b2cc-bd82-46c1-8fcc-f190c8b7eb45 Sun, 12 Apr 2020 04:00:00 -0400 482 false Molly Gebrian: On Efficient, Effective, and Reliable Memorization Strategies for Musicians Molly Gebrian: On Efficient, Effective, and Reliable Memorization Strategies for Musicians Have you ever had a memory slip in performance or worried about having one on stage? University of Arizona viola professor and brain enthusiast (she majored in neuroscience in college) Molly Gebrian shares some insights on the science of memory, and describes simple, straightforward, musician-friendly strategies that you can use to make sure that future performances are a more positive (and less anxiety-inducing) experience!

Molly Gebrian: On Efficient, Effective, and Reliable Memorization Strategies for Musicians

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]]> Have you ever had a memory slip in performance or worried about having one on stage? University of Arizona viola professor and brain enthusiast (she majored in neuroscience in college) Molly Gebrian shares some insights on the science of memory, and describes simple, straightforward, musician-friendly strategies that you can use to make sure that future performances are a more positive (and less anxiety-inducing) experience!

Molly Gebrian: On Efficient, Effective, and Reliable Memorization Strategies for Musicians

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]]> Noa Kageyama 5c99b0b1-094c-4134-a367-eec6dc3e3b8d Sun, 05 Apr 2020 04:00:00 -0400 3666 false Nicole Newman: On Using Yoga to Develop Sustained Focused Attention, and Practice Getting into the Zone Nicole Newman: On Using Yoga to Develop Sustained Focused Attention, and Practice Getting into the Zone Flutist-turned-yoga educator Nicole Newman shares insights on how yoga practice can not only have physical benefits that transfer to more effective performance, but also mental benefits in terms of enhancing concentration and focus.

For the 45-min video demonstration on specific stretches and exercises recommended for musicians, go to:

Nicole Newman: On Using Yoga to Develop Sustained Focused Attention, and Practice Getting into the Zone

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Flutist-turned-yoga educator Nicole Newman shares insights on how yoga practice can not only have physical benefits that transfer to more effective performance, but also mental benefits in terms of enhancing concentration and focus.

For the 45-min video demonstration on specific stretches and exercises recommended for musicians, go to:

Nicole Newman: On Using Yoga to Develop Sustained Focused Attention, and Practice Getting into the Zone

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]]> Noa Kageyama e8af2701-0024-4d2d-a1bb-f66db36d6398 Sun, 29 Mar 2020 04:00:00 -0400 975 false Tim Topham: On How to Maximize Your Effectiveness When Teaching Lessons Online Tim Topham: On How to Maximize Your Effectiveness When Teaching Lessons Online Having to go from live in-person lessons, to teaching through a laptop screen overnight can be a stressful experience. In this episode, piano teacher, educator, and podcaster Tim Topham will share some simple, and immediately actionable strategies and techniques that will help you feel more comfortable and increase your confidence in your ability to be effective when teaching online.

Tim Topham: On How to Maximize Your Effectiveness When Teaching Lessons Online

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]]> Having to go from live in-person lessons, to teaching through a laptop screen overnight can be a stressful experience. In this episode, piano teacher, educator, and podcaster Tim Topham will share some simple, and immediately actionable strategies and techniques that will help you feel more comfortable and increase your confidence in your ability to be effective when teaching online.

Tim Topham: On How to Maximize Your Effectiveness When Teaching Lessons Online

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]]> Noa Kageyama f4cdc59f-693e-4321-9125-31e204fb19b3 Sun, 22 Mar 2020 04:00:00 -0400 3448 false Targeted Memory Reactivation: A Hack to Improve Learning During Sleep? Targeted Memory Reactivation: A Hack to Improve Learning During Sleep? It's well known that sleep is a key ingredient in optimal learning. But a recent study takes things a step further and suggests that we can selectively optimize the learning of certain information while we sleep - with "odor cues." Wait...what?!

Targeted Memory Reactivation: A Hack to Improve Learning During Sleep?

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]]> It's well known that sleep is a key ingredient in optimal learning. But a recent study takes things a step further and suggests that we can selectively optimize the learning of certain information while we sleep - with "odor cues." Wait...what?!

Targeted Memory Reactivation: A Hack to Improve Learning During Sleep?

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]]> Noa Kageyama 4a4c9d6d-8b1d-44c0-8564-64cf10e27e37 Sun, 15 Mar 2020 04:00:00 -0400 477 false Lynne Aspnes: On Breathing, Singing, and the Value of Cultivating a Diverse Range of Musical Influences Lynne Aspnes: On Breathing, Singing, and the Value of Cultivating a Diverse Range of Musical Influences Harpist Lynne Aspnes shares insights on the role of singing in music-making, how to make breathing a more organic part of your playing, and the value of having diverse musical influences.

Lynne Aspnes: On Breathing, Singing, and the Value of Cultivating a Diverse Range of Musical Influences

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]]> Harpist Lynne Aspnes shares insights on the role of singing in music-making, how to make breathing a more organic part of your playing, and the value of having diverse musical influences.

Lynne Aspnes: On Breathing, Singing, and the Value of Cultivating a Diverse Range of Musical Influences

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]]> Noa Kageyama 3832aee6-343c-453b-86b5-f36c4bdb2be8 Sun, 08 Mar 2020 05:00:00 -0400 3212 false What Does Science Say About the Notion That We Don't Utilize Our Full Potential? What Does Science Say About the Notion That We Don't Utilize Our Full Potential? It's often said that we are capable of more than we realize - but is there any research evidence suggesting that we consistently underestimate our abilities?

What Does Science Say About the Notion That We Don't Utilize Our Full Potential?

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]]> It's often said that we are capable of more than we realize - but is there any research evidence suggesting that we consistently underestimate our abilities?

What Does Science Say About the Notion That We Don't Utilize Our Full Potential?

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]]> Noa Kageyama 9a9b891c-5249-43ad-ad91-5e11e48b14a2 Sun, 01 Mar 2020 04:00:00 -0500 440 false Fact or Myth: Does Thinking “Don’t Miss” Really Make Us More Likely to Mess Up? Fact or Myth: Does Thinking “Don’t Miss” Really Make Us More Likely to Mess Up? You've probably heard that saying "don't miss" to yourself makes you more likely to mess up. But is this actually true? Or is it just a myth?

Fact or Myth: Does Thinking “Don’t Miss” Really Make Us More Likely to Mess Up?

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]]> You've probably heard that saying "don't miss" to yourself makes you more likely to mess up. But is this actually true? Or is it just a myth?

Fact or Myth: Does Thinking “Don’t Miss” Really Make Us More Likely to Mess Up?

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]]> Noa Kageyama cac7c572-89fc-4eba-ae05-9e56e30d7ff7 Sun, 23 Feb 2020 04:00:00 -0500 399 false How to Get Better at Detecting Errors - Especially If They’re Hiding in Plain Sight How to Get Better at Detecting Errors - Especially If They’re Hiding in Plain Sight Are we actually as good at detecting errors and imperfections in our playing as we think? We definitely are on stage - but research suggests we might be missing things in the practice room. Here are a few ways to make sure that doesn't happen.

How to Get Better at Detecting Errors - Especially If They’re Hiding in Plain Sight

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]]> Are we actually as good at detecting errors and imperfections in our playing as we think? We definitely are on stage - but research suggests we might be missing things in the practice room. Here are a few ways to make sure that doesn't happen.

How to Get Better at Detecting Errors - Especially If They’re Hiding in Plain Sight

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]]> Noa Kageyama 070b076e-5a59-4635-bba9-685fe90fac30 Sun, 16 Feb 2020 04:00:00 -0500 537 false The Mindsets That Make It Easier (and Harder) to Bounce Back from Mistakes Mid-Performance The Mindsets That Make It Easier (and Harder) to Bounce Back from Mistakes Mid-Performance Recovering from a poor start to your performance, or bouncing back from a botched excerpt in an audition can be a real challenge - though very much doable. But what separates those who can get back on track, from those that struggle and get sucked into the downward spiral of doom? Research suggests that it might have something to do with the type of perfectionist you are.

The Mindsets That Make It Easier (and Harder) to Bounce Back from Mistakes Mid-Performance

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]]> Recovering from a poor start to your performance, or bouncing back from a botched excerpt in an audition can be a real challenge - though very much doable. But what separates those who can get back on track, from those that struggle and get sucked into the downward spiral of doom? Research suggests that it might have something to do with the type of perfectionist you are.

The Mindsets That Make It Easier (and Harder) to Bounce Back from Mistakes Mid-Performance

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]]> Noa Kageyama 4f0e9049-f61d-4521-8163-ea4eb091f516 Sun, 09 Feb 2020 04:00:00 -0500 465 false Jennifer Johnson: On Learning to Play More Effortlessly, Through a Better Understanding of the True Design of Your Body Jennifer Johnson: On Learning to Play More Effortlessly, Through a Better Understanding of the True Design of Your Body Ever feel like you've reached a wall, and can't get your body to do what it needs to do to produce what you hear in your head? Violinist Jennifer Johnson explains how a better understanding of one's body through Body Mapping can help musicians not only avoid pain and injury, but play with more freedom and ease as well.

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]]> Ever feel like you've reached a wall, and can't get your body to do what it needs to do to produce what you hear in your head? Violinist Jennifer Johnson explains how a better understanding of one's body through Body Mapping can help musicians not only avoid pain and injury, but play with more freedom and ease as well.

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]]> Noa Kageyama c0eea94e-d5a0-447f-a865-7da23c4ba239 Sun, 02 Feb 2020 04:00:00 -0500 2942 false Is Videotaping Yourself Worth the Time and Trouble? And If Yes, How So? (Part 2 of 2) Is Videotaping Yourself Worth the Time and Trouble? And If Yes, How So? (Part 2 of 2) Athletes have been using videotape analysis to enhance learning and performance for years. But is it really worth the investment of time necessary? Does it lead to meaningful benefits above and beyond practice without video?

Is Videotaping Yourself Worth the Time and Trouble? And If Yes, How So? (Part 2 of 2)

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]]> Athletes have been using videotape analysis to enhance learning and performance for years. But is it really worth the investment of time necessary? Does it lead to meaningful benefits above and beyond practice without video?

Is Videotaping Yourself Worth the Time and Trouble? And If Yes, How So? (Part 2 of 2)

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]]> Noa Kageyama 4f402fc5-6783-480c-b9f0-7d5fd83814d1 Sun, 26 Jan 2020 04:00:00 -0500 556 false Is Videotaping Yourself Worth the Time and Trouble? And If Yes, How So? (Part 1 of 2) Is Videotaping Yourself Worth the Time and Trouble? And If Yes, How So? (Part 1 of 2) Athletes have been using videotape analysis to enhance learning and performance for years. But is it really worth the investment of time necessary? What does the research say?

Is Videotaping Yourself Worth the Time and Trouble? And If Yes, How So? (Part 1 of 2)

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]]> Athletes have been using videotape analysis to enhance learning and performance for years. But is it really worth the investment of time necessary? What does the research say?

Is Videotaping Yourself Worth the Time and Trouble? And If Yes, How So? (Part 1 of 2)

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]]> Noa Kageyama be523787-7c20-4f92-b485-1b5829000105 Sun, 19 Jan 2020 04:00:00 -0500 751 false Mental Practice Not Working for You? This Might Be the Reason Why… Mental Practice Not Working for You? This Might Be the Reason Why… Research has found that doing mental practice while watching video could be more effective than imagery alone. But if this sort of thing hasn't worked for you, a recent study has identified a reason for why that could be...

Mental Practice Not Working for You? This Might Be the Reason Why…

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]]> Research has found that doing mental practice while watching video could be more effective than imagery alone. But if this sort of thing hasn't worked for you, a recent study has identified a reason for why that could be...

Mental Practice Not Working for You? This Might Be the Reason Why…

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]]> Noa Kageyama f0c5ee22-2884-4fc4-b90f-23614f76aa1a Sun, 12 Jan 2020 04:00:00 -0500 426 false Nathan Hughes: On Being Honest in the Practice Room, and Learning How to Balance Being Analytical and Being Expressive Nathan Hughes: On Being Honest in the Practice Room, and Learning How to Balance Being Analytical and Being Expressive Met Opera oboist Nathan Hughes shares insights on how he prepares, so that he can play more confidently on stage, under pressure. Not just in terms of practicing the music, but managing the mental game and the uncertainty of reeds as well.

Nathan Hughes: On Being Honest in the Practice Room, and Learning How to Balance Being Analytical and Being Expressive

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]]> Met Opera oboist Nathan Hughes shares insights on how he prepares, so that he can play more confidently on stage, under pressure. Not just in terms of practicing the music, but managing the mental game and the uncertainty of reeds as well.

Nathan Hughes: On Being Honest in the Practice Room, and Learning How to Balance Being Analytical and Being Expressive

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]]> Noa Kageyama bf270be8-8543-4734-9006-12c0f419f65e Sun, 05 Jan 2020 04:00:00 -0500 3325 false Structured Vs. Free Practice: Why You Probably Shouldn’t Just Be “Winging It” in the Practice Room Structured Vs. Free Practice: Why You Probably Shouldn’t Just Be “Winging It” in the Practice Room Research suggests that "structured practice" could lead to much more improvement in the same amount of practice time as "free practice" - but how exactly are the two different?

Structured Vs. Free Practice: Why You Probably Shouldn’t Just Be “Winging It” in the Practice Room

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]]> Research suggests that "structured practice" could lead to much more improvement in the same amount of practice time as "free practice" - but how exactly are the two different?

Structured Vs. Free Practice: Why You Probably Shouldn’t Just Be “Winging It” in the Practice Room

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]]> Noa Kageyama 570c341d-9fad-40c2-8a55-7907474c2f97 Sun, 22 Dec 2019 04:00:00 -0500 677 false How Do Fear, Anxiety, and Other Negative Emotions Affect the Learning Process? How Do Fear, Anxiety, and Other Negative Emotions Affect the Learning Process? Whether it's an intimidating conductor or the fear of falling short of expectations in a lesson, there are many moments in our music studies where we might experience anxiety, fear, shame, or other negative emotions. Does that just come with the territory and make us stronger, or do such emotions impair our ability to learn?

How Do Fear, Anxiety, and Other Negative Emotions Affect the Learning Process?

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]]> Whether it's an intimidating conductor or the fear of falling short of expectations in a lesson, there are many moments in our music studies where we might experience anxiety, fear, shame, or other negative emotions. Does that just come with the territory and make us stronger, or do such emotions impair our ability to learn?

How Do Fear, Anxiety, and Other Negative Emotions Affect the Learning Process?

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]]> Noa Kageyama dcd0e3c0-82ce-43d1-b78d-1fc16f34a709 Sun, 15 Dec 2019 04:00:00 -0500 604 false Musical Charades: Should This Be Part of Your Regular Practice Routine? Musical Charades: Should This Be Part of Your Regular Practice Routine? Doing impressions of famous musicians is a fun game to play with friends when you're in the mood to procrastinate - but could this actually be a useful practice exercise? And have some potentially meaningful musical benefits as well?

Musical Charades: Should This Be Part of Your Regular Practice Routine?

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]]> Doing impressions of famous musicians is a fun game to play with friends when you're in the mood to procrastinate - but could this actually be a useful practice exercise? And have some potentially meaningful musical benefits as well?

Musical Charades: Should This Be Part of Your Regular Practice Routine?

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]]> Noa Kageyama e5dff662-ee39-4efe-9dbc-50fd407478d1 Sat, 07 Dec 2019 04:00:00 -0500 601 false Erik Ralske: On Developing a Stronger Internal Pulse, and the Paradoxical Benefits of Giving Yourself Permission to Miss Notes Erik Ralske: On Developing a Stronger Internal Pulse, and the Paradoxical Benefits of Giving Yourself Permission to Miss Notes Horn player Erik Ralske (Met Opera) provides insights on how to get into "the zone," and the paradoxical way in which giving yourself permission to miss notes could lead to more accurate playing.

Erik Ralske: On Developing a Stronger Internal Pulse, and the Paradoxical Benefits of Giving Yourself Permission to Miss Notes

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]]> Horn player Erik Ralske (Met Opera) provides insights on how to get into "the zone," and the paradoxical way in which giving yourself permission to miss notes could lead to more accurate playing.

Erik Ralske: On Developing a Stronger Internal Pulse, and the Paradoxical Benefits of Giving Yourself Permission to Miss Notes

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]]> Noa Kageyama 4158f8bc-a5c4-4b20-861c-8ee7c244eb17 Sun, 01 Dec 2019 04:00:00 -0500 2028 false How Long Does It REALLY Take to Form a New Habit? How Long Does It REALLY Take to Form a New Habit? It's often said that it takes 21 days to form a new habit. But is this actually true?

How Long Does It REALLY Take to Form a New Habit?

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]]> It's often said that it takes 21 days to form a new habit. But is this actually true?

How Long Does It REALLY Take to Form a New Habit?

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]]> Noa Kageyama 120b7838-3e85-4dd1-9526-2a147f6f74bc Sun, 24 Nov 2019 04:00:00 -0500 457 false Phonetography: Does This Enhance or Diminish Our Enjoyment of an Experience? Phonetography: Does This Enhance or Diminish Our Enjoyment of an Experience? Nowadays, camera phones are everywhere. And we seem to photograph everything. But what effect does this have on our enjoyment of these experiences?

Phonetography: Does This Enhance or Diminish Our Enjoyment of an Experience?

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]]> Nowadays, camera phones are everywhere. And we seem to photograph everything. But what effect does this have on our enjoyment of these experiences?

Phonetography: Does This Enhance or Diminish Our Enjoyment of an Experience?

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]]> Noa Kageyama a0e68573-477d-4823-bcb0-8955ad066ad7 Sun, 17 Nov 2019 04:00:00 -0500 626 false The Misinterpreted-Effort Hypothesis, and Why We Often Practice Less Effectively than We Could The Misinterpreted-Effort Hypothesis, and Why We Often Practice Less Effectively than We Could One of my teachers once said that if you sound good in the practice room, you're probably not practicing. Indeed, research suggests that there is actually a lot of truth to this. So why do we naturally tend to gravitate towards less-effective practice strategies?

The Misinterpreted-Effort Hypothesis, and Why We Often Practice Less Effectively than We Could

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]]> One of my teachers once said that if you sound good in the practice room, you're probably not practicing. Indeed, research suggests that there is actually a lot of truth to this. So why do we naturally tend to gravitate towards less-effective practice strategies?

The Misinterpreted-Effort Hypothesis, and Why We Often Practice Less Effectively than We Could

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]]> Noa Kageyama bb3a9fc3daeb4eb3ac669c74f1d66d54 Sun, 10 Nov 2019 04:00:00 -0500 561 false Mike Block: On Discovering Your Musical Identity, “Exploratory” Practice, and Taking Creative Risks Mike Block: On Discovering Your Musical Identity, “Exploratory” Practice, and Taking Creative Risks Ever feel creatively stuck, unsatisfied, or inhibited somehow - but can't quite figure out how to get out of your rut? Cellist Mike Block describes some of the experiences that helped him to discover his unique musical identity, and what he continues to do today - both in and out of the practice room - that helps him continue to make his way down this path.

Mike Block: On Discovering Your Musical Identity, “Exploratory” Practice, and Taking Creative Risks

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]]> Ever feel creatively stuck, unsatisfied, or inhibited somehow - but can't quite figure out how to get out of your rut? Cellist Mike Block describes some of the experiences that helped him to discover his unique musical identity, and what he continues to do today - both in and out of the practice room - that helps him continue to make his way down this path.

Mike Block: On Discovering Your Musical Identity, “Exploratory” Practice, and Taking Creative Risks

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]]> Noa Kageyama b9752bfba64b4684997ae5fe86516a6c Sun, 03 Nov 2019 03:00:00 -0500 2300 false Why Highly “Representative” Practice Is so Important (Except When It Isn’t) Why Highly “Representative” Practice Is so Important (Except When It Isn’t) The idea of "performance practice," and preparing for the unique demands of performances makes a lot of intuitive sense - but are there times when this is NOT the most useful way to practice?

Why Highly “Representative” Practice Is so Important (Except When It Isn’t)

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]]> The idea of "performance practice," and preparing for the unique demands of performances makes a lot of intuitive sense - but are there times when this is NOT the most useful way to practice?

Why Highly “Representative” Practice Is so Important (Except When It Isn’t)

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]]> Noa Kageyama 6d8409c144384d01aed882a1d871ecd9 Sun, 27 Oct 2019 04:00:00 -0400 714 false Change This One Word to Get More Useful Feedback From Peers and Colleagues Change This One Word to Get More Useful Feedback From Peers and Colleagues Both giving and receiving feedback can be tricky (and icky). And if you've found feedback you've received to be kind of vague or otherwise unhelpful, research suggests that a tiny change to the language you use when requesting feedback can elicit much more helpful and useful comments.

Change This One Word to Get More Useful Feedback From Peers and Colleagues

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]]> Both giving and receiving feedback can be tricky (and icky). And if you've found feedback you've received to be kind of vague or otherwise unhelpful, research suggests that a tiny change to the language you use when requesting feedback can elicit much more helpful and useful comments.

Change This One Word to Get More Useful Feedback From Peers and Colleagues

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]]> Noa Kageyama a995e7afe0bb43239de9de95d175184c Sun, 20 Oct 2019 04:00:00 -0400 574 false Can Young Students Be Taught to Engage in Deliberate Practice Too? Can Young Students Be Taught to Engage in Deliberate Practice Too? Deliberate or "deep" practice is widely acknowledged to be a critical factor in cultivating talent and ability. But at what age is this something that can be learned? Is this something that middle-school-aged students can learn to do, and sustain as a habit?

Can Young Students Be Taught to Engage in Deliberate Practice Too?

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]]> Deliberate or "deep" practice is widely acknowledged to be a critical factor in cultivating talent and ability. But at what age is this something that can be learned? Is this something that middle-school-aged students can learn to do, and sustain as a habit?

Can Young Students Be Taught to Engage in Deliberate Practice Too?

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]]> Noa Kageyama 7171daf9afc242a2af3b4f06435bd89a Sun, 13 Oct 2019 04:00:00 -0400 722 false Angela Beeching: On the Keys to Developing a Career That’s Totally “You” Angela Beeching: On the Keys to Developing a Career That’s Totally “You” Ever freak out about what exactly you're going to do when you finish school, and how you're going to get there? Or maybe you're on the other side of school, but struggling a bit to find your unique voice and cut through the noise? Career development guru Angela Beeching shares tips and insights on how to make the most of the resources around you, and craft a career that's more fully "you."

Angela Beeching: On the Keys to Developing a Career That’s Totally “You”

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Ever freak out about what exactly you're going to do when you finish school, and how you're going to get there? Or maybe you're on the other side of school, but struggling a bit to find your unique voice and cut through the noise? Career development guru Angela Beeching shares tips and insights on how to make the most of the resources around you, and craft a career that's more fully "you."

Angela Beeching: On the Keys to Developing a Career That’s Totally “You”

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]]> Noa Kageyama c6438cf48f1d4925aca9b449f4e50cd3 Sun, 06 Oct 2019 04:00:00 -0400 2796 false Quirky Pre-Performance Rituals: Do They Really Work? Quirky Pre-Performance Rituals: Do They Really Work? Many athletes and musicians engage in quirky rituals before each show. Do these really work? And if so, why?

Quirky Pre-Performance Rituals: Do They Really Work?

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]]> Many athletes and musicians engage in quirky rituals before each show. Do these really work? And if so, why?

Quirky Pre-Performance Rituals: Do They Really Work?

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]]> Noa Kageyama 624c48cdeeb84a93817d0936c2694f67 Sun, 29 Sep 2019 04:00:00 -0400 497 false Get into a Better Pre-Audition Headspace with a "Heroic" Playlist Get into a Better Pre-Audition Headspace with a "Heroic" Playlist Staying in a good headspace when you have a lot of time to kill before a concert or audition can be a real challenge. But research suggests that listening to a particular kind of music could help.

Get into a Better Pre-Audition Headspace with a "Heroic" Playlist

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]]> Staying in a good headspace when you have a lot of time to kill before a concert or audition can be a real challenge. But research suggests that listening to a particular kind of music could help.

Get into a Better Pre-Audition Headspace with a "Heroic" Playlist

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama 6f8b284fc3b541699a9196bda586a19b Sun, 22 Sep 2019 04:00:00 -0400 370 false Why the “Task Completion Bias” Could Give You the Illusion of Productive Practice, but Make You Less Productive in the Long-Term Why the “Task Completion Bias” Could Give You the Illusion of Productive Practice, but Make You Less Productive in the Long-Term Is it more productive to front-load easy problems or to work on difficult ones? Well, research suggests that working on easy problems can be deceptively productive (and satisfying!) in the short term, but less productive in the long-term.

Why the “Task Completion Bias” Could Give You the Illusion of Productive Practice, but Make You Less Productive in the Long-Term

BTW, I mention Met percussionist Rob Knopper's article on practice, which is linked in the post above, but which you can go to directly here.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Is it more productive to front-load easy problems or to work on difficult ones? Well, research suggests that working on easy problems can be deceptively productive (and satisfying!) in the short term, but less productive in the long-term.

Why the “Task Completion Bias” Could Give You the Illusion of Productive Practice, but Make You Less Productive in the Long-Term

BTW, I mention Met percussionist Rob Knopper's article on practice, which is linked in the post above, but which you can go to directly here.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama bf5e3968dfbe4574a09fc6574b0fd218 Sun, 15 Sep 2019 04:00:00 -0400 619 false A Simple Technique That Could Help You Give Better Advice to Your Students A Simple Technique That Could Help You Give Better Advice to Your Students There's a legitimate reason (the "curse of expertise") why it can sometimes be difficult for experts to teach less experienced players how to learn skills that the expert has long ago encoded into their "muscle memory." But research suggests there may be a way to get around this and deliver more useful advice to students who are struggling to learn a new skill.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> There's a legitimate reason (the "curse of expertise") why it can sometimes be difficult for experts to teach less experienced players how to learn skills that the expert has long ago encoded into their "muscle memory." But research suggests there may be a way to get around this and deliver more useful advice to students who are struggling to learn a new skill.

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama 300a68ca87ac4f4d9a2a6ab340f7ba21 Sun, 08 Sep 2019 04:00:00 -0400 491 false Claire Stefani: On Chinrests, Shoulder Rests, and How the Right Setup Can Facilitate More Effortless, Tension-free Playing Claire Stefani: On Chinrests, Shoulder Rests, and How the Right Setup Can Facilitate More Effortless, Tension-free Playing High chinrest? Low chinrest? Centered? Shoulder rest? Shoulder pad/sponge? Or no shoulder rest at all? Finding the right setup can feel like a bewildering process of blind trial and error. But as Claire Stefani explains in this month's conversation, there are fundamental biomechanics principles involved that can guide your search for the optimal setup.

Claire Stefani: On Chinrests, Shoulder Rests, and How the Right Setup Can Facilitate More Effortless, Tension-free Playing

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> High chinrest? Low chinrest? Centered? Shoulder rest? Shoulder pad/sponge? Or no shoulder rest at all? Finding the right setup can feel like a bewildering process of blind trial and error. But as Claire Stefani explains in this month's conversation, there are fundamental biomechanics principles involved that can guide your search for the optimal setup.

Claire Stefani: On Chinrests, Shoulder Rests, and How the Right Setup Can Facilitate More Effortless, Tension-free Playing

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]]> Noa Kageyama c50f210808364cd8ad4b7b1ad26f47d3 Sun, 01 Sep 2019 04:00:00 -0400 2754 false How to Use Positive “Trigger Words” for More Expressive Performances How to Use Positive “Trigger Words” for More Expressive Performances Research suggests that positive "trigger words" can help you get into character more effectively, and facilitate more expressive performances.

How to Use Positive “Trigger Words” for More Expressive Performances

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]]> Research suggests that positive "trigger words" can help you get into character more effectively, and facilitate more expressive performances.

How to Use Positive “Trigger Words” for More Expressive Performances

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]]> Noa Kageyama 004593401dbc470796c26810d6b018ba Sun, 25 Aug 2019 04:00:00 -0400 580 false The “Gesturing Effect": A Way to Learn New Skills More Quickly? The “Gesturing Effect": A Way to Learn New Skills More Quickly? Need to get a new piece learned faster? Here's a study which suggests we might be able to give ourselves a head start by gesturing while watching a video (like air guitar).

The “Gesturing Effect": A Way to Learn New Skills More Quickly?

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]]> Need to get a new piece learned faster? Here's a study which suggests we might be able to give ourselves a head start by gesturing while watching a video (like air guitar).

The “Gesturing Effect": A Way to Learn New Skills More Quickly?

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]]> Noa Kageyama 09806483a7a1433db55fafc63715de5d Sun, 18 Aug 2019 04:00:00 -0400 418 false How Many of Our Worries Actually Come True? How Many of Our Worries Actually Come True? I once read a claim that 90% of the things we worry about never come true. But is this true? Or is it one of those made-up stats like how 73.6% of all statistics are made up?

How Many of Our Worries Actually Come True?

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]]> I once read a claim that 90% of the things we worry about never come true. But is this true? Or is it one of those made-up stats like how 73.6% of all statistics are made up?

How Many of Our Worries Actually Come True?

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]]> Noa Kageyama cb7d586bc2734772a16518adbb182c6b Sun, 11 Aug 2019 04:00:00 -0400 558 false Blaise Dejardin: On Emotion, Technique, and the Kind of Practice That Facilitates Consistently Beautiful Performances Blaise Dejardin: On Emotion, Technique, and the Kind of Practice That Facilitates Consistently Beautiful Performances Boston Symphony Principal Cello Blaise Déjardin shares insights on how he practices for consistently beautiful performances, and what he did to get into a good headspace on the day of his audition.

Blaise Déjardin: On Emotion, Technique, and the Kind of Practice That Facilitates Consistently Beautiful Performances

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]]> Boston Symphony Principal Cello Blaise Déjardin shares insights on how he practices for consistently beautiful performances, and what he did to get into a good headspace on the day of his audition.

Blaise Déjardin: On Emotion, Technique, and the Kind of Practice That Facilitates Consistently Beautiful Performances

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]]> Noa Kageyama 8a0116495a8a495fb7957b0856e199cd Sun, 04 Aug 2019 04:00:00 -0400 2493 false Your “Stress Mindset,” and How This Could Make Stress Work For or Against You Your “Stress Mindset,” and How This Could Make Stress Work For or Against You Emerging research suggests that our "stress mindset" influences our physical, mental, and emotional response to stress - and whether it has a positive or negative effect.

Your “Stress Mindset,” and How This Could Make Stress Work For or Against You

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]]> Emerging research suggests that our "stress mindset" influences our physical, mental, and emotional response to stress - and whether it has a positive or negative effect.

Your “Stress Mindset,” and How This Could Make Stress Work For or Against You

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]]> Noa Kageyama 0d873231fd3240b281d2eed53faa4cd9 Sun, 28 Jul 2019 04:00:00 -0400 520 false Why Day-of-Performance Butterflies May Actually Be a Good Thing Why Day-of-Performance Butterflies May Actually Be a Good Thing Have you ever wished there were a way to make performance days feel more like normal days and not have to deal with the butterflies? Well, research suggests that you may want to rethink this particular wish!

Why Day-of-Performance Butterflies May Actually Be a Good Thing

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]]> Have you ever wished there were a way to make performance days feel more like normal days and not have to deal with the butterflies? Well, research suggests that you may want to rethink this particular wish!

Why Day-of-Performance Butterflies May Actually Be a Good Thing

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]]> Noa Kageyama eb0e546b91ea43408ed65340c3f01945 Sun, 21 Jul 2019 04:00:00 -0400 487 false "Action Observation," And How to Get More out of Your Mental Imagery Practice "Action Observation," And How to Get More out of Your Mental Imagery Practice Turns out mental imagery has a much bigger effect on learning and performance if you are good at imagery. So what are your options if imagery is something that you struggle with?

"Action Observation," And How to Get More out of Your Mental Imagery Practice

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Turns out mental imagery has a much bigger effect on learning and performance if you are good at imagery. So what are your options if imagery is something that you struggle with?

"Action Observation," And How to Get More out of Your Mental Imagery Practice

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]]> Noa Kageyama 45253cfc8614417aae8e635363ece39f Sun, 14 Jul 2019 04:00:00 -0400 518 false Tom Hooten: On Being Curious, and Elevating Learning and Growth Above Ego Tom Hooten: On Being Curious, and Elevating Learning and Growth Above Ego Hear LA Phil Principal Trumpet Tom Hooten describe the uncommon mindset and approach to learning that has helped him become the player he is today.

Tom Hooten: On Being Curious, and Elevating Learning and Growth Above Ego

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]]> Hear LA Phil Principal Trumpet Tom Hooten describe the uncommon mindset and approach to learning that has helped him become the player he is today.

Tom Hooten: On Being Curious, and Elevating Learning and Growth Above Ego

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]]> Noa Kageyama 85cdc91271d9489884113e9ac5176f4e Sun, 07 Jul 2019 04:00:00 -0400 2372 false How to "Reset" Your Body Clock and Shift Your Peak Performance Window (& Thrive in AM Rehearsals) How to "Reset" Your Body Clock and Shift Your Peak Performance Window (& Thrive in AM Rehearsals) Are you a "night owl" that struggles with sluggishness in morning rehearsals or practice sessions? A recent study suggests that you can actually become more of a morning person and be more effective by making a few adjustments to your daily routine.

How to "Reset" Your Body Clock and Shift Your Peak Performance Window (& Thrive in AM Rehearsals)

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]]> Are you a "night owl" that struggles with sluggishness in morning rehearsals or practice sessions? A recent study suggests that you can actually become more of a morning person and be more effective by making a few adjustments to your daily routine.

How to "Reset" Your Body Clock and Shift Your Peak Performance Window (& Thrive in AM Rehearsals)

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]]> Noa Kageyama 4d31dd59c67d4e0f8f66c1620a182fb8 Sun, 30 Jun 2019 04:00:00 -0400 462 false Are Coffee Naps Legit? Are Coffee Naps Legit? Have you ever heard of a coffee nap? It's exactly what it sounds like - but is there any research supporting such a thing? Actually, yes! A few studies have looked at whether a coffee nap is better than either one alone.

Are Coffee Naps Legit?

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]]> Have you ever heard of a coffee nap? It's exactly what it sounds like - but is there any research supporting such a thing? Actually, yes! A few studies have looked at whether a coffee nap is better than either one alone.

Are Coffee Naps Legit?

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]]> Noa Kageyama ed5655eafb8a498d87b16a5b0145bf4e Sun, 23 Jun 2019 04:00:00 -0400 554 false The Role of Self-Compassion in Overcoming Setbacks and Cultivating Mental Toughness The Role of Self-Compassion in Overcoming Setbacks and Cultivating Mental Toughness Setbacks are inevitable, and there may not be much we can do to prevent them - but we do have control over how we respond. A recent study illustrates how formerly excessively self-critical athletes have adopted a more self-compassionate mindset in how they approach practice and competition.

The Role of Self-Compassion in Overcoming Setbacks and Cultivating Mental Toughness

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]]> Setbacks are inevitable, and there may not be much we can do to prevent them - but we do have control over how we respond. A recent study illustrates how formerly excessively self-critical athletes have adopted a more self-compassionate mindset in how they approach practice and competition.

The Role of Self-Compassion in Overcoming Setbacks and Cultivating Mental Toughness

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]]> Noa Kageyama d34bf488eabf48daa973a9f18f0bda42 Sun, 16 Jun 2019 04:00:00 -0400 822 false Conflicted Between Two Different Choices? Here’s a “Random” Way to Accelerate the Decision-Making Process. Conflicted Between Two Different Choices? Here’s a “Random” Way to Accelerate the Decision-Making Process. Ever get paralyzed and indecisive when faced with a choice between two things that are either similar, or have competing pros and cons? Research suggests that a "random" decision aid can help accelerate the decision-making process at times like these.

Conflicted Between Two Different Choices? Here’s a “Random” Way to Accelerate the Decision-Making Process.

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]]> Ever get paralyzed and indecisive when faced with a choice between two things that are either similar, or have competing pros and cons? Research suggests that a "random" decision aid can help accelerate the decision-making process at times like these.

Conflicted Between Two Different Choices? Here’s a “Random” Way to Accelerate the Decision-Making Process.

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]]> Noa Kageyama 9bdb3b10687b4ca5b88a7c1b5ea6e65c Sun, 09 Jun 2019 04:00:00 -0400 571 false Uri Vardi: On the Way Unconscious Habits Shape Our Playing, and How Feldenkrais Can Help Us Unlock More of Our Potential Uri Vardi: On the Way Unconscious Habits Shape Our Playing, and How Feldenkrais Can Help Us Unlock More of Our Potential Cellist and Feldenkrais practitioner Uri Vardi explains what Feldenkrais is (and isn't) and shares some examples of how this body awareness modality can help musicians play more efficiently and effectively.

Uri Vardi: On the Way Unconscious Habits Shape Our Playing, and How Feldenkrais Can Help Us Unlock More of Our Potential

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]]> Cellist and Feldenkrais practitioner Uri Vardi explains what Feldenkrais is (and isn't) and shares some examples of how this body awareness modality can help musicians play more efficiently and effectively.

Uri Vardi: On the Way Unconscious Habits Shape Our Playing, and How Feldenkrais Can Help Us Unlock More of Our Potential

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]]> Noa Kageyama ef9a20b4c5f04c3da38f3361b01bab56 Sun, 02 Jun 2019 04:00:00 -0400 2942 false Self-Monitoring, and How “Happy Face” May Have Been a More Potent Practice Strategy than I Realized… Self-Monitoring, and How “Happy Face” May Have Been a More Potent Practice Strategy than I Realized… A 2017 study found that "self-monitoring" was a significant predictor of whether athletes were competing at an elite, less-elite, or recreational level. So what is self-monitoring exactly, and how does it affect learning?

Self-Monitoring, and How “Happy Face” May Have Been a More Potent Practice Strategy than I Realized…

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]]> A 2017 study found that "self-monitoring" was a significant predictor of whether athletes were competing at an elite, less-elite, or recreational level. So what is self-monitoring exactly, and how does it affect learning?

Self-Monitoring, and How “Happy Face” May Have Been a More Potent Practice Strategy than I Realized…

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]]> Noa Kageyama 383ee5b040dc438d836ab0b5d4d5b5af Sun, 26 May 2019 04:00:00 -0400 620 false Three Different Types of Practice Strategies - Which One Works Best? Three Different Types of Practice Strategies - Which One Works Best? Research suggests that not all practice strategies are equally effective. So between blocked, random, and win-shift/lose-stay practice, which one is best? And just what do these strategies look like anyway?

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]]> Research suggests that not all practice strategies are equally effective. So between blocked, random, and win-shift/lose-stay practice, which one is best? And just what do these strategies look like anyway?

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]]> Noa Kageyama 65232f4065c7452897866e5a448fdd58 Sun, 19 May 2019 04:00:00 -0400 671 false A Way to Amplify (or Weaken) the Effect of Self-Talk on Performance A Way to Amplify (or Weaken) the Effect of Self-Talk on Performance A recent study suggests that there is a simple self-talk hack that could make it even more effective in enhancing performance.

A Way to Amplify (or Weaken) the Effect of Self-Talk on Performance

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]]> A recent study suggests that there is a simple self-talk hack that could make it even more effective in enhancing performance.

A Way to Amplify (or Weaken) the Effect of Self-Talk on Performance

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]]> Noa Kageyama 81a01a6fcfc548ca87167a38b445ab57 Sun, 12 May 2019 04:00:00 -0400 592 false Menahem Pressler: On Following Your Heart Menahem Pressler: On Following Your Heart In this interview originally recorded over Skype and telephone back in 2012, renowned pianist Menahem Pressler speaks about the importance of finding your own voice, and shares many profound insights about the pursuit of a career in music, and what he has found most rewarding about his own journey.

 Menahem Pressler: On Following Your Heart

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]]> In this interview originally recorded over Skype and telephone back in 2012, renowned pianist Menahem Pressler speaks about the importance of finding your own voice, and shares many profound insights about the pursuit of a career in music, and what he has found most rewarding about his own journey.

 Menahem Pressler: On Following Your Heart

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]]> Noa Kageyama 4cee9f9e1e5b4f688225f5d21b00984a Sun, 05 May 2019 04:00:00 -0400 1643 full false A Goal-Setting Tweak That Could Be the Difference Between an OK Performance and a Great Performance? A Goal-Setting Tweak That Could Be the Difference Between an OK Performance and a Great Performance? We often hear that positive thinking, and envisioning the future we want is an important step in getting there - but research suggests that the best performers include another key ingredient that is an essential part of the equation.

A Goal-Setting Tweak That Could Be the Difference Between an OK Performance and a Great Performance?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> We often hear that positive thinking, and envisioning the future we want is an important step in getting there - but research suggests that the best performers include another key ingredient that is an essential part of the equation.

A Goal-Setting Tweak That Could Be the Difference Between an OK Performance and a Great Performance?

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> Noa Kageyama a144a7e119e14e18a8d6d68b4679db39 Sun, 28 Apr 2019 04:00:00 -0400 614 false How Exaggerating Technical Errors Could Improve Your Technique How Exaggerating Technical Errors Could Improve Your Technique Struggling to nail a tricky shift or hit a difficult high note? Believe it or not, research suggests that instead of trying to do everything right, it might be worth trying to do everything wrong first.

How Exaggerating Technical Errors Could Improve Your Technique

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]]> Struggling to nail a tricky shift or hit a difficult high note? Believe it or not, research suggests that instead of trying to do everything right, it might be worth trying to do everything wrong first.

How Exaggerating Technical Errors Could Improve Your Technique

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]]> Noa Kageyama f8030d9f459146a4896a11f54d82ce3f Sun, 21 Apr 2019 04:00:00 -0400 677 false Should Phones and Laptops Be Banned in the Classroom? Or Is This Just Much Ado about Nothing? Should Phones and Laptops Be Banned in the Classroom? Or Is This Just Much Ado about Nothing? Is banning phones and laptops in class a good idea - or totally unnecessary? A new study provides answers, but it's a little more nuanced than you might think.

Should Phones and Laptops Be Banned in the Classroom? Or Is This Just Much Ado about Nothing?

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]]> Is banning phones and laptops in class a good idea - or totally unnecessary? A new study provides answers, but it's a little more nuanced than you might think.

Should Phones and Laptops Be Banned in the Classroom? Or Is This Just Much Ado about Nothing?

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]]> Noa Kageyama 1626905c9b4645ad8b3aff904a27a8fb Sun, 14 Apr 2019 04:00:00 -0400 588 false Margo Drakos: On Creating a Safety Net and Taking a Chance on Yourself Margo Drakos: On Creating a Safety Net and Taking a Chance on Yourself Cellist-turned-entrepreneur Margo Drakos shares some of the key strategies that have been instrumental to her success both in music (Oregon, San Diego, Seattle, Pittsburgh symphonies & American String Quartet) and in the business world (InstantEncore, ArtistYear).

Margo Drakos: On Creating a Safety Net and Taking a Chance on Yourself

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]]> Cellist-turned-entrepreneur Margo Drakos shares some of the key strategies that have been instrumental to her success both in music (Oregon, San Diego, Seattle, Pittsburgh symphonies & American String Quartet) and in the business world (InstantEncore, ArtistYear).

Margo Drakos: On Creating a Safety Net and Taking a Chance on Yourself

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]]> Noa Kageyama 6f482c5971184d589ee2630e6ec8ea76 Sun, 07 Apr 2019 04:00:00 -0400 2928 false Why Learning the Wrong Way to Play Could Enhance Performance (and Confidence Too) Why Learning the Wrong Way to Play Could Enhance Performance (and Confidence Too) A study suggests that we can learn more effectively and build more confidence by learning more about the wrong ways to perform a skill, instead of only learning the correct way to execute a skill.

Why Learning the Wrong Way to Play Could Enhance Performance (and Confidence Too)

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]]> A study suggests that we can learn more effectively and build more confidence by learning more about the wrong ways to perform a skill, instead of only learning the correct way to execute a skill.

Why Learning the Wrong Way to Play Could Enhance Performance (and Confidence Too)

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]]> Noa Kageyama 968e7e9679b14575b52935425af88834 Sun, 31 Mar 2019 04:00:00 -0400 593 false The Potential Upside of Having a "Rival" The Potential Upside of Having a "Rival" Rivalries are often thought of as being really competitive, and sometimes unhealthy, but are there situations in which they could be a good thing?

The Potential Upside of Having a "Rival"

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]]> Rivalries are often thought of as being really competitive, and sometimes unhealthy, but are there situations in which they could be a good thing?

The Potential Upside of Having a "Rival"

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]]> Noa Kageyama 4e71adb249fd4b2ca6c6afdb8634ea59 Sun, 24 Mar 2019 04:00:00 -0400 575 false How to Keep Your Cool Backstage Before Auditions and Performances How to Keep Your Cool Backstage Before Auditions and Performances When you have too much time to wait backstage, it can be easy for your thoughts and emotions to spiral out to the bad place. Learn the specific strategies that athletes use to regulate their emotions and keep their cool.

How to Keep Your Cool Backstage Before Auditions and Performances

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]]> When you have too much time to wait backstage, it can be easy for your thoughts and emotions to spiral out to the bad place. Learn the specific strategies that athletes use to regulate their emotions and keep their cool.

How to Keep Your Cool Backstage Before Auditions and Performances

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]]> Noa Kageyama eebcf127def44b098b8ee9ae0b881bad Sun, 17 Mar 2019 04:00:00 -0400 601 false 8 Strategies for Breaking Out of a Performance Slump 8 Strategies for Breaking Out of a Performance Slump Ever find yourself stuck in a performance "slump"? Where you struggle through a string of subpar auditions/performances, and can't figure out how to get back on track? Here are 8 strategies that can help right the ship.

8 Strategies for Breaking Out of a Performance Slump

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]]> Ever find yourself stuck in a performance "slump"? Where you struggle through a string of subpar auditions/performances, and can't figure out how to get back on track? Here are 8 strategies that can help right the ship.

8 Strategies for Breaking Out of a Performance Slump

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]]> Noa Kageyama 5f59f540562844a1b5cf7f437460c934 Sun, 10 Mar 2019 05:00:00 -0400 698 false Catherine Cho: On Developing Great Rhythm (and Why Old-School Metronomes Are the Way to Go) Catherine Cho: On Developing Great Rhythm (and Why Old-School Metronomes Are the Way to Go) Have you ever felt that the music was "stuck"? Or wondered why your metronome practice wasn't working? Learn how to get unstuck and cultivate a stronger sense of rhythm in this chat with violinist Catherine Cho.

Catherine Cho: On Developing Great Rhythm (and Why Old-School Metronomes Are the Way to Go)

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]]> Have you ever felt that the music was "stuck"? Or wondered why your metronome practice wasn't working? Learn how to get unstuck and cultivate a stronger sense of rhythm in this chat with violinist Catherine Cho.

Catherine Cho: On Developing Great Rhythm (and Why Old-School Metronomes Are the Way to Go)

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]]> Noa Kageyama 189ef66f0d194953843c314d3f8f7d1f Sun, 03 Mar 2019 04:00:00 -0500 2253 false The Performance Post-Mortem: A Review Process to Bounce Back Better and Faster The Performance Post-Mortem: A Review Process to Bounce Back Better and Faster Feeling a little demoralized after a sub-par performance? Here's a research-based post-performance reflection process developed at Florida State University to help you bounce back better, faster, and stronger.

The Performance Post-Mortem: A Review Process to Bounce Back Better and Faster

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]]> Feeling a little demoralized after a sub-par performance? Here's a research-based post-performance reflection process developed at Florida State University to help you bounce back better, faster, and stronger.

The Performance Post-Mortem: A Review Process to Bounce Back Better and Faster

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]]> Noa Kageyama 051bbf68ef6a414e94a8b26501c68310 Sun, 24 Feb 2019 04:00:00 -0500 583 false A Visualization Hack to Get More Out of Your Mental Practice A Visualization Hack to Get More Out of Your Mental Practice It's common to vary one's speed/tempo when you're doing physical practice. But is there any benefit in doing this when engaged in mental practice?

A Visualization Hack to Get More Out of Your Mental Practice

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]]> It's common to vary one's speed/tempo when you're doing physical practice. But is there any benefit in doing this when engaged in mental practice?

A Visualization Hack to Get More Out of Your Mental Practice

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]]> Noa Kageyama 4c953cdf8cb54c0197af474005019667 Sun, 17 Feb 2019 04:00:00 -0500 484 false A Mental Tweak to Reduce the Gap Between Your Best Playing and What Happens Under Pressure A Mental Tweak to Reduce the Gap Between Your Best Playing and What Happens Under Pressure Research suggests that a new mental adjustment and shift in how we view the stakes in stressful performance situations could help us avoid choking under pressure.

A Mental Tweak to Reduce the Gap Between Your Best Playing and What Happens Under Pressure

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]]> Research suggests that a new mental adjustment and shift in how we view the stakes in stressful performance situations could help us avoid choking under pressure.

A Mental Tweak to Reduce the Gap Between Your Best Playing and What Happens Under Pressure

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]]> Noa Kageyama 15bda761ad80400183edc5fc2655e595 Sun, 10 Feb 2019 04:00:00 -0500 564 false David Kim: On Letting Go and Being Yourself David Kim: On Letting Go and Being Yourself Philadelphia Orchestra concertmaster David Kim shares insights on his most effective practice techniques, biggest failures (and successes), and more.

David Kim: On Letting Go and Being Yourself

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]]> Philadelphia Orchestra concertmaster David Kim shares insights on his most effective practice techniques, biggest failures (and successes), and more.

David Kim: On Letting Go and Being Yourself

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]]> Noa Kageyama befac2b71e6344de9a1abf228998d8a2 Sun, 03 Feb 2019 04:00:00 -0500 2503 false A Scientific Rationale for Keeping Photos of Friends and Family in Your Case A Scientific Rationale for Keeping Photos of Friends and Family in Your Case Are people who have pictures of family and friends in their case on to something? A study suggets that simply imagining our partner can help us reduce stress as much as having them physically present.

A Scientific Rationale for Keeping Photos of Friends and Family in Your Case

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]]> Are people who have pictures of family and friends in their case on to something? A study suggets that simply imagining our partner can help us reduce stress as much as having them physically present.

A Scientific Rationale for Keeping Photos of Friends and Family in Your Case

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]]> Noa Kageyama 4e5eac87be3841da879a23142dc1dff8 Sun, 27 Jan 2019 04:00:00 -0500 453 false Get Into "The Zone" More Frequently with This Subtle Mental Adjustment Get Into "The Zone" More Frequently with This Subtle Mental Adjustment Is getting into "the zone" something that just happens randomly? Or do we have more control over this than we realize? New research suggests that we actually do indeed.

Get Into "The Zone" More Frequently with This Subtle Mental Adjustment

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]]> Is getting into "the zone" something that just happens randomly? Or do we have more control over this than we realize? New research suggests that we actually do indeed.

Get Into "The Zone" More Frequently with This Subtle Mental Adjustment

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]]> Noa Kageyama ea13c2a74d5543599d9242b172e96678 Sun, 20 Jan 2019 04:00:00 -0500 418 false A Comparison of Two Types of Anti-Choking Strategies A Comparison of Two Types of Anti-Choking Strategies Pre-performance routines often consist of a number of different elements. But might simply squeezing a ball in your left hand a few times be just as effective?

A Comparison of Two Types of Anti-Choking Strategies

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]]> Pre-performance routines often consist of a number of different elements. But might simply squeezing a ball in your left hand a few times be just as effective?

A Comparison of Two Types of Anti-Choking Strategies

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]]> Noa Kageyama 56397d68e3ab4de8b231384d081b4e68 Sun, 13 Jan 2019 04:00:00 -0500 495 false Lori Schiff: On How Alexander Technique Can Enhance Learning and Performance Under Pressure Lori Schiff: On How Alexander Technique Can Enhance Learning and Performance Under Pressure What is Alexander Technique, really? Will it help our playing? If so, in what way? How do we know if we need it? Learn more in this chat with Juilliard's Alexander Technique teacher Lori Schiff.

Lori Schiff: On How Alexander Technique Can Enhance Learning and Performance Under Pressure

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]]> What is Alexander Technique, really? Will it help our playing? If so, in what way? How do we know if we need it? Learn more in this chat with Juilliard's Alexander Technique teacher Lori Schiff.

Lori Schiff: On How Alexander Technique Can Enhance Learning and Performance Under Pressure

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]]> Noa Kageyama 6a07225f6b6d44a7884f8f06f5366667 Sun, 06 Jan 2019 04:00:00 -0500 2627 false How Perfect Does Your Intonation Have to Be? How Perfect Does Your Intonation Have to Be? How much wiggle room do we have when it comes to intonation? Do pitch issues affect audience (and other musicians') opinions of the quality of a performance as much as we think they do?

How Perfect Does Your Intonation Have to Be?

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]]> How much wiggle room do we have when it comes to intonation? Do pitch issues affect audience (and other musicians') opinions of the quality of a performance as much as we think they do?

How Perfect Does Your Intonation Have to Be?

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]]> Noa Kageyama b757b4d289334c7c844e18b6359d4677 Sun, 30 Dec 2018 04:00:00 -0500 492 false Does Focusing on Musical Expressiveness in Performance Come at the Expense of Technical Precision? Does Focusing on Musical Expressiveness in Performance Come at the Expense of Technical Precision? It's often said that we should focus on "the music" when performing instead of the notes and technique per se. But does this come at a cost to technical accuracy?

Does Focusing on Musical Expressiveness in Performance Come at the Expense of Technical Precision?

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]]> It's often said that we should focus on "the music" when performing instead of the notes and technique per se. But does this come at a cost to technical accuracy?

Does Focusing on Musical Expressiveness in Performance Come at the Expense of Technical Precision?

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]]> Noa Kageyama 0b47d30d2d2948df89bfaefd329ea410 Sun, 23 Dec 2018 04:00:00 -0500 445 false A Mental Shift That Could Help You Produce a More Beautiful Sound on Stage A Mental Shift That Could Help You Produce a More Beautiful Sound on Stage Ever have a teacher tell you to imagine performing to the very last row in a hall? Research suggests that this might be better advice than we realize.

A Mental Shift That Could Help You Produce a More Beautiful Sound on Stage

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]]> Ever have a teacher tell you to imagine performing to the very last row in a hall? Research suggests that this might be better advice than we realize.

A Mental Shift That Could Help You Produce a More Beautiful Sound on Stage

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]]> Noa Kageyama 05e83fec7d0e4eca99bc89649bc55c09 Sun, 16 Dec 2018 04:00:00 -0500 392 false Can’t Shut Off Your Brain and Get to Sleep? This 5-min Exercise Could Help. Can’t Shut Off Your Brain and Get to Sleep? This 5-min Exercise Could Help. Ever have difficulty shutting off your brain and getting to sleep? A recent study found that this 5-min writing exercise could help.

Can’t Shut Off Your Brain and Get to Sleep? This 5-min Exercise Could Help.

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]]> Ever have difficulty shutting off your brain and getting to sleep? A recent study found that this 5-min writing exercise could help.

Can’t Shut Off Your Brain and Get to Sleep? This 5-min Exercise Could Help.

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]]> Noa Kageyama 5ccc34359a1a4cdebf048f1e1bcc4bbd Sun, 09 Dec 2018 04:00:00 -0500 431 false Mark Kosower: On Learning Music, Slow Practice, and the Kind of Focus That's Associated With His Best Performances Mark Kosower: On Learning Music, Slow Practice, and the Kind of Focus That's Associated With His Best Performances Cleveland Orchestra principal cellist Mark Kosower talks about how he approaches learning music, and describes what exactly he is thinking about when he's having his best performances.

For additional notes and links, visit Mark Kosower: On Learning Music, Slow Practice, and the Kind of Focus That's Associated With His Best Performances

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]]> Cleveland Orchestra principal cellist Mark Kosower talks about how he approaches learning music, and describes what exactly he is thinking about when he's having his best performances.

For additional notes and links, visit Mark Kosower: On Learning Music, Slow Practice, and the Kind of Focus That's Associated With His Best Performances

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]]> Noa Kageyama 92f1ec1739ea4ceaa300b1924247ed12 Sun, 02 Dec 2018 04:00:00 -0500 2369 false A "Backwards" Strategy for Cultivating More Passion about Music You're Not in Love With A "Backwards" Strategy for Cultivating More Passion about Music You're Not in Love With Sometimes we have to play music that we don't necessarily love. So is there anything we can do to cultivate some more enthusiasm about the piece anyway?

A "Backwards" Strategy for Cultivating More Passion about Music You're Not in Love With

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]]> Sometimes we have to play music that we don't necessarily love. So is there anything we can do to cultivate some more enthusiasm about the piece anyway?

A "Backwards" Strategy for Cultivating More Passion about Music You're Not in Love With

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]]> Noa Kageyama 095cc0c6b8584d479eb52ec5406d0a34 Sun, 25 Nov 2018 04:00:00 -0500 513 false Should You Be Using a Metronome When You Do Mental Practice? Should You Be Using a Metronome When You Do Mental Practice? When you engage in mental practice, how aware are you of tempo? Might you be rushing or dragging? Here's some research on how that could have more of an effect on your performance than you might think.

Should You Be Using a Metronome When You Do Mental Practice?

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]]> When you engage in mental practice, how aware are you of tempo? Might you be rushing or dragging? Here's some research on how that could have more of an effect on your performance than you might think.

Should You Be Using a Metronome When You Do Mental Practice?

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]]> Noa Kageyama 94f2216275574474be457e2769854ab9 Sun, 18 Nov 2018 04:00:00 -0500 530 false Why Worrying about Shaky Bow Just Makes Things Worse (and What You Could Focus on Instead) Why Worrying about Shaky Bow Just Makes Things Worse (and What You Could Focus on Instead) Nothing strikes fear in the heart of a string player like a shaking bow arm. Of course, worrying about shaking is a surefire way to experience the shakes. So what can you do to keep your mind from going to the bad place?

Why Worrying about Shaky Bow Just Makes Things Worse (and What You Could Focus on Instead)

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]]> Nothing strikes fear in the heart of a string player like a shaking bow arm. Of course, worrying about shaking is a surefire way to experience the shakes. So what can you do to keep your mind from going to the bad place?

Why Worrying about Shaky Bow Just Makes Things Worse (and What You Could Focus on Instead)

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]]> Noa Kageyama 7e0ce538e0e14313923b4d0a3012157d Sun, 11 Nov 2018 04:00:00 -0500 577 false Jason Haaheim: On Practice, Talent, Motivation, and Playing the "Long Game" Jason Haaheim: On Practice, Talent, Motivation, and Playing the "Long Game" Have you ever wondered (or worried) if you were talented enough? Met principal timpanist Jason Haaheim explains why this is the wrong question to be asking ourselves - and what we should be asking instead.

Jason Haaheim: On Practice, Talent, Motivation, and Playing the "Long Game"

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]]> Have you ever wondered (or worried) if you were talented enough? Met principal timpanist Jason Haaheim explains why this is the wrong question to be asking ourselves - and what we should be asking instead.

Jason Haaheim: On Practice, Talent, Motivation, and Playing the "Long Game"

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]]> Noa Kageyama 2ee8b3c8ea9d4b35949704f463c35747 Sun, 04 Nov 2018 03:00:00 -0500 4239 false How to Minimize Jet Lag and Perform Your Best When Crossing Multiple Time Zones How to Minimize Jet Lag and Perform Your Best When Crossing Multiple Time Zones Ever wish there was a way to fight jet lag and not be such a zombie when you travel across multiple time zones? Here are 9 tips from two Stanford orthopedic surgeons' review of the literature.

How to Minimize Jet Lag and Perform Your Best When Crossing Multiple Time Zones

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]]> Ever wish there was a way to fight jet lag and not be such a zombie when you travel across multiple time zones? Here are 9 tips from two Stanford orthopedic surgeons' review of the literature.

How to Minimize Jet Lag and Perform Your Best When Crossing Multiple Time Zones

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]]> Noa Kageyama a7323a1d1cba473fad0c64deed4b3fb1 Sun, 28 Oct 2018 04:00:00 -0400 698 false Do Other People Really Learn As Quickly As It Seems Like They Do? Do Other People Really Learn As Quickly As It Seems Like They Do? Have you ever practiced or studied in secret, afraid to let on how long it takes for you to learn something? Good news - other people are probably working harder than you think.

Do Other People Really Learn As Quickly As It Seems Like They Do?

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]]> Have you ever practiced or studied in secret, afraid to let on how long it takes for you to learn something? Good news - other people are probably working harder than you think.

Do Other People Really Learn As Quickly As It Seems Like They Do?

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]]> Noa Kageyama fb0689017fbb44f5b73f8f3c034a6b72 Sun, 21 Oct 2018 04:00:00 -0400 499 false 2 Ways to Shrink the “Intention-Behavior Gap,” Improve Your Follow-through, and Get Things Done 2 Ways to Shrink the “Intention-Behavior Gap,” Improve Your Follow-through, and Get Things Done Ever get frustrated by how difficult it can be to follow through on big plans? Here are two strategies that research suggests can help you get over the hump.

2 Ways to Shrink the “Intention-Behavior Gap,” Improve Your Follow-through, and Get Things Done

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]]> Ever get frustrated by how difficult it can be to follow through on big plans? Here are two strategies that research suggests can help you get over the hump.

2 Ways to Shrink the “Intention-Behavior Gap,” Improve Your Follow-through, and Get Things Done

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]]> Noa Kageyama f900ac99629042d1a65305a51ae00864 Sun, 14 Oct 2018 04:00:00 -0400 464 false Jay Larranaga: On Becoming the Best Version of Yourself That You Can Be Jay Larranaga: On Becoming the Best Version of Yourself That You Can Be In this week's conversation, Boston Celtics assistant coach Jay Larranaga shares some of the key habits and characteristics that seem to be essential in becoming a top performer.

Jay Larranaga: On Becoming the Best Version of Yourself That You Can Be

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]]> In this week's conversation, Boston Celtics assistant coach Jay Larranaga shares some of the key habits and characteristics that seem to be essential in becoming a top performer.

Jay Larranaga: On Becoming the Best Version of Yourself That You Can Be

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]]> Noa Kageyama 26b7ceb0b58249eebe4789ea4bbdbadc Sun, 07 Oct 2018 04:00:00 -0400 2408 false Why an “Improvisational Mindset” Could Be Vital to Reducing Performance Anxiety and Increasing Audience Engagement Why an “Improvisational Mindset” Could Be Vital to Reducing Performance Anxiety and Increasing Audience Engagement It wouldn't seem that improvisation would have a place in classical music performance - but could this be one of the keys to a better performance experience - for both performer and audience?

Comparison videos and links at: Why an “Improvisational Mindset” Could Be Vital to Reducing Performance Anxiety and Increasing Audience Engagement

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]]> It wouldn't seem that improvisation would have a place in classical music performance - but could this be one of the keys to a better performance experience - for both performer and audience?

Comparison videos and links at: Why an “Improvisational Mindset” Could Be Vital to Reducing Performance Anxiety and Increasing Audience Engagement

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]]> Noa Kageyama fe156dbf1324439ba6c51ca2bdc9cf38 Sun, 30 Sep 2018 04:00:00 -0400 496 false How a Post-Practice Workout Could Help Boost Learning and Retention How a Post-Practice Workout Could Help Boost Learning and Retention Research suggests that exercising after learning a new skill can help enhance the learning of that skill. So maybe the best time for musicians to work out is after a practice session?

How a Post-Practice Workout Could Help Boost Learning and Retention

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]]> Research suggests that exercising after learning a new skill can help enhance the learning of that skill. So maybe the best time for musicians to work out is after a practice session?

How a Post-Practice Workout Could Help Boost Learning and Retention

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]]> Noa Kageyama d47530925d6141f5bb8e12fb80d3cd76 Sun, 23 Sep 2018 04:00:00 -0400 355 false Do Classical Musicians Get More Nervous Than Non-Classical Musicians? (And If so, Why?) Do Classical Musicians Get More Nervous Than Non-Classical Musicians? (And If so, Why?) Is there something inherently different about classical music that makes classical musicians more anxious on stage? And if so, what could that possibly be?

Do Classical Musicians Get More Nervous Than Non-Classical Musicians? (And If so, Why?)

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]]> Is there something inherently different about classical music that makes classical musicians more anxious on stage? And if so, what could that possibly be?

Do Classical Musicians Get More Nervous Than Non-Classical Musicians? (And If so, Why?)

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]]> Noa Kageyama 8bd906c0191740049e666209f8fbdafa Sun, 16 Sep 2018 04:00:00 -0400 603 false 8 Strategies Musicians Use to Create Their Own Unique Interpretation of a Piece 8 Strategies Musicians Use to Create Their Own Unique Interpretation of a Piece Ever wonder what exact strategies experienced musicians use to come up with their own unique interpretation of a piece? Research suggests that these 8 strategies might be a good place to start.

For links to the guitarists' recordings, go to 8 Strategies Musicians Use to Create Their Own Unique Interpretation of a Piece

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]]> Ever wonder what exact strategies experienced musicians use to come up with their own unique interpretation of a piece? Research suggests that these 8 strategies might be a good place to start.

For links to the guitarists' recordings, go to 8 Strategies Musicians Use to Create Their Own Unique Interpretation of a Piece

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]]> Noa Kageyama 2cc0aad77e684e518d68ecd911a59563 Sun, 09 Sep 2018 04:00:00 -0400 520 false Nathan Cole and Akiko Tarumoto: On Practice, Lifelong Learning, and Balancing Life With Work and Audition Preparation Nathan Cole and Akiko Tarumoto: On Practice, Lifelong Learning, and Balancing Life With Work and Audition Preparation Ever have one of those days where you question if it's possible to balance practicing, performing, and having a life?

In this week's chat, LA Phil violinists (and husband/wife) Nathan Cole and Akiko Tarumoto share their thoughts on practicing and auditioning after kids, what they've learned from each other, and more.

For full transcript and links, go to: Nathan Cole & Akiko Tarumoto: On Practice, Lifelong Learning, and Balancing Life With Work and Audition Preparation

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]]> Ever have one of those days where you question if it's possible to balance practicing, performing, and having a life?

In this week's chat, LA Phil violinists (and husband/wife) Nathan Cole and Akiko Tarumoto share their thoughts on practicing and auditioning after kids, what they've learned from each other, and more.

For full transcript and links, go to: Nathan Cole & Akiko Tarumoto: On Practice, Lifelong Learning, and Balancing Life With Work and Audition Preparation

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]]> Noa Kageyama 7b7696a9ca2945f395da6b76b7baecb5 Sun, 02 Sep 2018 04:00:00 -0400 2697 false Have Difficulty Staying Awake During Mental Practice? Try "Dynamic" Mental Imagery Instead! Have Difficulty Staying Awake During Mental Practice? Try "Dynamic" Mental Imagery Instead! Have Difficulty Staying Awake During Mental Practice? Try "Dynamic" Mental Imagery Instead! Have Difficulty Staying Awake During Mental Practice? Try "Dynamic" Mental Imagery Instead! Research suggests that a different way of doing mental practice - "dynamic imagery" - could actually lead to better performance results than the regular 'ol way.

Have Difficulty Staying Awake During Mental Practice? Try "Dynamic" Mental Imagery Instead!

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]]> Research suggests that a different way of doing mental practice - "dynamic imagery" - could actually lead to better performance results than the regular 'ol way.

Have Difficulty Staying Awake During Mental Practice? Try "Dynamic" Mental Imagery Instead!

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]]> Noa Kageyama 48ca18dd2efd40b88801e945d41c939c Sun, 26 Aug 2018 04:00:00 -0400 378 false The Correct Way to Sit in a Chair (and How This Could Help Your Performance in More Ways Than You’d Think) The Correct Way to Sit in a Chair (and How This Could Help Your Performance in More Ways Than You’d Think) Apparently we've all been sitting incorrectly our whole lives - and paying a price for it not just in terms of comfort, but cognitive performance too.

The Correct Way to Sit in a Chair (and How This Could Help Your Performance in More Ways Than You’d Think)

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]]> Apparently we've all been sitting incorrectly our whole lives - and paying a price for it not just in terms of comfort, but cognitive performance too.

The Correct Way to Sit in a Chair (and How This Could Help Your Performance in More Ways Than You’d Think)

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]]> Noa Kageyama 46d774ad4ee44db38a292ff1272bcc87 Sun, 19 Aug 2018 04:00:00 -0400 458 false An Easy-to-Overlook “Hack” for Enhancing Concentration in the Practice Room An Easy-to-Overlook “Hack” for Enhancing Concentration in the Practice Room Having difficulty concentrating in the practice room? Sounds simple, but research suggests that taking a drink of water could help increase concentration and help you problem-solve more effectively.

An Easy-to-Overlook “Hack” for Enhancing Concentration in the Practice Room

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]]> Having difficulty concentrating in the practice room? Sounds simple, but research suggests that taking a drink of water could help increase concentration and help you problem-solve more effectively.

An Easy-to-Overlook “Hack” for Enhancing Concentration in the Practice Room

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]]> Noa Kageyama bca59662807e4a28ba40ba727407926d Sun, 12 Aug 2018 04:00:00 -0400 345 false Carol Rodland: On Learning to Work with Your Body, Not Against It Carol Rodland: On Learning to Work with Your Body, Not Against It Playing a musical instrument can be physically awkward at times - but it shouldn't feel quite as uncomfortable as it often does. In this week's conversation, violist Carol Rodland (Juilliard, Perlman Music Program) shares her thoughts on how we can all learn to play with more ease and effortlessness.

Carol Rodland: On Learning to Work with Your Body, Not Against It

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]]> Playing a musical instrument can be physically awkward at times - but it shouldn't feel quite as uncomfortable as it often does. In this week's conversation, violist Carol Rodland (Juilliard, Perlman Music Program) shares her thoughts on how we can all learn to play with more ease and effortlessness.

Carol Rodland: On Learning to Work with Your Body, Not Against It

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]]> Noa Kageyama f441aa317c9c40049d82ed1d71c3eaa7 Sun, 05 Aug 2018 04:00:00 -0400 1937 false The “Urgency Effect” and How to Prioritize More Effectively in the Practice Room The “Urgency Effect” and How to Prioritize More Effectively in the Practice Room Some things are urgent (a gig today), while other things are important (a big audition in 2 months). How can we make the best use of our practice time so that we are at our best for the truly important moments?

The “Urgency Effect” and How to Prioritize More Effectively in the Practice Room

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]]> Some things are urgent (a gig today), while other things are important (a big audition in 2 months). How can we make the best use of our practice time so that we are at our best for the truly important moments?

The “Urgency Effect” and How to Prioritize More Effectively in the Practice Room

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]]> Noa Kageyama f636da259d7e407399f212810be9e4a9 Sun, 29 Jul 2018 04:00:00 -0400 512 false Does It Help (or Hurt) to Have Friends and Family in the Audience? Does It Help (or Hurt) to Have Friends and Family in the Audience? We've all heard of "home-court advantage." But research suggests that there are times when performing in front of a supportive audience can put us at a disadvantage too.

Does It Help (or Hurt) to Have Friends and Family in the Audience?

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]]> We've all heard of "home-court advantage." But research suggests that there are times when performing in front of a supportive audience can put us at a disadvantage too.

Does It Help (or Hurt) to Have Friends and Family in the Audience?

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]]> Noa Kageyama befc36e4ddf0484d9a87074f4dbd8ce9 Sun, 22 Jul 2018 04:00:00 -0400 475 false Perform Better Under Pressure with This Subtle Adjustment to Your Self-Talk Perform Better Under Pressure with This Subtle Adjustment to Your Self-Talk It's normal to feel pressure in high-stakes auditions and performances, but too much can lead to a meltdown. Is there any way to relieve some of that pressure while still caring deeply about doing our best?

Perform Better Under Pressure with This Subtle Adjustment to Your Self-Talk

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]]> It's normal to feel pressure in high-stakes auditions and performances, but too much can lead to a meltdown. Is there any way to relieve some of that pressure while still caring deeply about doing our best?

Perform Better Under Pressure with This Subtle Adjustment to Your Self-Talk

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]]> Noa Kageyama 1f29b9df1dc2410ba62b8ef849e49743 Sun, 15 Jul 2018 04:00:00 -0400 482 false Julie Landsman: On Getting into the Zone and Developing Trust in Your Playing Julie Landsman: On Getting into the Zone and Developing Trust in Your Playing What do great performers think about while performing? Technique? Sound? Images? In this week's conversation, former Met principal horn player Julie Landsman shares insights on what she did to stay focused on stage, and how she was able to develop trust in her abilities under pressure.

For links and additional resources, go to: Julie Landsman: On Getting into the Zone and Developing Trust in Your Playing

More from The Bulletproof Musician

]]> What do great performers think about while performing? Technique? Sound? Images? In this week's conversation, former Met principal horn player Julie Landsman shares insights on what she did to stay focused on stage, and how she was able to develop trust in her abilities under pressure.

For links and additional resources, go to: Julie Landsman: On Getting into the Zone and Developing Trust in Your Playing

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]]> Noa Kageyama 4c9f3782c14347e6be20a432666e0538 Sun, 08 Jul 2018 04:00:00 -0400 1979 false Research Suggests That While Mental Practice Is Good, This Hybrid Approach Is Even Better Research Suggests That While Mental Practice Is Good, This Hybrid Approach Is Even Better You probably already know about the benefits of mental practice. And you may also have heard of "observational practice." But recent research suggests that combining the two can help us learn even more effectively than doing either one on its own.

Research Suggests That While Mental Practice Is Good, This Hybrid Approach Is Even Better

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]]> You probably already know about the benefits of mental practice. And you may also have heard of "observational practice." But recent research suggests that combining the two can help us learn even more effectively than doing either one on its own.

Research Suggests That While Mental Practice Is Good, This Hybrid Approach Is Even Better

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]]> Noa Kageyama be52a0a26d8940b2a00eaf0277575cfd Sun, 01 Jul 2018 04:00:00 -0400 492 false What's the Most (and Least) Helpful Thing to Text a Friend Before Their Audition? What's the Most (and Least) Helpful Thing to Text a Friend Before Their Audition? What's the right thing to say to someone before a high-pressure event? Good luck? You'll do great? Just breathe? Research suggests that a text message from a significant other can attenuate their stress response - but not any old message will do.

What's the Most (and Least) Helpful Thing to Text a Friend Before Their Audition?

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]]> What's the right thing to say to someone before a high-pressure event? Good luck? You'll do great? Just breathe? Research suggests that a text message from a significant other can attenuate their stress response - but not any old message will do.

What's the Most (and Least) Helpful Thing to Text a Friend Before Their Audition?

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]]> Noa Kageyama 390e760a9adc418eb0ac43a191f08c54 Sun, 24 Jun 2018 04:00:00 -0400 461 false Janet Horvath: On Preventing Overuse Injuries and Playing Pain-Free Janet Horvath: On Preventing Overuse Injuries and Playing Pain-Free How do "overuse" injuries occur? Is it simply a matter of playing too much? Or are there other factors involved that are often overlooked? In this week's conversation, former MN Orchestra associate principal cellist Janet Horvath shares insights on how to play pain-free and avoid injuries.

Janet Horvath: On Preventing Overuse Injuries and Playing Pain-Free

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]]> How do "overuse" injuries occur? Is it simply a matter of playing too much? Or are there other factors involved that are often overlooked? In this week's conversation, former MN Orchestra associate principal cellist Janet Horvath shares insights on how to play pain-free and avoid injuries.

Janet Horvath: On Preventing Overuse Injuries and Playing Pain-Free

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]]> Noa Kageyama 8d73d9046a6849d397b2792ee92fb4ea Sun, 17 Jun 2018 04:00:00 -0400 2811 false A Better Way to Teach Complex Skills, Borrowed From…Doggy Training? A Better Way to Teach Complex Skills, Borrowed From…Doggy Training? It's easy for lessons to become completely focused on all the things we are doing wrong. And while glossing over mistakes is not the answer, is this the most effective way to learn? Or might animal trainers know something that could actually come in handy, whether it's playing the piano or learning surgical skills?

A Better Way to Teach Complex Skills, Borrowed From…Doggy Training?

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]]> It's easy for lessons to become completely focused on all the things we are doing wrong. And while glossing over mistakes is not the answer, is this the most effective way to learn? Or might animal trainers know something that could actually come in handy, whether it's playing the piano or learning surgical skills?

A Better Way to Teach Complex Skills, Borrowed From…Doggy Training?

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]]> Noa Kageyama a504ab274dcb4496b120c4837b1a1f78 Sun, 10 Jun 2018 04:00:00 -0400 511 false Listening to Music While Studying: Ok or Not Ok? Listening to Music While Studying: Ok or Not Ok? We've all done it. And some swear that it helps them to focus and concentrate. But what does the research say? Do we actually study better if there's music playing in the background?

Listening to Music While Studying: Ok or Not Ok?

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]]> We've all done it. And some swear that it helps them to focus and concentrate. But what does the research say? Do we actually study better if there's music playing in the background?

Listening to Music While Studying: Ok or Not Ok?

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]]> Noa Kageyama c526e4c92be64744b83e198085714e4c Sun, 03 Jun 2018 04:00:00 -0400 413 false Memorize More Music by Remembering to Press "Pause"? Memorize More Music by Remembering to Press "Pause"? Why you may want to give yourself a little bit of quiet time after practicing (or studying), instead of jumping immediately into another activity.

Memorize More Music by Remembering to Press "Pause"?

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]]> Why you may want to give yourself a little bit of quiet time after practicing (or studying), instead of jumping immediately into another activity.

Memorize More Music by Remembering to Press "Pause"?

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]]> Noa Kageyama b597e376fc3f4a11a57ff30904dc7dd0 Sun, 27 May 2018 04:00:00 -0400 451 false Rob Knopper: On Overcoming the Fear of Recording Yourself (and Making It Your New Favorite Practice Tool) Rob Knopper: On Overcoming the Fear of Recording Yourself (and Making It Your New Favorite Practice Tool) I used to dread recording myself. And listening back was even worse. So why do some musicians swear by it? How exactly does it help us in the practice room and on stage? And how can we get ourselves to not only embrace recording...but maybe even come to enjoy the process?

Rob Knopper: On Overcoming the Fear of Recording Yourself (and Making It Your New Favorite Practice Tool)

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]]> I used to dread recording myself. And listening back was even worse. So why do some musicians swear by it? How exactly does it help us in the practice room and on stage? And how can we get ourselves to not only embrace recording...but maybe even come to enjoy the process?

Rob Knopper: On Overcoming the Fear of Recording Yourself (and Making It Your New Favorite Practice Tool)

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]]> Noa Kageyama 8df750693c7241aa84e1e44de878fd18 Sun, 20 May 2018 04:00:00 -0400 2141 false “Mistake Rituals” and Why it's Important to Prepare for On-Stage Surprises “Mistake Rituals” and Why it's Important to Prepare for On-Stage Surprises There are two kinds of mistakes we make on stage. The kind that we see coming (ack! difficult passage ahead!). And the kind we never could have imagined (what the...?!). Either way, we need a way to move past them quickly, so they don't snowball out of control. Here's where a mistake ritual can come in handy.

“Mistake Rituals” and Why it's Important to Prepare for On-Stage Surprises

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]]> There are two kinds of mistakes we make on stage. The kind that we see coming (ack! difficult passage ahead!). And the kind we never could have imagined (what the...?!). Either way, we need a way to move past them quickly, so they don't snowball out of control. Here's where a mistake ritual can come in handy.

“Mistake Rituals” and Why it's Important to Prepare for On-Stage Surprises

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]]> Noa Kageyama f6fd756a767d42e89743c30544a128cc Sun, 13 May 2018 04:00:00 -0400 363 false Does Stress Make Us More Susceptible to Injury? Does Stress Make Us More Susceptible to Injury? Stress is never any fun - but does stress also contribute to injury? Research suggests that it can...giving us another reason to make sure we are taking breaks and recharging our batteries during stressful times.

Does Stress Make Us More Susceptible to Injury?

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]]> Stress is never any fun - but does stress also contribute to injury? Research suggests that it can...giving us another reason to make sure we are taking breaks and recharging our batteries during stressful times.

Does Stress Make Us More Susceptible to Injury?

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]]> Noa Kageyama 0d7a30e085804f0a9ef57c5401703553 Sun, 06 May 2018 04:00:00 -0400 395 false Creativity Sounds Important…but at the Elite Level, How Valuable Is It Really? Creativity Sounds Important…but at the Elite Level, How Valuable Is It Really? Creativity sounds like a good thing - but does creativity on stage actually lead to more success in auditions and competitions? Or is it just about execution, plain and simple?

Creativity Sounds Important…but at the Elite Level, How Valuable Is It Really?

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]]> Creativity sounds like a good thing - but does creativity on stage actually lead to more success in auditions and competitions? Or is it just about execution, plain and simple?

Creativity Sounds Important…but at the Elite Level, How Valuable Is It Really?

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]]> Noa Kageyama 9f88a8b2cf3e44a7899630cb6b711831 Sun, 29 Apr 2018 04:00:00 -0400 428 false Peter Miksza: On the Overlooked Value of Improvisation in Musical Training Peter Miksza: On the Overlooked Value of Improvisation in Musical Training Listen in as Indiana University music education researcher and professor Peter Miksza and I chat about some of the research on improvisation, and talk about the overlooked role it may play in musical training and development.

 Peter Miksza: On the Overlooked Value of Improvisation in Musical Training

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]]> Listen in as Indiana University music education researcher and professor Peter Miksza and I chat about some of the research on improvisation, and talk about the overlooked role it may play in musical training and development.

 Peter Miksza: On the Overlooked Value of Improvisation in Musical Training

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]]> Noa Kageyama 3131f3d1fdef47e4a3f2c78c61265d58 Sun, 22 Apr 2018 04:00:00 -0400 2103 15 full false Jeff Huber: On Preparing Mentally for Competition Jeff Huber: On Preparing Mentally for Competition Listen in as 3-time US Olympic diving coach Jeff Huber shares some tips on how to make the most of your practice time, and prepare more effectively for competition.

 Jeff Huber: On Preparing Mentally for Competition

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]]> Listen in as 3-time US Olympic diving coach Jeff Huber shares some tips on how to make the most of your practice time, and prepare more effectively for competition.

 Jeff Huber: On Preparing Mentally for Competition

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]]> Noa Kageyama 9f199f81f6b64d66a248c929397580bb Sun, 15 Apr 2018 04:00:00 -0400 2099 14 full false A Childhood Pastime That Could Help You Reduce Stress and Manage Audition-Day Nerves A Childhood Pastime That Could Help You Reduce Stress and Manage Audition-Day Nerves The wait backstage can be torturous, as you feel the anxiety build, and wish you could just go out and play already. What are we supposed to do with all that time anyway? Listen to music? Visualize? Turns out there's an old childhood pastime that could help us stay calm and keep us busy (in a good way).

 A Childhood Pastime That Could Help You Reduce Stress and Manage Audition-Day Nerves

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]]> The wait backstage can be torturous, as you feel the anxiety build, and wish you could just go out and play already. What are we supposed to do with all that time anyway? Listen to music? Visualize? Turns out there's an old childhood pastime that could help us stay calm and keep us busy (in a good way).

 A Childhood Pastime That Could Help You Reduce Stress and Manage Audition-Day Nerves

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]]> Noa Kageyama a157cdfc18f9442db08e0d69bf7f057c Sun, 01 Apr 2018 04:00:00 -0400 454 13 full false Can We Really Trust Our Intuition When Making Difficult Decisions? Can We Really Trust Our Intuition When Making Difficult Decisions? When faced with a tough decision, people often advise us to "sleep on it" or "go with your gut." But what does the research say? Is there any evidence that we can actually trust our intuition in moments like this?

 Can We Really Trust Our Intuition When Making Difficult Decisions?

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]]> When faced with a tough decision, people often advise us to "sleep on it" or "go with your gut." But what does the research say? Is there any evidence that we can actually trust our intuition in moments like this?

 Can We Really Trust Our Intuition When Making Difficult Decisions?

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]]> Noa Kageyama d8957318c8bf4048a5324170046eb52b Sun, 25 Mar 2018 04:00:00 -0400 449 12 full false Two Different Kinds of Nerves? How One Type Helps and the Other Type…Not so Much Two Different Kinds of Nerves? How One Type Helps and the Other Type…Not so Much Most people think nerves are bad. But some people say nerves and pressure can be good. So...which is it?

 Two Different Kinds of Nerves? How One Type Helps and the Other Type…Not so Much

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]]> Most people think nerves are bad. But some people say nerves and pressure can be good. So...which is it?

 Two Different Kinds of Nerves? How One Type Helps and the Other Type…Not so Much

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]]> Noa Kageyama 4f05a56f6cfe4ef4b245311d9f846845 Sun, 18 Mar 2018 04:00:00 -0400 536 11 full false Could This Working Memory Exercise Help Offset the Effect of Nerves on Performance? Could This Working Memory Exercise Help Offset the Effect of Nerves on Performance? Many of the brain-training apps and games out there don't seem to be as effective as one might hope. But there's one type of mental training that does seem to improve performance under pressure...

 Could This Working Memory Exercise Help Offset the Effect of Nerves on Performance?

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]]> Many of the brain-training apps and games out there don't seem to be as effective as one might hope. But there's one type of mental training that does seem to improve performance under pressure...

 Could This Working Memory Exercise Help Offset the Effect of Nerves on Performance?

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]]> Noa Kageyama a53b0cc4c202492e9d6cedeb2e0b606c Sun, 11 Mar 2018 05:00:00 -0400 366 10 full false Stereotype Threat: The Paradox of Becoming Exactly What You’re Trying to Prove That You’re Not. (Huh?!) Stereotype Threat: The Paradox of Becoming Exactly What You’re Trying to Prove That You’re Not. (Huh?!) Have you ever performed poorly at something because you put too much pressure on yourself to prove that you are totally awesome at that thing? A phenomenon known as "stereotype threat" is one reason why that may have happened.

 Stereotype Threat: The Paradox of Becoming Exactly What You’re Trying to Prove That You’re Not. (Huh?!)

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]]> Have you ever performed poorly at something because you put too much pressure on yourself to prove that you are totally awesome at that thing? A phenomenon known as "stereotype threat" is one reason why that may have happened.

 Stereotype Threat: The Paradox of Becoming Exactly What You’re Trying to Prove That You’re Not. (Huh?!)

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]]> Noa Kageyama fc054daca7b947a0b5325de7aab62524 Sun, 04 Mar 2018 04:00:00 -0500 409 9 full false Need a Little Shot of Optimism? Try the "Best Possible Self" Exercise Need a Little Shot of Optimism? Try the "Best Possible Self" Exercise It's easy to start losing confidence and start doubting yourself in the week leading up to a big performance or audition. But research suggests that the "best possible self" exercise could help us stay a bit more optimistic as the day approaches.

 Need a Little Shot of Optimism? Try the "Best Possible Self" Exercise

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]]> It's easy to start losing confidence and start doubting yourself in the week leading up to a big performance or audition. But research suggests that the "best possible self" exercise could help us stay a bit more optimistic as the day approaches.

 Need a Little Shot of Optimism? Try the "Best Possible Self" Exercise

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]]> Noa Kageyama 63a1f660fed44c719de2a447fb998dc1 Sun, 25 Feb 2018 04:00:00 -0500 350 8 full false Can We Train Ourselves to Be Less Anxious? Can We Train Ourselves to Be Less Anxious? "Just think positive" never seems to work - but only focusing on doom and gloom sure doesn't help either. Research suggests that the key may lie in not making up positive things, but training ourselves to actually see the positive signs around us, which can help us be less nervous under pressure.

 Can We Train Ourselves to Be Less Anxious?

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]]> "Just think positive" never seems to work - but only focusing on doom and gloom sure doesn't help either. Research suggests that the key may lie in not making up positive things, but training ourselves to actually see the positive signs around us, which can help us be less nervous under pressure.

 Can We Train Ourselves to Be Less Anxious?

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]]> Noa Kageyama 54778fe1aaf94abfba205370dc3601c5 Sun, 18 Feb 2018 04:00:00 -0500 466 7 full false Just Thinking You Don't Have Enough Time (Even If That's Not True) Negatively Affects Performance Just Thinking You Don't Have Enough Time (Even If That's Not True) Negatively Affects Performance Nowadays, we all seem to be going through each day, rushing from one thing to the next. And sometimes, this just becomes a habit, where we feel the pressure of time no matter what we are doing. But research suggests that simply feeling time pressure sabotages performance. So how can we slow down our inner clock?

 Just Thinking You Don't Have Enough Time (Even If That's Not True) Negatively Affects Performance

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]]> Nowadays, we all seem to be going through each day, rushing from one thing to the next. And sometimes, this just becomes a habit, where we feel the pressure of time no matter what we are doing. But research suggests that simply feeling time pressure sabotages performance. So how can we slow down our inner clock?

 Just Thinking You Don't Have Enough Time (Even If That's Not True) Negatively Affects Performance

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]]> Noa Kageyama 468297e442d947298b4182a0d403767b Sun, 11 Feb 2018 04:00:00 -0500 395 6 full false Power Posing vs. Yoga. Yay or Nay? Power Posing vs. Yoga. Yay or Nay? Can a little backstage yoga or power posing help us manage our anxiety and walk out on stage a little more calm and composed? What does the research say?

Power Posing vs. Yoga. Yay or Nay?

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]]> Can a little backstage yoga or power posing help us manage our anxiety and walk out on stage a little more calm and composed? What does the research say?

Power Posing vs. Yoga. Yay or Nay?

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]]> Noa Kageyama 6ab70bd0d14d44b79dc48478b3ddd9eb Sun, 04 Feb 2018 04:00:00 -0500 396 5 full false How to Keep Your Cool in Stressful Lessons, Rehearsals, and More How to Keep Your Cool in Stressful Lessons, Rehearsals, and More The motivational climate that leads to more anxious, stressed-out learners. And the motivational climate that leads to more resilient learners.

 How to Keep Your Cool in Stressful Lessons, Rehearsals, and More

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]]> The motivational climate that leads to more anxious, stressed-out learners. And the motivational climate that leads to more resilient learners.

 How to Keep Your Cool in Stressful Lessons, Rehearsals, and More

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]]> Noa Kageyama 7944e640120b43d58e70be82a65e4c27 Sun, 28 Jan 2018 04:00:00 -0500 453 4 full false Why Do We Have Such a Hard Time Accepting Compliments? Why Do We Have Such a Hard Time Accepting Compliments? Do you have a hard time accepting and internalizing compliments from others? Here's a 3-step technique for taking it in - without turning into an overconfident, self-congratulating #$&@.

 Why Do We Have Such a Hard Time Accepting Compliments?

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]]> Do you have a hard time accepting and internalizing compliments from others? Here's a 3-step technique for taking it in - without turning into an overconfident, self-congratulating #$&@.

 Why Do We Have Such a Hard Time Accepting Compliments?

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]]> Noa Kageyama dd5febee744040938ecfe605c2a67127 Sun, 21 Jan 2018 04:00:00 -0500 502 3 full false The Problem with Taking Excessively Long Practice Breaks The Problem with Taking Excessively Long Practice Breaks Why taking a practice break too soon, and for too long, could slow down the learning process.

 The Problem with Taking Excessively Long Practice Breaks

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]]> Why taking a practice break too soon, and for too long, could slow down the learning process.

 The Problem with Taking Excessively Long Practice Breaks

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]]> Noa Kageyama 71c7e33c19ef4379806e28380daccd47 Sun, 14 Jan 2018 04:00:00 -0500 467 2 full false Why It’s Probably Not a Good Sign If Practicing Starts to Feel Easy Why It’s Probably Not a Good Sign If Practicing Starts to Feel Easy Research suggests that my teacher may have been onto something when he said "if practicing feels easy, you’re probably not doing it right.”

 Why It’s Probably Not a Good Sign If Practicing Starts to Feel Easy

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]]> Research suggests that my teacher may have been onto something when he said "if practicing feels easy, you’re probably not doing it right.”

 Why It’s Probably Not a Good Sign If Practicing Starts to Feel Easy

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]]> Noa Kageyama 43b5b8c5401844cdbef90816d3b555a5 Sun, 07 Jan 2018 04:00:00 -0500 472 1 full false