The Bulletproof Musician
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.
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 17 minutes
- Episodes
- 394
- Years Active
- 2018 - 2025
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 …
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.
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.
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.
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…
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 importa…
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.
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 ou…
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 f…
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 mo…
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 str…
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 p…
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 t…
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?
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.
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 …
“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 …
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 str…
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?
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…