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 …

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 wit…

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 Go…

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 pessimi…

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 …

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" c…

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 …

🎓 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 ove…

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 asp…

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 ex…

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 oft…

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…

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 …

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 …

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 sub…

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…

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 fo…

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 gl…

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 t…

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 an…