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 th…

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 …

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 pe…

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…

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 …

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 wha…

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 …

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 …

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…

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 …

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…

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 a…

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-ab…

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 t…

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…

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 …

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 y…

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 …

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 a…

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 i…