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The Mind Over Finger Podcast - Podcast

The Mind Over Finger Podcast

Discussions on mindful music-making, efficient practice, and building a purposeful career with the performers, pedagogues, and innovators who are shaping the classical music world today!
The Mind Over Finger Podcast is a resource for knowledge, insight, tips, tricks, and inspiration for musicians interested in learning more about practicing mindfully, performing optimally, and getting more intentional in creating a fulfilling musical career.
We provide you with the tools to mindfully shift your musical practice from unconscious to deliberate, from paint-by-numbers to art by flow, from going through the motions to delightful play!

Performing Arts Music Arts Learning
Update frequency
every 6 days
Average duration
41 minutes
Episodes
239
Years Active
2018 - 2025
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238 Calm Under Pressure – The 3-Pillar Strategy to Beat Performance Anxiety and Play Your Best

238 Calm Under Pressure – The 3-Pillar Strategy to Beat Performance Anxiety and Play Your Best

Learn a clear, actionable framework to help you manage performance anxiety and play with confidence.

·         The 3 pillars: preparation, conditioning, and mind management

·         Why traditiona…

00:29:39  |   Thu 14 Aug 2025
237 Shift Your Results - The Simple Tool That Transforms Your Practice and Performance

237 Shift Your Results - The Simple Tool That Transforms Your Practice and Performance

Discover how to use the Self-Coaching Model to better understand your mindset, manage your emotions, and create lasting progress in your music.

·         Why mindset shapes your practice results

· …

00:23:07  |   Thu 07 Aug 2025
236 Master Your Mind – The Framework Musicians Need to Break Through

236 Master Your Mind – The Framework Musicians Need to Break Through

In this episode, you’ll learn a simple and powerful mindset tool that helps you understand and shift the thoughts, feelings, and actions that shape your musical results.

·         The five-part Self…

00:21:57  |   Wed 06 Aug 2025
235 Sustainable Progress – 5 Practice Shifts That Prevent Burnout and Boost Results

235 Sustainable Progress – 5 Practice Shifts That Prevent Burnout and Boost Results

This episode explores five mindset and strategy shifts that help you stay energized, focused, and motivated in your musical journey.

·        How overcommitting drains progress

·        Turning com…

00:19:54  |   Thu 31 Jul 2025
234 Clear the Block – 5 Mistakes That Derail Even Smart Musicians

234 Clear the Block – 5 Mistakes That Derail Even Smart Musicians

This episode explores five common practice pitfalls that can quietly sabotage your progress — and how to overcome them with clarity and confidence.

·         Why self-awareness is key to real growth

00:20:42  |   Mon 28 Jul 2025
233 From Bully to Ally - Transform Your Inner Critic Into Your Strongest Tool in Practice and Performance

233 From Bully to Ally - Transform Your Inner Critic Into Your Strongest Tool in Practice and Performance

This episode explores how harsh self-talk holds you back and how practicing self-compassion can unlock real progress.

·         Why judgment creates tension and slows learning

·         The differe…

00:12:09  |   Fri 25 Jul 2025
232 Grounded Practice – The Practice Strategy That Accelerates Real Growth Reset & Rise Series #4

232 Grounded Practice – The Practice Strategy That Accelerates Real Growth Reset & Rise Series #4

In this episode, we explore the overlooked superpower of patience and how slowing down can actually speed up your progress.

·         Learn how urgency can sabotage your practice

·         Discover…

00:15:11  |   Wed 23 Jul 2025
231 Practicing Isn’t Working? – What You’re Missing and How to Fix It

231 Practicing Isn’t Working? – What You’re Missing and How to Fix It

In this episode, we explore the concept of "Mind Over Finger" — aligning your mind before taking physical action.

·         Discover how mental, emotional, and intellectual alignment boosts progress

00:15:23  |   Wed 16 Jul 2025
230 Stuck in Practice? How Joy Unlocks Focus, Progress, and Consistency - Reset & Rise Series #2

230 Stuck in Practice? How Joy Unlocks Focus, Progress, and Consistency - Reset & Rise Series #2

In this episode, I share powerful takeaways from 13 renowned performers and educators, including Rachel Barton Pine, Tom Hooten, Kim Kashkashian, Vijay Gupta, and Elizabeth Rowe.

Discover how world-c…

00:39:56  |   Tue 08 Jul 2025
229 Joy-Driven Practice – Reignite Your Practice with Curiosity, Calm, and Creativity - Your Reset & Rise Series #1

229 Joy-Driven Practice – Reignite Your Practice with Curiosity, Calm, and Creativity - Your Reset & Rise Series #1

This episode kicks off the Reset and Rise summer transformation series with the Joyful Practice Challenge. You’ll explore simple prompts designed to help you reconnect with presence, boost effectiven…

00:25:50  |   Tue 01 Jul 2025
228 Not Ready Yet?  What Musicians Miss When They Wait to Leap

228 Not Ready Yet?  What Musicians Miss When They Wait to Leap

In this episode, we explore one of the biggest mindset blocks musicians face: the belief that you're not ready. I break down why waiting for readiness keeps you stuck and how taking action before you…

00:20:09  |   Tue 27 May 2025
227 Hijacked by Fear – What to Do When Your Mind Turns Against You On Stage

227 Hijacked by Fear – What to Do When Your Mind Turns Against You On Stage

In this episode, we explore why overthinking and fear take over in performance, even when you’re fully prepared. You’ll learn what’s really happening in your brain under pressure, why trying to fight…

00:22:26  |   Thu 22 May 2025
226 Stuck or Soaring?  What Musicians Gain When They Bet on Themselves

226 Stuck or Soaring?  What Musicians Gain When They Bet on Themselves

In this episode, I explore one of the most important (and most avoided) questions musicians face: Is investing in yourself really worth it?

You'll hear:

  • How to tell the difference between an expense…
00:18:25  |   Mon 19 May 2025
225 Beyond the Notes – Nikki Chooi on Musicality, Adaptability, and Artistic Growth

225 Beyond the Notes – Nikki Chooi on Musicality, Adaptability, and Artistic Growth

In this episode, violinist Nikki Chooi shares how he rebuilt trust in his playing after formal training, refined his approach to practicing, and found balance between precision and expression in pe…

00:45:18  |   Fri 16 May 2025
224 Stage Freeze – Why Everything You Know Disappears Under Pressure

224 Stage Freeze – Why Everything You Know Disappears Under Pressure

You’ve practiced the techniques. You’ve done the mindset work. But when it’s time to perform, everything seems to disappear.

In this episode, I explore why musicians often struggle to access what the…

00:26:21  |   Fri 09 May 2025
223 Unlock Your Edge – Discover the Reflection Practice That Transforms How You Perform

223 Unlock Your Edge – Discover the Reflection Practice That Transforms How You Perform

If you’ve ever felt stuck, even though you know what to do, this episode is for you.

I’m sharing the five key prompts from The Musician’s Edge Challenge that have helped hundreds of musicians gai…

00:24:56  |   Thu 08 May 2025
222  When Practice Isn’t Fun Anymore - What to Do When Music Stops Feeling Inspiring

222  When Practice Isn’t Fun Anymore - What to Do When Music Stops Feeling Inspiring

In this episode, I share a personal story about preparing for a major event—and struggling to find joy in the process.

We explore:

  • Why it’s normal to feel disconnected from familiar repertoire
00:20:57  |   Fri 18 Apr 2025
221 Nina DeCesare: Beyond the Notes - Practicing with Purpose and Building a More Inclusive Future

221 Nina DeCesare: Beyond the Notes - Practicing with Purpose and Building a More Inclusive Future

In this episode, bassist and educator Nina DeCesare shares the mindset and strategies that have helped her build a confident and fulfilling career in music. We explore what it means to practice wit…

00:44:37  |   Fri 04 Apr 2025
220 Practice Isn’t Enough – The Real Reason Your Performances Feel Inconsistent

220 Practice Isn’t Enough – The Real Reason Your Performances Feel Inconsistent

You’re putting in the work, but something’s not clicking when it counts. Why does your playing still feel inconsistent—even though you’re practicing hard?

In this episode, I’m bringing two essential …

00:24:10  |   Thu 27 Mar 2025
219 Jarrett McCourt: You Career, Your Rules – Creating a Life in Music That Works for You

219 Jarrett McCourt: You Career, Your Rules – Creating a Life in Music That Works for You

Many musicians feel stuck in a single career path, believing that success means following a traditional trajectory. But what if true success is about expanding, not staying locked into one role?

00:53:39  |   Fri 21 Mar 2025
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