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...

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? More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter , for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only content. Pressure Proof : A free 7-day performance practice crash course that will help you shrink the gap between the pr...

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 Get the free weekly newsletter , for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only content. P...

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...

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 T...

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 R...

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 More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter , for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only content. Pressure Proof : A free 7-day performance practice c...

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? More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter , for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only content. Pressure Proof : A free 7-d...

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? More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter , for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only content. Pressure Proof : A free 7-day performance practice cras...

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 More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter , for more nerdy d...

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 More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter , for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only content. Pressure Proof...

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 More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter , for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only content. Pr...

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 Get the free weekly newsletter , for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only content. Pressur...

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 More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter , for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only content. Pressure Proof : A free 7-day performance practice c...

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) More from The Bulletproof Mu...

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? More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter , for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only content. Pressure Proof : A free 7...

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 More from The Bulletproo...

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. More from The Bulletproof Music...

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 More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter ,...

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… More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter ,...

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? More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter , for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only content. Pressure Proof : A free 7-day performance practice crash course tha...

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 More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter , for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only content. Pressure Proof : A free 7-day performance practice crash course that will help...

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 More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly ne...

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 Get the free weekly newsletter...

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 More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter , for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only content. Pressure...