The Bulletproof Musician

Is banning phones and laptops in class a good idea - or totally unnecessary? A new study provides answers, but it's a little more nuanced than you might think. Should Phones and Laptops Be Banned in the Classroom? Or Is This Just Much Ado about Nothing? More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter , for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only content. Pressure Proof...

Cellist-turned-entrepreneur Margo Drakos shares some of the key strategies that have been instrumental to her success both in music (Oregon, San Diego, Seattle, Pittsburgh symphonies & American String Quartet) and in the business world (InstantEncore, ArtistYear). Margo Drakos: On Creating a Safety Net and Taking a Chance on Yourself More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsl...

A study suggests that we can learn more effectively and build more confidence by learning more about the wrong ways to perform a skill, instead of only learning the correct way to execute a skill. Why Learning the Wrong Way to Play Could Enhance Performance (and Confidence Too) More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter , for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only cont...

Rivalries are often thought of as being really competitive, and sometimes unhealthy, but are there situations in which they could be a good thing? The Potential Upside of Having a "Rival" 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 he...

When you have too much time to wait backstage, it can be easy for your thoughts and emotions to spiral out to the bad place. Learn the specific strategies that athletes use to regulate their emotions and keep their cool. How to Keep Your Cool Backstage Before Auditions and Performances More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter , for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-o...

Ever find yourself stuck in a performance "slump"? Where you struggle through a string of subpar auditions/performances, and can't figure out how to get back on track? Here are 8 strategies that can help right the ship. 8 Strategies for Breaking Out of a Performance Slump More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter , for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-...

Have you ever felt that the music was "stuck"? Or wondered why your metronome practice wasn't working? Learn how to get unstuck and cultivate a stronger sense of rhythm in this chat with violinist Catherine Cho. Catherine Cho: On Developing Great Rhythm (and Why Old-School Metronomes Are the Way to Go) More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter , for more nerd...

Feeling a little demoralized after a sub-par performance? Here's a research-based post-performance reflection process developed at Florida State University to help you bounce back better, faster, and stronger. The Performance Post-Mortem: A Review Process to Bounce Back Better and Faster More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter , for more nerdy details and bonus subsc...

It's common to vary one's speed/tempo when you're doing physical practice. But is there any benefit in doing this when engaged in mental practice? A Visualization Hack to Get More Out of Your Mental Practice 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...

Research suggests that a new mental adjustment and shift in how we view the stakes in stressful performance situations could help us avoid choking under pressure. A Mental Tweak to Reduce the Gap Between Your Best Playing and What Happens Under Pressure More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter , for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only content. Pressure Proof : A f...

Philadelphia Orchestra concertmaster David Kim shares insights on his most effective practice techniques, biggest failures (and successes), and more. David Kim: On Letting Go and Being Yourself 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 y...

Are people who have pictures of family and friends in their case on to something? A study suggets that simply imagining our partner can help us reduce stress as much as having them physically present. A Scientific Rationale for Keeping Photos of Friends and Family in Your Case More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter , for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only conte...

Is getting into "the zone" something that just happens randomly? Or do we have more control over this than we realize? New research suggests that we actually do indeed. Get Into "The Zone" More Frequently with This Subtle Mental Adjustment More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter , for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only content. Pressure Proof...

Pre-performance routines often consist of a number of different elements. But might simply squeezing a ball in your left hand a few times be just as effective? A Comparison of Two Types of Anti-Choking Strategies 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 cour...

What is Alexander Technique, really? Will it help our playing? If so, in what way? How do we know if we need it? Learn more in this chat with Juilliard's Alexander Technique teacher Lori Schiff. Lori Schiff: On How Alexander Technique Can Enhance Learning and Performance Under Pressure More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter , for more nerdy details and bonus subscri...

How much wiggle room do we have when it comes to intonation? Do pitch issues affect audience (and other musicians') opinions of the quality of a performance as much as we think they do? How Perfect Does Your Intonation Have to Be? 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 performa...

It's often said that we should focus on "the music" when performing instead of the notes and technique per se. But does this come at a cost to technical accuracy? Does Focusing on Musical Expressiveness in Performance Come at the Expense of Technical Precision? More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter , for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only conten...

Ever have a teacher tell you to imagine performing to the very last row in a hall? Research suggests that this might be better advice than we realize. A Mental Shift That Could Help You Produce a More Beautiful Sound on Stage 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 practi...

Ever have difficulty shutting off your brain and getting to sleep? A recent study found that this 5-min writing exercise could help. Can’t Shut Off Your Brain and Get to Sleep? This 5-min Exercise Could Help. 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 t...

Cleveland Orchestra principal cellist Mark Kosower talks about how he approaches learning music, and describes what exactly he is thinking about when he's having his best performances. For additional notes and links, visit Mark Kosower: On Learning Music, Slow Practice, and the Kind of Focus That's Associated With His Best Performances More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free week...

Sometimes we have to play music that we don't necessarily love. So is there anything we can do to cultivate some more enthusiasm about the piece anyway? A "Backwards" Strategy for Cultivating More Passion about Music You're Not in Love With More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter , for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only content. Pressure Proo...

When you engage in mental practice, how aware are you of tempo? Might you be rushing or dragging? Here's some research on how that could have more of an effect on your performance than you might think. Should You Be Using a Metronome When You Do Mental Practice? More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter , for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only content. Pressu...

Nothing strikes fear in the heart of a string player like a shaking bow arm. Of course, worrying about shaking is a surefire way to experience the shakes. So what can you do to keep your mind from going to the bad place? Why Worrying about Shaky Bow Just Makes Things Worse (and What You Could Focus on Instead) More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter , for more nerdy detai...

Have you ever wondered (or worried) if you were talented enough? Met principal timpanist Jason Haaheim explains why this is the wrong question to be asking ourselves - and what we should be asking instead. Jason Haaheim: On Practice, Talent, Motivation, and Playing the "Long Game" More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter , for more nerdy details and bonus subscri...

Ever wish there was a way to fight jet lag and not be such a zombie when you travel across multiple time zones? Here are 9 tips from two Stanford orthopedic surgeons' review of the literature. How to Minimize Jet Lag and Perform Your Best When Crossing Multiple Time Zones More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter , for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only conte...