The Bulletproof Musician

Have you ever had one of those "aha" moments when a solution to a problem spontaneously popped into your head? Wouldn't it be nice if we could have those moments more often?  Well, a 2012 study suggests that you may be able to cultivate these kinds of moments and increase your creative problem-solving abilities by taking a short break from the task. But not any old break will do - i...

Ever notice how some folks seem to learn faster than others? What’s their secret? Is it just natural ability? Sure, maybe there’s some of that. But could it also be that they’re doing something different in the practice room? Like is there some sort of newfangled cutting-edge practice strategy they’re using that you’re not? Well, these faster learners may be doing something quite different than wh...

Ever notice how mean the voice in your head can become on stage? Where it generates YouTube comment section-like levels of criticism and abuse? Or maybe you haven’t even gotten on stage yet. But as you’re waiting your turn, you overhear the person playing right before you, who sounds amazing? And then the voice suddenly makes you question and doubt everything? Yeah, the voice that lives in our hea...

I came across a study years ago which found that fear of negative evaluation was one of the key drivers of performance anxiety in musicians. Which of course makes perfect sense, as we're being evaluated all the time. Often, with meaningful consequences attached. But that doesn't mean it's helpful - or very pleasant to experience either! So is there anything we can do to be less sens...

Have you ever had one of those days on stage where you suddenly can't seem to do a thing that normally is never an issue? Or maybe it's one of those days where everything just spontaneously falls apart? And for seemingly no reason at all, even though you were as prepared as you've ever been? Athletes call this "choking." Or the "yips" (which I think is funner to...

Taking breaks in the middle of practice or study sessions can be a pain. Often, it's a lot easier and more convenient to just power through and get it over with. But what price do we pay by not spacing out our learning, over multiple days, or with practice or study breaks? Does this really make that much of a difference? Two studies from the literature suggest that spaced learning can make qu...

Ever had one of those “I’m a total failure, and I’m never going to be invited to play with these folks again” moments? In this month’s chat, pianist Orli Shaham shares a deeply personal story about a performance at the Spoleto Festival in Italy, where rehearsals went so badly, that the piece she prepared was pulled from the program. It felt like a “complete failure” at the time, but the experience...

Maybe you've set some goals for the coming year, but you're not quite sure where to start, and feeling a little overwhelmed? Or maybe you have a history of setting goals but not following through? A 2017 study looked at a "backwards" strategy for goal-setting and found that this increased motivation, follow-through, and actual performance as well! Get all the nerdy details here...

Are you a little overwhelmed by all of the different year-in-review and goal-setting methods you're getting in your inbox? If you're confused by the variety and range of approaches out there and just want a bare-bones minimalist option to ensure that you actually do it, a 2006 study of four different goal-setting strategies provides some simple, clear guidelines. Get all the nerdy detail...

Have you ever wondered if there's an advantage to being an extrovert or introvert when it comes to performing? Well, I'm afraid you're going to have to keep wondering, because I couldn't find a definitive answer one way or the other from the existing research. But I did find an interesting study of figure skaters, which looked at the impact of *shyness* on performance. It'...

“See one, do one, teach one” is a model for learning that’s been utilized in medicine for many generations. It’s quite a helpful model, but if you’ve ever tried your hand at teaching, you know how incredibly challenging that can be. Often, teaching a skill can be even more difficult that doing the skill itself! Like, how can we teach a student to be more expressive? How can we ensure each student...

Have you ever wondered how much the visual aspect of a performance matters to the listener? Like, if you were going to enter two competitions, where one required submitting an audio recording and the other required a video recording, which one would you have a better chance of being accepted to? Or would it make any difference at all? A 2013 study of international competition finalists went viral,...

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 the table and share one thing that we're grateful for, just as we're about to eat. 🥹 There are an awful lot of quotes out there about how we ought to count our blessings. And it does sound l...

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 with practice? Spoiler alert: yes - and a 2014 study provides some insights into a way to improve your mental imagery abilities that might be easier than practicing imagery the regular old-fashioned...

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 Gould, and learners at all levels have been known to use in music as well. But I’ve had students and professional musicians alike tell me that they sometimes have difficulty making the imagery feel real....

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 pessimism can work too! Get all the nerdy details at: https://bulletproofmusician.com/not-an-optimist-how-to-make-pessimism-work-for-you/ More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter , fo...

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 a 2023 study highlights an unusual breathing technique that's worth trying! Get all the nerdy details at:  https://bulletproofmusician.com/does-just-breathe-really-help-us-lower-anxiety-or-is-it-...

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" could boost your likelihood of sticking with your new behavior. Click below for all the nerdy details: Go From Procrastination to Productivity With “Temptation Bundling” More from The Bulletp...

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 choose? And how can we ensure we choose the approach that is more effective in the long term? Get all the nerdy details, references, and other links right here: A Better Way to Bounce Back From Disapp...

🎓 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 over their learning process leads to improved performance - How autonomy boosts confidence and happiness in learners 🚀 Whether you're an educator, parent, or lifelong learner, this episode...

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 aspects of your playing? Or something else entirely? A 2022 study (Kegelaers et al.) took a look at feedback provided by members of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra to participants in their academy prog...

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 exercise? Before practicing? After practicing? For how long? At what level of intensity? A 2023 study provides some answers! Click through for all the nerdy details and references: The Best Time to Exer...

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 often tell us to space our practice out, instead of cramming, but how much of a difference does it really make? Two Brazilian studies provide some answers! Get all the nerdy details (and 500+ other...

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, or practicing with note groupings or rhythms, or doing your darnedest to identify any hints of hidden tension that might be getting in the way. All of which are excellent things to try, of...

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 out, and how much is instinct? How to recover from very direct, critical audition feedback? And how do you stay in the present moment, instead of stressing out about nerves and all the bad things that...