The Mind Over Finger Podcast 242 The Long Game Every Musician Needs to Play: Tim Higgins on Winning the Job, Finding Your Sound, and Staying Inspired
Dec 19, 2025
In this insightful conversation, Tim Higgins, the Principal Trombone of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, shares his journey as an accomplished composer and educator. He discusses the importance of mindset in auditions and how understanding orchestral roles trumps perfection. Tim reveals strategies for managing anxiety and emphasizes viewing pressure as a privilege. He also highlights how teaching keeps his fundamentals sharp, and he encourages musicians to pursue their curiosities while staying open to new opportunities. A must-listen for anyone in music!
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Audition With Musical Intent
- Treat auditions as a chance to convey understanding and fearless musical choices, not just flawless notes.
- Visualize, rehearse mentally, and present your interpretation confidently so committees hear your musical intent.
Context Trumps Perfection
- Committees value players who understand an excerpt's orchestral role more than occasional missed notes.
- Conveying imagination and context often outweighs perfectly clean execution in auditions.
See Committees As Allies
- Reframe the audition committee as allies who want to hear great playing, not adversaries to beat.
- Approach the room like a recital: control what you can, present your best, then relinquish the outcome.
