Why Practicing While Distracted Is Actually Very Important

Mar 9, 2025

Do distractions derail your performances? Surprisingly, they might just help you improve. Research shows that practicing in distracting environments can enhance motor skills and resilience on stage. Uncover how distractions can lead to effective practice, challenging the idea of needing total focus. Learn strategies to thrive amidst interruptions, transforming potential slip-ups into opportunities for growth. Embrace the unexpected benefits of distraction and find joy in both practice and performance!

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ANECDOTE

Common Performance Distractions

Pianists often share frustrating stories involving poor page-turners disrupting their performance.
Distractions like loud whisperers or direct eye contact from an audition proctor frequently break concentration on stage.

INSIGHT

Benefits of Practicing With Distractions

Practicing with distractions helps build immunity to them during performance.
Those who practiced either always with or always without distractions performed better than those who switched between conditions.

INSIGHT

Consistency Matters Over Distraction Type

It doesn't matter if the distractions during practice and test are the same or different.
Consistency in having distractions both in practice and performance matters most for learning.

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Have you ever found yourself getting irritated or see your performance get derailed by distractions on stage? Maybe it was noises backstage, or movement in the audience, or people coughing and loudly unwrapping candy in the quiet moments?

These distractions often seem like such trivial things, but sometimes, they can take up more space in our thoughts than they ought to, and lead to little slip-ups. Which can be pretty frustrating, lead to more little mistakes, and then begin to send the whole performance into a downward spiral.

Is there any way to become more distraction-proof on stage? And perform better even when surrounded by unanticipated distractions of various sorts?

Get all the nerdy details here:

Why Practicing While Distracted Is Actually Very Important

* * *
Have you been feeling a little stuck or stagnant in the practice room? Or has performance anxiety and the gap between practice and performance been a nagging issue that hasn’t changed, no matter how well you've prepared for performances, auditions - and even lessons?

If you’ve been wanting to experience more joy in the practice room and play more like yourself on stage, but haven’t been quite sure how to make that happen, starting July 22, 2025, I’ll be teaching a live, online, accelerated 2-week class on the most essential mental skills and practice strategies that can make a difference in your practicing and performing.

We’ll meet twice a week via Zoom and work on a series of exercises and techniques in four essential skill areas (effective practice, managing anxiety, focus, and confidence), together as a group. And to make sure the concepts become consistent habits, I'll show you how to gently integrate these new skills into your (or your students’) daily practice through bite-sized practice challenges alongside a supportive group of practice buddies from around the world.

Over 2000 musicians, educators, and students and learners of all ages have participated in the course to date. You can find out what alumni are saying, and sign up to join Cohort 24 at:

bulletproofmusician.com/essentials