The Mind Over Finger Podcast

When practicing feels impossible, it's not because you're lazy or undisciplined. In this episode, I walk you through the simple mindset shifts and practical strategies that help you stop pushing and start showing up with more ease, clarity, and self-respect. You'll learn: · Why waiting for motivation doesn't work · A five-step mental reset to ease into practice · How to reduce friction and make your routine feel lighter · A quick trick to spark momentum on low-energy days · How to leave a session feeling proud—even when it wasn't perfect If you've been feeling stuck or resistant, this episode will help you reconnect with your purpose and make practicing feel more doable again. If you're ready to step on stage with confidence, perform at your best, and finally feel secure in your playing, let's talk! Book a free discovery call and let's create a plan to get you there. Are you ready to take your playing and career to the next level and create a life that feels purposeful and joyful? Let's connect and explore how personalized coaching can support your journey. Click here to schedule your free consultation, and let's start turning your goals into reality. Book your FREE Music Mastery Experience Discovery call with Renée HERE Book your free consultation with Renée HERE Download the transcript from this episode HERE Mind Over Finger Click www.mindoverfinger.com/coaching to book your free consultation with me. Visit MindOverFinger.com for my online courses as well as free resources on peak performance. Grab my free workshops and PDF downloads by going to www.mindoverfinger.com/resources. Connect: https://www.youtube.com/@MindOverFinger https://www.facebook.com/mindoverfinger/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfinger https://www.instagram.com/mindoverfinger/ THANK YOU: Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show's musical theme: Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Brad Stulberg, bestselling author and performance coach focused on sustainable excellence. He reframes excellence as a process of becoming and caring. He explores aligning ambition with values, pairing fierce discipline with self-kindness, and using a “brave new world” curiosity to face fear. He also covers resilience through a next-play mindset and balancing priorities as trade-offs, not perfection.

Feeling overwhelmed by balancing long-term goals and short-term demands? Discover how perfectionism might be stalling your progress and learn to separate growth work from prep work. Explore practical tools like time-blocking to structure your practice effectively. With insights on protecting your mental health and maintaining joy, you'll be guided to manage expectations and embrace flexibility in your approach. This discussion empowers you to make intentional choices and feel secure in your journey toward mastery.

If you've ever had one of those days where you know what you should do, but everything in you wants to procrastinate, avoid, or zone out... this episode is for you. I'm sharing one of my favorite mindset tools: a simple sentence structure you can use when motivation is low, when self-doubt is loud, or when you just feel stuck. It's a trick I return to again and again to get myself into action and back into alignment with who I want to become. Inside, you'll hear exactly how it works, why it helps you make progress without needing a massive pep talk, and how to use it right away in your practice, performance prep, or daily habits. This might be the shift that changes everything. Tune in and try it for yourself. If you're ready to step on stage with confidence, perform at your best, and finally feel secure in your playing, let's talk! Book a free discovery call and let's create a plan to get you there. Are you ready to take your playing and career to the next level and create a life that feels purposeful and joyful? Let's connect and explore how personalized coaching can support your journey. Click here to schedule your free consultation, and let's start turning your goals into reality. Book your FREE Music Mastery Experience Discovery call with Renée HERE Book your free consultation with Renée HERE Download the transcript from this episode HERE Mind Over Finger Click www.mindoverfinger.com/coaching to book your free consultation with me. Visit MindOverFinger.com for my online courses as well as free resources on peak performance. Grab my free workshops and PDF downloads by going to www.mindoverfinger.com/resources. Connect: https://www.youtube.com/@MindOverFinger https://www.facebook.com/mindoverfinger/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfinger https://www.instagram.com/mindoverfinger/ THANK YOU: Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show's musical theme: Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson. · Self‑Efficacy: The Exercise of Control https://www.scribd.com/document/394892404/Albert-Bandura-Self-Efficacy-The-Exercise-of-Control-W-H-Freeman-Co-1997-pdf Scribd · Identity‑Based Motivation and Health https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/89940/1/oyserman_fryberg_yoder_2007_identity_based_motivation_and_health._jpsp.pdf Deep Blue Repositories · Identity‑Based Motivation and Health Disparities (Journal of Social Issues) https://dornsife.usc.edu/daphna-oyserman/wp-content/uploads/sites/232/2023/11/oyserman_et_al_2014_jsi.pdf USC Dornsife · Identity‑Based Motivation and Core Processes https://rcgd.isr.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/oyserman2015ibm.pdf rcgd.isr.umich.edu · Identity‑Based Motivation and the Motivational Consequences of Difficulty https://dornsife.usc.edu/daphna-oyserman/wp-content/uploads/sites/232/2024/12/Social-Personality-Psych-2024-Oyserman-Identity-Based-Motivation-and-the-Motivational-Consequences-of-Difficulty.pdf USC Dornsife

Discover the transformative 'be, do, have' mindset that can unlock your musical potential. Learn how the typical 'do, have, be' approach keeps artists feeling burned out. Embrace your future self to boost your confidence and consistency today. Dive into the science of identity-based motivation and its impact on your growth. Plus, get practical actions to redefine your practice habits and step confidently into auditions. A simple prompt awaits to help you choose who you want to become right now!

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!

In this special episode, recorded live at New World Symphony's Wellness Week, four leading voices in musician wellness come together to share powerful strategies for navigating the mental, physical, and emotional demands of a music career. You'll learn: · How to recover from a tough performance without spiraling into shame or self-doubt · The mindset shift that separates your identity from your results · Why your body holds the key to emotional regulation and performance ease · How to build self-trust by understanding your nervous system · Tools to manage your inner critic and perfectionist tendencies · Practical ways to bring more awareness and intention into your practice · Why real growth requires both mental flexibility and physical freedom · How collaborative wellness approaches are changing the future of classical music Featuring insights from: · Dr. Noa Kageyama – Performance psychologist, Juilliard faculty, and creator of The Bulletproof Musician - https://bulletproofmusician.com/ · Lori Schiff – Master Alexander Technique teacher and long-time Juilliard faculty member - https://www.lorischiff.com/ · Dr. Coree Levy – Performance medicine and recovery expert working with elite musicians and athletes - https://www.drcoreelevy.com/ · Renée-Paule Gauthier – Violinist, performance coach, and host of the Mind Over Finger Podcast - https://www.mindoverfinger.com/ This conversation is packed with tools and insights you can start using right away to show up with more freedom, confidence, and clarity in your musical life. If you're ready to step on stage with confidence, perform at your best, and finally feel secure in your playing, let's talk! Book a free discovery call and let's create a plan to get you there. Are you ready to take your playing and career to the next level and create a life that feels purposeful and joyful? Let's connect and explore how personalized coaching can support your journey. Click here to schedule your free consultation, and let's start turning your goals into reality. Book your FREE Music Mastery Experience Discovery call with Renée HERE Book your free consultation with Renée HERE Download the transcript from this episode HERE Mind Over Finger Click www.mindoverfinger.com/coaching to book your free consultation with me. Visit MindOverFinger.com for my online courses as well as free resources on peak performance. Grab my free workshops and PDF downloads by going to www.mindoverfinger.com/resources. Connect: https://www.youtube.com/@MindOverFinger https://www.facebook.com/mindoverfinger/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfinger https://www.instagram.com/mindoverfinger/ THANK YOU: Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show's musical theme: Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Explore how your beliefs shape your performance and why unhelpful thoughts might be the root of your lack of motivation. Learn to identify limiting beliefs and utilize bridge thoughts to foster a positive mindset. Discover practical strategies to ‘be before you believe,’ helping you act as the confident musician you aspire to be. Renée shares powerful stories of transformation and offers actionable steps to reclaim your focus and confidence. It's time to change your mindset and elevate your musical journey!

In this inspiring conversation, violinist Randall Goosby shares how he balances technical mastery with deep artistic purpose. He offers insight into the mindset, values, and strategies that have shaped his unique approach to music-making—and how you can bring more meaning into your own playing. In this episode, you'll hear about: · The shift from performance perfection to performance purpose · How Randall connects with his "why" to stay grounded and inspired · Lessons learned from studying with Itzhak Perlman about authenticity and expression · The importance of honoring underrepresented voices in classical music · How to cultivate intention in the practice room—even on difficult days · Strategies for building connection with audiences beyond the stage · Why vulnerability is essential to making music that matters Whether you're refining your technique or rediscovering your voice as an artist, this episode offers thoughtful takeaways to help you grow with more clarity, confidence, and connection. Are you ready to take your playing and career to the next level and create a life that feels purposeful and joyful? Let's connect and explore how personalized coaching can support your journey. Click here to schedule your free consultation, and let's start turning your goals into reality. If you're ready to step on stage with confidence, perform at your best, and finally feel secure in your playing, let's talk! Book your free consultation with Renée HERE Download the transcript from this episode HERE MORE ABOUT RANDALL GOOSBY Website: https://randallgoosby.com/ YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RandallGoosbyViolin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rmgviolin/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsgooz/ Mind Over Finger Click www.mindoverfinger.com/coaching to book your free consultation with me. Visit MindOverFinger.com for my online courses as well as free resources on peak performance. Grab my free workshops and PDF downloads by going to www.mindoverfinger.com/resources. Connect: https://www.youtube.com/@MindOverFinger https://www.facebook.com/mindoverfinger/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfinger https://www.instagram.com/mindoverfinger/ THANK YOU: Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show's musical theme: Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Discover a practical framework to conquer performance anxiety with three essential pillars: preparation, conditioning, and mind management. Traditional methods fall short, but this approach teaches you to transform nervous energy into powerful performances. Learn how to effectively train your nervous system for support and incorporate focused practice for true readiness. Ready your skills and confidence to shine when it matters most!