

The Mind Over Finger Podcast
Dr. Renée-Paule Gauthier
Discussions on mindful music-making, efficient practice, and building a purposeful career with the performers, pedagogues, and innovators who are shaping the classical music world today!
The Mind Over Finger Podcast is a resource for knowledge, insight, tips, tricks, and inspiration for musicians interested in learning more about practicing mindfully, performing optimally, and getting more intentional in creating a fulfilling musical career.
We provide you with the tools to mindfully shift your musical practice from unconscious to deliberate, from paint-by-numbers to art by flow, from going through the motions to delightful play!
The Mind Over Finger Podcast is a resource for knowledge, insight, tips, tricks, and inspiration for musicians interested in learning more about practicing mindfully, performing optimally, and getting more intentional in creating a fulfilling musical career.
We provide you with the tools to mindfully shift your musical practice from unconscious to deliberate, from paint-by-numbers to art by flow, from going through the motions to delightful play!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 21, 2022 • 16min
147 The Magic of Micro Rests
Several studies show the benefits of interspersing breaks into your practice blocks. A 2021 publication offers a fun new way to experiment with breaks. Here's how you can apply this in your practice. Listen and try at home this week: 🔹 Practice a passage for 10-30 seconds (or for a set number of repetitions) 🔹 Rest for 10 seconds – breathe and release physical tension. Don't focus on anything. Just chill and let your mind drift! 🔹 Continue alternating practice and rest segments until you feel you've completed your work with the passage or the time you allotted for it is over. 🔹 Assess your progress. Additional resources: Huberman Lab Episode 27: https://hubermanlab.com/the-science-of-hearing-balance-and-accelerated-learning/ Consolidation of human skill linked to waking hippocampo-neocortical replay: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211124721005398 >> DOWNLOAD THE TRANSCRIPT FROM THIS EPISODE HERE Do you have specific questions for me or my guests you would like answered on the podcast? Share them with me HERE! Practicing for Peak Performance: Your Step-by-step Roadmap to Optimal Performance! Get you self-paced program HERE and transform how you perform TODAY! Mind Over Finger Visit MindOverFinger.com for resources on mindful practice and information on how to work with me. Sign up for my newsletter to receive your free guide to a highly productive mindful practice and to get the transcripts of the Mind Over Finger Podcast episodes delivered to your inbox. Join the Join the Mind Over Finger Community for access to my live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians. www.mindoverfinger.com 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. A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who makes this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you!

Oct 13, 2022 • 21min
146 Ten "Mistakes" Smart Musicians Make and How to Avoid Them – Part 2
Ten Mistakes Smart Musicians Make and How to Avoid Them – Part 2 Reflection - Here are questions to increase your awareness of the topics I cover in the episode: How can I make choices that benefit me right now AND support me long term? How can I honor both my commitments AND myself today? How can I become more connected to my internal joy and creativity in the practice room? Audition coming up? Big concert? Degree recital? Feeling stuck and wanting a new way to approach practicing that will give you THE RESULTS YOU WANT? Sign up for the Confident Musician Free Workshop! I will share with you everything you need to FEEL CONFIDENT, PLAY YOUR BEST, GET THE RESULTS YOU WANT, and ENJOY YOURSELF in performance!. Click HERE join me live or to access the replay. Friday October 14, 2022 10-11:30 am CT / 11-12:30am am ET Here's what it's all about: ✨Three Pillars of Optimal Performance ✨ How to plan ✨ How to practice ✨ How to get ready for performance, win the audition, rock the stage, and enjoy the whole experience... and more! >> DOWNLOAD THE TRANSCRIPT FROM THIS EPISODE HERE Do you have specific questions for me or my guests you would like answered on the podcast? Share them with me HERE! Mind Over Finger Visit MindOverFinger.com for resources on mindful practice and information on how to work with me. Sign up for my newsletter to receive your free guide to a highly productive mindful practice and to get the transcripts of the Mind Over Finger Podcast episodes delivered to your inbox. Join the Join the Mind Over Finger Community for access to my live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians. www.mindoverfinger.com 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. A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who makes this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you!

Oct 7, 2022 • 21min
145 Ten "Mistakes" Smart Musicians Make and How to Avoid Them – Part 1
Ten "Mistakes" Smart Musicians Make and How to Avoid Them Reflection: If my success was inevitable and I could not fail, what would I go for? If I knew that I have the insight to come up with the best plan for myself, what would it look like? If I knew the answer, the solution to this problem, what would it be? If I knew I can't mess it up, what would I try next? >> DOWNLOAD THE TRANSCRIPT FROM THIS EPISODE HERE Do you have specific questions for me or my guests you would like answered on the podcast? Share them with me HERE! Mind Over Finger Visit MindOverFinger.com for resources on mindful practice and information on how to work with me. Sign up for my newsletter to receive your free guide to a highly productive mindful practice and to get the transcripts of the Mind Over Finger Podcast episodes delivered to your inbox. Join the Join the Mind Over Finger Community for access to my live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians. www.mindoverfinger.com 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. A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who makes this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you!

Sep 30, 2022 • 49min
144 Wu Han: Creating with Vision, Passion, & Commitment
In this episode, Wu Han discusses the journey that got her where she is today, her approach to learning and practicing the repertoire, how she makes the most of a practice session, how she handles the vast quantity of repertoire she has to perform, her advice to young artists thinking of building a career performing chamber music, and much more. MORE ABOUT WU HAN Website: https://davidfinckelandwuhan.com/ YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/davidfinckelandwuhan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chambermusicsociety Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center: https://www.chambermusicsociety.org/ Music at Menlo: https://musicatmenlo.org/ Wolf Trap Chamber Music at the Barn: https://www.wolftrap.org/calendar.aspx?genre=symphony%2fchamber&venue=the+barns+at+wolf+trap Sign up for the FREE Mind Over Finger Fall Workshop here: The Confident Musician – Everything you need to prepare for an optimal performance to FEEL CONFIDENT, PLAY YOUR BEST, and ENJOY YOURSELF! >> DOWNLOAD THE TRANSCRIPT FROM THIS EPISODE HERE Do you have specific questions for me or my guests you would like answered on the podcast? Share them with me HERE! Mind Over Finger Visit MindOverFinger.com for resources on mindful practice and information on how to work with me. Sign up for my newsletter to receive your free guide to a highly productive mindful practice and to get the transcripts of the Mind Over Finger Podcast episodes delivered to your inbox. Join the Join the Mind Over Finger Community for access to my live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians. www.mindoverfinger.com 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. A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who makes this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you!

Sep 23, 2022 • 12min
143 Practice Room Superpower: Self-Compassion
How self-compassion (or self-respect) can/will dramatically impact your results in the practice room. Sign up for the FREE Mind Over Finger Fall Workshop here: The Confident Musician – Everything you need to prepare for an optimal performance where you feel confident, play your best, and enjoy yourself! Reflection: If my inner voice was a character right now, would it be a loving and supportive mentor, or a nagging bully? What sentences do I most often repeat to myself in the practice room? Are they helpful? How can I turn them around into sentences that are helpful? When I say those things to myself, do I feel supported, or do I feel judged? Would I talk this way to a beloved student? >> DOWNLOAD THE TRANSCRIPT FROM THIS EPISODE HERE Do you have specific questions for me or my guests you would like answered on the podcast? Share them with me HERE! Mind Over Finger Visit MindOverFinger.com for resources on mindful practice and information on how to work with me. Sign up for my newsletter to receive your free guide to a highly productive mindful practice and to get the transcripts of the Mind Over Finger Podcast episodes delivered to your inbox. Join the Join the Mind Over Finger Community for access to my live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians. www.mindoverfinger.com 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. A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who makes this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you!

Sep 16, 2022 • 15min
142 Practice Room Superpower: Patience
Why "Slow Is Fast and Fast Is Slow" and how "Patience Leads Fastest to Your Goal." Reflection: How am I feeling right now? What am I experiencing in my body? Which emotion is powering my practice right now? >> DOWNLOAD THE TRANSCRIPT FROM THIS EPISODE HERE Do you have specific questions for me or my guests you would like answered on the podcast? Share them with me HERE! Mind Over Finger Visit MindOverFinger.com for resources on mindful practice and information on how to work with me. Sign up for my newsletter to receive your free guide to a highly productive mindful practice using a metronome and to get the transcripts of the Mind Over Finger Podcast episodes delivered to your inbox. Don't forget to join the Join the Mind Over Finger Community for access to my live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians. www.mindoverfinger.com 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. A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who makes this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you!

Sep 9, 2022 • 18min
141 Practice Room Superpower: Mind Over Finger
How complete alignment over unnecessary, mindless effort will transform your results in the practice room. Reflection: What happens and what am I thinking when I engage in mindless practicing? What does being fully present in the practice room look and feel like for me? What keeps me engaged while I practice? >> DOWNLOAD THE TRANSCRIPT FROM THIS EPISODE HERE Do you have specific questions for me or my guests you would like answered on the podcast? Share them with me HERE! Information on the myelination process: 2-Minute Neuroscience: Myelin Daniel Coyle – The Talent Code: Unlocking the Secret of Skill in Sports, Art, Music, Math Anders Ericsson and Robert Pool – Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise Annie Bosler and Don Greene – How to practice effectively...for just about anything Mind Over Finger Visit MindOverFinger.com for resources on mindful practice and information on how to work with me. Sign up for my newsletter to receive your free guide to a highly productive mindful practice using a metronome and to get the transcripts of the Mind Over Finger Podcast episodes delivered to your inbox. Don't forget to join the Join the Mind Over Finger Community for access to my live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians. www.mindoverfinger.com 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. A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who makes this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you!

Aug 31, 2022 • 34min
140 The Formula to Build Your Practice Session - Gear Up for Fall 22 Part 5
Welcome to Gear Up for Fall 22, a special series of five episodes that brings you everything you need to gear up for an amazing new season of music-making! We cover everything from setting goals to getting you set up for success by helping build your amazing practice regimen. PART 5 - Practice Session Formula In this episode, I talk about the about how to create a efficient practice session breakdown You will hear about the three basic qualities you want in a practice session, the mindsets to nurture to be productive in your work, and the general sections to include in a solid musical progression. >> DOWNLOAD THE RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE HERE Mind Over Finger Visit MindOverFinger.com for resources on mindful practice and information on how to work with me. Sign up for my newsletter to receive your free guide to a highly productive mindful practice using a metronome and to get the transcripts of the Mind Over Finger Podcast episodes delivered to your inbox. Don't forget to join the Join the Mind Over Finger Community for access to my live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians. www.mindoverfinger.com https://www.facebook.com/mindoverfinger/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfinger https://www.instagram.com/mindoverfinger/ THANK YOU: A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who works really hard to make this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for 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.

Aug 31, 2022 • 24min
139 How to Warm Up - Gear Up for Fall 22 Part 4
Welcome to Gear Up for Fall 22, a special series of five episodes that brings you everything you need to gear up for an amazing new season of music-making! We cover everything from setting goals to getting you set up for success by helping build your amazing practice regimen. PART 4 – Warming Up In this episode, I share my favorite tips on how to create an effective warm up regimen. >> DOWNLOAD THE RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE HERE Mind Over Finger Visit MindOverFinger.com for resources on mindful practice and information on how to work with me. Sign up for my newsletter to receive your free guide to a highly productive mindful practice using a metronome and to get the transcripts of the Mind Over Finger Podcast episodes delivered to your inbox. Don't forget to join the Join the Mind Over Finger Community for access to my live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians. www.mindoverfinger.com https://www.facebook.com/mindoverfinger/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfinger https://www.instagram.com/mindoverfinger/ THANK YOU: A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who works really hard to make this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for 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.

Aug 31, 2022 • 28min
138 How to Prepare for Practice - Gear Up for Fall 22 Part 3
Welcome to Gear Up for Fall 22, a special series of five episodes that brings you everything you need to gear up for an amazing new season of music-making! We cover everything from setting goals to getting you set up for success by helping build your amazing practice regimen. PART 3 - Priming Power In this episode I share my favorite tips about a powerful ritual that can transform the results you get in the practice room: PRIMING. When we're priming, we prepare the body and mind to be fully engaged and productive. By setting up a priming ritual before a practice session, you can significantly affect your level of presence and focus. The pay off? Get more results during your practice. A total game changer! (I also squeeze in a little gift at the end: my priming guided visualization exercise!) Enjoy! >> DOWNLOAD THE RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE HERE Mind Over Finger Visit MindOverFinger.com for resources on mindful practice and information on how to work with me. Sign up for my newsletter to receive your free guide to a highly productive mindful practice using a metronome and to get the transcripts of the Mind Over Finger Podcast episodes delivered to your inbox. Don't forget to join the Join the Mind Over Finger Community for access to my live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians. www.mindoverfinger.com https://www.facebook.com/mindoverfinger/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfinger https://www.instagram.com/mindoverfinger/ THANK YOU: A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who works really hard to make this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for 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.


