Penthesilea On Air

In this bonus Q&A episode, Dr. Molly Gebrian answers questions from the Pentacillia community about practicing, performing and learning as a musician.Dr. Molly Gebrian answers the following questions:Should practice focus more on weaknesses, and how do strengths fit into the practice process?Should you practice when you are extremely tired, or is rest the better choice?Why do some musicians play better in auditions when they are exhausted?How can a negative performance experience affect the body and the brain?Does repeating a passage many times actually help it stick?How should a new or contemporary piece be learned from the beginning?This bonus episode takes a closer look at how musicians think, practice and perform under real conditions.More from Molly:Instagram: ⁠@mollygebrian⁠Book: ⁠Learn Faster, Perform Better: A Musician's Guide to the Neuroscience of Practicing⁠Would you like to hear more?Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.penthesileaonair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@karintbonelli⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@penthesilea.academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eli Cardich⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcastly

In this enlightening conversation, Molly Gebrian shares insights on how neuroscience can enhance practice efficiency for musicians. She discusses the importance of breaks, optimal timing, and setting clear goals for practice sessions. The conversation also delves into managing performance anxiety, the role of mental practice, and understanding memory in performance. Molly emphasizes the need for building confidence through addressing weaknesses and the significance of focusing on big-picture musical ideas rather than technical precision. Additionally, she provides strategies for rewiring old habits and overcoming performance trauma, ultimately guiding musicians towards a more effective and fulfilling practice experience.More from Molly:Instagram: @mollygebrianBook: Learn Faster, Perform Better: A Musician's Guide to the Neuroscience of PracticingWould you like to hear more?Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.penthesileaonair.com⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@karintbonelli⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@penthesilea.academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eli Cardich⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcastly

His weak spot? Ironing. His zone of genius? Motivating people and helping them believe in themselves.Giuliano Sommerhalder’s CV is extraordinary: principal positions in some of Europe’s leading orchestras, a distinguished solo career, exceptional chamber music collaborations, and teaching roles at three major universities.In this episode, we explore the full spectrum of excellence required to succeed across a wide range of musical contexts. What does Giuliano see as the difference between performing a solo within an orchestra and being the soloist in a concerto? How does he guide students to mentally approach auditions? And how does he deal with the pressure when a single mistake feels catastrophic?Giuliano takes us on an honest and inspiring journey through his multifaceted career and life. He shares insights into his teaching philosophy, the human understanding necessary to communicate with clarity and kindness in an orchestral setting and the mindset needed to navigate the challenges of a professional musician’s life—all delivered with his characteristic warmth and humor. Packed with insider insights from the world of trumpet playing, this conversation is a rare glimpse behind the scenes of a top musician’s approach to everyday exceptional challenges.More from Giuliano:Instagram: @giulianotrumpetWould you like to hear more?Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.penthesileaonair.com⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@karintbonelli⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@penthesilea.academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eli Cardich⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcastly

In this episode, we step again into a world where music, mental health, and medicine intersect – with special guest Heidi Brandi, musician, therapist, and founder of the Center for Professional Musicians in Hamburg. Heidi shares what inspired her to found the center in 2013, alongside Professors Hugo Schmale and Christian Kunert. Her main motivation was to create a space dedicated to the physical and psychological well-being of musicians – a crucial yet often-neglected aspect of professional artistic life, and one we aim to highlight regularly in this podcast.With her background in piano and organ and extensive experience supporting classical and jazz musicians, Heidi discusses the ongoing challenges musicians face, such as performance anxiety, physical strain, and the unspoken taboos around mental health in the industry.We explore the parallels she draws between performance music and competitive sports – including the pressure, recovery cycles, and institutional expectations. Heidi also reflects on whether musicians can regulate their own balance between productivity and rest – or whether larger structural changes in orchestras and conservatories are necessary.Delving into her research on artistic identity, we unpack what this term truly means: its components, how it’s formed, and how it can be shaped, or even distorted, by external pressures, career expectations, and personal history.The conversation also covers the role of artistic identity in auditions, how it can be used strategically, and whether adapting to specific orchestra cultures is a strength or a risk. Heidi explains how she works with young musicians and orchestral academies to prepare for these defining career moments – not just technically, but psychologically and emotionally.Would you like to hear more?Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.penthesileaonair.com⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@karintbonelli⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@penthesilea.academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eli Cardich⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcastly

In this episode, I had the immense honor of speaking with Tara Mohr, internationally renowned leadership coach and author of the groundbreaking book Playing Big: Practical Wisdom for Women Who Want to Speak Up, Create, and Lead. This conversation felt like a dream come true - for me personally and as a coach.Tara’s work, celebrated in The New York Times and Harvard Business Review, explores themes that reach far beyond the business or leadership world:How to access your inner wisdomWhat it means to follow a callingHow to navigate criticism and fear in creative spaces and how musicians - of all genders - can “play big” in the truest sense, both on and off stageEspecially in the classical music world, where external feedback and perfectionism often dominate, Tara’s insights offer a powerful shift - toward self-trust, artistic freedom, and a more authentic connection to your craft.We also explored two types of fear (Pachad and Yirah), the concept of the Inner Mentor versus the Inner Critic, and how redefining your relationship with both can transform your presence - on stage, in auditions, and in life.Whether you’re a student, performer, teacher, or music lover, this episode offers rich food for thought and practical tools to support your personal and artistic journey.More from Tara:Book: Playing Big: For Women Who Want to Speak Up, Stand Out and LeadWebsite: www.taramohr.comInstagram: @tarasophiamohrInner Mentor Visualization: www.taramohr.com/book/inner-mentor-signup/Would you like to hear more?Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.penthesileaonair.comInstagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@karintbonelli⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@penthesilea.academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eli Cardich⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcastly

Have you ever wondered what really happens after winning an orchestra audition? In this episode, I talk to Gudrun Hinze about the often overlooked challenges of the trial period and how to navigate this crucial phase with confidence and heart. Gudrun shares her personal journey and the lessons she learned about resilience, musical identity, and staying connected to your love for music. If you’re ready to grow beyond your instrument, this conversation is for you.More from Gudrun:Instagram: @hinzegudrunWebsite: www.gudrunhinze.deYouTube: @HinzePiccoloWould you like to hear more?Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠penthesilea.academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@karintbonelli⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@penthesilea.academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eli Cardich⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcastly

How can we stay creative and relaxed during auditions instead of falling into tension and perfectionism?In this episode, I talk to Dr. Eckart Altenmüller about how our brain works when we make music – and what it takes to stay healthy, motivated, and musically fulfilled in the long run. We explore topics like neuroplasticity, mental preparation, and how to handle pressure in a sustainable way. If you're ready to deepen your playing while staying connected to yourself, this conversation is for you.More from Dr. Eckart Altenmüller:Books: ⁠https://amzn.to/41TDbTLWould you like to hear more?Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠penthesilea.academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@karintbonelli⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@penthesilea.academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eli Cardich⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcastly

Have you ever achieved something you worked for, only to realize it wasn’t what you expected?In this episode, I talk to career strategist Angela Beeching about the myths of success in the music industry and what really matters when building a fulfilling career. We dive into resilience, unexpected career shifts, and how to navigate the moments when things don’t go as planned. If you're looking for inspiration and practical insights on shaping your own musical path, this episode is for you.More from Angela:Website: https://angelabeeching.comInstagram:@angelabeechingBook: Beyond Talent: Creating a Successful Career in MusicWould you like to hear more?Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠penthesilea.academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@karintbonelli⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@penthesilea.academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eli Cardich⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcastly

Dr. Michael Bohne is a physician and psychotherapist specializing in mental resilience and performance optimization. He shares insights on overcoming stage fright, emphasizing the power of emotional self-regulation through his unique PEP technique. The conversation touches on the significance of self-worth in music education, strategies for managing anxiety, and the importance of embracing mistakes for creativity. Dr. Bohne encourages musicians to find joy in their performances and highlights the role of physical touch in emotional calming.

In this episode, I have the privilege of talking to the amazing Alain Altinoglu, one of the most celebrated conductors of our time. We explore how he balances a demanding career with personal well-being, the art of communicating with orchestras, and the surprising lessons he learns along the way. Alain shares inspiring and eye-opening insights into the world of classical music. Join me for a conversation full of wisdom, humor, and a rare behind-the-scenes look at a conductor's life. More from Alain: Website: www.alainaltinoglu.com/ Would you like to hear more? Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠penthesilea.academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@karintbonelli⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@penthesilea.academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Eli Cardich⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcastly