The Bulletproof Musician

Explore how fuzzy mental images can hinder performance and discover an easier way to enhance mental imagery through action observation. Learn why performances often sound better at home than on stage, delving into factors beyond just nerves. The Mental Skills Audit quiz helps identify your mental strengths and weaknesses, offering strategies to bridge the gap between practice and performance. Plus, hear a relatable cooking mishap that highlights how uncomfortable experiences can influence our mindset in performance settings.

Discover the power of mental practice and visualization techniques used by both athletes and musicians to enhance performance. Learn how elite performers utilize mental imagery to overcome challenges and improve focus. Explore insights into dynamic imagery, which proves more effective than traditional methods by engaging the body physically. Addressing common issues like distractions and performance anxiety, this discussion offers practical strategies to help you feel more connected and effective in your practice and performances.

The discussion dives into the surprising benefits of pessimism in high-pressure scenarios. It highlights defensive pessimism as a valuable tool for enhancing performance, presenting research that shakes the belief that optimism is always superior. Listeners learn how embracing anxieties can lead to improved outcomes, making them rethink their strategies. Plus, there’s a focus on techniques for overcoming stagnation in practice, anxiety management, and increasing confidence—all aimed at helping performers play more authentically and joyfully.

Discover how specific breathing techniques can significantly reduce anxiety and why they are effective. A dive into research reveals the surprising benefits of breathing during high-pressure situations, like performances. Explore practical methods that can transform your daily stress management, and learn about the impact on experiences such as childbirth. Plus, gain insights on bridging the gap between practice and performance to enhance your joy and confidence in music.

Have you ever struggled to maintain a new habit? Like exercising, or recording yourself more often, or transcribing lesson recordings?A 2013 study found that a strategy called "temptation bundling" could boost your likelihood of sticking with your new behavior.Click below for all the nerdy details: Go From Procrastination to Productivity With “Temptation Bundling”More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter, for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only content. Pressure Proof: A free 7-day performance practice crash course that will help you shrink the gap between the practice room and the stage. Learning Lab: A continuing education community where musicians and learners are putting research into practice. Live and self-paced courses

A 2008 study highlights the two ways we often respond to disappointments and setbacks. They both work ok in the short term, but one is more effective in the long term.So what determines which one we choose? And how can we ensure we choose the approach that is more effective in the long term?Get all the nerdy details, references, and other links right here: A Better Way to Bounce Back From Disappointing SetbacksMore from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter, for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only content. Pressure Proof: A free 7-day performance practice crash course that will help you shrink the gap between the practice room and the stage. Learning Lab: A continuing education community where musicians and learners are putting research into practice. Live and self-paced courses

🎓 In this episode, we'll take a look at at 2017 ballet study which suggests that the simple element of choice could dramatically enhance learning outcomes.🧠 Discover:- Why giving students control over their learning process leads to improved performance- How autonomy boosts confidence and happiness in learners🚀 Whether you're an educator, parent, or lifelong learner, this episode will give you some ideas on how to tweak your approach to teaching and learning. Get the full article and all the nerdy details: Why Giving Students Choices Could Dramatically Enhance LearningMore from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter, for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only content. Pressure Proof: A free 7-day performance practice crash course that will help you shrink the gap between the practice room and the stage. Learning Lab: A continuing education community where musicians and learners are putting research into practice. Live and self-paced courses

Ever wish you could be psychic for a moment and find out what audition committees are thinking about your performance?Where they focused more on the technical aspects of your playing? The musical aspects of your playing? Or something else entirely?A 2022 study (Kegelaers et al.) took a look at feedback provided by members of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra to participants in their academy program in a series of mock auditions, and categorized these comments into 14 categories and 3 main themes.The results were probably not what the academy fellows were expecting!Get all the nerdy details here:What Are Audition Committees Really Listening For?More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter, for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only content. Pressure Proof: A free 7-day performance practice crash course that will help you shrink the gap between the practice room and the stage. Learning Lab: A continuing education community where musicians and learners are putting research into practice. Live and self-paced courses

Research suggests that a short bout of exercise could enhance the effectiveness of your practice, by boosting encoding and memory consolidation.But...if you were going to try this, when should you exercise? Before practicing? After practicing? For how long? At what level of intensity?A 2023 study provides some answers!Click through for all the nerdy details and references:The Best Time to Exercise for Maximizing Practice Gains(Oh - and if you’ve settled into a rather sedentary lifestyle in recent years and haven’t exercised in a while, do remember to consult with your physician before jumping into any sort of vigorous high-intensity exercise all of a sudden!)More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter, for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only content. Pressure Proof: A free 7-day performance practice crash course that will help you shrink the gap between the practice room and the stage. Learning Lab: A continuing education community where musicians and learners are putting research into practice. Live and self-paced courses

Let's say you had only 60 minutes to practice in the next week. Would it be better to do 60 minutes all in one day? Or 10 minutes per day for six days?Would it make any difference at all?Teachers often tell us to space our practice out, instead of cramming, but how much of a difference does it really make? Two Brazilian studies provide some answers!Get all the nerdy details (and 500+ other practice tips) right here:How Important Is It Really to Practice Every Day?More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter, for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only content. Pressure Proof: A free 7-day performance practice crash course that will help you shrink the gap between the practice room and the stage. Learning Lab: A continuing education community where musicians and learners are putting research into practice. Live and self-paced courses