The Bulletproof Musician

Is banning phones and laptops in class a good idea - or totally unnecessary? A new study provides answers, but it's a little more nuanced than you might think.

Should Phones and Laptops Be Banned in the Classroom? Or Is This Just Much Ado about Nothing?

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Cellist-turned-entrepreneur Margo Drakos shares some of the key strategies that have been instrumental to her success both in music (Oregon, San Diego, Seattle, Pittsburgh symphonies & American String Quartet) and in the business world (InstantEncore, ArtistYear).

Margo Drakos: On Creating a Safety Net and Taking a Chance on Yourself

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A study suggests that we can learn more effectively and build more confidence by learning more about the wrong ways to perform a skill, instead of only learning the correct way to execute a skill.

Why Learning the Wrong Way to Play Could Enhance Performance (and Confidence Too)

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Rivalries are often thought of as being really competitive, and sometimes unhealthy, but are there situations in which they could be a good thing?

The Potential Upside of Having a "Rival"

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When you have too much time to wait backstage, it can be easy for your thoughts and emotions to spiral out to the bad place. Learn the specific strategies that athletes use to regulate their emotions and keep their cool.

How to Keep Your Cool Backstage Before Auditions and Performances

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Ever find yourself stuck in a performance "slump"? Where you struggle through a string of subpar auditions/performances, and can't figure out how to get back on track? Here are 8 strategies that can help right the ship.

8 Strategies for Breaking Out of a Performance Slump

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Have you ever felt that the music was "stuck"? Or wondered why your metronome practice wasn't working? Learn how to get unstuck and cultivate a stronger sense of rhythm in this chat with violinist Catherine Cho.

Catherine Cho: On Developing Great Rhythm (and Why Old-School Metronomes Are the Way to Go)

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Feeling a little demoralized after a sub-par performance? Here's a research-based post-performance reflection process developed at Florida State University to help you bounce back better, faster, and stronger.

The Performance Post-Mortem: A Review Process to Bounce Back Better and Faster

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It's common to vary one's speed/tempo when you're doing physical practice. But is there any benefit in doing this when engaged in mental practice?

A Visualization Hack to Get More Out of Your Mental Practice

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Research suggests that a new mental adjustment and shift in how we view the stakes in stressful performance situations could help us avoid choking under pressure.

A Mental Tweak to Reduce the Gap Between Your Best Playing and What Happens Under Pressure

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Philadelphia Orchestra concertmaster David Kim shares insights on his most effective practice techniques, biggest failures (and successes), and more.

David Kim: On Letting Go and Being Yourself

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Are people who have pictures of family and friends in their case on to something? A study suggets that simply imagining our partner can help us reduce stress as much as having them physically present.

A Scientific Rationale for Keeping Photos of Friends and Family in Your Case

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Is getting into "the zone" something that just happens randomly? Or do we have more control over this than we realize? New research suggests that we actually do indeed.

Get Into "The Zone" More Frequently with This Subtle Mental Adjustment

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Pre-performance routines often consist of a number of different elements. But might simply squeezing a ball in your left hand a few times be just as effective?

A Comparison of Two Types of Anti-Choking Strategies

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What is Alexander Technique, really? Will it help our playing? If so, in what way? How do we know if we need it? Learn more in this chat with Juilliard's Alexander Technique teacher Lori Schiff.

Lori Schiff: On How Alexander Technique Can Enhance Learning and Performance Under Pressure

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How much wiggle room do we have when it comes to intonation? Do pitch issues affect audience (and other musicians') opinions of the quality of a performance as much as we think they do?

How Perfect Does Your Intonation Have to Be?

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It's often said that we should focus on "the music" when performing instead of the notes and technique per se. But does this come at a cost to technical accuracy?

Does Focusing on Musical Expressiveness in Performance Come at the Expense of Technical Precision?

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Ever have a teacher tell you to imagine performing to the very last row in a hall? Research suggests that this might be better advice than we realize.

A Mental Shift That Could Help You Produce a More Beautiful Sound on Stage

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Ever have difficulty shutting off your brain and getting to sleep? A recent study found that this 5-min writing exercise could help.

Can’t Shut Off Your Brain and Get to Sleep? This 5-min Exercise Could Help.

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Cleveland Orchestra principal cellist Mark Kosower talks about how he approaches learning music, and describes what exactly he is thinking about when he's having his best performances.

For additional notes and links, visit Mark Kosower: On Learning Music, Slow Practice, and the Kind of Focus That's Associated With His Best Performances

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Sometimes we have to play music that we don't necessarily love. So is there anything we can do to cultivate some more enthusiasm about the piece anyway?

A "Backwards" Strategy for Cultivating More Passion about Music You're Not in Love With

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When you engage in mental practice, how aware are you of tempo? Might you be rushing or dragging? Here's some research on how that could have more of an effect on your performance than you might think.

Should You Be Using a Metronome When You Do Mental Practice?

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Nothing strikes fear in the heart of a string player like a shaking bow arm. Of course, worrying about shaking is a surefire way to experience the shakes. So what can you do to keep your mind from going to the bad place?

Why Worrying about Shaky Bow Just Makes Things Worse (and What You Could Focus on Instead)

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Have you ever wondered (or worried) if you were talented enough? Met principal timpanist Jason Haaheim explains why this is the wrong question to be asking ourselves - and what we should be asking instead.

Jason Haaheim: On Practice, Talent, Motivation, and Playing the "Long Game"

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Ever wish there was a way to fight jet lag and not be such a zombie when you travel across multiple time zones? Here are 9 tips from two Stanford orthopedic surgeons' review of the literature.

How to Minimize Jet Lag and Perform Your Best When Crossing Multiple Time Zones

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Have you ever practiced or studied in secret, afraid to let on how long it takes for you to learn something? Good news - other people are probably working harder than you think.

Do Other People Really Learn As Quickly As It Seems Like They Do?

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Ever get frustrated by how difficult it can be to follow through on big plans? Here are two strategies that research suggests can help you get over the hump.

2 Ways to Shrink the “Intention-Behavior Gap,” Improve Your Follow-through, and Get Things Done

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In this week's conversation, Boston Celtics assistant coach Jay Larranaga shares some of the key habits and characteristics that seem to be essential in becoming a top performer.

Jay Larranaga: On Becoming the Best Version of Yourself That You Can Be

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It wouldn't seem that improvisation would have a place in classical music performance - but could this be one of the keys to a better performance experience - for both performer and audience?

Comparison videos and links at: Why an “Improvisational Mindset” Could Be Vital to Reducing Performance Anxiety and Increasing Audience Engagement

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Research suggests that exercising after learning a new skill can help enhance the learning of that skill. So maybe the best time for musicians to work out is after a practice session?

How a Post-Practice Workout Could Help Boost Learning and Retention

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Is there something inherently different about classical music that makes classical musicians more anxious on stage? And if so, what could that possibly be?

Do Classical Musicians Get More Nervous Than Non-Classical Musicians? (And If so, Why?)

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Ever wonder what exact strategies experienced musicians use to come up with their own unique interpretation of a piece? Research suggests that these 8 strategies might be a good place to start.

For links to the guitarists' recordings, go to 8 Strategies Musicians Use to Create Their Own Unique Interpretation of a Piece

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Ever have one of those days where you question if it's possible to balance practicing, performing, and having a life?

In this week's chat, LA Phil violinists (and husband/wife) Nathan Cole and Akiko Tarumoto share their thoughts on practicing and auditioning after kids, what they've learned from each other, and more.

For full transcript and links, go to: Nathan Cole & Akiko Tarumoto: On Practice, Lifelong Learning, and Balancing Life With Work and Audition Preparation

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Research suggests that a different way of doing mental practice - "dynamic imagery" - could actually lead to better performance results than the regular 'ol way.

Have Difficulty Staying Awake During Mental Practice? Try "Dynamic" Mental Imagery Instead!

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Apparently we've all been sitting incorrectly our whole lives - and paying a price for it not just in terms of comfort, but cognitive performance too.

The Correct Way to Sit in a Chair (and How This Could Help Your Performance in More Ways Than You’d Think)

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Having difficulty concentrating in the practice room? Sounds simple, but research suggests that taking a drink of water could help increase concentration and help you problem-solve more effectively.

An Easy-to-Overlook “Hack” for Enhancing Concentration in the Practice Room

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Playing a musical instrument can be physically awkward at times - but it shouldn't feel quite as uncomfortable as it often does. In this week's conversation, violist Carol Rodland (Juilliard, Perlman Music Program) shares her thoughts on how we can all learn to play with more ease and effortlessness.

Carol Rodland: On Learning to Work with Your Body, Not Against It

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Some things are urgent (a gig today), while other things are important (a big audition in 2 months). How can we make the best use of our practice time so that we are at our best for the truly important moments?

The “Urgency Effect” and How to Prioritize More Effectively in the Practice Room

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We've all heard of "home-court advantage." But research suggests that there are times when performing in front of a supportive audience can put us at a disadvantage too.

Does It Help (or Hurt) to Have Friends and Family in the Audience?

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It's normal to feel pressure in high-stakes auditions and performances, but too much can lead to a meltdown. Is there any way to relieve some of that pressure while still caring deeply about doing our best?

Perform Better Under Pressure with This Subtle Adjustment to Your Self-Talk

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What do great performers think about while performing? Technique? Sound? Images? In this week's conversation, former Met principal horn player Julie Landsman shares insights on what she did to stay focused on stage, and how she was able to develop trust in her abilities under pressure.

For links and additional resources, go to: Julie Landsman: On Getting into the Zone and Developing Trust in Your Playing

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You probably already know about the benefits of mental practice. And you may also have heard of "observational practice." But recent research suggests that combining the two can help us learn even more effectively than doing either one on its own.

Research Suggests That While Mental Practice Is Good, This Hybrid Approach Is Even Better

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What's the right thing to say to someone before a high-pressure event? Good luck? You'll do great? Just breathe? Research suggests that a text message from a significant other can attenuate their stress response - but not any old message will do.

What's the Most (and Least) Helpful Thing to Text a Friend Before Their Audition?

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How do "overuse" injuries occur? Is it simply a matter of playing too much? Or are there other factors involved that are often overlooked? In this week's conversation, former MN Orchestra associate principal cellist Janet Horvath shares insights on how to play pain-free and avoid injuries.

Janet Horvath: On Preventing Overuse Injuries and Playing Pain-Free

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It's easy for lessons to become completely focused on all the things we are doing wrong. And while glossing over mistakes is not the answer, is this the most effective way to learn? Or might animal trainers know something that could actually come in handy, whether it's playing the piano or learning surgical skills?

A Better Way to Teach Complex Skills, Borrowed From…Doggy Training?

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We've all done it. And some swear that it helps them to focus and concentrate. But what does the research say? Do we actually study better if there's music playing in the background?

Listening to Music While Studying: Ok or Not Ok?

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Why you may want to give yourself a little bit of quiet time after practicing (or studying), instead of jumping immediately into another activity.

Memorize More Music by Remembering to Press "Pause"?

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I used to dread recording myself. And listening back was even worse. So why do some musicians swear by it? How exactly does it help us in the practice room and on stage? And how can we get ourselves to not only embrace recording...but maybe even come to enjoy the process?

Rob Knopper: On Overcoming the Fear of Recording Yourself (and Making It Your New Favorite Practice Tool)

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There are two kinds of mistakes we make on stage. The kind that we see coming (ack! difficult passage ahead!). And the kind we never could have imagined (what the...?!). Either way, we need a way to move past them quickly, so they don't snowball out of control. Here's where a mistake ritual can come in handy.

“Mistake Rituals” and Why it's Important to Prepare for On-Stage Surprises

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Stress is never any fun - but does stress also contribute to injury? Research suggests that it can...giving us another reason to make sure we are taking breaks and recharging our batteries during stressful times.

Does Stress Make Us More Susceptible to Injury?

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