How the Things You Think about Backstage Could Affect Your Emotional Experience on Stage
Subscribe to the weekly "audio edition" via iTunes If you’ve ever recorded yourself performing (and listened back) you’ve probably noticed how in many cases, your performance sounds a whole lot better than it felt like things were going in the moment. And that’s certainly helpful to know - but it’d be nice if our experience in the moment wasn’t quite so crummy, no? Unfortunately, those days when we’re having a really positive experience onstage seem to happen so randomly… Is there anything we…
How to Talk to Yourself When You’re Having a Bad Practice Day (or Week)
Subscribe to the weekly "audio edition" via iTunes By now, you’ve surely noticed that toilet paper is a hot commodity. And you’ve probably noticed that stores aren’t quite as fully stocked with eggs as they once were. So I guess I wasn’t totally surprised when I read a little while back that some folks began stress-buying chickens (as in real live ones, to lay eggs - not chicken, rotisseried, nuggetted, or otherwise). Which reminded me of the handful of chickens my family had when I was…
Having Difficulty Believing in Yourself? Here’s a Confidence-Building Technique That Doesn’t Feel Like You're Lying to Yourself.
Subscribe to the weekly "audio edition" via iTunes Argue for your limitations, and sure enough they're yours. -Richard Bach Like much of the rest of the quarantined world, I’ve enjoyed watching the ESPN documentary series The Last Dance over the last few weeks, and reliving memories of the Chicago Bulls’ six championships back in the 90’s. And sure, much of the fun is the nostalgia of remembering those big games and big shots, the shock of Jordan’s retirement, the excitement of Jordan’s…
Struggling with Practice Apathy? You Might Be Neglecting “Psychological Rest”
Subscribe to the weekly "audio edition" via iTunes If Buzzfeed is any sort of approximation of the world at large, it would seem that a lot of folks are spending their quarantines trying to level up their cooking/baking game or DIY skills in some way or another. Whether it’s making (and eating) boiled eggs, cutting a little cutout in the door for the cat, or grooming the dog, there are a lot of funny examples of people’s attempts to develop some new skills. Of course, there has also been an…
Howard Nelson & Pamela Frank: On the Intersection of Healthy Physical Habits and Efficient, Effective Practice That Transfers to the Stage
When NYC’s quarantine began in March, and more and more people began working from home, one of the biggest challenges for many, was finding a usable workspace in already-tiny apartments. Over the last month for instance, my wife has spent more time using her piano as a desk than as a piano (HA! sick burn…) – but then again, I guess this beats using a hamper in the hallway, an ironing board, or (my personal favorite) a jumbo pack of toilet paper in front of the toilet. And sure, it’s kind…