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Ever wonder why you can practice for hours, sound great in the practice room, and still be frustratingly hit or miss on stage? Join performance psychologist and Juilliard alumnus/faculty Noa Kageyama, and explore research-based “practice hacks” for beating anxiety, practicing more effectively, and playing up to your full abilities when it matters most.
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All Keyed Up is an interview podcast in which Ben Kapilow speaks with a wide range of professionals about topics that are pertinent to the field of piano teaching.
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The use of mental practice or mental imagery to enhance learning and performance is extremely common amongst athletes in sports. And it’s something that musicians like Horowitz, Rubinstein, Glenn Gould, and learners at all levels have been known to use in music as well. But I’ve had students and professional musicians alike tell me that they someti…
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Not an Optimist? How to Make Pessimism Work for You.
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Do optimists have an advantage when it comes to performing better under pressure? Not necessarily! The research suggests that there are multiple types of pessimism. And that the right kind of pessimism can work too! Get all the nerdy details at: https://bulletproofmusician.com/not-an-optimist-how-to-make-pessimism-work-for-you/ * * * Have you ever …
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Can Breathing Really Help Reduce Anxiety? Or Is It Just a Cliché?
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Can the right sort of breathing really reduce anxiety? The short answer is yes - but why? A 2017 study illustrates how breathing could help reduce stress/anxiety, another 2017 study explains why, and a 2023 study highlights an unusual breathing technique that's worth trying! Get all the nerdy details at: https://bulletproofmusician.com/does-just-br…
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Go From Procrastination to Productivity With “Temptation Bundling”
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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 “Te…
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A Better Way to Bounce Back From Disappointing Setbacks
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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 r…
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Why Giving Students Choices Could Dramatically Enhance Learning
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🎓 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, paren…
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What Are Audition Committees Really Listening For?
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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 Concertgebo…
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The Best Time to Exercise for Maximizing Practice Gains
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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 n…
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How Important Is It Really to Practice Every Day?
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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 answe…
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Improve Coordination With Opposite-Side Practice
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Ever find yourself stumped by a tricky passage, where your fingers seem to be a little awkward and uncoordinated and they just don't do what they're supposed to do? Maybe you tried slowing things down, or practicing with note groupings or rhythms, or doing your darnedest to identify any hints of hidden tension that might be getting in the way. All …
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Nathan Cole: Lessons From 20 Years of Concertmaster Auditions
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Have you ever wondered...how to develop true confidence in yourself and your abilities amidst setbacks? What the right mindset is for auditions? How much of your expressive playing should be planned out, and how much is instinct? How to recover from very direct, critical audition feedback? And how do you stay in the present moment, instead of stres…
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An Ironic Strategy to Stay Calmer and Avoid Rushing on Performance Days
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Whether it's picking a tempo that's too fast, or rushing a shift, it's easy for things to feel sped up on concert days when the adrenaline kicks in, and the butterflies are fluttering about. Is there any way to be a little more centered on stage, and feel more at ease? Rather than hurried and rushed? Today's studies provide a few clues about what w…
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How Teachers' Expectations Can Shape Students' Learning & Performance
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In last week's episode, we looked at a study which illustrated how our own beliefs and expectations about ourselves can affect our performance. It turns out that our beliefs and expectations - and subsequently, performance - can also be shaped by our teachers/coaches. So...as teachers, how can we ensure that our natural snap judgments, beliefs, and…
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How Much Do Positive or Negative Expectations Affect Performance?
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Even from a very early age, I remember being told to imagine things going well. The idea, was that if I could imagine a positive outcome, I'd be more likely to expect good things, which would help me perform better. Is this just something that people say? Or do our expectations really have a meaningful effect on how we perform? A classic 1972 study…
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How to Keep Music Feeling Fresh Through Repeated Performances
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It's probably fairly common for our minds to go on autopilot when we're brushing our teeth, mowing the lawn, or folding laundry. And that's probably not all that big of a problem. But have you ever found your mind going on autopilot in a performance, when you're playing something you've played for years, and it's begun to feel a little too familiar…
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Is It Really so Bad to Frown After Making a Mistake?
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My daughter loved playing card games as a young child. And what was fun about playing with her was how completely transparent she was. Anytime she got a good hand, or picked up a special card, the glee was written all over her face. Her eyes lit up, and I knew something unfortunate was about to happen to me. 😆 This sort of emotional expressivity is…
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How frequently do you take breaks during practice? Ever wonder how long your breaks should be? Or for that matter, how long your practice sessions should be? If you've ever wondered if there's such a thing as an optimal practice-to-rest ratio that maximizes productivity and effective practice, there's some data out there which provides some clues. …
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Is There a Way to Make Self-Imposed Deadlines Work?
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Whether it's writing a paper, studying for finals, or preparing for a recital or audition, have you ever find yourself cramming at the last minute, wishing you had a time machine and could go back and give yourself more time to prepare? Well, a 2002 study provides some clues on how to set better deadlines - and also, how to make self-imposed deadli…
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