The Bulletproof Musician

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Get Unstuck in the Practice Room With a “Creative Pause” Mar 11, 2023

Show notes

If you ever watched the show Friends, you might remember the episode where Phoebe stayed on hold for two days with her phone company, because every time she was about to hang up, the voice on the other end would tell her "you're the next caller" and she didn't want to give up right before she might finally get to speak to a live representative.
Have you ever had a similar sort of day in the practice room? Where you keep working on the same thing over and over again, without much to show for your efforts, but can't bring yourself to move on because of a hope that things might finally start to click if you just keep at it a tiny bit longer?
Turns out that taking a particular kind of break might be just what you need to spark new ideas and find more effective solutions to that passage. Learn why, and how to use a "creative pause" to get unstuck and solve that tricky passage that has you stumped.
Get Unstuck in the Practice Room With a “Creative Pause”

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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.
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Hans Jørgen Jensen: On Practicing With the Mind, Not Just the Fingers Mar 05, 2023

Show notes

A few weeks ago, my dog herniated a disk. He could barely sit, let alone walk and squat to do his business.
The vet gave him some drugs (apparently dogs take codeine?!), and told us that he needed to be kept in his crate, pretty much 24/7 for the next few weeks, to allow his spine to heal.
For the first week or so, it seemed like nothing was changing, and we began to worry - what do we do if this is how he is for the rest of his life?
But one day, suddenly, he had a smidge more pep in his step. The next day, things were better still. And he has continued to improve with each passing day.
Umm...and what does this have to do with music?
Well, have you ever had one of those days (or weeks), where nothing seems to be improving, and you start to wonder if the real problem is simply a lack of ability or talent?
It's easy for our mind to go there, but often, the issue is more a matter of having patience - and taking comfort in the knowledge that you're practicing the right way.
And how do you know if you're practicing the right way?
Whether it's learning how to play fast, be more in tune, nail those tricky shifts, or become a more expressive player, cellist Hans Jørgen Jensen shares insights on how to approach these issues in your daily practice.
Hans Jørgen Jensen: On Practicing With the Mind, Not Just the Fingers

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

How to Give Students Critical Feedback Without Crushing Their Confidence Feb 26, 2023

Show notes

Praising a student is easy. Giving critical feedback can be much tougher.
I mean, how can we call their attention to the things that don't sound great, while still building up their confidence?
Are feedback sandwiches (praise-criticism-praise) the answer? Or do we just praise their efforts? Or compliment mediocre work anyway?
A 2014 study provides some clues, and highlights one specific ingredient that is important to include in whatever feedback we give students, that could make them feel more empowered and likely to not only accept our feedback but act on it too.
Get all the nerdy details: How to Give Students Critical Feedback Without Crushing Their Confidence

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

How to Minimize Intrusive Thoughts When You’re Practicing Feb 19, 2023

Show notes

Have you ever had one of those moments in the practice room, where you suddenly notice that physically, you've been going through the motions for the last couple minutes, but mentally, you've been spacing out or thinking about something else entirely?

It might mean that you could use a quick nap, practice break, or even a drink of water (yep, there's a study on that!) to clear your head. But it could also be that you've just got a lot of stuff on your to-do list competing for your time and attention.

Jotting down these tasks on a to-do list can help - but a 2011 study found that this may not be enough to stop them from randomly popping into your thoughts and being a distraction. Luckily, the researchers also found a simple technique that can help to increase your focus in the moment!

Get all the nerdy details and this week’s practice hack right here:

How to Increase Your Focus in the Practice Room

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

Boost Learning and Performance With Naps, Not Coffee! Feb 12, 2023

Show notes

I actually never got into coffee myself. Not for any health or philosophical reason, but because I'm not a fan of hot liquids in general (is that weird?).

I can certainly appreciate the appeal of having something to boost your energy and get you through those mid-afternoon slumps. But what if there was a better way to not only get through the day but also increase the effectiveness of your practice, while improving learning and performance?

A 2008 study suggests that napping may be a better way to go for maximal practice gains, as caffeine might actually impair learning. Eek! 😳

Get all the nerdy details right here:

Boost Learning and Performance With Naps, Not Coffee!

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

Robert Duke: On the Value of Errors, and How Learning Really Works Feb 05, 2023

Show notes

It's often said that "perfect practice makes perfect," but what does "perfect practice" actually look like?
Does it mean what it sounds like it means? And is the saying even true, anyhow?
Researcher Robert Duke has been studying learning for decades, and has conducted a number of studies specifically in the area of music learning and teaching. In today's episode, he shares many of the insights he's gained over the years, and dispels some common misunderstandings about learning, which have direct implications on how we practice and teach.
Whether it's the role of mistake-making in learning, whether advanced players make more or fewer mistakes than less-experienced players, what professionals and students do differently in the practice room, and the potential value of limiting the number of repetitions you allow yourself to do, I think you'll find at least one new thing in today's episode that will change how you approach practicing in the upcoming week.
Get all the nerdy details here:
Robert Duke: On the Value of Errors, and How Learning Really Works

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

19 Things That Great Teachers Do Jan 29, 2023

Show notes

Ever wonder what it is that makes great teachers great? Like, are there any commonalities in the pedagogical approaches of renowned teachers?
A 2006 analysis of 30 hours of lesson footage of violinist Donald McInnes, oboist Richard Killmer, and pianist Nelita True found 19 common elements in their teaching approach across a range of students, from high school to doctoral level.
Click through for all the nerdy details:
19 Things That Great Teachers Do

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

How the ‘Gift’ Reframe Could Enhance Performance Jan 22, 2023

Show notes

Have you ever had someone suggest that you "think of your performance as a gift that you are sharing with the audience" as a way to help you calm your nerves before a performance?
Did that resonate with you at all? And either way, is there any evidence that reframing performances in such a way would help at all?
A 2015 study provides some clues. Learn more in today's episode, or click through for all the nerdy details:
How the ‘Gift’ Reframe Could Enhance Performance

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

How to Nail Shifts and Big Leaps More Consistently Jan 15, 2023

Show notes

Ever find yourself struggling to get a tricky shift or big leap in tune consistently?
There are lots of helpful ways to practice and problem-solve such challenges, but there's a method that comes from sports - involving a metronome, believe it or not - that might be helpful to add to your toolbox.
How to Nail Shifts and Big Leaps More Consistently

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

How to Keep Anxiety From Spiraling, on Stage and Off Jan 08, 2023

Show notes

As a kid, I had a habit of scanning the audience to see if I could catch a glimpse of my mom's reactions to my performance.
Generally, she'd be making a frowny sort of face, which didn't feel great then, but I now understand was probably more a look of concern, rather than disapproval.
I don't know why I did that, because it didn't help. And how freaky must that have been for the people in the audience? Especially in the vicinity of my mom? Like, what the heck is this kid looking at? Wait...is he looking at me?
Anyhow, I mention this because I found a study that reminded me of this old habit. Essentially, a team of researchers found that high and low-anxious folks tend to focus on very different things during a stressful task, and that this difference in attention was associated with either a milder or more severe stress response.
With college auditions coming up in the next couple months, this seemed like a particularly relevant tip that could come in pretty handy, whether during the playing bits or interview bits.
Get all the nerdy details and this week’s practice hack right here:
How to Keep Anxiety From Spiraling, on Stage and Off

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

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