Maybe it’s just my inner control freak, or all those years of violin practice, but whether my kids are practicing piano, Taekwondo, or Mario Kart, it’s very tempting to intervene and direct their practice. Like telling them what to work on, how to work on it, and so on.
But then I watch as they try to solve problems in other parts of their life. And whether it’s learning how to use GIMP to create transparent png’s, or creating a homemade earbud holder using a sewing machine, felt, and velcro, I see them Googling and looking up YouTube videos for help, and everything seems to work out just fine. Better than fine, actually. Any time they learn something on their own, it seems to go smoother, faster, and they take more away from it.
Of course, music is a little more complex, and we don’t want to allow too many opportunities for bad habits to form. So is there a way to reconcile the two? To get some of the learning benefits of self-directed learning, but with the guidance that allows them...Read More
Are thousands of hours of practice still somehow leading to poor performances?
The good news is that it’s not for lack of talent or a missing “performance gene.”
And no, you're not crazy. The emotional rollercoaster of self-doubt you go through backstage is completely normal.
Elite athletes have been learning how to develop the psychological skills necessary for overcoming these mental blocks for many years, and now I’d like to help you do the same.
By tweaking your approach to practicing, and learning some new mindsets and mental skills, you can start noticing real improvements to your playing that transfer to the stage.
Click below to learn more about the “secrets” (a.k.a. things that top athletes and coaches have known about for years, but have only recently begun to find their way to the performing arts) that I teach top performers at The Juilliard School.