The Musician's Way Blog

Barbara Fredrickson

“Positive emotions open our hearts and minds,
making us more receptive and more creative.”
–Barbara Fredrickson, psychologist and author (Positivity, p. 21)

We musicians intuitively understand the power of positive emotions.

Whether we’re practicing or performing, we know that feelings such as joy and hope ignite our artistry.

We also understand that, on the flipside, negativity can sap our motivation and stifle our musicality. Continue Reading

“When you project a centered presence from the stage,
your audience becomes attentive and relaxed.”
–The Musician’s Way, p. 180

To make our best music, we performers need to be mentally, physically, and emotionally in sync. In a word: centered.

Then, assuming that we’ve learned our material deeply, we can trust in our preparation and connect with our audiences.

In fact, centered musicians often captivate their listeners from the moment they step on stage because their powerful demeanor generates an expectant energy. Continue Reading

“2-to-1 breathing helps reduce, coordinate, and stabilize the activity of the brain and the nervous system.”
–John Clarke, M.D., former Chairman of the Himalayan Institute

If we feel unsettled prior to playing or singing, 2-to-1 breathing is a powerful tool that helps us restore inner balance and kindle creativity.

Repeated for a number of cycles, this exercise triggers an innate calming response that also tempers the fight-or-flight activation brought on by performance nerves.

Here’s how it’s done. Continue Reading

Suppose that you’re preparing to play or sing in public. How do you bridge the gulf between personal practice and public performance?

I’ve observed that many rising musicians underperform because they omit a crucial element from their preparatory routines: practice performances.

Here are 3 ways that instrumentalists and singers can practice performing and become masterful on stage.

All of these concepts are expanded on in Part II of The Musician’s Way. Continue Reading

Envision standing at a stage door, seconds before your entrance at a solo or small-group concert.

The hall darkens; the audience’s anticipation builds.

A stagehand whispers: “Ready?”

Let’s stop here and give this scenario a closer look. Continue Reading