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.

You've heard that mental practice and mental imagery can help enhance your learning - but what if your images are fuzzy and this is difficult for you? Is this something that you can get better at with practice? Spoiler alert: yes - and a 2014 study provides some insights into a way to improve your mental imagery abilities that might be easier than practicing imagery the regular old-fashioned way. Through a technique called "action observation." But is action observation as effective as the traditional way of practicing imagery? Get all the nerdy details, references, and more right here: <a href='https://bulletproofmusician.com/a-research-based-hack-that-could-improve-your-mental-practice-and-build-confidence-too/'>An Easier Way to Get Better at Mental Imagery?</a>* * * Have you ever wondered why it is exactly that things often sound better at home than they do on stage? If you’ve been confused (and frustrated) by the inconsistency of your performances, I put together a free 18-question quiz called the Mental Skills Audit, which will help you pinpoint your mental strengths and weaknesses and figure out what to tweak in your preparation. It’s 100% free, takes only 4 minutes, and you’ll get a downloadable PDF with a personalized breakdown of where you stand in six key mental skill areas. You'll also get Pressure Proof, a 7-day email course where you'll learn specific practice strategies designed to help shrink the gap between practice and performance and play your best when it matters most. Take the quiz here: <a href='https://bulletproofmusician.com/msa'>bulletproofmusician.com/msa</a>

The Bulletproof Musician

An Easier Way to Get Better at Mental Imagery?

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 sometimes have difficulty making the imagery feel real. Or that they have difficulty staying engaged with it. As in, one minute they’re visualizing some music, and the next, their mind has drifted off to food. Or they fall asleep. 🤣Could there be a better way to do visualization? Get all the nerdy details and study links here: <a href='https://bulletproofmusician.com/why-do-we-have-to-sit-still-when-doing-mental-imagery/'>A Better Way to Do Mental Practice?</a>* * * Have you ever wondered why it is exactly that things often sound better at home than they do on stage? If you’ve been confused (and frustrated) by the inconsistency of your performances, I put together a free 18-question quiz called the Mental Skills Audit, which will help you pinpoint your mental strengths and weaknesses and figure out what to tweak in your preparation. It’s 100% free, takes only 4 minutes, and you’ll get a downloadable PDF with a personalized breakdown of where you stand in six key mental skill areas. You'll also get Pressure Proof, a 7-day email course where you'll learn specific practice strategies designed to help shrink the gap between practice and performance and play your best when it matters most. Take the quiz here: <a href='https://bulletproofmusician.com/msa'>bulletproofmusician.com/msa</a>

A Better Way to Do Mental Practice?

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: <a href='https://bulletproofmusician.com/not-an-optimist-how-to-make-pessimism-work-for-you/'>https://bulletproofmusician.com/not-an-optimist-how-to-make-pessimism-work-for-you/</a>* * * Have you ever wondered why it is exactly that things often sound better at home than they do on stage? If you’ve been confused (and frustrated) by the inconsistency of your performances, I put together a free 18-question quiz called the Mental Skills Audit, which will help you pinpoint your mental strengths and weaknesses and figure out what to tweak in your preparation. It’s 100% free, takes only 4 minutes, and you’ll get a downloadable PDF with a personalized breakdown of where you stand in six key mental skill areas. You'll also get Pressure Proof, a 7-day email course where you'll learn specific practice strategies designed to help shrink the gap between practice and performance and play your best when it matters most. Take the quiz here: <a href='https://bulletproofmusician.com/msa'>bulletproofmusician.com/msa</a>

Not an Optimist? How to Make Pessimism Work for You.

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: <a href='https://bulletproofmusician.com/does-just-breathe-really-help-us-lower-anxiety-or-is-it-just-a-total-cliche/'>https://bulletproofmusician.com/does-just-breathe-really-help-us-lower-anxiety-or-is-it-just-a-total-cliche/</a>* * * Have you ever wondered why it is exactly that things often sound better at home than they do on stage? If you’ve been confused (and frustrated) by the inconsistency of your performances, I put together a free 18-question quiz called the Mental Skills Audit, which will help you pinpoint your mental strengths and weaknesses and figure out what to tweak in your preparation. It’s 100% free, takes only 4 minutes, and you’ll get a downloadable PDF with a personalized breakdown of where you stand in six key mental skill areas. You'll also get the Pressure Proof practice challenge, a 7-day email course where you'll learn specific practice strategies that will help you perform your best when it matters most. Take the quiz here: <a href='https://bulletproofmusician.com/msa'>bulletproofmusician.com/msa</a>

Noa Kageyama

The Bulletproof Musician by Noa Kageyama

Episodes