The Mindful Musician

In The Mindful Musician: Mental Skills for Peak Performance, author Vanessa Cornett offers guidelines to help musicians cultivate artistic vision, objectivity, freedom, quiet awareness, and self-compassion, both on- and offstage in order to become more resilient performers. Contrary to modern culture's embrace of busyness and divided attention, Cornett's contemplative techniques provide greater space for artistic self-expression and satisfaction. With the aid of a companion website that includes audio files and downloadable templates, The Mindful Musician provides a method to promote attentional focus, self-assessment, emotional awareness, and creativity. The first of its kind to combine mindfulness practices with research in cognitive and sport psychology, this book helps musicians explore the roots of anxiety and other challenges related to performance, all through the deliberate focus of awareness.

In The Mindful Musician: Mental Skills for Peak Performance, author Vanessa Cornett offers guidelines to help musicians cultivate artistic vision, objectivity, freedom, quiet awareness, and self-compassion, both on- and offstage in order to become more resilient performers. Contrary to modern culture's embrace of busyness and divided attention, Cornett's contemplative techniques provide greater space for artistic self-expression and satisfaction. With the aid of a companion website that includes audio files and downloadable templates, The Mindful Musician provides a method to promote attentional focus, self-assessment, emotional awareness, and creativity. The first of its kind to combine mindfulness practices with research in cognitive and sport psychology, this book helps musicians explore the roots of anxiety and other challenges related to performance, all through the deliberate focus of awareness.

In our noisy world, music is the key to inner silence Richard Wolf first tried Zen meditation in his teens, but no matter in what posture or for how long he sat, transcendence proved stubbornly out of reach. It was only years later that he found the bridge that could take him there: music. In Tune charts twelve “bridges”—skills and sensibilities refined in musical practice that carry over to mindfulness and meditation, among them: Concentration Posture Harmony Silence The Art of Deep Listening Transcending the Self This inspirational guide offers a wealth of music-based exercises to enhance daily meditation and creativity. Plus, Wolf shares personal anecdotes of eminent musicians—from Miles Davis to Dr. Dre—to illuminate points along the intersection of music and mindful living. As you begin to move fluidly between these two transformative disciplines, you’ll notice the focus, composure, and peacefulness that comes from practice—as well as the joys of tuning in to the music all around you, and to the symphony that plays silently from within.

Where does learning begin and how is it sustained and stored in the brain? For musicians, these questions are at the very core of their creative lives. Cognitive and neuroscience have flung wide the doors of our understanding, but bridging the gap between research data and music-making requires a unique immersion in both worlds. Lynn Helding presents a symphony of discoveries that illuminate how musicians can optimize their mental wellbeing and cognitive abilities. She addresses common brain myths, motor learning research and the concept of deliberate practice, the values of instructional feedback, technology’s role in attention disorders, the challenges of parenting young musicians, performance anxiety and its solutions, and the emerging importance of music as a social justice issue. More than an exploration of the brain, The Musician’s Mind is an inspiring call for artists to promote the cultivation of emotion and empathy as cornerstones of a civilized society. No matter your instrument or level of musical ability, this book will reveal to you a new dynamic appreciation for the mind’s creative power.

My story -- Why do we play? -- Beyond limited goals -- Fear, the mind and the ego -- Fear-based practicing -- Teaching dysfunctions: fear-based teaching -- Hearing dysfunctions: fear-based listening -- Fear-based composing -- "The space"--"There are no wrong notes" -- Meditation #1 -- Effortless mastery -- Meditation #2 -- Affirmations -- The steps to change -- Step one -- Step two -- Step three -- Step four -- An afterthought -- I am great, I am a master -- Stretching the form -- The spiritual (reprise) -- One final meditation.

In The Musician's Way, veteran performer and educator Gerald Klickstein combines the latest research with his 30 years of professional experience to provide aspiring musicians with a roadmap to artistic excellence. Part I, Artful Practice, describes strategies to interpret and memorize compositions, fuel motivation, collaborate, and more. Part II, Fearless Performance, lifts the lid on the hidden causes of nervousness and shows how musicians can become confident performers. Part III, Lifelong Creativity, surveys tactics to prevent music-related injuries and equips musicians to tap their own innate creativity. Written in a conversational style, The Musician's Way presents an inclusive system for all instrumentalists and vocalists to advance their musical abilities and succeed as performing artists.

"Peppered with intriguing exercises and motivational quotes" - BBC Music mag “Mark Tanner has written a mindfulness manifesto for music” - BBC Radio 3: Music Matters "Mindfulness in Music is both informative and thought-provoking - a fascinating read on many levels" - Julian Lloyd Webber Mindfulness in Music is a joyful exploration into the meditative nature of music and its holistic beauty. Mark Tanner reveals how composers and musicians have always embraced mindful connections, and how everyone can cherish the same life-affirming chords. Whether listening to a forest soundscape, playing trombone in a ska group or listening to Beethoven or Beyonce, he reveals the natural ecology to all forms of music, and the creative mindful instinct we share. Through unique meditations, personal reflections, and holistic notes, this astute author shines a spotlight on the humanity and spirituality in music.

Discover the Symphony Within You! Bring your music to life like never before with "Tuning In: The Mindful Musician's Guide to Self-Expression". This enriching Special Report by Jonas Jackson embraces the beauty of music intertwined with mindfulness, offering the perfect guide to unleash the rhythm of your soul and amplify your self-expression. Navigate beyond the regular boundaries of playing an instrument, and dive into the exhilarating journey of exploring your inner emotions, ideas, and passions. An invaluable resource for emerging artists and seasoned musicians alike, it promises to initiate you into the potent magic of mindful music. The Harmony of Consciousness: Understand how music and mindfulness intertwine to create a splendid symphony. Deeper Than Sound: Delve into the stimulating arena of music psychology, and learn how it influences your practice and performance. Mastering Musical Flow: Practical exercises and techniques to establish resonance between your inner self and the music you create. Encore! Create a sustainable practice that will keep you connected with your musical instincts beyond the studio or stage. Allow Jonas' experiences and iterative learning, delicately woven into the narrative, to equip and inspire you. Trust the power of "Tuning In" to establish a lasting bond between your favorite art and your deepest self. So, why wait? Tune in, and turn up your unique symphony!

Author Paola Savvidou empowers applied music instructors to honour and support their students' wellness through compassion-filled conversation tools, and hands-on activities both injury prevention, mental health protection, and recovery support.

Caring for the Whole Musician brings together insights from two expert musicians and educators to consider the relationship between mental and physical health and artistic practice for musicians. Offering a holistic perspective that encompasses the whole being – body, mind, and heart – this book provides emerging musicians with tools, practices, and mindsets to address key challenges throughout their journey. The first part, Awareness, addresses wellness and embodiment in music, exploring how our bodies are constructed and how the use of our bodies as instruments affects function. Using approaches including Body Mapping and the Alexander Technique, this part helps readers discover adverse habits that interfere with natural movement, and nurture awareness of the body. The second part, Mindfulness, explores how meditative practice can be incorporated into every stage of concert preparation and embedded within the daily life of the musician. Offering mindfulness exercises related to each stage of the music-making process, these chapters provide strategies for readers to enhance their well-being and focus. Centered in the understanding of the musician as a whole being, this book provides an essential guide to how practices of awareness and mindfulness can allow musicians to better care for themselves and flourish in their artistic careers.