Blog posts

How to Escape 6 Cognitive Traps in Music Practice and Performance

How to Escape 6 Cognitive Traps in Music Practice and Performance

Mindset, Growth, Focus and Concentration, Nerves and Anxiety, Performance, Practice and Preparation, ConfidenceMark BainOctober 25, 2024Cognitive fusion, defusion, mental skillsComment

11 Steps to Maximise Your Self-Recording Process as a Musician

11 Steps to Maximise Your Self-Recording Process as a Musician

Confidence, Focus and Concentration, Performance, Practice and PreparationMark BainJune 1, 2024Self-recording, ReviewComment

8 Ways to Develop Your Audiation Skills

8 Ways to Develop Your Audiation Skills

Mark BainJanuary 1, 2024Comment

Use "Performance Cues" to Create Mindful Musicianship

Use "Performance Cues" to Create Mindful Musicianship

Focus and Concentration, Nerves and Anxiety, Performance, Practice and Preparation, ConfidenceMark BainOctober 26, 2023Performance Cues, Process Cue, Focus CueComment

5 Critical Warning Signs You’re About to Burn out (and How to Avoid it)

5 Critical Warning Signs You’re About to Burn out (and How to Avoid it)

Growth, Nerves and Anxiety, Mindset, Practice and PreparationMark BainSeptember 11, 2023Burnout, MotivationComment

The Scary Solo

The Scary Solo

Confidence, Focus and Concentration, Nerves and AnxietyMark BainAugust 15, 2022Solo, Focus of Attention, Process Cue, Performance PracticeComment

The Definition of Music Performance Anxiety

The Definition of Music Performance Anxiety

Nerves and AnxietyMark BainMay 3, 2021MPA, Music Performance Anxiety, MPA Unpacked, Diana Kenny, Mental healthComment

The Goal of Goals

The Goal of Goals

Growth, Practice and Preparation, MindsetMark BainJanuary 18, 2021Goals, Values, Systems, Preference Outcome Goals, Performance Goals, Process Goals, Compass, James ClearComment

The Rhythm of Life!

The Rhythm of Life!

Focus and Concentration, Growth, Practice and PreparationMark BainNovember 30, 2020rhythm, subdivide, metronomeComment

Questions For Success

Questions For Success

Growth, Mindset, Practice and Preparation, PerformanceMark BainNovember 16, 2020Questions, Metacognition, ReflectionComment

What is a 'Physiological Sigh?'

What is a 'Physiological Sigh?'

Nerves and Anxiety, Focus and Concentration, Confidence, Practice and Preparation, PerformanceMark BainNovember 2, 2020Breathing, Diaphragmatic breathing, Square breathing, Double Barrel Breathing, Dr. Andrew Huberman, Stanford, Neuroscience Comments

Is talent inherited?

Is talent inherited?

Mindset, Growth, Practice and PreparationMark BainSeptember 28, 2020Talent, Carol Dweck, Anders Ericsson, Growth Mindset, Deliberate PracticeComment

What defines you?

What defines you?

Growth, MindsetMark BainSeptember 14, 2020Nathan Buckley, Emptiness, What defines you?, Balance, PerspectiveComment

Controlling the Controllables

Controlling the Controllables

Confidence, Focus and Concentration, Nerves and Anxiety, Performance, Practice and PreparationMark BainAugust 31, 2020Controlling the ControllablesComment

Don't say Don't!

Don't say Don't!

Confidence, Courage, Focus and Concentration, Mindset, Performance, Practice and PreparationMark BainAugust 17, 2020Self-talk, Thought suppression, Don't, Ironic effect, White bear phenomenonComment

A $10 million mistake!

A $10 million mistake!

Confidence, Growth, Mindset, Practice and Preparation, Performance, Nerves and Anxiety, CourageMark BainAugust 3, 2020Failure, Elon Musk, SpaceXComment

Make a statement!

Make a statement!

Growth, Mindset, Nerves and Anxiety, Performance, Practice and Preparation, ConfidenceMark BainJuly 20, 2020Statements, Arnold Jacobs, Musical intentComment

"Don't break the chain!"

"Don't break the chain!"

Practice and Preparation, GrowthMark BainJuly 13, 2020The Seinfeld Strategy, Motivation, OrganisationComment

Making the Most of Feedback!

Making the Most of Feedback!

Growth, Mindset, Practice and PreparationMark BainJuly 6, 2020FeedbackComment

Under the Spotlight

Under the Spotlight

Courage, Focus and Concentration, Nerves and Anxiety, PerformanceMark BainJune 29, 2020The Spotlight Effect, Barry ManilowComment