Suggested Resources

Learning & Mindset

Find out how the brain works, and the science behind learning and expertise.

Books

• Adams, M. (2015). Change Your Questions Change Your Life, 3rd Edition

• Brown, P. (2014). Make it Stick: The Science of Successful Learning

• Coyle, D. (2012). The Little Book of Talent

• Coyle, D. (2009). The Talent Code

• Dweck, C. (2006). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success

• Gebrian, M. (2024). Learn Faster, Perform Better. A Musician’s Guide to the Neuroscience of Practicing

• Griffin, M. (2013). Learning Strategies for Musical Success, 2nd Edition

• Syed, M. (2010). Bounce: The Myth of Talent and the Power of Practice

ONLINE RESOURCES

• Bosler, A. & Greene, D. (2017). How to practice effectively…for just about anything TED-Ed Animation

• Gebrian, M. www.mollygebrian.com/music-and-the-brain/ - Having degrees in viola performance and neuroscience gives Molly Gebrian an amazing insight into how the brain works and how we learn. Her 5-part video series on “What Musicians Can Learn About Practicing from Current Brain Research” is invaluable for any performer.

• Griffin, M. Professional Development and Enrichment - A former teacher of mine, and a valued mentor and friend, Michael Griffin’s site has plenty of valuable resources for any music program. If you want to explore learning, then this is the guy to check out!

• Retrieval Practice - Unleash the Science of Learning

Some key research papers on learning and peak performance:

Making things hard on yourself, but in a good way: Creating desirable difficulties to enhance learning.

Bjork, E. L., Bjork, R. A. “Making things hard on yourself, but in a good way: Creating desirable difficulties to enhance learning.” Psychology and the Real World: Essays illustrating fundamental contributions to society. Eds. M. A. Gernsbacher, R. W. Pew, L. M. Hough, J. R. Pomerantz. New York: Worth Publishers, 2011. 56-64. Print

Optimizing Music Learning: Exploring How Blocked and Interleaved Practice Schedules Affect Advanced Performance

Carter CE and Grahn JA (2016) “Optimizing Music Learning: Exploring How Blocked and Interleaved Practice Schedules Affect Advanced Performance.” Front. Psychol. 7:1251. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01251

The Strategy Specific Nature of Improvement: The Power Law Applies by Strategy in Task

Delaney, Peter F., Reder, Staszewski, and Ritter. “The Strategy-Specific Nature of Improvement.” The Power Law Applies by Strategy Within Task.” Psychological Science. 9.1 (Jan. 1998): 1-7. Print.

The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance

Ericsson, K. Anders, Ralf Th. Krampke, and Clemens Tesch-Romer. “The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance.” Psychological Review 100.3 (1993): 363-406. Print.

Becoming a Self-Regulated Learner: An Overview

Zimmerman, Barry. (2002). “Becoming a Self-Regulated Learner: An Overview.” Theory Into Practice. 41. 64-70. 10.1207/s15430421tip4102_2.

Music Performance Anxiety (MPA) is something that almost every performer on the planet has to deal with at some stage in their performing life. One great way to work through it is by learning more about it!

BOOKS

• Beilock, S. (2010). Choke: What the Secrets of the Brain Reveal About Getting It Right When You Have To

• Greene, D. (2002). Performance Success: Performing Your Best Under Pressure

• Harris, R. (2007). The Happiness Trap: Stop Struggling, Start Living

• Juncos, D. G., & e Pona, E. D. P. (2022). ACT for musicians: A guide for using acceptance and commitment training to enhance performance, overcome performance anxiety, and improve well-being. Universal-Publishers.

• Kenny, D. (2011). The Psychology of Music Performance Anxiety

• Weisinger, H, & Pawliw-Fry, J.P. (2015). How to Perform Under Pressure: The science of doing your best when it matters most

ONLINE RESOURCES

• Beder, J. (2016). Composed documentary

• Bosler, A. (2014). The Healthy Musician: Dealing with Nerves and Performance Anxiety

• Daubney, G. & Daubney, A. (2017). Music performance anxiety: A practical guide for music teachers

• Kageyama, N. & Chen, P-P. (2018). Ted-Ed – How to stay calm under pressure

• The Arts Wellbeing Collective website

For Teachers

Probably the last thing you want to be doing after a long day teaching is sit down and read complex books and articles on psychology and neuroscience…I get it! So here’s a condensed list of my favourite practical, easier to digest books and online resources that won’t require you to look up every second word in the dictionary.

BOOKS

• Agarwal, P. & Bain, P. (2019). Powerful Teaching: Unleash the Science of Learning

• Brown, P. (2014). Make it Stick: The Science of Successful Learning

• Brandon, C. & Ivens, C. (2009). Thinking Skills for Peak Performance - Coach’s Manual & Student Workbook

• Coyle, D. (2012). The Little Book of Talent

• Greene, D. (2002). Performance Success: Performing Your Best Under Pressure

• Griffin, M. (2013). Learning Strategies for Musical Success, 2nd Edition

• Weisinger, H, & Pawliw-Fry, J.P. (2015). How to Perform Under Pressure: The science of doing your best when it matters most

ONLINE RESOURCES

• Beder, J. (2016). Composed documentary

• Bosler, A. (2014). The Healthy Musician: Dealing with Nerves and Performance Anxiety

• Daubney, G. & Daubney, A. (2017). Music performance anxiety: A practical guide for music teachers

• Daubney, G. & Daubney, A. (2018). Play: A psychological toolkit for optimal music performance

• Griffin, M. Professional Development and Enrichment - A former teacher of mine, and a valued mentor and friend, Michael Griffin’s site has plenty of valuable resources for any music program.

• Kageyama, N. & Chen, P-P. (2018). Ted-Ed – How to stay calm under pressure

• Ragan, T. www.thelearnerlab.com and www.trainugly.com - Both sites by Trevor Ragan are fantastic and are full of approachable material in regards to learning and mindset. More sports specific, but easily applied to music and other domains.

• Retrieval Practice - Unleash the Science of Learning

PRACTICE TOOLS

Apps and devices to help structure your practice and improve your skills

Tuner / Metronome / Timer

Tonal Energy Tuner

This is a great all-in-one metronome and tuner app. It can even record your playing, and then play it back slower without affecting the pitch centre. Great for really fine-tuning intonation and articulation precision.

Seconds Pro - Interval Timer

A customisable interval training app that can be used to organise your practice sessions into timed segments. This is probably my favourite app as it helps keep me focused and on the job. Fantastic for interleaved practice which requires a bit of pre-planning to be really effective.

Ear Training apps

Complete Ear Trainer

“The ultimate ear training app for musicians…Designed like a video game and with strong pedagogical concepts in mind, this app will make you truly master each interval, chord, scale, etc. before taking you to the next one.”

Perfect Ear - Music, Theory, Ear & Rhythm Training

“A music school in your pocket: solfege, ear training, rhythm training exercises. Learn chords, scales, intervals, learn to identify melodies by ear and how to sight read music. Learn how to sing notes and intervals! Learn essential music theory and bootstrap your musicianship.”

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION APPS

Headspace

Smiling Mind

Insight Timer

Breathing Devices and Apps

Windsong Press Breathing Devices

A large range of breathing equipment to help singers, wind, and brass musicians improve their lung capacity, air control, and efficiency. Used extensively in the Arnold Jacobs pedagogy methods for brass players, this site contains a whole range of resources that are incredibly valuable for any level singer or wind instrumentalist.

Xhalr Breathe Slowly - dial in your preferred breathing pattern to help calm the body and mind.