Feeling stuck or overwhelmed during audition preparation? In this post, discover effective ways to reset your brain, boost motivation, and stay focused—even when life gets hectic. Learn how activities like a 20-minute walk, quick exercise routines, meditation, and reading can help you refresh your mindset and increase productivity.

Perfect for musicians, performers, and anyone seeking mental clarity during high-stress times like audition season.

🎯 Discovering Your X Factor: The One Shift to Transform Your Playing 🎯

Uncover your X Factor in this week’s Peak Performance Mondays. Discover small changes that can lead to big improvements in your playing, and get practical tips on finding a practice buddy and mastering self-recording to boost your performance. Ready to make your next breakthrough?

I didn’t advance at my audition. Again!

You put in the work. You practiced relentlessly, prepared in every way you could think of, and still—when the time came—you didn’t advance. Again. It’s one of the hardest parts of the audition process, and it can leave you questioning everything: your preparation, your abilities, and even your future.

But this isn’t the end of your journey. It’s one step, one puzzle piece. The real question now is: how do you pick up the pieces and move forward?

How to Survive a Major Technique Change

Making a major technique change can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to derail your progress.

This week, we’re diving into how to survive the ups and downs of shifting embouchures, bow holds, or any technical adjustment—so you can come out stronger on the other side.

Ever notice how bakers on The Great British Baking Show know they’ll face a common cake challenge but never practice it at home? It's just like skipping those key excerpts you know will come up in your audition.

This week’s Peak Performance Mondays dives into preparing smart, using mental practice and visualization to avoid those soggy bottoms in your audition prep. Ready, set… audition!

Tired of overthinking your audition prep? It’s time to break free from analysis paralysis. Discover simple strategies to keep your mind clear and focused.

Grab the PDF and watch the video to get started!

The key to managing your tasks effectively isn’t about overloading yourself with planning or letting your inbox dictate your schedule. Instead, it’s about finding a sweet spot where you’re both responsive and strategic.

As Stephen Covey said, "The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities."

When The Article about incidents at the New York Philharmonic was published last month, the fact that sexual assault had occurred in an orchestra wasn't a shock to me. Men doing horrible things to women? Not a surprise.

While I haven’t perpetrated any such crime, I’m finally understanding why someone would hold me responsible. I have supported assumptions and attitudes that are part of the culture in which misdeeds and crimes are more likely to occur.

Consider This: As a member of the audition committee, I'm not going to lie, many prelim rounds, the concept of character doesn't even enter my mind. Why? Because I'm hearing excerpts that are out of time, with questionable intonation, unrefined sound, and inconsistent articulation.

And don't even get me started on how many musicians don't have a clue about the context of what they're playing (hint: listen to a recording, guys!)

Want to know the best audition advice I’ve ever gotten?

Take as many mock auditions as you possibly can.

Walking on stage for an audition without taking a ton of mock auditions first, is like trying to fly a plane without having ever set foot in a flight simulator.

It’s probably not going to end well…

In the realm of classical music auditions, your mindset—let's call it your attitude—is more than just a buzzword. It's the lens through which you view your career, successes, and setbacks. Recently, contrasting reactions to audition outcomes caught my eye on social media. One exuded optimism and resilience, a testament to a growth mindset. The other, marred by negativity and defeat, showcased a fixed mindset.

Welcome back to 'Peak Performance Mondays.' This week, it's all about the power of focused effort. Forget the noise; let's talk about doing less to achieve more.

🧠 Mindset Shift: Imagine the impact of dedicating your energy to just a few key areas. That’s the essence of focused effort - making what you do count more by doing less.

Welcome back to 'Peak Performance Mondays!' Last time, we delved into how laughter and gratitude can significantly impact our lives. This week, we're embracing the wisdom of action with a special challenge – the power of secret goals.

🧠 Mindset Shift: It's easy to get caught up in talking about what we're going to do. But as the saying goes, "show me, don't tell me." This week, we're putting those words into practice. Sometimes, our most significant achievements come from the work we do quietly, behind the scenes.

Hey everybody, and 🌟 Happy Monday! Welcome to the very first edition of 'Peak Performance Mondays! 🚀🚀🚀

It’s fantastic to have you here. Today, we’re blending the joy of laughter with the depth of gratitude, exploring how both are game-changers for musicians and non-musicians alike.

Ever felt the relentless pressure of being 'totally slammed' day in and day out? In our fast-paced world, many of us fall into the trap of constant busyness, often at the cost of our health, productivity, and alignment with long-term goals.

But remember, it's perfectly fine to experience busy periods occasionally. The problem arises when this perpetual overactivity becomes the new norm, potentially leading to burnout and missed opportunities.

Explore actionable tips to break free from this mindset, prioritize with purpose, master time management, practice mindful self-care, and align your efforts with your goals for a balanced, productive life.

Discover how the Daily Six Challenge can spark positive changes in your life and why it's okay to switch gears when you realize you're climbing the wrong mountain. Explore the power of adaptability and share your own strategy-changing stories in the comments. Join us on a journey of self-improvement and transformation!

In the blog "Labels in Music: Are They Holding You Back?" Chris talks about how being called things like "the talented one" can actually make things tough for musicians. It's not just about what others say, though; the labels we give ourselves can mess with our heads too. When we mess up, these labels make it feel way worse. The blog suggests focusing on the hard work and effort we put in, instead of just thinking about whether we're naturally good or bad at something. Chris says it's important to balance recognizing our talents with working hard to get better. The main point? Don't let labels hold you back; focus on growing and learning every day.

Ever wonder if you can run out of willpower, or if it's something you can get better at? Dive into our latest blog, 'Is Willpower Infinite? Exploring the Power of the Mind.' We're chatting about Carol Dweck's ideas and what the Huberman Lab podcast has to say about training our brain's willpower center - the anterior mid-cingulate cortex. It's a perfect read for anyone doing the Honesty Pill, “Daily Six Challenge”, or just curious about how to keep going when things get tough.

Here's the deal– we work hard, we focus smart, and we deserve the sweet taste of progress without the bitter aftertaste of doubt. We're not summoning the dark audition arts by reveling in our accomplishments; we're just celebrating the fruits of our labor (speaking of fruits, have you seen these tomatoes?).

Instrumentalists—are you singing?

Why your practice routine needs "play-along" recordings, and how to make them.

If you’re not singing into a recorder, you’re missing out.

One of the things that made the biggest difference in my own audition preparation was creating my own play-along recordings. I explain it. I teach it. And I see almost no one doing it.

Why? Why are people avoiding one of the biggest hacks to getting better faster? I have some ideas.