The Confident Musicianing Podcast

Feeling stuck during your practice sessions? You're not alone. Today we are diving into what to do with frustration in practice. Because, let's be honest, we don't have time to carry it around!

This episode is available as a blog post. Click here to read!

How can musicians rest? Click here for episode 23 to learn how!

Want some musical motivation? Sign up for the Spring Roundup and get ins...

 We've all been there. OVERTHINKING that audition. It's totally normal! But how do we stay calm and not overthink? By staying in the moment.

Easier said than done, I know. So today we are diving into simple ways for you to stay in the moment and keep calm before that audition or performance.

This episode is available as a blog post! Read all about it here. 

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Today we are speaking with Indiana University of PA professor, Dr. Jason Worzbyt! In this conversation, we are diving into how you can find your unique sound and perform well in concerts and auditions. 

In this episode, we dive into: 

•  Performing bassoon premieres - being in the right place at the right time 🏆 
• What younger musicians can do to prepare for auditions -- from a PMEA adjudicator  🎶 
•  Staying mindful in perf...

We all know the feeling of feeling stuck in our practicing. It can feel so draining! Like, where is the motivation!?
Look no further. Today we are diving into five quick ways to boost your motivation and get back on track in your practice!

Click here for the episode show notes.

Need that musical motivation? (cause we all do), get the Spring Roundup! Click here to get yours.

This episode is available...

Last summer, I was working myself way too hard. I had so many things on my plate, not only practicing, but also reed making, creating this podcast and so much more. The result? I got migraines every weekend. That was my body telling me to stop, and for a while I didn't listen to it.
Flash forward, and I have found some crucial skills to make sure that I take care of my mental self as a musician, as well as be able to work...

This week's episode is a real treat because we are talking with the one-and-only Maestro Jacob Joyce! Maesto is a world-renowned conductor, working with orchestras including Pittsburgh Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, the London Symphony, the NDR-Sinfonieorchester, and many more!

In the episode, we dive into:

• The power of networking 💪
• Making a change in your music career (Maestro went from violin to conducting!) 🎻
• ...

Ever find yourself staring at the same four walls of your practice room, instrument in hand, utterly uninspired? You're not alone. I've been there too, and that's exactly why I'm sharing three game-changing strategies to reinvigorate your practice sessions and help you tap into your best musical self. From making simple changes to your environment—like standing up to play or adding a touch of greenery for inspir...

 I remember the first time that I knew I wanted to become a professional oboist. I was in sixth grade and had just composed an oboe trio with a friend. When we played it in the school band concert and got a standing ovation, I felt it right there: the connection. The fact that I had just created something, performed something and through that something I had moved people  -- I had connected.
Standing there taking my bow, I kne...

Say you could practice without your instrument (if you need to be quiet or don't have access to your instrument), and still make serious gains? Heck freaking yeah!

Well that is a real thing: it's called mental practice!

In this episode, we dive right into the what, why, and how of mental practice so that you can start honing your brain for better performances! Let's up our practice game with this st...

We've talked about 5 things confident musicians do (click here to listen to that episode!), now we are going to dive into 5 MORE things confident musicians do. So that we can implement a few into our musical lives. Let's dive in and gain our musical confidence!

Want to remember all 5 things? Here is a blog post about them! Click here to read.

Listen to episode 2: Transforming A Disaster Into A Music Con...

Visiting music schools? How can you know which one is best for you?

It can be really quite overwhelming trying to figure out where you  fit. I've been there. I get it. In this episode, we dive right into the top 6 things to keep in mind when visiting a music school, so that you can have a clearer picture of which ones are a good fit for you.

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Who's the auditioner's best friend? TIME MANAGEMENT. Especially when we are auditioning for music schools, setting boundaries with our academics can be the key to focusing on our auditions and making a lasting impression.

In this episode, we dive right into three steps to set boundaries with school so that you can focus on applying and auditioning for music school. Ready to thrive in the audition process? Let&ap...

Picture this: you're stepping into the studio, your heart's racing, and then... magic. You've found a music teacher who can turn your musical aspirations into reality.

Now let's make that a reality. In this episode, we are spilling all the tea on preparing for your next trial lesson. From doing your research to planning to the lesson, we unpack the critical strategies for preparing for that lesson.

Imagine this: You are stuck, really bogged down, not making progress, or so you feel…you are just STUCK! The audition cycle can really feel like that. You are working so hard on all of your pieces, but you are feeling so tired. Sound familiar?

During an audition or audition season, the last thing on our minds is making time for us. And yet my friend, my fellow musician, it is EXACTLY THE THING WE NEED.

Being busy is part of the audit...

When applying to the Royal Irish Academy of Music, I had never imagined that I would end up taking the theory entrance exam at 5am. But once I realised, I went all in. In this episode, I take you on a little story through this whole experience, and how I felt through it. So grab a cute drink (mine is tea), and let's have a cozy story time!

Wanna read through this? It's available as a blog post! Click here to read...

Want to thrive in your auditions? You have to know how. And to do that, you need experience.

Yes, I am talking about mock auditions. They might seem irrelevant, but let me tell you, as someone who has been grateful for opportunities to learn how to audition well, mock auditions can make or break your real audition.

So dive in with me as we as the why and how of mock auditions.

Have an audition coming up...

Confident musicians: we all want to be them. And today we will dive into 5 things that they do, that we can all also do! Anything and everything from how they use nerve-racking situations inspiring to how they work up to performing and auditioning... all the way to how they navigate what could be embarrassing situations... and everything in between. Join me, and let's jump into become more confident musicians!

This is...

Are you about to take trial music lessons? Is it for a private teacher or a university teacher?

Taking trial lessons is a must when finding a new teacher, especially when it's for a music school program. And so we need to take trial lessons to decide on a teacher. 

And that is exactly what I was doing when I was auditioning for a music school. I ended up taking trial lessons with 12 different teachers (from 4 different countries...