The Bulletproof Musician

Noa Kageyama

Ever wonder why you can practice for hours, sound great in the practice room, and still be frustratingly hit or miss on stage? Join performance psychologist and Juilliard alumnus/faculty Noa Kageyama, and explore research-based “practice hacks” for beating anxiety, practicing more effectively, and playing up to your full abilities when it matters most.

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Top 10 The Bulletproof Musician Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The Bulletproof Musician episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The Bulletproof Musician for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite The Bulletproof Musician episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

The Subtle Habit That Might Be Undermining Your Confidence

The Bulletproof Musician

06/09/24 • 8 min

You know how people say that little kids don’t have a filter? How they just blurt out whatever thoughts pop into their minds?

Well, the voice in our head can kind of be like that unfiltered 1st grader. Because we often say some rather unkind and borderline abusive things to ourselves quite automatically.

We might not truly believe the mean and discouraging thoughts we think to ourselves - at least at first. But if you’ve ever found yourself struggling with confidence, and started questioning yourself, and wondering if maybe your inner critic was right, you’re not alone.

A 1977 study (it’s an oldie, but goodie) explains why this happens - and gives us some clues on how we might interrupt the automatic habit that often undermines our confidence.
Get all the nerdy details here:
The Subtle Habit That Might Be Undermining Your Confidence

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Have you ever wondered why it is exactly that things often sound better at home than they do on stage?

If you’ve been confused (and frustrated) by the inconsistency of your performances, I put together a FREE 4-minute quiz called the Mental Skills Audit, which will help you pinpoint your mental strengths and weaknesses, and figure out what exactly to adjust and tweak in your preparation for more consistently optimal performances.

It’s 100% free, takes only 4 minutes, and you’ll get a downloadable PDF with a personalized breakdown of where you stand in six key mental skill areas. You'll also get the Pressure Proof Practice Challenge, a free 7-day email course where you'll learn specific practice strategies that will help you perform your best, even under pressure.

Take the quiz here: bulletproofmusician.com/msa

Why Giving Students Choices Could Dramatically Enhance Learning

The Bulletproof Musician

10/06/24 • 6 min

🎓 In this episode, we'll take a look at at 2017 ballet study which suggests that the simple element of choice could dramatically enhance learning outcomes.
🧠 Discover:
- Why giving students control over their learning process leads to improved performance
- How autonomy boosts confidence and happiness in learners
🚀 Whether you're an educator, parent, or lifelong learner, this episode will give you some ideas on how to tweak your approach to teaching and learning.
Get the full article and all the nerdy details:
Why Giving Students Choices Could Dramatically Enhance Learning

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Have you ever wondered why it is exactly that things often sound better at home than they do on stage?

Take the quiz here: bulletproofmusician.com/msa

A Self-Talk Tweak to Boost the Odds of Achieving Your Goals

The Bulletproof Musician

04/13/25 • 6 min

My daughter and I have been binge-watching past seasons of The Amazing Race for some months now, and the psychology nerd in me has become increasingly fascinated by one particular aspect of the show.

The participants’ self-talk.

As in, what do participants say when they run into a task that feels impossible or beyond their abilities?

“I can’t”

When participants start saying “I can’t,” they often stop trying and appear to be on the verge of quitting altogether. After all, “can’t” is a pretty disempowering word.

The reality of course, whether it’s eating snake meat or swimming laps in a bog or bungee jumping into a ravine, is that when push comes to shove, they discover that they absolutely can do these things.

So how much of an effect does self-talk like this have on us, actually?

Well, a 2011 study found that when participants replaced the word “can’t” with 🫢🫢🫢🫢, they were eight times more likely to achieve their goals!

Get all the nerdy details here:

A Self-Talk Tweak to Boost the Odds of Achieving Your Goals

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Have you ever wondered why it is exactly that things often sound better at home than they do on stage?

Take the quiz here: bulletproofmusician.com/msa

Can We Train Ourselves to Worry Less About Others’ Opinions?

The Bulletproof Musician

01/26/25 • 9 min

I came across a study years ago which found that fear of negative evaluation was one of the key drivers of performance anxiety in musicians. Which of course makes perfect sense, as we're being evaluated all the time. Often, with meaningful consequences attached.
But that doesn't mean it's helpful - or very pleasant to experience either! So is there anything we can do to be less sensitive to what others around us might be thinking about us? At least in rehearsals, auditions, performances, or even dates for that matter, when it's way more useful for us to focus on the things that we can actually control?
A 2007 study provides some clues on how we could potentially reduce our stress levels, increase self-esteem, exude more confidence in public, and even perform more effectively, by working on a particular kind of focus in our daily lives.
Get all the nerdy details and learn how to start working on this particular kind of selective attention right here:
Can We Train Ourselves to Worry Less About Others’ Opinions?

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Have you ever wondered why it is exactly that things often sound better at home than they do on stage?

Take the quiz here: bulletproofmusician.com/msa

How Important is Listening to Recordings, Really?

The Bulletproof Musician

10/30/22 • 8 min

You've probably had teachers who encouraged you to listen to recordings, and one of the Suzuki method's core elements is the importance of listening to recordings. But does this actually help learning? Or is it just one of those things that we do because it sounds like the right thing to do, and we've always done it that way? A 2012 study provides some answers - and additional insights on different types of listening: passive listening and distracted listening. How Important is Listening to Recordings, Really?

Kim Laskowski: On Practicing With a Structure, Developing an Expressive Sound, and Learning How to Truly Listen

The Bulletproof Musician

11/06/22 • 45 min

Kim Laskowski has been the associate principal bassoonist of the NY Philharmonic since 2003, winning her position at age 48 - without a prior symphonic background. She shares her story in this episode, as well as tons of insights on practice and preparation, from how to listen, how to do repetitions in your practice without your brain going on autopilot, and much more.

Why Trying to "Think Positive" All the Time Could Make You Feel Worse

The Bulletproof Musician

11/13/22 • 9 min

We are often encouraged to maintain a positive mental attitude. And there are tons of books and blog posts devoted to explaining how important this is as well. But sometimes it can be exhausting to keep it up! So how important is it really, to maintain a positivity 24/7? Or could there be some hidden downsides? A 2018 study provides some counterintuitive findings, related not just to overall mental health and well-being, but performance as well. Why Trying to "Think Positive" All the Time Could Make You Feel Worse

Why Telling Yourself to “Calm Down” Backstage May Be Counterproductive

The Bulletproof Musician

11/27/22 • 11 min

Most people intuitively assume that the best way to address performance anxiety is to calm down, but research suggests that this may actually result in worse performances. A 2013 paper describes three studies in different performance domains that give us a counterintuitive - and more effective - way to respond to performance anxiety. ==== Performing optimally under pressure isn’t about jumping from latest shiny practice hack to the next, no matter how much research supports the use of each one, and as tempting as that can be. It’s important to have an integrated system of tools that work together. For instance, it helps to be able to practice effectively. But it’s also important to practice not just for accuracy, but for flexibility so as to be prepared for the unpredictability of performance. And aside from making sure the physical skills are there, it’s also helpful to have tools that enable us to get into a more optimal mental state right before we begin playing - so that our thoughts aren’t racing, our mind isn’t blanking out, and we’re not worrying about all the worst things that could happen. And once we begin playing, it helps to have strategies for staying focused throughout the performance. So our mind doesn’t wander off and leave us hanging in the middle of a phrase, when we suddenly come to and realize we don’t know where we are. Or so we don’t suddenly start overthinking our fingering, or have one of those out-of-body moments where we see our hands jumping across the keyboard and wonder how our hands are doing that all by themselves. What I find really cool about tthe practice and performance strategies that research has revealed over the last few decades, is that they don’t just lead to more consistently high-level performances, but they result in more engaging practice sessions too. Because many of these strategies, even if they initially came from sports, actually contribute to becoming better musicians too. You’ll probably find yourself doing more listening and score study, thinking more about the composers’ intentions, and your own musical intentions, and whether these intentions are coming across to the listener. It’s all part of the puzzle, so if nerves have been a lifelong challenge, the good news is that you probably already have many of the tools. There are probably still a few things remaining to add to the mix, but learning how everything fits together, and how to approach the work that happens before the performance, and having concrete strategies for what to do backstage, what to do on-stage, and what to do afterwards, can make a real difference. I’ve put everything you need to know about this into an online 6-part course called Beyond Practicing. You’ll learn about effective practice of course, but then we’ll go beyond that into building confidence, beating anxiety, getting into the zone, becoming fearless on stage, and building resilience. There are weekly practice plans to guide your practice, with worksheets and cheat sheets to help you put each new skill into action. There are even live add-ons, like quarterly cohort-based bootcamps, if you enjoy working alongside other musicians and learners like yourself. But starting December 1st, for 4 days only, when you enroll in the course, you’ll get a second account for free, that you can gift to a practice buddy, relative, student, teacher, or anyone else that you’d like to go through the course with, or share the experience with. Like going to the gym or on a run with a friend, it can make for a funner and richer experience. So if you’ve been thinking about signing up, now would be as good a time as any! You can learn more about the course and the 2-for-1 offer at bulletproofmusician.com/beyondpracticing

Does Listening to Music Benefit the Music Learning Process?

The Bulletproof Musician

07/07/24 • 7 min

We're often told to listen to recordings of music that we're working on.
And we often tell our students to do so as well, but is there any research which suggests that this benefits the learning process in any way?
A 2012 study takes a look at this question, and compares both active and passive listening to see what sorts of benefits there might (or might not) be:
Get all the nerdy details here:
Does Listening to Music Benefit the Music Learning Process?

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Have you ever wondered why it is exactly that things often sound better at home than they do on stage?

Take the quiz here: bulletproofmusician.com/msa

Jennifer Montone: On the Unspoken Mental and Emotional Aspects of Being a Musician

The Bulletproof Musician

12/04/22 • 50 min

Jennifer Montone is Principal Horn of The Philadelphia Orchestra, and teaches at teaches at the Curtis Institute of Music and The Juilliard School. Jennifer is an active chamber musician, hs performed as a guest artist or soloist with numerous orchestras, and the recipient of an Avery Fisher Career Grant, also has a Grammy Award for her performance of the Penderecki Horn Concerto with the Warsaw National Philharmonic. Today’s episode is made extra special, in that I’m joined by guest co-host Catherine Cho (violin). A top prize-winner at the Hannover, Queen Elizabeth, and Montreal competitions, Catherine maintains an active performing career, serves on the faculty at The Juilliard School, and has also recently been appointed Artistic Advisor of the biennial Starling-DeLay Symposium. In today’s episode, we’ll explore... 4:12 - Why is playing horn such a mental game? And what do horn players worry about anyway? Jennifer illustrates the mind of a horn player by walking us through one of her recent low points - and how she recovered. 8:32 - How do you separate how you feel from how you sound? As in, how do you avoid getting sucked into the mental negativity spiral of assuming that if you feel bad you must sound bad? 11:29 - What do violinists (and string players) worry about? And whether as a horn player or violinist (or any musician, really), how can one get to a better place mentally? 14:05 - Jennifer describes the three ingredients that seem to contribute to an optimal mental balance during performing. 17:10 - A funny anecdote which illustrates how different musicians approach nerves differently. 18:38 - Are young musicians nowadays more open to talking about nerves than in previous generations? Or is that just because teachers are more open to providing a space to talk about this than in the past? 23:46 - How does parenthood affect you as a musician? What are the positive impacts, and what are some of the challenges? 28:43 - Jennifer and Catherine describe their teaching journeys and how they’ve worked at the craft of teaching over the years. 35:22 - What kinds of notes do Jennifer and Catherine take during (or after) lessons? 37:44 - What it says on the refrigerator magnet that Jennifer will look to for support on tough days. 35:08 - The thing Catherine did one year with her studio that made a “very, very significant” change in the growth of her students that year. 43:06 - What is something that was really difficult for Jennifer and Catherine? And what is something that has come pretty easily? 46:02 - The approach Jennifer adopted when recovering from a serious jaw injury that helped her go from feeling like a player with lots of technical shortcomings, to feeling like a much stronger and more confident technical player. ==== And, if you’ve been feeling stuck on a practice or performance or audition plateau lately, you can check out the Beyond Practicing course mentioned in the episode at bulletproofmusician.com/beyondpracticing.

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FAQ

How many episodes does The Bulletproof Musician have?

The Bulletproof Musician currently has 381 episodes available.

What topics does The Bulletproof Musician cover?

The podcast is about Learning, Psychology, Music, Practice, Podcasts, Social Sciences, Science and Music Interviews.

What is the most popular episode on The Bulletproof Musician?

The episode title 'Why Your Playing (or Singing) Tends to Become Less Musically Expressive on Stage' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on The Bulletproof Musician?

The average episode length on The Bulletproof Musician is 17 minutes.

How often are episodes of The Bulletproof Musician released?

Episodes of The Bulletproof Musician are typically released every 7 days.

When was the first episode of The Bulletproof Musician?

The first episode of The Bulletproof Musician was released on Jan 7, 2018.

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The Bulletproof Musician

Noa Kageyama

Top 10 The Bulletproof Musician Episodes

FAQ

How many episodes does The Bulletproof Musician have?

What topics does The Bulletproof Musician cover?

What is the most popular episode on The Bulletproof Musician?

What is the average episode length on The Bulletproof Musician?

How often are episodes of The Bulletproof Musician released?

When was the first episode of The Bulletproof Musician?

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