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The Bulletproof MusicianAuthor: 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. Language: en Genres: Music, Music Interviews, Science, Social Sciences Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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How to Start a Performance with More Accuracy (Without the Onstage Warm-Up)
Episode 413
Sunday, 18 January, 2026
One of my teachers often used to say that no matter what you’re playing, when you’re on stage, the beginning of a piece is always the hardest part.Not because the opening is more difficult technically, but because we’ve generally been sitting around for a little while, so we’re feeling kind of cold, a little disconnected from our instrument, and nervous and jittery.And it often takes us a minute or two to get warmed up and really hit our stride. Which might not be the end of the world if you’re playing a 30-minute concerto. But if it’s an audition that only lasts a few minutes, this “warm-up” period can feel like a really long (and crappy) couple minutes.Is there something we can do to be more accurate right from the start, and skip that “settling-in” period? (spoiler alert - yes, there is 😁).Get all the nerdy details here:How to Start a Performance with More Accuracy (Without the "Onstage Warm-Up")Live mental skills class begins soon!Learn research-based strategies for effective practice, managing nerves, getting into the zone, and performing more confidently with a month of live Zoom sessions, weekly homework, and feedback.Registration ends January 25th.👉 Join Performance Psych Essentials - Cohort 26 (February 1 - March 1)ReferencesPerry, I. S., and Katz, Y. J. (2015). Pre-performance routines, accuracy in athletic performance and self-control. Athens J. Sports 2, 137–152. doi: 10.30958/ajspo.2-3-1More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter, for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only content. Pressure Proof: A free 7-day performance practice crash course that will help you shrink the gap between the practice room and the stage. Learning Lab: A continuing education community where musicians and learners are putting research into practice. Live and self-paced courses
