I was giving a talk at one of the world’s top music conservatories recently, sharing a few simple strategies to help performers strengthen their mental game. Afterward, one student turned to her classmates and asked a question that stopped the room: “Why don’t we ever talk about this?” 

Musicians—just like athletes—face high-pressure moments where they must deliver. There are nerves. There’s self-talk. There’s the fear of messing up. And yet, while athletes may seek out sport psychologists or mental performance coaches, musicians are usually left with outdated advice like: “Just practice more. You’ll be fine.” 

While practicing one’s instrument is critical to a performer’s success, practice alone does not necessarily prepare someone for the types of things that enter the mind before or during a performance, when the stakes are higher. So, what can be gained from mental performance coaching if you are a musician? 

The most obvious answer to this question is that such coaching can help with performance anxiety. This is true, but what if nerves aren’t your issue? Mental performance coaching can also help you sharpen your focus, bounce back from setbacks, build unshakable confidence, and perform with greater intention and freedom. It’s about removing the mental blocks between you and your best, most expressive work.  

So, while athletes and performing artists may be working toward different outcomes, competing and winning vs. artistic excellence, they share many similarities when it comes to the process they go through to reach those goals. If you are a musician, dancer, actor, or any performer and would like to have a conversation about the ways mental performance coaching can help you achieve your goals, feel free to contact Michael Ketner at mketner@greenepsych.com to arrange a time to talk. 

Written by Dr. Michael Ketner, Greenepsych Performance Consultant