Michael Ketner, DMA, MSOD
Recent Presentations
Preparing the Mind: Coaching to Spark Creativity — Capstone project for the Master of Science in Organizational Dynamics degree (MSOD). [Link to Course]
The Enterprising Musician — Course in Arts Entrepreneurship and Leadership taught at the University of Pennsylvania Department of Music
Techniques for Being in the Present Moment While Performing — Penn State School of Music
The Paradox of Performance — University of Pennsylvania Department of Music
Dr. Michael Ketner is a classically trained musician who draws on his own experience as a performer and his training as a coach and consultant to help performing artists master their mental approach to performance. Dr. Ketner is the Director of Performance and Admissions Liaison at The University of Pennsylvania Department of Music. He works with musicians and other performers who want to strengthen their mental processes, as well as the schools and teachers who train those artists, on the benefits of a healthy, mental approach to performing.
Areas of Specialization
- Mental Preparation for Auditions and Performances
- Mindful Awareness During Practice and Competitions
- Helping Performers Understand their Relationship to their Art
- Teaching Artists to Appreciate Why They Perform and their True Identity
Background & Education
After receiving degrees from Penn State and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Dr. Ketner earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Eastman School of Music. He has also received a Master’s Degree in Organizational Dynamics with a Leadership Coaching concentration from the University of Pennsylvania. For more than 20 years, he has been the Director of Performance for the Music Department at Penn.
Michael is married with two daughters, and in his spare time, he enjoys watching sports, movies, reading, and spending time with the family’s rescue dogs.
Workshops
In addition to one-on-one and group coaching, Dr. Ketner provides workshops for groups and educators on mental performance strategies and how to implement them in a practical manner.
Examples of workshop topics include
- Importance of the mental approach to performance
- Developing positive self-talk habits
- Dealing with mind chatter
- Incorporating mental performance techniques into rehearsals
- Using mental performance techniques to enhance your art
- Leading from the podium
- Steps to more creative performance
- How identity influences performance