4 Mindset Shifts to Help You THRIVE While Auditioning
I am in the midst of preparing for my first audition in about a decade. Wowzers! As I work through this process, I thought you might find...
top of page
Ready to discover your personalized mindset tools?
Bring your best self to the stage
Mindset Tools
Exercises to rewire negative thought patterns
Developing a positive mindset takes time. Here you will find journal prompts and thought practices to help you work through fear, identify strengths, and create a healthy mindset to overcome performance anxiety.
How to Throw Scarcity to the CURB
I’ve had a couple of friends come alongside me in recent weeks in a way that has made me feel deeply loved and supported. I have a need...
The 10% Rule
The scene in my office has shifted these last couple of weeks from one of writing and computering to one of fluting. What was once a...
You are a Magical Scientist
Earlier this fall I was introduced to a concept that has revolutionized (I kid you not!) many areas of my life including my: playing;...
The Grit Pie Exercise
A simple way to develop your growth mindset as a musician *Welcome to The Musician's Mindset! I'm Katie, a certified life coach and...
A Quick Mindset Shift for When You Are Spiraling Downward
How you can find freedom through service *Welcome to The Musician's Mindset! I'm Katie, a certified life coach and flutist who helps...
How to Create a New Mindset Practice
5 easy ways to add mindset work into your daily practice routine Creating a new mindset practice can seem a bit overwhelming. Believe me,...
Fear Setting
The mindset tool helps musicians unpack fear so they can keep bravely leaping onto the stage *Welcome to The Musician's Mindset! I'm...
What Makes You Worthy?
Your answer is the antidote to fear and anxiety on stage *Welcome to The Musician's Mindset! I'm Katie, a certified life coach and...
Step Off the Productivity Treadmill
Try this simple strategy to refill your creative tank *Welcome to The Musician's Mindset! I'm Katie, a certified life coach and flutist...
Choose the Blue Briefcase
2 exercises for classical musicians to challenge unhelpful core beliefs *Welcome to The Musician's Mindset! I'm Katie, a certified life...
Face Your Fear
3 steps for classical musicians to handle the fear of performing *Welcome to The Musician's Mindset! I'm Katie, a certified life coach...
Running the Mental Game
Kristi Crago shares how running has helped her mindset on stage I often tell people that what I do for a living is crazy. Or maybe it’s...
The Thief of Joy
Strategies to Subdue Comparison From an early age as musicians, we are trained to compare ourselves to others. You’re 6th chair in...
Plan to Fail
How the musician can take failure into their own hands Planning to fail sounds inhibiting and less than helpful, right? I mean, how can a...
Quit Playing it SAFE
It doesn't serve the music, the audience, or you! Over the weekend, like thousands of others, I attended a concert. I needed to hear...
Being a Perfectionist is Nothing to Joke About
Brene Brown lays down some truth about perfectionism in her newest book Oftentimes when we talk about “being a perfectionist” it’s with a...
That Was an EPIC FAIL
What can the classical musician do after a major loss? You’ve spent the last 6 weeks preparing for the audition. You’ve maintained a...
3 Toxic Mindsets of Musicians
Ditch the unhealthy mindsets and fall back in love with making music As classical musicians, we tend to be focused on where we are going...
Practice with TOMATOES?!
How musicians can use this iconic productivity tool Classical musicians spend hours upon hours in the practice room. But, if we are...
Help for an Anxiety Spiral
How classical musicians can use mental discipline to bring their thoughts back under control Usually, I love Monday mornings. My kiddos...
Perfection Got You All Tangled Up? Try This Instead!
Use this mindset tool to build self-compassion As musicians, we can easily cross the line from healthy striving to perfectionism. While...
Celebrating YOU: Cultivate Self-Compassion
How giving yourself grace will expand your music-making Self-compassion is a practice of goodwill, not good feelings. - Kristin Neff Why...
Feeling like You're Not Enough?
Creating a gratitude practice can open up a world of confidence for the classical musician The simple, daily practice of gratitude helps...
STOP Beating Yourself Up
How musicians can get a handle on those pesky negative thoughts Do you have a common negative thought playing in your head like "My...
Celebrating YOU: You are 1 in 10,000,000!
Use the VIA Assessment to reveal your unique strengths When my daughter was about 10 she wrote this sign for our house: You are 1 in...
Setting Chamber Ensemble Vision and Expectations
How a thoughtful conversation can set your group up to thrive Expectations can be tricky. Unspoken or unprocessed expectations can be...
Ten Minutes to a Better Practice Session
Help for the classical musician who is struggling There are days when you pick up your instrument and things just feel … off. Enthusiasm...
Activate Your Inner Allies
The inner voices that actually HELP the classical musician on stage As a mother, I have learned beautiful truths from my children. Truths...
How to Handle Burn Out
Tips to support the classical musician's mindset when their inspiration runs low As musicians we are incredibly gifted at following...
Fear Sifting
A helpful tool for musicians to handle performance anxiety I had a dream this week. My recurring anxiety dream. Do you have one, too?...
An Exercise to Build Resilience
Help for the classical musician after a setback You’ve decided to take an audition. You’ve sent in your resume and deposit; you’ve made...
5 Steps for Creative Visualization
How the classical musician can utilize this powerful tool from performance psychology We’ve all heard about visualizing before, right?...
How to Create Resilience for the Classical Musician
Use reframing to learn from failures Years ago when I was introduced to the idea of reframing I believed it to be … bologna. I had...
Big Me, Little Me
An AMAZING Tool to Help Reframe Negative Thought Patterns for Musicians Little Me One thing that younger Katie never understood was that...
Morning Pages for Musicians
How the practice of journaling can help free the musician from stage fright I believe deeply in the power of creating a grounding...
3 Steps to Reframe Performance Anxiety
Helping the classical musician look at fear a different way As musicians we are in new situations often. Whether we’re taking a lesson...
Create Daily Mindset Intentions to Overcome Performance Anxiety
When I am preparing music, now-a-days at least, I am quite clear on what I need to achieve in my practice session. Gone are the vague...
1 Simple Mantra to Overcome Performance Anxiety
How the musician can carry themselves through fear and into freedom Being a musician is a painfully beautiful and vulnerable way to walk...
How Micro-Celebrations Boost Confidence for Performers
Focusing on the positive can support your creativity I’ll be honest, the idea of celebrating successes does not come naturally to me. It...
Using the Power of Affirmations
How to overcome stage fright and calm your nerves Let’s talk Affirmations. I can feel your hesitancy through the computer screen. At...
bottom of page