These days performance-based education and training in classical music does not provide graduates with the requisite skills to achieve a sustainable career. Even research showed that besides their artistic training, music students would like to learn business and other non-musical skills as well. 

I hope that in these two episodes with Ollie Mansfield, you managed to find some ideas that can be useful to you, either you are starting a freelance performing career or you wish to teach in the future. Whichever career path will work out for you, always remember that moving on and getting experience helps you to develop since we can learn from our own mistakes too! 

For more info visit:  https://www.perfactionist.org​

In this episode with my guest, Ollie Mansfield we look at musicianship from the business-making side. Being a freelance musician is a very different career path compared to taking up a full-time position in a professional orchestra. And to be honest, the majority of musicians who graduate from conservatoires and university music departments choose to earn their living by freelancing.    

After graduation Ollie had hard times finding his way as a young professional. The hardship made him realize that it is each musicians’ responsibility to find new possibilities which meant that he had to be much more proactive than what he experienced in music college.  Today as a mentor, Ollie encourages musicians to be brave to think out of the box and take uncommon routes by using different techniques to succeed. We recorded the interview during the COVID lockdown in which he shares some tips on how this works.

More info:   https://www.perfactionist.org​

In the recent years, a new method has been more and more commonly applied among musicians as it helps to deal with their difficulties. It’s called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Despite its name, it is more a way of thinking than a therapy, so nothing to worry about. 

ACT uses acceptance and mindfulness strategies, and originally was applied in psychotherapy. What also caught my attention regarding ACT is that it addresses the ROLE LANGUAGE PLAYS IN HUMAN SUFFERING. 

ACT is being tested in music education settings to show musicians how actually they are able to perform up to their planned standards despite they experience performance anxiety.   

ACT’s goal is not to fight against or eliminate anxiety. Instead these little games which ACT offers are mental exercises that enhance our flexibility to accept our physical and mental states that we will be free with achieving what we want. 

In this episode, with Dr. David Juncos clinical psychologist and performance anxiety specialist, I give you some insight into how ACT works in practice by presenting one of the most typical exercises from ACT.

Dr. David Juncos’ practice:

His book:

More info:  

In this episode with Dr. David Juncos we discussed a new method that can help musicians to reduce the suffering that performance anxiety causes. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is more a way of thinking than a therapy, so it is perfectly adoptable in musicians’ practice. What really happens by doing ACT is that you increase your ability to be with anxiety and tolerating the stress in the concert situation.  

By doing ACT you learn that thoughts are like language: they are symbolic as they refer to things but  they are not the same thing that they refer to. And this is they key to diffuse or in other words, detach yourself and your acts from your thoughts.  

Food for thought: 

1. List your values as a musician! (e.g. connecting with the audience, expressing yourself, executing perfect technique)

Dr. David Juncos’ practice:

His book:

More info:  

Great insights for musicians from flautist and Body Mapping Practitioner,  Dr. Bridget Rennie Salonen. In the second part of our discussion we talked about the importance of self-acceptance, the positive outcomes of the right bodily use and the way these new skills can be integrated into the musical practice, and finally Bridget listed the main points of effective practicing in music.  

For more info visit:

The Association for Body Mapping Education (formerly Andover Educators) website:

Dr. Bridget Rennie-Salonen's website:

https://www.perfactionist.org​

https://www.facebook.com/perfactionist.org​

Great insights for musicians from principal flautist and Body Mapping Practitioner,  Dr. Bridget Rennie Salonen.  In the PerfActionist's first episode, with Dr. Bridget Rennie-Salonen flautist and Body Mapping Educator, we talked about the value of slow practice, gradual development,  how working with mindfulness and self-regulation ability help musicians in achieving more in their practice.

For more info visit:  

The Association for Body Mapping Education (formerly Andover Educators) website:  

http://bodymap.org/

Dr. Bridget Rennie-Salonen's website: 

http://bridgetrs.com/

https://www.perfactionist.org

#music performance anxiety #music performance #practice makes perfect #body mapping #mindfulness #perfectionism #flute #music #self-acceptance #musical identity