In the latest issue of Living the Classical Life, the German cellist Johannes Moser relates that getting invited by the Berlin Philharmonic prompted him to work with a sports psychologist.
An extraordinary example of lateral thinking.
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You really must think musicians are an unimaginative lot, Norman, if you think this is extraordinary lateral thinking. Even in the UK, where we are behind the curve, there is a fair amount of performance (psychological) coaching for musicians. Much of that knowledge has been transferred from sports performance coaching, where budgets are larger and the learning tends to be more advanced. I should think any number of musicians have gone direct to a sports psychologist.
Yes, Norman, SD, and readers here, should and probably do know it’s not new or unique.
The point of this is not so much if psychological coaching is available (which it is of course), my point is that one needs to work through it and actually DO IT. After I first spoke about my experience in this field in an interview in 2011, I got quite a few emails asking for the contact of my trainer etc. After I checked in with them 6 months later, only a tiny fraction had followed through with getting help and actually did the work.
In my experience, reading some self help literature and keeping fingers crossed just is not enough. One needs to go through this process with a professional. Just like any Tennis or Soccer player…
I am very happy to say that 13 years ago, performing for me has turned from an anxiety driven task to pure personal fulfillment. I guess thats what I want to pass on to others that may struggle in similar ways.
“I should think any number of musicians have gone direct to a sports psychologist.”
Never heard any musician disclose that. Gone to a psychiatrist? Oh yes, plenty.
Wonderful interview!!! So much thoughtfulness and no one word was wasted. Probably the best, most practical, and down to earth interview from this series.
I think you have to have fairly deep pockets to afford a good sports psychologist and it is not common for musicians to even know where to begin to look for one. I imagine the search is even more difficult as a woman. You only have to look at womens’ tennis to see how great the psychological demands are and certainly there is a direct analogy. Thank you for the link.
See The Inner Game of Tennis (1972) and the Inner Game of Music, (1986) the original by Tim Gallwey and the second by Barry Green. Nothing new under the sun.
Bangor Uni does an online degree in Performance Psychology. Lots of singers and musicians on there learning it for themselves.