The Mind Over Finger Podcast

What if practicing more isn't the answer? And what if the key to a great performance isn't playing every note perfectly?
In this episode, San Francisco Symphony principal harpist Katherine Siochi shares what she's learned about practicing smarter, performing under pressure, and building a meaningful music career while navigating perfectionism, self doubt, and comparison.
We explore:
·         How to make your practice sessions more focused and effective.
·         How to prepare for auditions and perform well, even when you're nervous.
·         Why musical expression can make the difference between a good audition and a winning one.
·         How to recover from mistakes without getting stuck in self criticism.
·         How to let go of comparison and define success on your own terms.
A conversation full of practical ideas to help you play your best and enjoy the music you're making.
 
If you're ready to step on stage with confidence, perform at your best, and finally feel secure in your playing, let's talk! Book a free discovery call and let's create a plan to get you there.
 
Book your FREE Music Mastery Experience Discovery call with Renée HERE
Download the transcript from this episode HERE
 
KATHERINE SIOCHI
Website: http://www.katherinesiochi.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katherinesiochi/
 
 
Mind Over Finger
Click www.mindoverfinger.com/coaching to book your free consultation with me.
Visit MindOverFinger.com for my online courses as well as free resources on peak performance.
Grab my free workshops and PDF downloads by going to www.mindoverfinger.com/resources.
Connect:
https://www.youtube.com/@MindOverFinger
https://www.facebook.com/mindoverfinger/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfinger
https://www.instagram.com/mindoverfinger/
 
 
THANK YOU:
Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show's musical theme:  Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Ever finish practicing with tight shoulders, a sore neck, or the feeling that something just shouldn't be this hard? What if the answer isn't more practice, but a better understanding of how your body moves? In this episode, flutist and Body Mapping educator Jolene Madewell shares how small changes in movement and awareness can make a remarkable difference in your sound, comfort, and confidence.
In this conversation, we explore:
·         How Body Mapping helps you release unnecessary tension and play with less effort.
·         Why trying to maintain "good posture" might actually be making your playing harder.
·         How understanding your ribs, shoulders, and breathing can unlock technical passages that have felt impossible.
·         Simple movement experiments you can try in the practice room to play with greater freedom.
·         How feeling your feet, widening your awareness, and reconnecting with your body can quiet your mind when performance nerves kick in.
If you've been working harder and harder without getting the results you want, this conversation might change the way you approach your instrument.
 
Are you ready to take your playing and career to the next level and create a life that feels purposeful and joyful? If you're ready to step on stage with confidence, perform at your best, and finally feel secure in your playing, join the Music Mastery Experience.
 
Book your FREE Music Mastery Experience Discovery call with Renée HERE
Book your free consultation with Renée HERE
Download the transcript from this episode HERE
 
GUEST
Website: https://www.joleneharju.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joleneflute/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/practiceroomrevelations/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JoleneHarjuMadewell
 
 
Mind Over Finger
Click www.mindoverfinger.com/coaching to book your free consultation with me.
Visit MindOverFinger.com for my online courses as well as free resources on peak performance.
Grab my free workshops and PDF downloads by going to www.mindoverfinger.com/resources.
Connect:
https://www.youtube.com/@MindOverFinger
https://www.facebook.com/mindoverfinger/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfinger
https://www.instagram.com/mindoverfinger/
 
 
THANK YOU:
Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show's musical theme:  Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

What if the dream job you've worked so hard for isn't the life you actually want? In this candid, funny, and inspiring conversation, internationally acclaimed violinist Anthea Kreston shares the lessons behind her extraordinary career and new memoir, Crescendo: Chronicles of an Adventurous Violinist. From burnout at Curtis to performing with the renowned Artemis Quartet, Anthea reminds us that thriving in music means more than collecting achievements.
In this episode, we explore:
·         Overcoming perfectionism and reconnecting with the joy of making music.
·         Knowing when to push through challenges and when it's time to change direction.
·         Setting bold goals and creating a music career that reflects your priorities.
·         Creative practice strategies that make learning more effective and enjoyable.
·         Embracing failure, redefining success, and building a fulfilling life on your own terms.
 
A refreshing reminder that you can pursue excellence without losing yourself along the way.
 
Are you ready to take your playing and career to the next level and create a life that feels purposeful and joyful? If you're ready to step on stage with confidence, perform at your best, and finally feel secure in your playing, join the Musician's Edge Challenge.
 
Book your FREE Music Mastery Experience Discovery call with Renée HERE
Book your free consultation with Renée HERE
Download the transcript from this episode HERE
 
GUEST
Website: https://antheakreston.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/antheakreston
GRAB HER BOOK HERE: https://amzn.to/3WcVlQZ
 
 
 
Mind Over Finger
Click www.mindoverfinger.com/coaching to book your free consultation with me.
Visit MindOverFinger.com for my online courses as well as free resources on peak performance.
Grab my free workshops and PDF downloads by going to www.mindoverfinger.com/resources.
Connect:
https://www.youtube.com/@MindOverFinger
https://www.facebook.com/mindoverfinger/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfinger
https://www.instagram.com/mindoverfinger/
 
 
THANK YOU:
Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show's musical theme:  Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

You spent weeks, maybe months, preparing for an audition. And then, suddenly, it's over. Whether you won, advanced, or didn't get the result you wanted, there's so much more to take away from the experience than a committee's decision. In this episode, I'm sharing six practical steps to help you learn from every audition and turn that experience into valuable preparation for your next win.
In this episode, you'll learn:
·         What to do immediately after an audition to capture valuable information without overanalyzing.
·         How to recover emotionally and physically, regardless of the result.
·         Why acknowledging your effort and progress helps you become a better musician.
·         How to evaluate your audition objectively and separate facts from assumptions.
·         How to distinguish preparation problems from difficulties performing under pressure.
·         How to turn what you've learned into a stronger plan for your next audition.
Every audition has something valuable to offer. Let's make sure you get all of it!
 
If you're ready to step on stage with confidence, perform at your best, and finally feel secure in your playing, let's talk! Book a free discovery call and let's create a plan to get you there.
 
Book your FREE Music Mastery Experience Discovery call with Renée HERE
 
Download the transcript from this episode HERE
 
Mind Over Finger
Click www.mindoverfinger.com/coaching to book your free consultation with me.
Visit MindOverFinger.com for my online courses as well as free resources on peak performance.
Grab my free workshops and PDF downloads by going to www.mindoverfinger.com/resources.
Connect:
https://www.youtube.com/@MindOverFinger
https://www.facebook.com/mindoverfinger/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfinger
https://www.instagram.com/mindoverfinger/
 
 
THANK YOU:
Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show's musical theme:  Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

What happens when the goals you set no longer fit the life you're actually living?
In this first episode of Season 9, we're exploring how to pursue meaningful musical goals while making space for rest, relationships, health, and the things that make you feel fully alive.
In this episode:
• Reassessing your priorities as your life changes
• Creating boundaries around practice and work
• Making real space for rest and recovery
• Staying process oriented when a project feels overwhelming
• Building a schedule that supports both the musician and the human
Because the musician will thrive more when the human is thriving.
 
Are you ready to take your playing and career to the next level and create a life that feels purposeful and joyful? If you're ready to step on stage with confidence, perform at your best, and finally feel secure in your playing, let's talk.
Book your free consultation with Renée HERE
 
Scientific links from the episode:
·         Goals aligned with personal interests and values
Sheldon & Elliot, Goal Striving, Need Satisfaction, and Longitudinal Well-Being: The Self-Concordance Model
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10101878/
·         Psychologically disconnecting from work
Wendsche & Lohmann-Haislah, A Meta-Analysis on Antecedents and Outcomes of Detachment from Work
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.02072/full
·         Process, performance, and outcome goals in sport
The Performance and Psychological Effects of Goal Setting in Sport: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1750984X.2022.2116723
 
Download the transcript from this episode HERE
 
Mind Over Finger
Click www.mindoverfinger.com/coaching to book your free consultation with me.
Visit MindOverFinger.com for my online courses as well as free resources on peak performance.
Grab my free workshops and PDF downloads by going to www.mindoverfinger.com/resources.
Connect:
https://www.youtube.com/@MindOverFinger
https://www.facebook.com/mindoverfinger/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfinger
https://www.instagram.com/mindoverfinger/
 
 
THANK YOU:
Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show's musical theme:  Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.