How Anxiety Almost Ruined My Playing...

[@christheother9088]

The negative self-talk is a problem, but jeez, even my cat misses a jump once in awhile. Which makes me feel better.

[@mutraxx73]

Negative self-talk has sabotaged me a lot...much better dealing with it than I used to be. Good talk!

[@pnojazz]

Simply embrace the moment. That’s life. Don’t be led by your self talk or your emotions. And if most of us could play as well as you two we’d be on top of the world. Fear and doubt, or love and trust. We’re all living one of those at any given moment. ❤

[@kevinsavo718]

Giant Steps at the end was great. Really capped the episode. Anxiety is a beast. I think it is tied to our desire to be desirable, to get the next gig, to have people remain interested in us, to be able to justify all the hours spent practicing, to make a living, to be good stewards of the music, to converse musically in a meaningful way, to soothe our egos(weak sauce), to just do the thing we love, to attract new bandmates… It’s a lot of noise, and a lot of it comes from a truly grounded place, but it distracts from the music. On stage yips can be revealing of my priorities. What really matters to me in this performance?

[@arshakmkhitaryan7039]

GALA for Peter’s anxiety reduction! Thank you for being a wonderful person and a wonderful musician and teacher. Thank you both for inspiring us. With deep thoughts and amazing playing.

[@plannerguy]

Appreciate how you guys keep it real and relevant. Chose to play my first time on an open studio session and we were doing Take the A Train, which ive known since i was 16. But my hands wouldn't do what they were supposed to do - so nervous. It's enlivening to hear how professional musicians struggle with the same things as the rest if us. Thanks 👍🏻

[@dilruba0]

Thank you both for this great podcast! In Vinnie Colaiuta's words: "Thought is the enemy of the flow" Brian Blade said something similar in an interview, but I don't remember the exact words... Personally, the 80 percent rule helps me: I do my homework and I'm with 80 percent ok. If it's more than that, I'll take it as a gift. Is just important to be humble. It is a spiritual thing..! Thanks for your service!!🙏🏽

[@gorillagorilla111]

As a violinist (playing swing jazz) i can definitely say that for myself the self-critic can be devastating in the midst of any performance. I’m glad you guys referenced Kenny Werner. I found his book very useful re: being a more “un-invested” observer of one’s own playing. Being in the moment means feeling the stroke of the bow, the fingers curving into every note, not thinking about the next note so much etc. For us players not as skilled as you guys, it should be said that we can’t just integrate this while performing. We need to practice it in the practice room. For me that means imagining I’m in front of people , summoning up the internal feelings, and then being able to concentrate on nothing more than the physical sensations of playing (maybe the emotions of that helps) . In other words , imagining playing in front of people with no fear … but it’s gotta be a strong visceral imagination , it’s gotta feel authentic , it can’t be a vague picture. And it has to be done every day, every practice. Thanks you guys!

[@brettliebermanmusic]

Piano is not even my main instrument but you two are becoming my favorite musicians to watch.

[@Pianomiano]

Really great topic. I found a lot of great advice here to apply in my music as well as in my personal and professional life.

[@pdbass]

GALA for Peter’s ego reduction act 😂

[@bertramblik8826]

Peter's commentary on the comment from last time really struck a chord. Balancing avoiding over-confidence, while still embracing who we are and what we have to say. More episodes like this! Verbalizing the mind's games of self comparison, negativity, catastrophizing, not just about in the moments of performance but also in relation to practicing, or not having practiced, or even in relation to our connection to jazz, what it means to us, the resistance as talked about by S. Pressfield. Great references to Kenny Werner. One can get caught up in ruminating in all kinds of ways and as someone who is still a beginner but slightly getting advanced it's amazing to see more seasoned players expressing their emotions. This is why music is deeply a spiritual practice, strengthening the relationship to our authenticity, to being present, breaking the pointless games of separation by the ego.

[@pianoman_JP]

GALA Peter's ARA! Thanks for everything you both do.

[@edwardvivenzio5843]

Great topic guys,much respect,and admiration for you both.Thanks for the Music!

[@harrisonbrand8985]

this is exactly what i needed! i have a gig tomorrow, feeling a lot less practiced than i was a few years ago, and during rehearsal i felt so off, anxious, at one point just shut down on a tune that i normally love to play over. i was so focused on my perception and trying to justify my place that i wasn’t really there, and wasn’t playing with love for the music or myself. here’s to not overwhelming our nervous systems

[@jarediledundee]

I love you two and your conversations every week. Thank you so much for the fantastic content. GALA x ARA

[@winstonschwarz1636]

I’m watching this on a cold British morning and just the intro jam made me very happy. Many thanks chaps.

[@ruben_____]

Please open with a little jam everytime! That was delightful and a great way to open the episode! GALA

[@Wydjonny]

You guys are so awesome at what you do! Thank you for it!

[@terryparham3913]

Stage fright or performance anxiety is no joke. I’ve experienced it on the first gig. My son who studied at Berklee decided to change schools because of it (performance anxiety). Can be a personal battle to overcome. I’ve found that speaking about the subject with professionals can help. Fighting through it can also be rewarding. Thanks for addressing anxiety.

[@lanceregan2571]

I love all of your talks they are so honest. I am sure most of your audience is the same . Always learning. Makes you humble.

[@davidevans1233]

so important this. it's all part of it isn't it. learning about ourselves. music isn't seperate to us. also it's not about product - it's a process. grateful to you for your honesty and for sharing this.

[@chameleon12349]

GALA! Great pod on a subject that's not easy to talk about. Thanks for keeping it real.

[@CatioChic3catsJazz]

Your intro duet jams make my day!! This topic was beautiful, and coming from you two, really encouraging.

[@cocovi]

As I was following the discussion, I started thinking whether jazz musicians of all people do not love the feeling of having to express themselves in the nick of time, out of the blue, you know.... the art of improvisation. So what this discussion tells me is that even experience jazz musicians have stage fright, but even when they think they mess up, the audience is hardly aware of it. The real issue is for non experienced or casual musicians who get so terrified when someone is listening to them that they make all kinds of mistakes or even forget how to play a tune.

[@ManchurianCounterweight]

this happens to me. It sucks. I don't know how to beat it.

[@raneyjr]

Very interesting conversation indeed. Most people have had musical experiences where none of this happened and then they ask themselves, "Yeah can I go back to playing that way? What was I doing then when I got the little devil off my shoulder?" And you try to recreate it and you can't because it's self-conscious and out of the moment. Suffice to say that it's probably not about not thinking about X (forgive the double negatives...) it's about doing Y. From what I've observed in the master players (a few in my background) is intense concentration from the first bar to the end on a consistent basis. Some of this is about understanding what you do well and not giving in to being derailed. So nutshell, Do Y and don't ask why:)

[@AdrianJazzAdventures]

Words of wisdom. They did it again... All so true...

[@gerredy]

Great pod- I wish they focused more on the physiological aspect of anxiety and how to counter it in the moment

[@scottjoyce100]

Enjoyed that. I could talk for hours about this... to myself. :)

[@amileoj9043]

Regarding the Kenny Werner type problem of getting out of your own head: One of the things that makes that very practical (for me) is that he grounds it in a distinction between the mindset you need for practice vs the one you need for performance. I think that is a *very* common distinction among working jazz musicians. I've heard it from musicians as different as, say, Hal Galper and Jimmy Bruno. It's the idea that being highly self-critical, relentlessly goal-directed, etc., has a place where it's perfectly appropriate--in fact essential. But that it's something that good players find a way to let go of in the act of performance, where the attitude needs to be, roughly speaking, the opposite of all that.

[@8cto1]

Great book on this topic is inner game of tennis. Two of my music teachers in the past have had me read it.

[@omarito0410]

People that get offended it’s their problem, you are explaining what you think and you cannot always think of what the other person will feel like. Love ur content

[@jajackso18]

Great stuff! Gentlemen and ladies agreement adhered to!

[@MohaNusaif]

GALA FOR PETER'S EGO! I love this episode so much i just played a gig last night and got the yippies and couldn't solo, this is so important and it should be part of music education

[@Wolfram53]

GALA ARA . . .Thanks for all you are ! 🌞

[@joelgevirtz6181]

I struggle with this all the time. Very helpful to know that others far better than I also suffer the same stuff.

[@AlisaIlina-vz8lr]

Gala anxiety reduction act, thank you gentlemen!

[@andy-simmons]

GALA for Peter’s ARA. Thanks fellas!

[@maxcaulfieldmc]

I like how Adam kept bringing it back to expectations and what people expect of us and how that can affect us. More mental health content would be wonderful

[@paytonkerkes]

Hey guys big fan of the pod! I have been dealing with a bunch of anxiety from playing in the NYC jam session scene. The bit about feeling your body to bring you back into the moment really helps. Thanks for all you do!

[@matthewfairman9865]

I'm a big fan of you guys... I particularly like it when you start off the pod playing something together... To me you are both very fine musicians.. You are always inspiring.. you are also both extremely articulate and thoughtful... I hope you don't take the odd criticism to heart... some people like to take offence even when they know none was intended....

[@lukespencer8341]

Gala for Peter's anxiety reduction act rather than the ego

[@coreygarrett9545]

GALA anxiety reduction act! Great work you two

[@JonahCadorette]

GALA for for Peter's anxiety reduction!

[@adamc7065]

Gotta love Herbie shout outs! Thats an incredible intro!

[@Joshua_Schultz]

GALA for Peter's anxiety reduction. Thanks for being real and vulnerable with us. Re: the #11: You know what Adam Neely says --- repetition legitimizes

[@timfairfield407]

I get anxiety ordering a sandwich or calling to place an order worrying about getting it wrong. Your talk applies in so many situations. i will think of my feet when that happens and see how it goes.

[@ConstanceBrown]

As a woman and aspiring jazz pianist* who just began working on my skills after years and years of delaying cause I was feeling too anxious to even start, I for sure feel like being a woman adds another layer of anxiety.. 😂 My goal being to be a jazz pianist but not professional, just be able to jam with people and have fun.

[@pablisso3]

GALA for Peter's anxiety reduction!

[@jackhsumusic2586]

Gala ARA 😂 … loves this podcast

[@johnslaughter349]

You are doing great guys! I think any any long time listeners of the pod know that you all are coming from a place of love and inclusiveness.

Gala ara. I have struggled with this all of my life. Kenny Werner’s book is as recommended to me when I was studying at the Royal College of music in Stockholm. Such an eye opener. I still have to work with it but it’s so much better these days.

[@philcibley1804]

Also Steve Sax, Chuck Knoblauch, and Sam Snead. BTW, nice segue into the theme.

[@alphaomega6062]

Gala for Peter's peace of mind.

[@all12keez]

GALA for Peter's anxiety reduction act lol!

[@giampierogirolamo7134]

Great epi❤

[@RC_Cola2020]

This gave me new things to get in my head about. haha

[@MarkLarsson]

GALA for Peter’s anxiety reduction act ❤

[@mrcneale]

I loved "Watered Down Vanilla Sexless Robots" first album..it was a hidden gem of 2023 GALA ARA

[@joaobarretomusic]

you need courage to be exposing so private feelings to so many musicians. Very usefull to know that there are more people going through this. Very usefull video but just remember that in your level, your worst solo is even greater than my best!

[@SessionsWithMike]

Love that intro!

[@YardOnion]

Agreement adhered to. Peter, this is to make you feel whole again.

[@CWBella]

I heard Bobby McFerrin say about performing the hardest thing was forgetting what he sang the night before.

[@i.m.takkinen]

Great show. I do wonder who said they didn't like Coltrane besides my Mom?

[@michaeltaylor-wm5eu]

Nice intro!!

[@donschneider7953]

I like to remind myself that critics are those who can neither play nor teach. What else do they have going? Sitting on the sidelines and sniping at performers is where *their* sense of self-worth is found. Sad. Those who *can*, do. Those who can't teach. Those who can't do or teach become critics. GALA for Peter's anxiety reduction.

[@marktrop196]

You guys lessons fir me r like U give lot of Understanding id not get otherwise And specific if you do this Ie 2nd diminant play My ability expands

[@a.s.s._art]

gala for petersons anxiety reduction act

[@tracyolivermusic]

GALA to purge anxiety!

[@CWBella]

GALA for Peter's Anxiety Reduction Act.

[@alanwheeler2530]

GALA ARA. That was one of the best podcasts. Thank you for opening up and being honest. How right you are about the love and the light. You guys are doing a great job.

[@CWBella]

Adam, I resemble that remark/episode. 😁

[@gorantovic1473]

Hi! Please could you tell me which piano sound Peter played in this episode? Is this some piano library or a hardware piano sound? It sounds amazing! Thank you!

[@Marc.22.]

I think they use keyscape but i'm not sure. Maybe they mentioned it in the "why peter refuses to play keyboards" episode, i can't remember

[@cgtspl]

GALA for both of you

[@benaiahwright937]

I'm nowhere near a professional musician but i do get little local gigs here and there and i deal with anxiety and negative self talk real bad.

[@GregMillerGuitarist]

I've recently stopped listening to my favs-Jesse Van Ruller/Metheny-on the day of the gig. When my 16 bars come around, I'm a bit less critical of hearing myself play the stuff I play. =]

[@trevor807]

Gala for Peter's anxiego

[@fallowfieldoutwest]

gala for Peter's Anxiety Reduction Act (ego)

[@worblyhead996]

Is focal dystonia and the yips the same thing? When the guitarist Julian Lage was interviewed by Rick Beato, they got into an interesting discussion about Julian's exercises that he does to work through it.

[@BoWadeOnDrums]

Good morning ☕️🎹

[@petezah6557]

GALA for the pod

[@mscherer1586]

GALA for Peter's ego AKA Anxiety Reduction Act. ;P

[@Flommo_144]

My 2 favourite dudes. 😄.

[@miTnosnhoJ]

I just wanted to add that GALA ARA,

[@patrickdowd4868]

Peter with the head fake - starting out making me think that he and Adam are playing I Mean You today.

[@SKymodsomemore]

I have this issue and it's been an awful struggle

[@AprilPerkinson]

Great Giant

[@yo1ma2man3]

GALA for the ARA

[@marktrop196]

Electron consciousness can be painful thats true I couldnt escape it as much without these lessons Isnt there some movie with a yip song or something? I cant remember exactly maybe that film where the bear ate the timothy guy? Yip yip 😅

[@advaitc.3035]

gala for ara

[@drrjackson]

Peter should call his attorney, Bernie.

[@pianoman_JP]

And spend some quality time!

[@karlvanbeckum9029]

I'm a bass player who manages generalized anxiety and occasional panic attacks which are frequently triggered by an ongoing physical condition which I deal with, and I appreciate this video. I wish more famous Jazz artists would talk about how they manage their mental health as it relates to their art/work. Cheers!

[@rockstarjazzcat]

A galaxy of ego reduction act. Yip yip yip, nope nope nope. ☁️🕉️☁️

[@GruntDestroyarChannel]

What’s the intro open studio song they always use

[@dominiccastillo9677]

Gala for Peter’s ego!

[@LeviClay]

woop

[@mictv4president]

Gala ARA 🎉🎉🎉

[@BrianBermudez]

GALA ARA!

[@GizzyDillespee]

1 minute sermon: 13:09 Since this is the internet, that's meant as a reference not to miss. I could say, the video's abstract. That statement could mean the video is meaningless, but it's actually supposed to mean that the timestamp speech is like a pithy summary to the point. Because, "abstract" has multiple meanings... and also, apostrophe-s could be possessive, or it could be a contraction for "video is". Communication is like that. As to people being offended by comments... Verbally and in person, someone can say you're acting cavalier, but you might process and remember (and therefore hear) it as a synonym word, instead. With written comments, that still happens, and then in addition to that, you also don't have body language and tonal cues to help you suss out the meaning. Sometimes I leave weird comments, because I'm a weirdo. Hopefully there's been nothing harmful, and I hope nobody ever thought I was offended by anything here. IME, the Open Studio channels aren't very offensive, at all. In fact, probably you could boost the ratings if you edged a little closer to that line... Just kidding - keep being you. That's all anybody needs to do. Definitely keep being an interesting you, tho. I'm really like this IRL, my music's like this, my thoughts are like this, at this time, whether anybody else likes it or not. Luckily, people change, too, and grow wiser. So, please keep sharing your wisdom so far.

[@GizzyDillespee]

Watered-down vanilla sexless robots?🤣 🤖🤖 My goodness! I'd rather be a weirdo than offended by someone liking too much music.

[@GizzyDillespee]

Gala'ara Atoll!

[@theWarriorUnknown]

The more mistakes you make the more you learn, isn't it so? and the jazz guru replied," yes key hopper"