The Mindful Musician

Vanessa Cornett is Director of Keyboard Studies and Associate Professor of Music at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis-St. Paul where she teaches classes in music performance, teaching, mindfulness, and the contemplative nature of art and music. She has worked with students and professional musicians around the world, and her honors include awards for her research publications and outstanding teaching. A certified meditation instructor, she frequently lectures and publishes on topics of mindfulness, performance psychology, anxiety management, and mental skills for musicians.

• PrefaceAcknowledgementsAbout the Companion WebsiteChapter 1: The Mindful MusicianChapter 2 Habits of Successful PerformersChapter 3 Music and the Mind: Performance Anxiety and Other ChallengesChapter 4 Mindful Performance PsychologyChapter 5 The Art of Mindful Breathing and RelaxationChapter 6 Imagery for Peak PerformanceChapter 7 Mindfulness Practice and Meditation for MusiciansChapter 8 The Mindful Achiever: Practical Applications for Long-Term SuccessChapter 9 The Mindful Visionary: More Practical Applications for Long-Term SuccessReferences

While The Mindful Musician will be particularly helpful to readers who struggle with self-defeating behaviors, negative self-talk, or difficulty focusing during performance, its ideas and insights would help any musician learn to reframe his perspective to lead to more focused performance, greater resilience, more patience, and greater happiness overall.