Welcome to
 The Joyful Musician Blog

You've mapped out your practice schedule, chosen your repertoire, and drilled every difficult passage. But when I review musicians' audition prep plans, I consistently spot the same missing elements that can derail even the most technically prepared performer. These aren't about your playing — they're about everything that happens before and after you touch your instrument.

A low-ranking sheriff in 202 BCE made a choice that changed history — and it's the same choice every musician with performance anxiety needs to make. Because as a result, he founded one of China's greatest dynasties. Here's what his story reveals about the fears you're still carrying from music school.

What do you do when you’re tired, distracted, or just not feeling it? You practise showing up anyway — but you do it gently. This letter is for the musicians who don't want to avoid everything on those days when things don't feel right.

The other day I read something that made me laugh… and then made me deeply uncomfortable. It was about how we slowly stop being the protagonist in our own lives. And I thought about being a musician: Solos. Applause. And the dreams we quietly shelve.

You thought ‘fall’ was just because the leaves are falling, didn’t you? Me too. But this old forgotten word opened up a perspective I didn’t know I needed — especially when it comes to confidence, performing, and all the quiet pressure we carry as musicians. Let’s talk about what needs to fall.

Remember when fantasy stories made it feel like magic could happen to anyone? An old book, a glowing key, a hidden doorway… and suddenly an ordinary person was changed forever. Somewhere along the way, that narrative shifted — and not just in books. The same quiet shift crept into how we see music, talent, and ourselves. What if the story you’ve been told about who gets to be “special” isn’t the truth at all?

After 19 years of trying, singer Max Fox begged Simon Cowell for a chance — and got it. His story is a reminder that courage, not luck, carries musicians forward. Here’s why every performer needs a guide to steady the nerves and take their shot when it matters most.

She spotted him in the front row. Her chest tightened, her thoughts scattered, and the weight of the moment felt crushing... but this concert changed how she approaches every performance — and it’s something you can learn too.

Everyone told me it wasn’t a real thing. That musicians wouldn’t pay for it. That it wasn’t what “serious” professionals did. But after years of watching talented performers unravel under pressure—and knowing exactly how that feels—I chose to do it anyway. Here’s why I left traditional music teaching to become a performance and confidence coach for musicians... and why I’ve never looked back.

What if your endless scrolling isn’t just a bad habit — but a sign of something deeper? In this post, I share a surprising study and a little personal story that reveals why stillness feels so hard for so many musicians. If you’ve ever reached for your phone without thinking, you’ll want to read this. This will change how you approach rest, focus, and confidence in your music career.