Get Ready for Tax Season: Year-Round Organization Tips for Musicians
Taxes can be daunting (especially if you’re self-employed). Setting yourself up for success means setting up systems you can use throughout the year to track your income and expenses, keep organized financial records, pay estimated taxes, and manage write-offs. In this post, you’ll learn seven practical things you can do all year long to help you prepare for tax season. Whether you’re just starting your music career or you’ve been doing this for a while, I hope these strategies help you feel confident and prepared for tax season.
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Supporting Musicians with Injuries: Mindful Ways to Communicate
What to say and not say to injured musicians! Have you ever felt lost and nervous when speaking to an injured friend or colleague? You are not alone. Often, we say things we think will help but cause more hurt and harm. In this article, Mariah helps us all as she shares mindful ways to communicate, pulling on her own experience and what was said to her when she experienced a career-ending injury.
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Voice Massage: An Introduction
Massage to help your artistry. Have you ever thought about it? Many of us think of massage to relieve the discomfort of making music. Still, few consider how a targeted and specific approach frees up more capacity for beauty. In this article, find out about Maria Berglund and her technique, approach, and the benefits of her work.
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Sports Psychology and Musicians
Applying sports psychology to music-making is a hot topic, but how does it work exactly? Why is it an effective way of training mentally? Violinist Dimitry Olevsky breaks it down so we can all understand it. And he would know. He wrote a dissertation about it and applies it to his teaching and performing career.
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First Steps to Breaking the Paycheck to Paycheck Cycle
Finances and money talk tend to be hush-hush topics in the music world. We don’t learn how to manage them and often struggle to make our money work for us. Anamarie Diaz, aka the Financial Flutist, is here to help you break out of the cycle of living paycheck to paycheck. This article is such a great guide to breaking free from the money stress and taking ownership of your finances. Read it asap!
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Support Tools for Times of Change
How do you manage your wellness? What tools do you have? Have you ever considered Astrology as a way to navigate challenging times or make sense of all the chaos? What about human design? Kelly Kasle leads with her personal story and shows why some of the “woo woo” can bring things into focus in unexpected but totally straightforward ways. Read on to find out more.
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Finding Your Flow with Human Design
This article is a fabulous intro to Human Design - what it is, how it works, and how it will help you live your best life. Lisa Husseini is a coach helping people live their absolute best lives, and Human Design is just one tool you can use to uplevel your existence. So check it out, then tell us - what energy type are you?
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What Needs the Most Practice? Your Brain
Auditions are tough for everyone, but what is it that REALLY needs practice and polish for success? It turns out it might not be your instrumental technique; it might be your mindset. Christopher Still from the LA Phil shares some insane insight into what might need a little tune-up before your next audition. So check it out, and start practicing it now.
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Digital Wellness Tips for Musicians
We can all admit that managing a social media presence is a big part of what we do as artists and musicians. But, sometimes, the relationship with these platforms can be unhealthy and unhelpful. Taylor Rossi shares some terrific strategies for staying up to date with sharing your best self while also being mindful that you’re simultaneously taking care of your best self. Take a look!
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The WHY of Musicians' Burnout
Have you ever felt burnt out at work or in your career? Are you confused about what Burn Out even is, or if you should take it seriously? This article from Kensley Behel will shed some light on the topic, particularly as it applies to being a professional musician or music student. She covers everything from symptoms to positive steps one can take. This is a must-read!
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The Many Benefits of Meditation
Meditation is growing increasingly popular as a way to manage the stress of modern living. But have you ever considered the real and practical benefits it can bring to your music career? Rena Urso gives you the perspective you need to try it for yourself and feel the subtle yet powerful shifts of taking care of your mental space.
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Qualifiers
How do you speak to yourself while you hone your craft? What qualifiers do you use for success? Turns out, it really matters when it comes to long-term improvement and taking care of yourself. Turns out, your body stores those messages - both negative AND positive. Don’t you want to fuel your music-making with productive positivity? Read this article and find out how.
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Befriending Performance Anxiety by Dr. Xenia Pestova Bennett
Another exceptional resource from Dr. Xenia Pestova Bennett is available for the music community, and we were delighted to receive an advance copy to review. If you’re looking for a short but practical compendium of strategies for befriending your nerves, this book Befriending Performance Anxiety will offer you many resources and opportunities to turn your anxiety into your power to connect.
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You are not your mistakes: addressing musical imperfections without self-judgment
Mindset is an essential component of success. Mindfulness has far-reaching implications for musicians, including success, growth, positivity, and overall well-being. Dr. Kevin Miescke shares a few simple strategies for being and achieving your best through harnessing the power of mindfulness.
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Review: Good Anxiety by Dr. Wendy Suzuki
Check out our review of Good Anxiety by Dr. Wendy Suzuki. This book reframes how you even think about anxiety and teaches you how to use it for good and growth.
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Proprioception – the hidden vital sense of music playing
Proprioception is fascinating and extremely pertinent to musical success, although not often discussed in the music community. In this article, written by Timani Master Teacher. Miriam Hlavaty, the topic is explored at length, tying the subject intimately to the needs of musicians. A fascinating and necessary read for all of us!
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Understanding the Complexity of Musicians’ Health and Movement can lead to Greater Freedom and Artistic Expression
Sometimes growing and advancing as musicians come from a deeper understanding of how the body works. In this article (the first of 2), Tina Margareta Nilssen, the founder of the Musicians Health and Movement Institute in Oslo and the creator of Timani, explains a seemingly simple yet, secretly complex approach to technique, improvement, and unleashing the hidden power and talent that exists within all of us.
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Review: Unleashing the Potential of the Musician's Body
It is no lie that we’re big fans of Timani around here. It is a modality rocking little musical ships, and we’re confident it will soon be moving mountains with its gentle brilliance and straightforward intelligence. Tina Margareta Nilssen, the creator of Timani, is releasing her first book this Spring. It is titled “Unleashing the Potential of the Musician’s Body: Timani - Anatomy and Exercises for Healthy Playing and Singing,” and we were fortunate to receive an advance copy to review.
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How To Overcome Stage Fright - Techniques To Reduce Anxiety And Thrive in Concerts, Auditions, and Contests
In this article, Justyna Ponulak shares some insight into some of the issues that attribute to stage fright and how she has created a program to help musicians thrive and overcome their fear of the stage to share what they love more freely.
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Creativity vs. Stress: How to Keep Moving Forward
Is stress helping or hurting your creativity? In this article, Donata Vaitkute, founder of the Mental Skills Lab, dives into the research on short-term and long-term stress and how to manage it so you can be your most creative self.
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