Hey there Reader

In my last email, we ranked your musical strengths and weaknesses from 1-10. Here’s a quick reminder of the different categories:

Pitch – Note/Chord/Tab Reading – Rhythm – Tempo – Dynamics – Technique

Today, I want to help you dig into why your biggest musical struggle keeps holding you back. The root cause may surprise you: it starts in your mind.

Musical challenges are often tied to how our brain processes information. If you feel like you should know how to play something right but can't figure out what's wrong, it’s like trying to solve a math problem without understanding the steps. Things feel foggy.

Let’s take rhythm and pitch as examples:

• Anxiety can throw off coordination and focus.
• Perfectionism leads to overthinking instead of flowing with the music.
• Negative self-talk can erode confidence, causing hesitation.

Here’s a simple approach to start overcoming these mental barriers:

• Record Yourself – I know it can be intimidating, but remember this is a tool to improve! Listen back for areas where you’re not as polished as you thought. It’ll help pinpoint weaknesses.

• Play with a Metronome – If staying on beat feels harder than expected, practice at a slow tempo and build up. OR if the sound of the metronome is overwhelming, try practicing along with a drum track!

• Sing What You Play – Humming or singing first helps you internalize pitch and rhythm before playing. This is a helpful step in making the music you're learning more intrinsic in your understanding of how it's structured.

By recognizing what’s tripping you up, you can start building better mental pathways and finally tackle that challenge!

Let’s solve this together.

All the best,

Amy S.

Want extra help?

Learn how to master music theory, mindset and emotions to become a more confident performer this year.

Get your copy of my eBook, Holistic Music Development and...

• Stop spinning your wheels, not knowing why you're struggling with your instrument by learning how to apply music psychology to your practice sessions.
• Increase your confidence and ability using easy music theory to unlock your amazing potential, and see how music theory is an intrinsic part of you (and not that overwhelming!)
• Learn effective techniques to help you discover who your most authentic musical self is, gain awareness of your musicality, and hone it to carve out a path in your music career!

Follow this link to get your copy in eBook form: Holistic Music Development (eBook)

OR if you prefer a physical copy over an eBook, you can get it here on Amazon. Click HERE to purchase your paperback copy Holistic Music Development (soft-cover)

What is SoundPaint?

SoundPaint is a long-time project I've been developing for the past 10 years. The dream was to build a safe community for creatives who want to explore their musical potential in a way that goes beyond traditional music education. And so in August 2021 SoundPaint Academy was created!

I deeply believe that music & songwriting flourishes when a musician is given the freedom to explore sound & creativity. This is where sound makes you laugh, cry, think, anything we humans can reach with our emotions, and express ourselves with color and light at a supersonic rate. Notes are our colors, and we use them to paint the full gamut of what we feel.

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THANK YOU TO ALL MY WONDERFUL SUBSCRIBERS!! YOU'RE THE BEST!!

HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY EXPLORING MUSIC WITH ME!