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about
me
I'm a violinist, professor, practice researcher, and author.
I like to play at the cross section of music and psychology, looking for solutions to 'practice problems', or in plain English, how to do the hard stuff: show up regularly, work smart, be a daredevil, and above all, feel good about ourselves as musicians. Since moving from full-time orchestra playing to Higher Education, I’ve become fascinated by the human mind, and sports psychology in particular. I suppose you could say I'm an 'ologist' of the mind and practice, someone who studies how we can make practice more insightful and delightful.
I'm currently writing a book on Empowerment for Musicians, which is taking for-ev-er, just like practice!
Highlights
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Associate Professor of Violin, Virginia Commonwealth University
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Author, The Practizma Practice Journal
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Former principal second violin of the Richmond Symphony
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Published in Strad Online, Strings Magazine, ASTA Magazine, the Instrumentalist Magazine, and Violinist.com (topic? psychology of practice, of course!)
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Originally from Stuttgart, Germany
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Still like practice... most days
Long bio
A visionary in the field of practice psychology and musician wellness, Susanna looks for solutions to the “practice problem” at the intersection of the science of behavior and technology. She is the author of the Practizma Practice Journal and creator of the Clipza Video Capture app on IOS. She presents regularly at universities and conferences around the country on empowerment and wellness for musicians.
Susanna is an Associate Professor of Music at Virginia Commonwealth University, where her grant-funded practice research involves a multidisciplinary team of health and engineering researchers.
She has written articles on practicing for The Strad Online, Strings Magazine, ASTA Journal, the Instrumentalist Magazine, Classical Singer Magazine, and Violinist.com.
As a violinist, she has performed in orchestra and chamber music settings in Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, and Israel as well as throughout the United States. Currently, she serves as a violinist with both Trio 826 and the trailblazer group Atlantic Chamber Ensemble (ACE) in Richmond. ACE has garnered national attention through its novel connections to audiences, recently detailed in Chamber Music Magazine.
As an orchestral musician, Susanna served as principal second violin of the Richmond Symphony for five years. Other orchestral appointments have been with the Colorado Symphony, Memphis Symphony, Vermont Symphony, and Rhode Island Philharmonic. She has played under the baton of notable conductors such as Marin Alsop, Seiji Ozawa, Yoel Levi, and Lorin Maazel. She has played at music festivals such as Tanglewood, Spoleto Italy, Shira, Kneisel Hall, and Nova Scotia Festival. In the summer, she performs regularly at the Wintergreen Performing Arts Festival, Cedar Valley Chamber Music Festival, and Loon Lake Live.
Recording credits include One Ring Zero, Modern Groove Syndicate, Trio 826, Richmond Symphony, Virginia Symphony, Loon Lake Live, and the Atlantic Chamber Ensemble.
Susanna holds a BM degree from VCU and a Master of Music degree from Boston University, where she was an assistant to the legendary violinist Roman Totenberg.
Susanna is currently writing a book about the Psychology of Practice.
WANT MONTHLY PRACTICE MUSINGS?
Once a month I send you the latest tips to help make your practice more insightful. Plus, sign up and I'll send you the intro + 3 sample prompts from the Practizma Practice Journal as a gift.