Susanna Klein
PROFESSOR | AUTHOR | VIOLINIST

Feeling good about our musical journey is not a nice to have, it's a must-have. Our habits can make us happy or miserable. The best practice habits fuel not only our progress but our state of mind as well. This workshop teaches musicians how to cultivate empowered habits - practice habits that make us more confident, more relaxed, and more efficient in our work. Research from the human behavioral sciences can show us how to build a toolkit of efficient practice habits empowered work habits tips for feeling the joy again. This workshop is designed to provide simple solutions for complex musicians.

Breaking things down and putting them back together, that's what great practice is all about. I explain a touch of neuroscience and introduce tactical tools. This instrument-in-hand workshop is designed to identify the most powerful breakdown mechanisms for students: separation training pattern training cross training ergonomic training isolation training sequence training

The best of music and sports apps demonstrated in real time. Apps make practice more data driven and more engaged. With student volunteers from class we take a tour through apps that help us easily record ourselves, build rhythm, gamify practice, and learn what our bodies are really doing. Includes a handout with links to all the apps.

This workshop uses a heart rate monitor to show students what really happens to our bodies during stage fright. Students learn about the science of adrenaline, and how to work with their bodies to to learn to cope with stage fright. Subtopics within the workshop: The Science of Neurotransmitters Practice Room Intervention Backstage Interventions Onstage Interventions Simulation Training & Gamifying

Students learn how to cultivate the two quintessential musician dispositions. This is a workshop is designed to help students hone two of the most important habits for their career in the long term: Discipline [dis-uh-plin]: showing up regularly, focusing on the right thing, working efficiently, observing sprint/rest cycles, chipping away at your craft. Resilience [re-sil-yuhns]: pushing through when things get tough, accepting and learning from failures, taking on risk, soliciting feedback, buoyancy, really going for it instead of playing it safe, getting out there. In this class you’ll do a self-assessment in D&R and learn some powerful hacks for making changes. Learn how to become more disciplined, focused and daring. Small changes can make a big impact with the help of the right tools and mindset. Concrete things you will get out of this workshop: A D&R self-assessment to understand where you need to grow Simple hacks for building strong, sustainable discipline & resilience Recommendations for habit tools, structures & resources Actionable inspiration and a sense of empowerment

Protect the Asset! Injury Prevention for Musicians with all the statistics, realities, and most importantly, preventative strategies for both instrumentalists and singers. Protect the asset! Injury rates among musicians are epidemic and preventable. This presentation covers the following topics: scope of the problem, common injuries, causes, solutions, and tools for prevention - everything NASM wants schools to cover. It can be presented for instrumentalists alone, or instrumentalists and singers. ​ Covered Topics: ​ what are the most common injuries? what causes or contributes to injuries? best injury prevention techniques hearing damage facts and prevention info great apps for data-driven & efficient practice take-home handouts, plus Q&A ​ Package Includes: ​ 50, 60, or 75 minute presentation, depending on client needs. PDF handout and electronic copy for student handbook