Why “Mental Training” for Musicians?
Mental training originally developed in the field of sports, helping athletes bring out their best when it matters most. In music, however, mental training research is still in its early stages and hasn’t yet reached the breadth seen in sports.
While mental training for musicians is still relatively unknown in Japan, it has gained more recognition in Germany. In Germany, for example, seminars and workshops on mental training are offered at music universities, and top musicians are increasingly incorporating mental training skills, whether consciously or subconsciously.
My journey with mental training began after I experienced a setback in a piano competition during my middle school years, which led me to struggle with anxiety and stage fright for over a decade. My love of reading drove me to explore psychology and sports psychology during university, and in 2014, while studying piano performance and pedagogy at a German university, I began researching mental training more deeply.
Since then, over a decade, I have studied more than 1,000 books and articles, participated in numerous seminars, workshops, and conferences, and pursued sports psychology-based mental training in graduate school, leading me to research and practice mental training musicians and in the piano pedagogy as my PhD dissertation topic. Since 2017, I have continued my PhD research at Martin Luther University in Halle-Wittenberg, working with Prof. Jochen Köhler, an esteemed pianist and pedagogue based in Vienna, , and Prof. Oliver Stoll, a leading figure in sports psychology and mental training research in Germany.
Although I completed my doctoral research in 2022, my work in this field continues.
To date, I have provided mental training to over 200 musicians and athletes through individual sessions or seminars, and nearly all have reported experiencing positive effects. I’ve received feedback such as, “I can visualize my performance better,” “I can approach performances with more calm,” “I achieved first place in an international competition,” and “I successfully passed my music school entrance exam.” Seminar participants have also shared, “The exercises for improving focus were especially memorable,” and “I learned practical techniques for managing anxiety and negative emotions.”
Mental training generally requires a certain amount of time. With one to two monthly sessions, many people feel stable, lasting effects after about 3 to 6 months. Group and individual sessions each have their unique benefits. In group sessions, participants learn and practice themes together, while individual sessions allow for tailored methods suited to each person’s current needs and goals. Even for those with busy schedules, mental training can be integrated efficiently into daily life.
Sounds interesting for you? Please contact me for workshops or seminars – wherever in the world.
Who can benefit?
- Those striving to achieve goals
- People wanting to manage stage fright
- Performers seeking a positive mindset before playing
- Musicians aiming to feel calm on stage
- Those who want to work with their inner negative emotions
- Those wishing to focus fully on their performance
- Musicians who want to recover from trauma or setbacks
- Individuals seeking supportive guidance
- Those interested in supporting others’ mental well-being
- Music educators or instructors wanting to enhance the quality of their lessons
What can you learn?
- Techniques for managing anxiety and nervousness
- Specific skills and exercises tailored to individual needs
- Practicing essential mental skills
- Systematic relaxation techniques
- Approaches for boosting motivation
- Stress management methods
- Deep, effective practice methods for musical engagement
- Heightening body awareness
- Self-care for musicians
- Methods for overcoming setbacks and slumps
- Pre-perfomance routines
- Applications of mental training in other fields, such as presentations, interviews, pregnancy, and parenting
TEDxTalk in 2020
Overcoming Performance Anxiety through Mental Training | Miho Ohki | TEDxUniHalle
Contact from here
or email to: miho.ohki@morepiano.info