What Aussie slang taught me about practicing music with guts
How play music with courage
includes guided meditation for musicians and music students

Are you holding back in your music practice because you're afraid of messing up? In this video, I share one of my favourite pieces of advice from my former double bass teacher, a bit of Aussie slang!
It’s all about going for it: no hesitating, no second-guessing. And sometimes, that’s exactly what your practice needs. I’ll walk you through a recent moment in my own playing where I totally crashed and burned, and why it left me laughing and more motivated than ever. You’ll hear how playing at full speed (even badly) can shake you out of overthinking and give you a clear picture of what to work on next.
Then, we’ll close with a short guided meditation to help you bring that same energy — lightness, curiosity, and guts — into your next practice session.
Content note: This video includes mild adult language (Australian style!).
More like this…
If your practice feels tight, tense, or overly mechanical, this exercise is for you.
Do you find it hard to memorise music, lyrics or chords? Or does the thought of playing without the music in front of you send you into a panic? If yes, this is for you.
When we are learning music, especially if we are teaching ourselves, we often just want someone to hand us a method book and tell us exactly what to practice.
We’ve all been there — you hit a mistake in your music practice, cringe, stop, and go back. But if we always stop for every mistake in the practice room, how can we expect to play through them in performance?
If you always start learning a new piece from the beginning, you’re not alone. But this approach often leads to an uneven performance, the opening becomes polished through repetition, while the ending remains uncertain.
Improvisation as a pianist, guitarist, violinist or singer can feel intimidating if you’ve never tried it before. But the first five minutes of your practice session are the perfect time to experiment — you’ve got nothing to lose.
Think recording your practice is only for confident musicians? You’re not alone if you feel nervous or awkward hearing yourself.
Feeling low on motivation to practice music today? It happens — sometimes for days, weeks, or even longer.
Have you ever felt that rush of inspiration when you first discover something new? But then, the second time you watch, listen to, or read that same thing, it doesn’t have the same power.
Are you holding back in your music practice because you're afraid of messing up? In this video, I share one of my favourite pieces of advice from my former double bass teacher, a bit of Aussie slang!
Do you carry tension in your body when you practice or perform? You’re not alone. Many musicians hold physical tension without realizing it, and that tension can affect your playing, singing, and focus.