What Mental Skills Do Performers Need and How Do They Get Them?
presented at the
53rd National NATS Conference
Boston, MA
July 8, 2014
The following are links to the worksheets that correspond to this presentation. Please let me know (leave a comment in the “Speak Your Mind” box below) how they work out for you.
1. Mindset Assessment
A 12-item self-assessment to help performers determine which mindset—fixed or growth—they tend toward.
“We are not disturbed by things, but by the views we take of them.” —Epictetus
2. Goal Setting Map
This tool helps students think about their short-term and long-term goals and then, ink them. (print out & fold like map)
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” —Aristotle
3. Letting Go of the Need to be Perfect
This 11-page ebook outlines the good, the bad, and the ugly of perfectionism and how we can shift to a more effective goal.
“Do or do not; there is no try.” —Yoda
4. Commitment Wheel
This worksheet allows your students to assess how committed they are to pursuing ALL activities necessary to progress and success—whether they are committed or just involved.
“Excellence is available to all who are willing to make the commitment.” —Byrd Baggett
5. The ABCs of Self-Talk
This handout outlines why we need to shift our inner conversation and walks the performer through identifying situations that trigger negative thinking.
“You have absolute control over but one thing, and this is your thoughts. If you fail to control your own mind, you may be sure you will control nothing else.” —Napoleon Hill
6. Enter the Role of the Singer
Singer’s Checklist for entering the role of the performer
“A vision without a task is but a dream. A task without a vision is drudgery. A vision and a task is the hope of the world.” —Anonymous
7. Distraction ID Worksheet
This worksheet helps performers identify what environmental, bodily, emotional, and people distractions invade their practice, pre-performance time, and performances.
“Concentration is everything. On the day I’m performing, I don’t hear anything anyone says to me.” —Luciano Pavarotti
8. Emotional Control
Learn about the strong emotions performers experience and how we can shift the ones that are out of control.
“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising up every time we fall.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson
9. Practice & Performance Mindsets
This handout outlines the two mindsets performers need to prepare for performance and to trust their preparation. Trust breakdowns and tips to increase trust are included.
“Be here, now.” —Ram Dass
Slides, Part 1
Slides, Part 2
Slides, Part 3
Slides, Part 4
(Slides are content rich: please be patient when downloading)
ANNOTATED REFERENCE LIST
If you have any questions about the above handouts, please feel free to contact me or have your students do so. I look forward to hearing from you and from keeping the mental skills training conversation going!
I had a great time sharing information about mental skills necessary for performing at peak levels today. Please feel free to leave a comment!
The issue of downloading the 4th installment of slides has been resolved. Have a great summer! ~Diana
Diana,
I just printed all of these out. TERRIFIC!
BUT – There’s something amiss with the first statement of number 6. There’s a word missing or some such. Could you let me know when it’s corrected so I can print it out again? I don’t understand the statement.
Thanks and love,
Debbie
Thank you so much for sharing all of this with us Diana! Your presentation was so polished and enjoyable! At the beginning of his Diagnosis and Corrections book, James McKinney says that to be a master teacher in the field of voice, a person needs three things: (I’m paraphrasing here…) 1. A complete knowledge of the instrument and anatomy involved in singing. 2. An extraordinary ability to communicate. 3. A degree in Psychology! As I person who teaches high school kids, in both the choral and private studio settings, I can give that statement a huge AMEN!! Many of my colleagues question why I spend so much time educating kids on this area in my clinics and studio. My question back to them is always ‘how can you justify not?’ As a person that does presentations similar to yours for a living, alongside my private studio work, I know the amount of time and research that went into preparing your powerpoint and making all of those hand outs. I’m sure speaking at the NATS National Convention came with a nice financial compensation but probably not equal to the access that you have allowed all of those who attended your workshop! I really appreciate your heart and willingness to share your passion and hours of work with us!! I’m excited to read the books you mentioned! My favorite books on this topic are John Maxwell’s ‘Talent is Never Enough’ and Rory Vaden’s ‘Take the Stairs’. Have a fantastic summer! It was a pleasure being taught by you! Dina Else
Hello Dr. Allan. Thank you so much for sharing these many resources!! I really appreciated your session at the NATS Conference this summer – it has stuck with me. I have come back to your site to check in, and want to let you know how much I appreciate your work. Melanie.