225 Beyond the Notes – Nikki Chooi on Musicality, Adaptability, and Artistic Growth

Ever finish practicing with tight shoulders, a sore neck, or the feeling that something just shouldn't be this hard? What if the answer isn't more practice, but a better understanding of how your body moves? In this episode, flutist and Body Mapping educator Jolene Madewell shares how small changes in movement and awareness can make a remarkable difference in your sound, comfort, and confidence. In this conversation, we explore: · How Body Mapping helps you release unnecessary tension and play with less effort. · Why trying to maintain "good posture" might actually be making your playing harder. · How understanding your ribs, shoulders, and breathing can unlock technical passages that have felt impossible. · Simple movement experiments you can try in the practice room to play with greater freedom. · How feeling your feet, widening your awareness, and reconnecting with your body can quiet your mind when performance nerves kick in. If you've been working harder and harder without getting the results you want, this conversation might change the way you approach your instrument.

What if the dream job you've worked so hard for isn't the life you actually want? In this candid, funny, and inspiring conversation, internationally acclaimed violinist Anthea Kreston shares the lessons behind her extraordinary career and new memoir, Crescendo: Chronicles of an Adventurous Violinist. From burnout at Curtis to performing with the renowned Artemis Quartet, Anthea reminds us that thriving in music means more than collecting achievements. In this episode, we explore: · Overcoming perfectionism and reconnecting with the joy of making music. · Knowing when to push through challenges and when it's time to change direction. · Setting bold goals and creating a music career that reflects your priorities. · Creative practice strategies that make learning more effective and enjoyable. · Embracing failure, redefining success, and building a fulfilling life on your own terms.

You spent weeks, maybe months, preparing for an audition. And then, suddenly, it's over. Whether you won, advanced, or didn't get the result you wanted, there's so much more to take away from the experience than a committee's decision. In this episode, I'm sharing six practical steps to help you learn from every audition and turn that experience into valuable preparation for your next win. In this episode, you'll learn: · What to do immediately after an audition to capture valuable information without overanalyzing. · How to recover emotionally and physically, regardless of the result. · Why acknowledging your effort and progress helps you become a better musician. · How to evaluate your audition objectively and separate facts from assumptions. · How to distinguish preparation problems from difficulties performing under pressure. · How to turn what you've learned into a stronger plan for your next audition. Every audition has something valuable to offer. Let's make sure you get all of it!

What happens when the goals you set no longer fit the life you're actually living? In this first episode of Season 9, we're exploring how to pursue meaningful musical goals while making space for rest, relationships, health, and the things that make you feel fully alive. In this episode: • Reassessing your priorities as your life changes • Creating boundaries around practice and work • Making real space for rest and recovery • Staying process oriented when a project feels overwhelming • Building a schedule that supports both the musician and the human Because the musician will thrive more when the human is thriving.

Ben Ullery, Principal Viola of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, joins me for a thoughtful conversation about curiosity, lifelong learning, and what it takes to keep growing as a musician while performing at the highest level. In this episode, we explore: Why curiosity is one of a musician's greatest assets What happens after you land your dream job The role of visualization in performance Why perfection isn't the goal How to keep growing throughout your musical career