Workshops
As part of our mission to cultivate a culture of wellness in classical music, we have developed a workshop for musicians at music institutions such as conservatories, schools of music, summer festivals, and any place where musicians gather. We have previously presented this series of workshops to young professionals and students of all ages in institutions including Western Illinois University, the National Orchestral Institute + Festival, The People’s Music School, and Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative with great success. In our workshops, we share our vision for a culture-shift among musicians that emphasizes compassion, vulnerability, and empathy for one another in order for them to reach their fullest potential as musicians and as humans.
About our workshops
Each workshop is 60-90 minutes and is presented by members of the Sound Mind team, complete with team members sharing their personal stories of recovery. By creating this shared space for musicians to gather on a regular basis, we are able to encourage an open dialogue around mental health. Building a community that supports conversation about the music and mental health intersection is key in promoting vulnerability and creating a healthier, safer musical culture.
Evaluating the Environment: Addressing Unhealthy Patterns & Behaviors
How does the current institutional environment affect classical musicians’ well-being? This workshop opens the door for an honest examination of the field, offering participants strategies to address problems through self-reflection and group discussion.
What is holding space? What is it not? This workshop covers an in-depth discussion and demonstration of what "holding space" means, and why it is a key element in shifting our culture. We present practical ways in which musicians can begin working this concept into their institutions and peer groups.
The Power of Holding Space
Identity, Reframing Failure, & Redefining Success
How does professional success influence or contribute to our identity as musicians? This conversation centers on redefining success and reframing failure so that each participant is empowered to pursue their endeavors, musician or not, in a way that protects their mental health.
Auditions: Overcoming Burnout & Practicing Self-Care
What do musicians need to keep taking auditions? This workshop offers an honest look into the scope of academic and professional auditions, addressing the realities of burnout and the inner critic. We provide strategies for practicing efficiently, maintaining healthy work/life balance, and caring for mental and physical needs along the way.
Interested in exploring a topic not listed here, or want to learn more about what Sound Mind workshops offer? Contact Alexandria Hoffman, Executive Director, at soundmindmusician@gmail.com.
Gratitude, Resilience, & Stress
How do musicians navigate through feelings of frustration and discouragement, both with themselves and with the institutions around them? This workshop addresses interpersonal conflicts that are ever-present in the classical music profession, including trust and communication.
Workshops FAQ
Are your workshops virtual or in-person? Both! We are happy to offer workshops in both formats to best suit your needs., whether that’s in-person or via Zoom.
How much does each workshop cost? Please email soundmindmusician@gmail.com for workshop pricing.
What is your workshop format? Each workshop encourages group discussion by providing a safe space to share our lived experiences. Sound Mind team members lead explorations of significant challenges in the field, offering strategies to support mental health along the way.
What audiences are your workshops designed for? We adjust the content of our workshops to best suit all musicians of all ages and abilities, from middle school beginners to music school students to professionals.
Are any of these workshops offered as part of a series? We often present these workshops as part of a series, but each workshop can stand on its own.
Does Sound Mind offer any additional workshops not listed? Yes! Our workshops aim to address and benefit the current needs of the classical music climate. Email us at soundmindmusician.com to build a workshop that works for your needs.
Testimonials
“Across four sessions, Sound Mind offered NOI+F fellows an opportunity to hold space for one another through honest and thought-provoking dialogue. Their team members curated a safe, welcoming environment that made our fellows feel comfortable sharing their experiences. As a result, NOI+F staff witnessed firsthand the personal and musical growth of its fellows.
The National Orchestral Institute + Festival wholeheartedly believes that Sound Mind’s work is paramount in advancing classical music and musicians. Their guiding principles of vulnerability, hope, inclusion, compassion, and empathy are intrinsic to the classical music world, a world in which mental health is too often stigmatized. NOI+F looks forward to helping Sound Mind grow and cannot recommend their workshops highly enough!”
“This was the best class I’ve ever taken!”
“For so long, I thought I was the only one struggling with balancing my mental health as a musician. It’s okay to say you are struggling and it’s okay to ask for help, and Sound Mind Musician is helping open the door for those conversations.””
“You guys [Sound Mind team members] being the young musicians that are filling orchestra jobs gives me hope that the culture will change. ”
“I am so excited that people are talking about this and I wish we could have 20 workshops on redefining success and holding space!!”
“I was coming into the [Sound Mind] sessions after a rough semester finishing my performer diploma in orchestral studies during a pandemic year when we could not participate in the very activity that I was studying, combined with frustrations in my own mental habits surrounding practicing my instrument and difficulties transitioning between teachers. I was so relieved to find myself in an open space where the Sound Mind facilitators made it easy to open up to each other, consider everyone’s responses and personal stories, and share in the struggles that musicians uniquely face. I felt so inspired by everyone’s suggestions for ways to cope with mental health challenges, as well as bolstered by the fact that I was not alone in my feelings. The work that Sound Mind is doing is incredibly important and I hope that many musicians, music schools, and other music communities can be impacted by their mission!”
“Sound Mind workshops create a safe educational environment for VIA Academy’s students to explore metal health in a way that is incredibly accessible and that provides tangible strategies that everyone can put to use immediately. VIA Academy’s partnership with Sound Mind has become an invaluable part of our curriculum because of the way it allows our students to find lasting resources to support their mental wellness throughout their futures!”
