Musician Wellness – NATALYA PLAYS PIANO

The 365 Days of Practice Challenge: Why I Started, What I’ve Learned (So Far), and Whether You Should Try It Too

January 15, 2026

Artist Growth, Career Development, Ear Training, Freelance Musician, Music and Emotion, Music Career, Music Education, Music Industry, Music Psychology, Music Storytelling, Music Strategy, Musician Wellness, Musicianship, Performance, Pianist Mindset, Piano, Piano Exercises, Piano Inspiration, Piano Practice, Piano Technique, Piano Warm-Ups, Practice Tips, Uncategorized

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At the start of this year, I set myself a challenge that felt both exciting and slightly unhinged:365 days of piano practice. No skips. No excuses. As a classically trained pianist, practice has always been part of my life, but this challenge isn’t about perfection, repertoire goals, or hitting a certain number of hours. It’s
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How I Built a Sustainable Career as a Pianist

January 5, 2026

Accompanist Guide, Artist Growth, Branding, Career Development, Collaborative Pianist, Digital Marketing, Ensemble Playing, Freelance Musician, Gig Booking, Independent Music, Marketing, Music Business, Music Career, Music Education, Music Income, Music Industry, Music Promotion, Music Strategy, Musician Wellness, Networking, Performance, Pianist Mindset, Piano, Piano Accompaniment, Piano Inspiration

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Before I decided to start freelancing full time, I genuinely thought there were only two career paths after studying piano. You either became a piano teacher or a classical concert pianist. Those were the options and neither sounded appealing. It was not until I started working in the industry full time that I realised how
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Best Podcasts for Pianists, Creatives, and Music Lovers

August 11, 2025

Artist Growth, Career Development, Film Music, Film Scores, Freelance Musician, Independent Music, Music Analysis, Music and Emotion, Music Business, Music Career, Music Education, Music Income, Music Industry, Music Promotion, Music Psychology, Music Science, Music Storytelling, Music Strategy, Music Theory, Musician Wellness, Musicianship, Networking, Performance, Pianist Mindset, Piano, Piano Inspiration, Pop Culture Music, Practice Tips

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I’m a huge fan of podcasts. I’ve got one for every mood, topic and occasion. Whether I’m cooking dinner, driving to a gig, or going for a walk – I love to learn new things and get inspired. Over the years, I’ve found a handful of podcasts that keep me motivated as a pianist, feed
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Staying Motivated: How to Keep Practicing When You Feel Stuck

June 28, 2025

Artist Growth, Career Development, Music and Emotion, Music Career, Music Education, Music Psychology, Musician Wellness, Performance, Pianist Mindset, Piano, Piano Inspiration, Piano Practice, Piano Technique, Practice Tips

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We’ve all been there. You sit at your instrument, open your sheet music or pull up your practice app… and then just stare. Nothing flows. Nothing feels exciting. You play the same passage 47 times and it still sounds meh. You’re not alone – plateaus in practice are completely normal, whether you’re a beginner or
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6 Tips to Overcome Stage Fright as a Pianist

April 5, 2025

Artist Growth, Career Development, Music and Emotion, Music Career, Music Education, Music Industry, Music Psychology, Music Storytelling, Music Strategy, Musician Wellness, Performance, Pianist Mindset, Piano, Practice Tips

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Stage fright is something almost every musician experiences at some point. That nervous energy before a performance can be exhilarating, but when it turns into overwhelming anxiety, shaky hands, or a racing heart, it can feel impossible to focus on the music. As a pianist, you don’t have the luxury of hiding behind a microphone
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