Let Doubt In: Alex Pride's Secrets to a Winning Audition

S3E8 I talk with trumpet player Alex Pride about auditioning for the Cincinnati Symphony chair his father once held—and the pressure of trying to win a job he was already doing on a temporary basis. We explore the work that helped him feel he had already won before the committee offered him the position. We talk about making room for doubt instead of fighting it, developing an inner coach alongside an inner critic, and treating practice mistakes as data rather than a verdict on who we are. Alex shares how rest, meditation and a life beyond the trumpet changed his preparation, and how recordings, a metronome and a tuner helped him ground confidence in evidence. We also revisit the perspective Alex took from my conversation with Lauren Roth in season one, episode seven. I cannot guarantee an audition result, but we can work on how we speak to ourselves, prepare and care for our lives along the way. If you would like to explore working with me or find the free wellbeing resource, visit mindfulopus.com For students, explore StudentOpus at mindfulopus.com/studentopus Come find me on IG and say hello! @mindfulopus Thank you for being here… Jo   Timestamps: 00:00 – Opening 00:47 – Meet Alex Pride 03:29 – Conversation begins 08:00 – Audition experiences 16:56 – Inner critic and inner coach 21:44 – Practicing with self-compassion 28:07 – Wellbeing and practice 39:14 – Letting doubt into the room 42:16 – Audition day 48:28 – Life after the audition 51:50 – Confidence and practice recordings 56:34 – Rapid-fire questions

S3 E7: As classical musicians, we pour ourselves into performances that ask a lot of us. Whether we're stepping out as a soloist or chamber musician, leading an orchestral section, taking an audition, or getting ready for studio class in school, we care deeply about how we play. In this episode, I explore how preparing for those moments can help us build self-trust, find more joy in our musical prep, and create a life we're proud to live. I'm sharing a perspective that sits at the heart of my work with MindfulOpus: how we pursue excellence matters. Drawing on Dan Sullivan's "gap versus gain" framework, I explore what changes when we measure our progress by how far we've come. Through a story about running up a hill in Cleveland and my experience preparing for a major orchestral audition, I share how recognizing our gains can change the way we practice, rehearse, and step onstage. In this episode, I talk about: Finding encouragement in the skills and experience we've already built. Choosing our "next six feet" when a musical challenge feels big. Bringing gratitude and a sense of personal purpose into high-pressure performances. Making room for both pride in our growth and disappointment when an outcome matters deeply. I also offer a simple practice to try this week: choose one manageable next step, then write down one gain at the end of each day. By the time your performance arrives, you'll have a record of the ways you've shown up for yourself. A conversation to carry into your musical community: What's one gain you're proud of that you haven't stopped to acknowledge? I'd love for you to share this episode with a stand partner, chamber music collaborator, studio friend, or colleague—and make a little room to celebrate each other's progress. If you'd like support bringing this approach into your own musical life, explore coaching with me or my monthly student offering, StudentOpus, at mindfulopus.com. Thank you for being part of MindfulOpus, Fellow Opus Creator. Timestamps: 00:00 – Opening 02:02 – The gap and the gain 03:50 – Running up Murray Hill 07:25 – Measuring progress 12:17 – Dan Jansen's story 17:55 – My audition routine 21:35 – Gratitude and disappointment 25:53 – Learning from disappointment 27:01 – Daily prompt 29:22 – Closing   Also - Come say hi! @mindfulopus on Instagram, or mindfulopus.com  

S3. E6: What if the goal of your music career isn't to get busy, but to get happy? I sit down with my longtime friend, pioneering multi-style cellist, singer, composer, and educator Mike Block, for an honest conversation about conservatory pressure, curiosity, and finding a path that feels like your own. Mike shares how he learned to choose work based on the experience he wanted to have, and how exploring beyond classical cello led him toward new musical communities, invention, and entrepreneurship. We talk about how he ended up being Yo-Yo Ma's cello partner in Silkroad, his invention of the Block Strap, pitching Forte 3D on Shark Tank (spoiler: he got a deal!), and the rewards and tradeoffs of being a pioneer—including what you have to leave behind to make room for something new. CONNECT WITH MIKE BLOCK Website: https://www.mikeblockmusic.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blockcello/   STUDENTOPUS Monthly, live drop-in coaching for college and conservatory music students. Bring a question or join to listen and learn!  October's session, "Excellence over Perfection," is Tuesday, October 6, 12–1 p.m. Eastern, live on Zoom ($25). Sessions take place on the first Tuesday of each month.  Details and registration at mindfulopus.com/studentopus MINDFULOPUS Performance and well-being coaching for classical musicians. For more about my work:  Book a consult over at mindfulopus.com Follow on instagram: @mindfulopus   Subscribe to hear conversations that help you switch from grind to kind, and where your artistry doesn't have to come at the cost of your humanity. Here's to all the Fellow Opus Creators out there! May you create your own amazing life, one opus at a time…   Timestamps: 00:00 – Opening 00:49 – Meet Mike Block 03:09 – Conversation begins 10:25 – Following your curiosity 13:48 – Setting musical goals 34:14 – The Block Strap 36:06 – Forte3D and Shark Tank 42:34 – Being a pioneer 50:48 – Rapid-fire questions 58:31 – Connect with Mike Block 1:00:55 – Closing

S3 Ep. 5. Surprise Fellow Opus Creator, I'm popping in for a bonus episode! Recently in getting ready for our first StudentOpus session, I've been thinking a lot about my own conservatory years: the pressure to get everything right, the fear of making mistakes, and how often I put my own well-being last. So I'm popping in with a bonus episode to share five lessons I wish I'd known then. I talk about why mistakes belong in the learning process, what procrastination might be trying to protect you from, and why taking care of yourself matters just as much as practicing. We'll also talk about trusting your own judgment – and remembering that your artistry doesn't have to come at the cost of your humanity. If you're a college music student, I hope this episode helps you feel a little less alone. And if you've been out of school for years, you may find yourself nodding along, too. Join us for StudentOpus: Our first live, online group coaching session is Tuesday, October 6, from 12–1 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. This session, we'll focus on working from excellence over perfection. It's only $25, and you can both sign up and find out more details at: mindfulopus.com/studentopus. Much love, fellow Opus Creator. ✨   Timestamps: 00:00  Welcome 03:40  Lesson 1: Mistakes are part of learning 07:59  Lesson 2: Procrastination can come from fear of not being good enough 10:42  Lesson 3: Taking care of yourself is as important as practicing 13:56  Lesson 4: You have more choice than you realize 17:33  Lesson 5: Your artistry doesn't have to come at the cost of your humanity   Interested in StudentOpus, our online group coaching community for college music students? We meet the first Tuesday of every month, and our first session is TUESDAY OCTOBER 6TH from 12-1pm EST! It's only $25, and you can both sign up and find out more details at:  mindfulopus.com/studentopus Also - Come say hi! @mindfulopus on Instagram, or mindfulopus.com

S3. E4: What happens when, from the outside, you look like you're thriving and have it all figured out—but on the inside, you're riddled with self-doubt, a noisy inner critic, and the fear that one mistake could expose you? In this solo episode, I'm exploring imposter syndrome and the unique pressures that come with being a performing artist, especially in classical music. I look at why we can be so quick to push away our successes while holding tightly to our mistakes, why reassurance doesn't always quiet the doubt, and how perfectionism can become a shield we use to protect ourselves from rejection, failure, or being "found out." I also share a framework I use in my own life and with my coaching clients: recognizing the voice of the "agent"—the part of us that says keep going, don't screw this up, prove yourself, be what they expect—and learning how to turn that same energy into an advocate. We'll talk about moving from perfection to excellence, external validation to internal values, pressure to purpose, and finding more artistic agency in an industry that can make it very easy to feel like you always have something to prove. This isn't about curing imposter syndrome or never feeling self-doubt again. It's about learning to notice what's happening, understand what those thoughts are trying to protect you from, and give yourself more choice in what happens next. And if you're a college music student looking for more support with performance nerves, burnout, your inner critic, procrastination, scheduling, or simply navigating life as a musician, registration is now open for StudentOpus—my live monthly online group coaching for college music students. Learn more at mindfulopus.com/studentopus. Much love, fellow Opus Creator. ✨   Timestamps: 00:00  Welcome 02:43  Understanding imposter syndrome 04:45  How self-doubt distorts success and failure 07:59  When praise creates more pressure 09:47  Perfectionism and performance expectations 12:15  Learning from artists who embrace imperfection 14:47  Imposter syndrome as a protective mechanism 17:44  Understanding the fears behind anxious thoughts 19:24  Cultural pressures in classical music 20:51  Calming the nervous system and examining the facts 23:01  Turning your inner critic into an advocate 24:57  Reclaiming artistic agency 26:13   Practicing mindfulness and self-compassion 27:13   From pressure to purpose 28:06   Why change is an ongoing practice 29:49   Closing reflections and Student Opus   Also - Come say hi! @mindfulopus on Instagram, or mindfulopus.com  

S3 Ep.3: Violinists Elena Urioste and Melissa White of Intermission join me for a conversation about yoga, performance nerves, ditching perfection, healthier practice, artistic agency, and allowing a musical career to become bigger than one prescribed path. This episode feels a little full-circle for me… I first crossed paths with Elena and Melissa more than 20 years ago, back in our Encore School for Strings days in Ohio. Years later, watching them bring music and yoga together through Intermission helped me imagine something I hadn't fully seen for myself yet: that being an artist didn't have to mean following one single, narrow path. Their work was part of what inspired me to pursue my own yoga teacher training in 2019, so getting to sit down with them all these years later felt particularly special. In this conversation, we talk about how yoga entered each of their lives and how it ultimately changed the way they play, practice, perform, teach, and relate to themselves as artists. We get into performance nerves, body awareness, perfectionism, healthier self-talk, and the idea that "you are your best and forever teacher." We also talk about agency: learning to trust your own body, your own artistic instincts, and your own sense of what works for you. And then we get into the Artist + of it all. Elena and Melissa share how Intermission began with two roommates, a Moleskine notebook, and an idea that other people didn't always understand. We talk about entrepreneurship, following an idea before you know exactly where it's going, and letting your career path curve rather than assuming you have to leave one identity behind to explore another. For any musician who has ever wondered, "Is this all I'm allowed to be?" I hope this conversation gives you a little more room to imagine. Maybe the path doesn't have to completely change. Maybe it can just curve. KEY TOPICS Yoga and classical music Performance nerves and breathing Body awareness and violin technique Perfectionism and healthier self-talk Compassion in the practice room The "three victories" practice Agency and artistic self-trust Teaching musicians to trust themselves Building an "artist +" identity Entrepreneurship for classical musicians Creating Intermission Letting your career path curve Intermission retreats and restorative practice TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Welcoming Elena Urioste and Melissa White 01:21 - Remembering Curtis, Encore, and our shared history 03:01 - What our younger selves would think today 08:11 - How Intermission inspired my own yoga journey 09:07 - Melissa's yoga origin story 13:54 - Elena finds hot yoga after heartbreak 18:01 - Yoga, violin technique, and performance nerves 22:28 - Compassion, discipline, and healthier self-talk 28:14 - Three victories and a new way of evaluating ourselves 34:42 - Yoga blocks, mirrors, and recording as practice tools 40:10 - Agency, ownership, and trusting yourself as an artist 48:07 - From violinists to entrepreneurs: creating Intermission 51:13 - How Intermission got its name 56:54 - The artist + life and letting a career path curve 67:22 - Inside the Intermission retreats 72:00 - Rapid fires + guest info   MY FAVORITE QUOTES "You are your best and forever teacher." "This is your today." "What's the one thing only I can do?" "Why do you have to switch direction? Why can't the path just curve a little bit?" ABOUT ELENA + MELISSA Elena Urioste is an internationally acclaimed violinist, yogi, educator, and entrepreneur. A former BBC New Generation Artist and first-prize laureate of the Sphinx Competition, she has performed with major orchestras throughout the U.S. and abroad. She is also co-director of the Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective, Artistic Director of Chamber Music by the Sea, Professor of Violin at the Royal Academy of Music, and a Kripalu-trained RYT-200 yoga teacher. Melissa White is an acclaimed violinist, educator, and founding member of the Grammy Award-winning Harlem Quartet. A first-prize laureate of the Sphinx Competition, she has appeared as soloist with major orchestras across the U.S. and internationally. She teaches at NYU Steinhardt and the University at Buffalo and completed yoga training in Vinyasa and Ashtanga in Goa, India. Together, Elena and Melissa co-founded Intermission in 2017, bringing music, movement, mindfulness, breath, and self-compassion together through student sessions, professional retreats, and online resources for musicians. FIND ELENA, MELISSA + INTERMISSION Intermission www.intermissionsessions.com YouTube www.youtube.com/@intermission1777 Instagram @intermissionsessions Melissa White @afroviolinist Elena Urioste @elenaurioste www.elenaurioste.com MORE INFO ON MINDFULOPUS: Curious about working together? Book a 30 minute consult: https://calendly.com/mindfulopus/30min?month=2026-09 Find out more about my work: mindfulopus.com Follow me on instagram: @mindfulopus

S3 Ep. 2: What if confidence isn't what you actively need to cultivate to show up boldly on stage? In this solo episode, I'm breaking down confidence by working backward from the outcome most of us want. We often tell ourselves that we need to feel confident before an audition or big performance, but confidence isn't an emotion we can summon on command. And "fake it till you make it" only takes us so far. Instead, I share a practical framework for building confidence that I use with my clients. It's a ground-up approach that starts with Curiosity, Experimentation, Problem Solving, Competence, and how all of those are what lead to TRUE Confidence. For musicians, this can completely change the experience of practicing and performing. When something doesn't work, curiosity allows us to see mistakes as data, not judgement. The work stops being personal, and becomes information rather than evidence that something is wrong with us. From there, we can experiment, solve the problem in front of us, and develop genuine competence. I also explore the big differences between curiosity and shame when it comes to getting the results you want, why perfectionism breeds fake confidence, and how becoming your own inner coach can help you pursue excellence without making every result a referendum on your worth. Real confidence doesn't mean believing that everything will go perfectly - It means trusting that you can listen, adjust, problem-solve, and that you'll be ok regardless of what happens.   Key points: Why I don't believe confidence is something we should chase The difference between genuine confidence and fake confidence How I reverse-engineer confidence through the lens of curiosity Why mistakes are more useful as data than as personal judgments The difference between the voices of curiosity and shame How experimentation supports excellence without demanding perfection What it means to build confidence that isn't dependent on your result   Timestamps 00:00 Welcome and episode setup 00:30 Why "feeling confident" isn't where we begin 01:28 Confidence as an action, not a feeling 02:56 Working backward: confidence begins with competence 04:22 Curiosity as the foundation of the process 06:19 How curiosity protects our identity and confidence 08:07 Moving from curiosity to excellence—and eventually, confidence   Also - Come say hi! @mindfulopus on Instagram, or mindfulopus.com  

S3 E1: A conversation about outgrowing old structures, choosing curiosity over control, and creating frameworks that support who you are today. Season 3 is here, and in a fitting way, I'm kicking it off by changing the structure of the podcast itself. After two seasons with clear timelines, missions, and end dates, I'm opening things up: continuing every other Tuesday, bringing in a wider range of guests and conversations, and letting this season evolve without a predetermined finish line. That shift became the starting point for a much bigger conversation: what happens when a framework that once served you simply… doesn't anymore? Whether it's the fingering your teacher gave you, the audition process you've relied on for years, the way you care for your body, or even the way you think you're "supposed" to work, it can be surprisingly difficult to give yourself permission to try something new. I share some of my own experience with this too, including a recent playing injury that brought up frustration, shame, and the realization that what my body needed years ago may not be what it needs today. Instead of grasping for control, I'm practicing what I ask of my clients: letting curiosity lead, looking at the data without judgment, and staying open to the possibility that the answer may require a new approach. Because changing a framework doesn't mean the old one was wrong. Sometimes it served you beautifully for a particular season of your life. The question becomes: what do you want to keep, what needs to go or be upgraded, and what are you willing to play around with? Whether you're rethinking the way you practice, navigating an injury, preparing for an audition, questioning an old belief, or simply realizing that something in your life no longer fits who you're becoming, this episode is an invitation to get curious about what might support you now. You'll Discover: How to recognize when a structure has stopped serving you Why changing your approach doesn't mean the old one was wrong The difference between seeking control and leaning into curiosity How inherited practice and audition habits can limit self-trust Why mistakes can become data instead of opportunities for judgment What a well-being-centered performance process can look like How I'm navigating frustration and shame around a recent playing injury Three questions to help you keep, upgrade, or rethink an existing framework   Timestamps: (00:00)   Welcome and Season 3 intro (01:58)   Why the show structure is changing (04:54)   When old frameworks stop serving you (06:50)   Personal injury and learning to adapt (08:15)   Curiosity, self-trust, and audition prep (11:09)    Finding a healthier performance process (12:07)   The well-being wheel framework (13:35)   Letting go of what no longer fits (14:35)   How to evaluate your current structure (16:32)   Closing thoughts and send-off   Also - Come say hi! @mindfulopus on Instagram, or mindfulopus.com  

Bonus Ep 2: A conversation about career transitions, perfectionism, identity, and creating your life one mindful opus at a time. In this special episode, the microphone is turned on me as I sit down with my coach, Lindsay Dotzlaf, who interviews me! We unpack the journey that brought me from a 20-year career with The Cleveland Orchestra into this new chapter of building MindfulOpus full-time. We go back to my musical upbringing in Monte-Carlo, beginning auditions at six years old, and winning my orchestra position at 21 while experiencing double tendonitis in both arms. I share how those early experiences shaped my relationship with achievement, perfectionism, and self-worth—and ultimately inspired my work supporting the whole human behind the art. At the heart of this conversation is what it actually takes to make a major life change. We talk about following my "clear yeses and polite no's," learning to distinguish intuition from fear, preparing financially, and allowing a possibility to exist on paper before expecting it to become real. I also share what it has felt like to return to the viola outside the structure of the orchestra, how podcasting helped me rediscover my voice, and why stepping into a new identity doesn't require abandoning the artist or person you've always been. Whether you're considering a career change, questioning the path you're on, or wondering who you might become beyond the roles you've always held, this conversation is an invitation to explore with curiosity and create your life - one opus at a time… You'll Discover: How perfectionism and achievement can become tied to self-worth Why the right decision can still feel terrifying How to recognize your "clear yeses and polite no's" The difference between intuition, fear, and an old belief Why daydreaming can be an important part of creating change How thoughtful financial preparation can support a career transition What it means to redefine success through joy, freedom, service, and community The meaning behind MindfulOpus     TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Welcome to the bonus episode and what this interview is about (01:43) Intro to the Mindful Opus Podcast (02:14) How Jo got into coaching (03:40) Discovering coaching as a profession (05:33) 20 years in the Cleveland Orchestra (10:47) Growing up in a musical family (11:14) Childhood in Monte Carlo and early music training (18:18) What orchestra culture is really like (23:37) Top coaching themes: excellence vs. perfection (26:33) Detaching self-worth from performance (28:28) Deciding to go full-time in coaching (31:45) The emotional reality of making the leap (40:32) Advice for others thinking about a similar transition (44:24) The money conversation and planning for the move (51:06) Why taking time off after leaving mattered (54:29) Starting the Mindful Opus podcast (56:56) Favorite part of podcasting (58:25) The hardest part of podcasting (62:09) What success looks like in two years (64:07) Where the name "Mindful Opus" came from (65:35) Where to find Jo online (67:01) Outro and closing thoughts   Resources: Interested in coaching? Sign up for a free consult at mindfulopus.com Follow Jo on Instagram: mindfulopus.com Interested in how to find some work/life balance? Grab the free well-being resource at mindfulopus.com About Lindsay: Podcast: Mastering Coaching Skills Instagram: @lindsaydotzlaf Website: https://lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/

In this reflective bonus episode of the MindfulOpus Podcast, I share the surprisingly powerful lessons I learned by watching two blue jays, Harry and Sally, build a nest, incubate their babies, and eventually leave the nest. What unfolds in my backyard becomes a meaningful metaphor for the classical music life: how we practice, how we wait, how we grow, and how we navigate change. For classical musicians, this episode offers a fresh perspective on the realities of artistic development. I muse on how determination does not have to look frantic, how patience is essential in the incubation stage of learning a phrase or preparing a performance, how consistency is really about returning to the work one moment at a time, and how transitions deserve space before we rush to the next thing. If you've ever felt impatient in the practice room, pressured to see results too quickly, or unsure how to move through a major career or identity shift, this episode offers a grounded reminder: growth takes time, repetition, and trust. Key takeaways for musicians: Determination is not the same as forcing progress. Practice often looks like repeated small efforts before improvement appears. Incubation is a vital part of artistic growth. Consistency is built one rep, one phrase, one day at a time. Transitions deserve a pause before the next leap. These lessons feel very timely and personal, with my recent transition out of The Cleveland Orchestra. I hope this episode resonates with musicians navigating change, burnout, auditions, or the space between growth or new identities. About the host: Jo Zakany is a coach for classical musicians, yoga teacher, and former violist with The Cleveland Orchestra. Through MindfulOpus, she helps artists move from grind to kind so they can avoid burnout, reduce performance anxiety, and create a thriving life on and off stage. Listen if you're: Preparing for an audition. Working with performance nerves. In a season of career transition. Feeling impatient with your artistic progress. Looking for a healthier mindset around the classical music path. Resources: Interested in coaching? Sign up for a free consult at mindfulopus.com Follow Jo on Instagram: @mindfulopus Interested in how to find some work/life balance? Grab the free well-being resource at mindfulopus.com —---- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00)  Welcome to Mindful Opus (01:03)  Life in the trees and observing wildlife (01:29)  Harry and Sally begin building a nest (01:57)  Determination in the nest-building process (04:25)  Patience, incubation, and letting growth happen (06:23)  Consistency as one moment at a time (08:42)  Leaving the nest and the decision to move on (10:09)  The importance of the in-between before flying (11:38)  Jo's own transition out of the Cleveland Orchestra (12:38)  Honoring pause during life and career shifts (13:07)  Recap: four lessons for artists and musicians (14:02)  Closing thoughts (14:28)  Outro and listener resources