When I read your original question, my first - flippant - answer was “I thought that’s what Hanon was for!” That aside, Tai Chi is great for improving focus & kinesthetic sense, so it likely would carry over into piano playing. It's relatively cheap to learn, & easy to practice on your own once you've learned a series of movements.

On that note I highly recommend Feldenkrais "Awareness Through Movement".

I could never go to a psychic who hadn't won the lottery at least twice. (Once could be luck.) If they win twice, or more, then I really want to be their friend.. and get in their next lottery pool.

There is (or was?) a program called "The One" here where famous (?) psychics are put to the test. I stopped watching after a couple of times because most of them got so much wrong that you really had to wonder if it was luck when they got it right (it think it was). None of them has won the lottery.
I would never go to a psychic, but hypnosis to overcome insecurity and fears (in general) could be interesting if done professionally. Unfortunately I am not ready to pay 25,000 for an hour though... I'd rather try to overcome my fears myself, even if it takes longer. There is also more satisfaction in doing it myself.

There are a couple ways psychics "get it right." The first is camera trickery.. meaning they perform psychic feats they way Criss Angel does certain card tricks. You walk around asking people until you get it right. Then, you edit out all the bad takes.

The second is by paying actors to stand in for "random civilians".

The third is very similar to sleight of hand, except we'd probably call it sleight of face. They read very subtle facial expressions (pupil dilation, for instance) as a method of determining if what they are saying is resonating with you, and whether that resounding image in your head is "true" or "false". (Similar to a lie detector test.) Then, they simply steer the conversation in ways that ring "true".


Since you mention you're not willing to pay $25,000 an hour, I'll cut you a deal. How much can you spend? Is $15,000 an hour okay?

No more than $30 - satisfaction guaranteed of course!

If you can guarantee satisfaction, you should up the price!

I am willing to pay $30 satisfaction guaranteed. I still have to think about how much I would charge. I guess I must try to be competitive, so less than $25,000 at any rate.

Ah, in that case, as a psychic, who knows the future, I am afraid I cannot promise anything.

Hi piano Deb,
I am sure you are right about that performance anxiety related to piano due to my college experience that last year. I don't regret studying piano in college as I had some wonderful teachers and experiences. I did not mention that my other major that I did complete was psychology and then I later got a Masters in social work. I actually am a mental health professional. I have tried using the cognitive therapy that I often use with clients but it does not work on this. I feel that it is more at the unconscious level and that is why I think hypnosis might help. When I went back to taking lessons two years ago and my teacher wanted me to play in the adult recital after 4 months, I kept trying to tell him I couldn't do it but he kept telling me I could. Of course since I'm an adult I could have just refused. I thought to myself- you counsel people and sometimes about fears and anxiety, it's time you faced your own. I am glad I did it although I was very nervous. I also have training in progressive relaxation, visualization, and guided imagery and also use that with clients and myself. I have since then played and it's getting a little easier but it still is not something that I enjoy. Actually, my best experience was at Summer Keys last summer. It was just so beautiful and relaxing up there. I also went the first session in June so there were only a few of us there and the performance on Friday was very informal so that helped. I plan on going back this year with a friend the last week in June. I'm not brave enough yet to go later in the summer when I hear the church is full during the performances.

Well, zillybug, it sounds like the use of hypnosis/therapy for performance anxiety would be (already is) a very good fit for you. I'm glad to hear that you've taken advantage of recent opportunities to play for others, and that you're becoming more comfortable with it even if it's not a favorite activity. I say keep hammering away at that performance anxiety, using all the tools and methodologies at your disposal.