Every performer has a unique performance process, which is why the PTPM programs utilize tools and techniques from a variety of different domains and fields of study—sports and performance psychology, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mind-body medicine, performance coaching, embodied practices, and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s Flow State research.
The overarching goal of the PTPM programs is for students to discover their unique artistic voice and to recognize what they need in order to manage the mental, emotional, and physical aspects of performing under pressure. Learning how to transcend analytical thinking and to enter into the subjective emotional present (also referred to as the “lived experience”) facilitates the relational aspects of live performance—connecting to one’s body, to one’s creative process, to the other performers, to the audience, to the creators of the work being performed, and to the performance venue.
The PTPM programs support musicians, dancers, and actors in creating a strong artistic foundation—knowing who they are and how they want to share their artistry—combined with proven techniques and practices to optimize performance preparation and the ability to perform well under pressure.
Perspective is essential when setting forth on a creative pursuit. The mind tends to approach creative endeavors from a single vantage point based on one’s conditioning. This conditioning (what could also be looked at as one’s temperament) can limit the ways in which the artistic voice is expressed through an individual. By recognizing one’s conditioning and learning how to use musical, sculptural, poetic, and movement cognition, in conjunction with aesthetic perception and embodied awareness, an artist can more easily connect to their inner muse and find a deeper connection to their artistry and their creative voice. The goal of the Wholistic Visual Artist programs is to cultivate a student’s inspiration and imagination around their personal artistry and to help them transcend the limitations they may be placing on their creative pursuits.
