008 Marc Gelfo: Peak Performance & Peak Practice: Science, Tech, & Mindfulness (There's an app for this!)

This week on the podcast, I talk with neuro-symphonic hornist and creator of the practice app, Modacity.  Marc brings an incredible versatility to music making and has an inspiring holistic approach to practicing and living music.

We discuss:

• Hi versatile background, developing skills and acquiring knowledge in many areas – music, neuroscience, coding, meditation, wisdom traditions
• What being a neuro-symphonic hornist means
• What do we define “success” as
• What is positive focus
• How he came up with Modacity
• The features of Modacity
• The importance of priming

 

Join Marc and I for a month of mindful practice during the month of November!

DETAILS INCLUDED AT THE END OF THE EPISODE AND BELOW HERE!

 

ALL ABOUT MARC:

Marc’s webiste: http://marcgelfo.com/

Modacity: https://www.modacity.co/

Challenge Participants: Download the Modacity app and visit https://www.modacity.co/mindful-music-upgrade/ for access to all the app’s premium features for FREE for the whole month of November!

Marc’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/practicelivingmusic/

Marc on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcgelfo/

Modacity’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ModacityApp/

Modacity on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modacityapp/

Why You Should Use Modacity to Practice Music

How To: Deliberate Practice for Musicians & How to Use Modacity's Improvement Feature

The art of breathing: http://www.jessicawolfartofbreathing.com/for-purchase/

Research on the advantages of recording practice - "When audience members were played recordings of both types of performance, a significant majority expressed a preference for the performances that were created in a mindful state."  http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0305735607086053

Contrabass Conversation episode #515: Practice better with Modacity – Jason Heath interviews Marc

Jason Heath’s blog: How I’m practicing music better using Modacity and forScore

Jason Heath’s video Modacity: my favorite new tool for better practicing

Dynamic Alignment Through Imagery Second Edition by Eric N. Franklin

The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful by Eric Ries

 

MARC GELFO

Marc Gelfo has been combining music and technology since he was 5 years old. After applying cognitive science & computer science degrees to French horn, Marc became an internationally touring symphony musician. His experience includes teaching and performing with thousands of musicians around the world, including San Francisco Symphony and Philadelphia Orchestra.

 

Marc is Co-Founder & CEO at Modacity, building software to help create a world where everyone makes music. Visit https://modacity.co or email [email protected] for more on this rapidly growing music learning platform. 

 

MINDFUL PRACTICE MONTH

Now, if you’re interested in taking your practice to the next level, join me for a month of Mindful Practice! 

Here’s how it works!

• Hop on Facebook, and join The Mind Over Finger Tribe at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/
• Think of 1-3 practice goals you have for the month of November, put that in writing, and share it with us on the group. It could be anything from learning a piece, to working on a specific thing you want to fix in your technique.  I would be specific, like don’t say I want to improve my left hand, but rather say something along the lines of I want to improve my shifts.
• Download the Modacity app and visit https://www.modacity.co/mindful-music-upgrade/ for access to all the app’s premium features for FREE for the whole month of November!
• Starting November 1st, practice every day using Modacity and share a daily practice insight or "win" with us and on social media with the hashtag #mindfulpracticechallenge! I’m going share mine in the group and on Instagram using the hashtag #mindfulpracticechallenge

 

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme!  Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a huge thank you to recording engineer extraordinaire, Bella Kelly!

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes!  I truly appreciate your support!

 

MIND OVER FINGER:

www.mindoverfinger.com

https://www.facebook.com/mindoverfinger/