The Rounded Musician
In 2022 I wrote and delivered a year long series of seminars which brought together the different strands of my experience and knowledge – orchestral performing, performance psychology, musician’s health and wellbeing and coaching. Aimed at early-career musicians transitioning from student to professional, this research-based programme encourages self-development through discussion of “soft skills” rarely discussed during musical training.
Matthew Jones was one of the first students to experience those seminars. Together, he and I have expanded this into a course called The Rounded Musician.
Click image to view full posterPsychological, emotional and social skills for curating, surviving and thriving in a sustainable music career
Lowri Porter
Matthew Jones
This online course opens up conversations around non-playing skills, providing participants with a space to think away from their instruments. It is an opportunity to support your own health and wellbeing and promote healthy, respectful and creative collaboration between musicians. It will lay a foundation of ideas that you can draw upon in years to come to help you cope positively with the challenges that inevitably arise in a life in music.
Designed to run over the course of an academic year, it involves 5 days online, with an optional day in person, a group size of no more than 12, and with the opportunity for individual support tailored to each participant.
The online days include a combination of peer pair work with our support, group work, and suggestions of further avenues to explore between sessions.
Topics covered might include discussion of goals and how to set them, mindsets, types of knowledge, motivation, an exploration of self-identity, communication and building relationships, building resilience and a focus on self-efficacy. There is a session built in for participants to request topics that may be particularly pertinent to them.
The optional day in person includes an opportunity for mock auditions, but in a workshop style where there is time to put into practice different approaches and discuss ways to combat performance anxiety in a supportive space.
2 hours of 1-1 individual coaching sessions with myself or Matthew are included at the beginning and end of each year for each individual to enable each participant to get the best out of their experience.
What to expect
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5 days online plus an optional day in person over the course of an academic year. Limited to small groups of no more than 12 participants to ensure tailored, individual support, peer pair work, and interactive group sessions.
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Focuses on essential non-playing skills - including goal setting, mindsets, motivation, self-identity, communication, building resilience, and managing performance anxiety.
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The optional in-person day offers practical, workshop-style application - including mock audition preparation in a supportive space to practice performance strategies.
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Designed for early-career musicians transitioning from student to professional life, providing a dedicated space away from instruments to build a sustainable, fulfilling career.
For further information, please feel free to get in touch.
We can also organise a no obligations half hour chat about The Rounded Musician.
Testimonials
“Lowri Porter’s experience as an elite violinist, chamber musician, and teacher contributed much to training at the Royal Welsh College of Music, not only as a leading instrumental teacher, but also in a series of seminars for RWCMD Postgraduate Orchestral Performance specialists, covering psychological, emotional and social skills embracing holistic training to build resilience, develop self-awareness and to enhance learning during professional orchestral placements. Lowri’s work supported individual needs, and contributed to a culture of peer support within the student body, informing their thinking and professional strategies for the future. Lowri is an exceptional communicator and enabler who places the needs of others above her own, and who strives for improvement in all that she undertakes.”
“It’s been absolutely wonderful working with you and the idea behind this... It’s been great learning about motivation and the strategies to learn how to cope with people, ourselves and orchestral management.”
“I have found [these sessions] incredibly helpful and fulfilling. Besides attending college to become better instrumentalists, we should always be investing in becoming better musicians, and part of that, I recognise, is being more open minded and flexible people. These sessions have helped with that.”
“These classes…have been so insightful and useful, and I feel very lucky to have been provided with the opportunity… throughout this year. I have learned a lot of valuable lessons through the discussions and by listening, and now look forward to continuing my progress moving forward into post-college life. Thank you so much for this opportunity to learn and develop a new understanding and perspective in so many useful ways!”
“I’ve found these sessions extremely helpful. I think these coaching sessions are important to the wellbeing of an aspiring orchestral musician. Topics such as resilience [are] something I’ve never considered before, but have helped me understand my identity both within the industry and personally.”
“I have enjoyed how the sessions are run with enough work in-between each session to keep the interest and pairing up with a buddy to keep track and increase our circles of trust and circle of humanity and keep each other motivated.”
“Many thanks for the sessions this year. It has got me thinking about just how much of the profession is about mental stamina which I had never considered properly.”
“Just wanted to … say thank you so much for the classes we had with you this past year. It really was great to delve into something that wasn’t based on the performance side or technical aspects of our instruments and playing. I found understanding my values to be useful in deciding how I approach people around me in the profession and making me aware of my inner self.”