225 Beyond the Notes – Nikki Chooi on Musicality, Adaptability, and Artistic Growth
Release Date: 05/16/2025
238 Calm Under Pressure – The 3-Pillar Strategy to Beat Performance Anxiety and Play Your Best
The Mind Over Finger Podcast
Learn a clear, actionable framework to help you manage performance anxiety and play with confidence. · The 3 pillars: preparation, conditioning, and mind management · Why traditional advice doesn’t work · How to train your nervous system to support you · What to include in your practice for real performance readiness If you're ready to hit the ground running come September, ...
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237 Shift Your Results - The Simple Tool That Transforms Your Practice and Performance
The Mind Over Finger Podcast
Discover how to use the Self-Coaching Model to better understand your mindset, manage your emotions, and create lasting progress in your music. · Why mindset shapes your practice results · How to break the cycle of overwhelm and procrastination · The link between thoughts, feelings, actions, and outcomes · A clear tool to move from stuck to focused If you're ready to hit the ground...
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236 Master Your Mind – The Framework Musicians Need to Break Through
The Mind Over Finger Podcast
In this episode, you’ll learn a simple and powerful mindset tool that helps you understand and shift the thoughts, feelings, and actions that shape your musical results. · The five-part Self-Coaching Model explained · Why your thoughts, not circumstances, drive your outcomes · How to build awareness and take intentional action · A clear method to create calm, clarity, and confidence ...
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235 Sustainable Progress – 5 Practice Shifts That Prevent Burnout and Boost Results
The Mind Over Finger Podcast
This episode explores five mindset and strategy shifts that help you stay energized, focused, and motivated in your musical journey. · How overcommitting drains progress · Turning comparison into clarity · Why trying to impress holds you back · The value of giving yourself more prep time · Simple ways to bring joy back into your practice If you're ready to hit the...
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234 Clear the Block – 5 Mistakes That Derail Even Smart Musicians
The Mind Over Finger Podcast
This episode explores five common practice pitfalls that can quietly sabotage your progress — and how to overcome them with clarity and confidence. · Why self-awareness is key to real growth · How to set a plan that aligns with your goals · The role of time management in building momentum · When learning becomes avoidance · How to build...
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233 From Bully to Ally - Transform Your Inner Critic Into Your Strongest Tool in Practice and Performance
The Mind Over Finger Podcast
This episode explores how harsh self-talk holds you back and how practicing self-compassion can unlock real progress. · Why judgment creates tension and slows learning · The difference between helpful assessment and harmful self-criticism · Simple mindset shifts to quiet your inner critic · How to stay focused, clear, and motivated in the practice room If you're ready to hit the...
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232 Grounded Practice – The Practice Strategy That Accelerates Real Growth Reset & Rise Series #4
The Mind Over Finger Podcast
In this episode, we explore the overlooked superpower of patience and how slowing down can actually speed up your progress. · Learn how urgency can sabotage your practice · Discover the mindset that turns frustration into focus · Build stronger, more reliable skills under pressure · Use grounded practice to boost clarity, consistency, and confidence If you're ready to hit the...
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231 Practicing Isn’t Working? – What You’re Missing and How to Fix It
The Mind Over Finger Podcast
In this episode, we explore the concept of "Mind Over Finger" — aligning your mind before taking physical action. · Discover how mental, emotional, and intellectual alignment boosts progress · Learn how myelination impacts your practice outcomes · Replace mindless repetition with intentional, effective strategies · Apply the deep practice model with awareness and curiosity ...
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230 Stuck in Practice? How Joy Unlocks Focus, Progress, and Consistency - Reset & Rise Series #2
The Mind Over Finger Podcast
In this episode, I share powerful takeaways from 13 renowned performers and educators, including Rachel Barton Pine, Tom Hooten, Kim Kashkashian, Vijay Gupta, and Elizabeth Rowe. Discover how world-class musicians use joy, curiosity, and presence to stay focused, avoid burnout, and make meaningful progress. You’ll walk away with practical tips and mindset shifts you can apply to your own practice today. If you're ready to hit the ground running come September, is your blueprint. This step-by-step course gives you the exact system to practice smarter, perform with...
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229 Joy-Driven Practice – Reignite Your Practice with Curiosity, Calm, and Creativity - Your Reset & Rise Series #1
The Mind Over Finger Podcast
This episode kicks off the Reset and Rise summer transformation series with the Joyful Practice Challenge. You’ll explore simple prompts designed to help you reconnect with presence, boost effectiveness, and bring more curiosity, calm, and creativity into your practice. If your playing has felt heavy or disconnected, this is the reset you’ve been looking for. If you're ready to hit the ground running come September, is your blueprint. This step-by-step course gives you the exact system to practice smarter, perform with confidence, and build unstoppable momentum. Enroll this...
info_outlineIn this episode, violinist Nikki Chooi shares how he rebuilt trust in his playing after formal training, refined his approach to practicing, and found balance between precision and expression in performance.
We talk about:
- How to blend slow and fast practice effectively
- The role of “adversity training” in audition preparation
- Practicing musicality with intention
- What changes when you stop chasing perfection and start trusting your process
- Why adaptability and balance are essential to long-term growth
If you're in a season of transition or looking to reconnect with your artistry, this conversation offers valuable insights and inspiration.
The Music Mastery Experience is where we take ideas like these and turn them into transformation. It's a full year of coaching, structure, and deep support designed to help you perform with clarity, confidence, and joy. If this episode speaks to you, I invite you to apply today at mindoverfinger.com/mme25.
JOIN THE MUSIC MASTERY EXPERIENCE HERE
Download the transcript from this episode HERE
MORE ABOUT NIKKI CHOOI
Website: https://www.nikkichooi.com/
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@nikkichooi
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikkichooi89/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikkichooi/
Mind Over Finger
Click www.mindoverfinger.com/coaching to book your free consultation with me.
Visit MindOverFinger.com for my online courses as well as free resources on peak performance.
Grab my free workshops and PDF downloads by going to www.mindoverfinger.com/resources.
Connect:
https://www.youtube.com/@MindOverFinger
https://www.facebook.com/mindoverfinger/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfinger
https://www.instagram.com/mindoverfinger/
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.