Conversation with Sydney Braunfeld.
Principal Horn of the Opera Australia Orchestra.
‘You asked me to contemplate difficult and confronting questions in our sessions. Your manor naturally invited me to give voice to my innermost thoughts without feeling pushed or judged. We laughed and cried, but I came away from each session feeling hopeful.
You are an empathetic human, with an informal and easy style, and always with good humour. The experience of working with you was life-changing for me. I came searching for help dealing with an extremely specific technical problem, but over time, I discovered that the techniques that you introduced me to were so useful, they could be broadly applied with regard to most other challenges one may struggle with in life.’
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Jessica Armstrong - Solo Horn, Philharmoniches Orchester Heidelberg, Germany
It is immensely refreshing being coached by a musician who understands and isn't afraid to talk about performance anxiety. Deb has given me a better understanding of stage fright, how it affects me. She has taught me how I can still play music at a professional level without it affecting my quality of performance. I have also gained an incredible amount of insight in regards to mindfulness, self-compassion, reflection and values, all tools that not only support my career as a musician, but also life and its challenges. I highly recommend Deb as a coach to guide and to support anyone experiencing the challenges performance anxiety.
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Hugh Ponnuthurai – professional bassoonist previously Queensland Symphony Orchestra
I have been a professional musician for over 30 years. For much of this time I suffered dreadfully from performance anxiety. I developed coping mechanisms to help me get through including taking beta blockers, meditation and even dietary modifications.
Deborah’s coaching has been a mind blowing breakthrough for me. Instead of fighting my negative thoughts or indeed trying to block them altogether, I have learned strategies to work with them. Working with Deb has been a godsend. A professional musician herself, Deborah understood exactly what I was going through. Her guidance and counsel has been invaluable. I find that I play with more confidence and less fear. It is fantastic to feel this way again after so many years.
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Clare Ramsden - clarinettist and clinical neuropsychologist
As a psychologist, I have skills and knowledge about managing anxiety but there are times when you need the support of someone else to make those changes in yourself. However, finding someone who understands the challenges of performance and music making isn’t easy.
Deborah’s online course - ‘Making Friends with the Stage Fright Dragon’ - was a great way to work through my thoughts and beliefs about my performance anxiety and develop strategies and skills to really change how I think about music playing and performing.
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James Littlewood - bass trombonist at the Australian National Academy of Music
Deborah’s online course - Making Friends with Stage Fright - has been an important part of my journey as a musician over the last several months.
Deborah’s clear, step-by-step approach helped me find greater purpose in my work. The course gives users tools to explore what they truly value in performing (and in life), and uses this as a way to better understand stage fright.
The application of theses process in performance has helped me unlock new freedom and enjoyment in performing. I highly recommend this to performers of any level who have struggled with stage fright.
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Sue Arney - lecturer In teacher education at the Melbourne Graduate School of Education
I recently participated in a workshop developed and delivered by Deborah Hart, that has shifted my thinking about performance anxiety as both a musician and a music educator.
Deborah’s thoroughly researched approach to the behavioural psychology associated with performance was immediately obvious, but it was her ‘real’ experience – as a presenter and as a professional musician – where she connected most strongly with the audience.
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Rosie Savage - professional musician and teacher
Working on the skills of applying ACT to music performance has helped me tremendously as a horn player but it has also helped me in all areas of my life. I have had one on one sessions with Deb where we explored values and what is important to me - in life and in playing the horn. What is important to me for a particular phrase. What is important to me for the sound of a particular note. It has been general and also very detailed. By bringing focus back to what is important and learning how to take steps towards, rather than away, has made practice much easier. It has also helped me very directly during performance.
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Adam Yee - composer, music teacher, educational manager and researcher
I have been a professional musician for over 30 years. For much of this time I suffered dreadfully from performance anxiety. I developed coping mechanisms to help me get through including taking beta blockers, meditation and even dietary modifications.
Deborah’s coaching has been a mind blowing breakthrough for me. Instead of fighting my negative thoughts or indeed trying to block them altogether, I have learned strategies to work with them. Working with Deb has been a godsend. A professional musician herself, Deborah understood exactly what I was going through. Her guidance and counsel has been invaluable. I find that I play with more confidence and less fear. It is fantastic to feel this way again after so many years.
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Katie Pryce - professional musician
Deborah’s deep knowledge of the music world coupled with her passion and exceptional skills as an ACT therapist has helped me beyond measure. I would recommend her without hesitation to anyone struggling with similar issues. I am so grateful to her for these new lease of performing life!
I attended a group counselling workshop for musicians run by Deborah and I found the dynamic of the sessions comforting and open. It felt very easy to talk about experiences and personal issues that I had encountered. The three days of sessions were interesting engaging, and there were many exercises that I had not come across before that I found very relevant to me and was very eager to try them out! Deborah’s manner was warm and thoughtful as well as pragmatic which I found to be a perfect combination.