Registration Closed. 

The Transcendent Performer

A 6-Week Online Course to Free Yourself from Common Performance Blocks, Grow Your Courage & Explore the Deeper Meaning of Musical Communication

Tuesday, April 22nd – Saturday, May 31st, 2025

Course Instructor: Peter Jacobson

Registration Closed.
 

 What is The Transcendent Performer?

“When I go to a concert, I don’t want to leave the hall the same way I entered. I want TRANSCENDENCE. I want something to happen to me in there, so that when I leave the hall, I’ve been touched in a deep, deep way – by magic, by some holy accident.”
–Bobby McFerrin

Dear Fellow Musician,

Greetings!

MBMS Founder & Director Peter Jacobson here.

Imagine this: 

After a performance, an audience member approaches you, hand on their heart and says:

“That. Was. Transcendent.”

Is there any higher compliment you could get?!

Indeed, as the McFerrin quote above suggests, one of the loftiest goals of music performance is transcendence.

Here’s what I mean by transcendence.

You, the performer, are able to transcend your (mostly self-imposed) limitations so that your fear-based ego disappears and you become a channel for the music to flow through you.

As a result of that (and your diligent and thoughtful preparation) your listeners are able to transcend their ordinary consciousness and have an extraordinary experience of beauty, joy, oneness and perhaps even healing.

This is what it means to be a transcendent performer, and it's more possible to do this than you might think. 

If this is something you want to learn how to do and explore in greater depth, I invite you to join me and a whole community of inspiring musicians on this 6-week journey of discovery. 

You'll find all the information about this 6-week course below. 

In Music,
Peter Jacobson
Founder & Director
Mind Body Music School

PS – If you would like to speak with me about this course, please feel free to write to me directly. 

Who Is It For? 

This course is for any musician and music educator (vocal or instrumental) who is seeking simple, practical ideas and fresh, holistic perspectives on the topic of music performance.

Course participants will likely fall into one or both of these categories: 

• Performers who are experiencing performing blocks and highly motivated to overcome them and raise the quality of their work.
• Music educators who are seeking out new ways of working with their students on performing challenges and issues. 

To get maximum value from the course, you must be interested and willing to go deep – into yourself, into the art of music and into the deeper meaning of what it means to be a transcendent performer.

If you have questions about whether you’d be a good fit for this course, please write to me directly.

What Topics Will I Explore?

During this course, we’ll be looking at the deeper meaning of performing through 6 lenses, asking the following questions:

Spiritual – Exploring Meaning in Performance

• How can I create the most transcendent experience for the listener?
• How do I get my fear-based ego out of the way so the music can come through me from a higher place/source?

Physical – Calibrating & Optimizing the Human Instrument

• How do I effectively work with the fear and anxiety that often arises before, during and even after a performance?
• What is stage presence and how can I optimize it to enhance the power of my performances?

Emotional – All The Feelings!

• How do I express the emotional message of the music without getting overwhelmed by emotions myself?
• What's the best way to work with the intense feelings that arise around a performance?

Mental – Constructive Thinking in Action

• How do I create a performance plan that will support my performing goals?
• What are some effective ways to deal with my inner critics?

Musical – Expression, Emotion & Meaning

• How do I help the listener best enter into the musical worlds I’m creating?
• How do I best prepare for a performance in our practice/rehearsal time?

Social – Relationships with Others

• What is the healthiest and most constructive way to relate to the audience?
• What kind of relationship do I want to create with my collaborators?

Course Overview

Week #1 – An Introduction to The Transcendent Performer

In the first week, you’ll get acquainted with the basic principles of The Transcendent Performer approach. This will include:

• Reflecting on the deeper meaning and possibilities of music performance
• Clarifying your larger artistic purpose and performance goals
• Creating a clear and inspiring job description for yourself as a performer

Week #2 – The Alexander Technique in Performance

During the second week you will get introduced to the basic principles of the world-famous Alexander Technique, which performers have used for well over a century to improve the quality of their performing experience and work. Week 2 topics will include:

• Learning about the Alexander Technique Process and Yes Plans
• Discovering the master key to unlock body freedom
• Poise: The Master Skill

Week #3 – Practicing for Performance

Performing excellence is all about excellent preparation. During the third week you'll learn tactics and strategies that will help you bridge the gap between practice and performance such as:  

• Mental practice and rehearsal strategies
• Dealing with the critical, judgmental inner voices that bring you down
• Memorization strategies and practices that prevent mind-blanking 

Week #4 – The 4 Pillars of Performance

Week 4 will explore four factors that can support you to perform at your best – the music, your colleagues, the audience and the performing space. Topics will include: 

• How to invite the audience to go on the performing journey with you (including the powerful practice of "withing")
• Strategies to use the performing space itself as a source of support
• How to connect with and become one with your musical collaborators 

Week #5 – Performance Readiness

Week 5 will explore how to get yourself in an optimized and ready state before the performance and maintain it throughout. Topics will include: 

• Optimizing stage presence in an authentic way
• How to rev up your system on purpose in a controlled and intentional way
• Having a back-pocket plan to maintain your poise when unexpected things arise

Week #6 – Post-Performance Stuff

The final week will look at an aspect of the performance cycle that is often neglected – after the performance. Week 6 topics will include: 

• Celebrating what worked in your plan and your performance
• How to deal with post-performance rumination and regret
• Reflecting in a way that maximizes learning and growth from your performance

How the Course Works 

The Transcendent Performer course consists of the following elements: 

• 6 Weekly Lessons
• 6 Weekly Performance Labs (choose from 3 class sections)
• 4 Open Mics
• 7 Flex Time Sessions
• 1 Online Workshop with world-renowned Alexander Technique teacher Pedro de Alcantara
• Performance Pods (Optional)
• A Private Community Forum

6 Weekly Lessons

 At the beginning of every week, you'll receive a written lesson that will describe the principles and practices for that particular week. See the "Course Overview" above for more information about what's covered in each week. These lessons will be housed in the course member's area for your convenience.

6 Performance Lab Classes

These performance labs are an opportunity to explore performance-related issues in real time within the course community. Lab classes are experiential and consist of a combination of group explorations and individual work with volunteers in front of the class.

Choose from 3 class sections (you can drop in to any of these classes at anytime): 

• 6 Tuesdays (April 22, 29; May 6, 13, 20, 27 @ 10am-11am central/11am-12pm eastern
• 6 Thursdays (April 24; May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29) @ 1pm-2pm central/12pm-3pm eastern
• 6 Saturdays (April 26; May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31) @ 1-2pm central/2-3pm eastern

Since every class is slightly different, some eager students attend more than one section. All class sections are always open to all participants. Replays are also available for each class.

4 Community Open Mics

What’s the best way to build your confidence as a performer? Perform more! These optional monthly open mics are an opportunity to share your music and yourself with our supportive and accepting community. They are also a great place to try out new rep and experiment with different ideas inside a space where there is no such thing as failure. Don't feel like performing? You can also just show and enjoy the performances. Open mics will not be recorded.

Open Mic Schedule: 

• Wednesday, April 30th @ 11am-12pm central/12pm-1pm eastern
• Friday, May 9th @ 1-2pm central/2-3pm eastern
• Monday, May 19th @ 10-11am central/11am-12pm eastern
• Friday, May 30th @ 1-2pm central/2-3pm eastern

7 Flex Time Sessions

Do you avoid or resist practicing and your artistic work? If so, our Flex Time sessions might be just what you need! During these optional 60-minute drop-in sessions you’ll join other members of the community to get your own personal work done. You can practice on your own, do admin work you might be avoiding (like answering emails, organizing your schedule, paying bills, etc.), have a private conversation with a colleague in a breakout room or do any other work that's important to you. The idea is that work is more fun (and more likely to get done) with others! Flex time sessions are not recorded.

Flex Time Schedule:

• 1 Monday (5/5) @ 10-11am central/11am-12pm eastern
• 2 Wednesdays (5/14, 5/28) @ 11am-12pm central/12-1pm eastern
• 4 Fridays (4/25, 5/2, 5/16, 5/23) @ 1-2pm central/2-3pm eastern

1 Online Workshop with Pedro de Alcantara

Join world-renowned Alexander Technique teacher Pedro de Alcantara for an online workshop on Monday, May 12th @ 11:00am-12:30pm central time. This workshop will be recorded. Here's a description of Pedro's workshop: 

The Interpreter – To live is to interpret. Words, sounds, faces, situations, smells, scores, books, films, dreams: all day long we interpret information and make practical decisions based not so much on the information, but on our interpretation. Let’s wrap our musical brain around this all-important issue.

Performance Pods

This optional aspect of the course matches you with other course members in small pods of 3-4 people. In these pods, you will have the opportunity to give and receive support within a supportive and intimate group of your peers. 

Private Member's Area

Members of the course will get access to Circle, an online platform that hosts our community forum, master calendar of classes/events, library and dozens of hours of MBMS Academy class archives.

This course will take place inside the MBMS Academy.

Tuition & Registration Info

Do you have questions about this course?

Write to course instructor Peter Jacobson directly here.