Dear Fellow Musician,

Welcome to Mind Body Music School! I’m happy you stopped by.

My name is Peter Jacobson. I founded this school in 2014 as a haven for musicians and music teachers to do their real work of healing, learning and creating.

(You’ll notice things are a little sparse around here. We’re in the middle of a “key change” from our old website to a new one. But this letter should give you a what we’re all about.)

A different kind of music school

Mind Body Music School isn’t your typical music school. I like to think that we teach the kinds of things most musicians didn’t get in their training (but should have): how to use their minds and bodies well, how to practice effectively and how to be authentic and confident on stage.

I’ve spent a lot of time in music learning environments that didn’t feel good in my nervous system. Maybe you have too. That’s why I’m so passionate about the social aspect of learning and making music. Community isn’t just a buzzword for us. It’s actually the foundation of our curriculum as almost everything we offer takes place in a group setting. We aim to create an environment that is tuned to collaboration and respect, safety and connection.

How it all started

How did I come to start my own music school? In a word: suffering.

It started when I was a freshman in college. I was playing in six ensembles (!) and started hurting in my forearms and low back. At the time, I just wanted relief. What I didn’t know until later was that this was the beginning of an epic journey of self-discovery, healing and learning that continues to this day.

A turning point on that journey was discovering the Alexander Technique. I was pretty much hooked from the first lesson, and over time it became my operating system for life. I recently passed an interesting milestone: having studied the work for nearly 25 years (and being 47), it’s been a part of my life longer than not.

What’s happening right now

Let me tell you a bit about what’s happening right now:

Free resources

I’m currently working on a new 9-part email course called Playing With(out) Pain. This course will teach you 7 mind-body practices to help you play with and without pain. The course draws on Alexander principles and modern pain science, a cutting-edge field of study that has been a game changer for me and my students. While the course is geared toward instrumentalists, any musician can benefit from the ideas. I’m about halfway through writing it, but when you sign up you’ll get what I’ve created so far plus the rest as it’s completed.

I also offer a free email course and e-book called Breathing Made Simple. Breathing is one of my obsessions. I believe it’s one of the best ways to improve our health, well-being and music making. This course is for any musician who wants to breathe better.

I recently gave an intro lesson to a musician that I’d love to share with you. It’ll give you a sense of me and how I work with students, plus the kind of work we do. Watch the demo lesson

Current offerings

Starting April 19th, we’re offering Practicing Joy: a 30-day practice experiment. This is a great opportunity for any musician to experience how our school integrates Alexander ideas directly into the act of practicing. The goal? To fall in love with practicing again by creating more joy and aliveness in your practice sessions.

Our summer retreat is our flagship in-person event, happening every year since 2018. I like to joke that it’s summer camp for adult musicians. It’s six of my favorite days of the year. It’s not for everyone, but if you’re hungry to change and grow, it might be exactly what you’re looking for.