Mind Body Music School · April 19 – May 18, 2026
Practicing Joy
A 30-Day Experiment in Healthy, Deliberate & Playful Music-Making
“Practicing is the search for ever greater joy in movement and expression.”
-Yehudi Menuhin
From Peter Jacobson, Founder of Mind Body Music School
Dear Fellow Musician,
When was the last time you felt JOY when you practiced?
I mean pulsing with life.
Vibrating with possibility.
Body, mind, soul firing on all cylinders.
Ask any musician what their relationship to practicing is and you’ll probably get back: it’s complicated.
We all know it’s the only way to get to the next level. Yet almost every musician carries around baggage (even trauma for some) associated with practicing. And so it requires a ton of willpower and discipline to overcome the fear, guilt and shame.
(Which reminds me: shouldn’t you be practicing right now?! I kid!)
Here’s my theory why practicing is so fraught for so many musicians:
We’re usually told WHAT to practice but rarely taught HOW to practice. And without a clear process or plan, we feel insecure, aimless and bored.
Then joy and real progress become a hit or miss experience instead of the reliable norm.
In these 30 days, we’ll be on a mission to change that.
Practicing Joy
Why an Experiment?
We’re calling this an experiment instead of a challenge this year. Challenges can be fun and push us to grow. But they also can have a certain kind of Survivor-like vibe that can muddy the waters.
An experiment inherently has less pressure built into it. It can hold curiosity with rigor, play with precision.
An experiment asks: What would happen if….?
Here’s how our experiment will work:
Starting April 19th, you’ll get a short email in your inbox every morning for 30 days. Each email will take about 2 minutes to read and will give you a fresh new idea to play around with. To keep the momentum going, we’ll also have 3 online classes and a community forum to support you.
30 days will give us plenty of time to build some new and improved practice habits. Why habits?
Our approach will weave together three powerful threads: Deliberate Practice (the gold standard of skill acquisition), the Alexander Technique (a world-famous mind-body approach) and a deep commitment to joy, kindness and play as essential ingredients in musical growth.
I think you’ll find what so many of our students have found: this combination makes joy and growth inevitable.
🦦
Is This for You?
You will likely enjoy this if…
- You’ve lost that lovin’ feeling in the practice room and want the spark back
- Your practice routine has become more routine than practice
- You were never really taught HOW to practice, just expected to do more of it
- You feel like you’re always preparing for the next gig instead of actually building skill
- You want to use more of your creativity and imagination but don’t know where to start
- You’re tired of your inner critic calling the shots
- You feel too “domesticated” as a musician and want to find more of your wild, creative side
- You want to infuse your music practice with mind-body principles
- You’re a music teacher who neglects your own practice because you’re too busy serving your students
This experiment is for any adult musician ready to shake things up. Regardless of instrument, style or skill level.
If you feel hungry for something new and different, I’d love to have you along for the ride.
The Journey
Your Weekly Rhythm
Each of the 4 weeks follows the same structure, so you always know what’s coming. One simple idea per day so there’s no overwhelm.
Woven throughout is a “less-is-more” spaced practice experiment where you’ll be prompted to practice a single passage 12 times over the 30 days.
What’s Included
What the Experiment Includes
30 Daily Emails from Peter
Think of these like daily practice “snacks” designed to nurture and nourish your practice time. (I can’t promise they’ll always be super yummy tasting. But I can promise they won’t be junk food.)
3 Live Classes with Peter
A 90-minute kickoff class before we begin to get us in the mood, a mid-point class (on Star Wars day to make sure we’re all using the force!), and a post-experiment class to celebrate our wins and reflect on the journey. All classes will be recorded if you can’t make it live.
Online Community Forum
A private space to connect with fellow explorers, give progress reports, ask questions (big and small ones) plus access to all the materials in one place. One thing I’ve seen over the years is those that lean into the community have a supercharged experience.
Practice Pods (Optional)
Small groups of 2–4 musicians who will offer mutual support throughout the 30 days. We’ll play matchmaker and also assign a “head pea” to lead your pod.
(I also strongly recommend getting yourself a nice practice journal for the 30 days. You and your practicing are worth it!)
From Past Participants
In Their Own Words
Here’s what past participants have to say about their experience:
“My experience with the Practice Challenge was significant beyond measure. Halfway through the challenge, I discovered that I had developed enough confidence and assembled an array of tools to return to my first love — playing the mandolin. The challenge was fundamental in helping me build a new mindset, one of patience, curiosity, and hope.”
— Jim A., Multi-Instrumentalist
“This course and challenge has been a healing process, helping me reconnect with myself as a musician in a more holistic way. This experience has been emotional for me. As a conservatory refugee, I didn’t have these tools before — I just practiced in a pressure-cooker environment, trying to make everything perfect.”
— Laura H., Violinist & Teacher
“Thank you for these 30 days. I found what I’ve used invaluable. My weakest links are rhythm, bowing, and speed. Our repertoire for an upcoming concert was pop and film scores so this challenge was perfect for concentrating on those elements. The result of this experience is that I was completely confident and joyful at our performance.“
— Elizabeth B., Violinist
“This challenge made me feel that practicing is an act of compassion — for myself and for others. It helped me practice kindness and patience with myself every day, making the whole process much more enjoyable.”
— Tami W., Guitarist
“My learning was supercharged during this challenge. By looking for the connection between all of the micro-practices I completed, the leap forward in my memorization and technical skill building was enormous. Instead of practicing because I should, I practice because I want to.“
— Sandra K., Vocalist & Teacher
“Although I was not able to participate every day in the challenge, I have to thank you for getting me back practicing again. It has been so long since I have done that. I spend most evenings planning lessons for my delightful K-2 music students, and it was so important for me to spend some time improving my music, not just planning for theirs! I will use this information for a lifetime. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!”
— Debbie D., Vocalist & Teacher
A Note from Your Guide
What I Believe
Joy isn’t just something we feel. It’s something we practice.
And when we do, it becomes big enough to hold everything else. The hard work. The skill-building. The ups and downs that are part of being an artist.
We should always be honest that practice is work. But it can be deeply satisfying work.
Joy doesn’t replace rigor. It gives rigor life.
By practicing joy, yes, we become better musicians. But also grow into the fullest version of ourselves.
That’s what music is for. That’s what these 30 days are for.
And that’s what I’m inviting you to.
Registration
Registration Is Now Closed
Questions
FAQ
Who is this for?
Any adult musician: vocalist, instrumentalist, teacher, conductor, amateur or professional. Regardless of skill level or style. If you want to get better, you have a place here.
How much time will I need each day?
Each daily email takes about 2-3 minutes to read. I recommend 15-20 minutes of practice a day if you can manage it in your schedule. But you can do the experiment in a way that works for you.
Do I need experience with the Alexander Technique?
Not at all! This experiment is open to anyone, newbies and experienced AT students alike.
What if I miss a day?
This isn’t a challenge, remember. We’re trying to create new pathways for practice. This is an experiment, not a test. Self-compassion is one of the core practices here.
What are practice pods?
Small groups of 2–4 musicians who check in with each other during the 30 days, by text, email, Zoom, whatever works. We’ll help match you. Completely optional but past participants have found them to be one of the most supportive parts of the experience.
What’s the difference between the pricing tiers?
Nothing in terms of content. Everyone gets the same experience. The tiers exist so that musicians in different financial situations can participate. So those with more resources can support fellow musicians if they’d like.
Are the live classes recorded?
Yes. All three classes are recorded and available to watch on replay for 3 months.
What’s the refund policy?
If within the first week you feel this isn’t right for you, reach out and we’ll make it right.
Who is Ollie?
Ollie is our otter mascot and spirit animal. He’ll be reminding us to stay curious, playful and take really good care of ourselves. 🦦
A final thought…
A professional musician recently told me there were three things she wasn’t taught in her training and had to learn on her own:
1. How to be on stage.
2. How to practice.
3. How to be with her body.
(I responded: “What else is there?!” 😂)
Being on stage is a whole other topic. But how to practice and be with your body?
That’s exactly what we’ll be exploring in these 30 days.
Interested in future programs? Drop me a line and I’ll keep you posted!
Peter 🦦
PS — A few more words from past participants:
“This challenge felt like a hero’s journey for me. I’ve realized I have the freedom to explore music in my own way.”
— Laura C., Vocalist & Teacher
“I don’t feel lost in a vast, foggy ocean anymore! This has been one of the most rewarding investments I’ve ever made!”
— Reema A., Vocalist
“Before this challenge, I felt extremely disconnected from music due to injuries. Just showing up most days helped me feel grounded in my music again.“
— Jan H., Vocalist
