Develop the wide-range of skills you need to thrive as a musician & take true action towards your goals.
SEE THE CHALLENGES!
We see you juggling all the complexities of life as a musician. By now you know your success and ability to thrive depends on many factors.
It depends on:
▶️ how you practice and perform
▶️ your health
▶️ your ability to write a compelling cover letter
▶️ your courage and confidence
▶️ business & career skills
But mostly, it depends on showing up, even when it's hard.
That's why we built the Thrive Challenges: they help you develop the wide-range of skills that matter JUST as much as how you play with accountability that helps you show up in big ways.
The challenges are short, 2-month modules that include weekly lessons, action steps and live events so you have a path to improvement laid in front of you.
To be clear, there are no excuses here. Just messy action and taking tiny steps each day to chip away at your goals.
So, we ask: are you ready to show up?
Let's gooooo!
INTRODUCING THE 2023 CHALLENGES
Practice Design Challenge
Jan/Feb 2023
Create practice habits for remarkable results. Learn about practice techniques, hear from practice gurus, amp up your ability to be consistent and joyful in the practice room, and work on crossing the bridge between practice to performance.
Enrollment has ended for this challenge.
Body & Breath Challenge
Mar/Apr 2023
How can we embody our artistic intentions? In this challenge we will explore Alexander Technique, somatics, breathing pedagogy and more so that you can play with more ease and release your expressive potential.
Enrollment has ended.
Portfolio Challenge
May/June 2023
We all need one... a portfolio! Whether it's a website, resume, cover letter, social media presence, or anything else that shows the world who you are, it's time to iterate on and improve it all!
Enrollment has ended.
Mindset Challenge
Sept/Oct 2023
Anything worth doing is hard. And as a musician, you probably know that better than most! The everyday realities of managing your mindset, time and ambitions may seem like a full time job. We designed The Mindset Challenge to help you shift your mindset into one of possibility and learn how to become more resilient, manage your time & energy, and give you the power to face the challenges in your life in pursuit of your dreams.
Enrollment has ended for this challenge.
Career Challenge
Coming Nov/Dec 2023
You're the CEO of your life! In this module you will learn and explore the business and career skills you need to Thrive. Think grant writing, marketing, starting a business, audience development and more.
Get'um all!
If you join our THRIVE Membership, you'll get all the challenges as part of the membership plus access to our video library, all of our live events and a space to take action, make progress and GET RESULTS!
Stay in touch about the challenges!
We will make sure you don't miss anything and send some special surprises!
We don't send SPAM. Rude!
Inside our Thrive Challenges you get:
- Easy-to-follow weekly lessons
- Live events from us and world-class guests surrounding the challenge's topic with recordings to watch later
- PDF and video resources to support your learning accessible in our online platform
- A space of accountability and support within our digital platform, Facebook group and emails
- PLUS a LIVE Q&A to get all of your questions answered about the challenge
You're in the right place if you want to:
🙋♀️ Take specific action to develop the practical skills you need to build your artistic ability & career
📖 Gain knowledge and get access to up-to-date resources curated to support your journey as a 21st century musician
🌱 Get accountability and support while staying focused on a specific goal. Remember: no excuses here, just messy action!
🌎 Learn from thought leaders and musicians that are doing incredible things from all around the world. Who you surround yourself with impacts your mood and trajectory!
Meet your coaches,
Ixi, Tiffany, Ted & Nick!
Hi! We are Ixi, Tiffany, Ted and Nick! We've got a diverse set of experiences under our belts and want to share them with you. As your Thrive hosts, we curate your content and find incredible guests and topics that we know will offer you important learning. We look out for trends and things we think you need to know and then bring them to you!
Ixi Chen (top left) plays clarinet in the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and teaches at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Dr. Tiffany Valvo (top right) is the former clarinet professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, is a freelancer and teacher and the Social Media/Digital Content Specialist at Cal Performances at UC Berkeley. Ted Nelson (bottom left) is a cellist in the Cincinnati Symphony and Producing Artistic Director of Concert Nova with a lot of experience understanding the roles of orchestral management. Nick Photinos is a multi-Grammy Award-winning cellist, a founding member of Eighth Blackbird, and has collaborated and toured with an astounding array of artists.
The most successful people aren't the most talented. They're the ones ready to jump into action. Hope to see you in a Thrive Challenge soon!
Stay in touch about the challenges!
We will make sure you don't miss anything and send some special surprises!
