Being Okay With Being “Unokay” and Overcoming Shame to Achieve Peak Performance feat. Jason Bergman

Brass Mastery

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When I first approached Jason Bergman about appearing on the Brass Mastery™ podcast, the first thing I asked him was, "What do you want to talk about?"

It's always best to play to the strengths of your guests when one is doing a creative endeavor such as this.

Jason replied he'd like to delve into the realm of self-care as it pertains to teaching brass instrumentalists.

As professor of trumpet at the prestigious Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, Jason has learned a thing or two on this topic (or one would assume), so I agreed to discuss this on the show, eager to hear what he has to say on the topic.

The thing we ended up talking about the most is how shame affects our self-perception as musicians, hindering our musical output and progression - to the point some even get discouraged and leave music as a serious pursuit altogether.

What is the root cause of this shame and deleterious effects it has on us?

Jason opens up on some of his own setbacks as a performer and teacher, and shares some of the innovative teaching techniques he employs at IU to confront the many barriers we put up that inhibit our progress as musicians and play to the best of our ability.

Episode highlights:

-Brief rundown of Jason's academic career...03:00

-Giving credit to impactful figures who don't seek the spotlight...05:15

-One seemingly insignificant thing we say today may make a massive impact in the future...07:45

-Jason's founding origins on trumpet and music...11:20

-The students became the mentor...17:35

-Self-awareness, and the need to care for one's self in order to best help those charged to our care...22:50

-An examination of shame and how it affects our mindset and overall wellbeing as musicians...29:00

-We get ourselves tied up in knots when we're thinking about the notes vs. the musical product...36:00

-When you're "okay with being unokay" the mistakes magically dissipate...38:40

-"A rising tide lifts all ships" i.e. when one succeeds, all succeed...41:40

-Meat therapy, and how Jason decompresses during down time...46:10

Resources mentioned:

Brene Brown videos

About the Guest:

American trumpeter Jason Bergman was appointed Associate Professor of Music in Trumpet at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in 2022.

He has performed throughout the United States, South America, Europe, and China. In 2008, Bergman was named Associate Principal Trumpet of the Santiago Philharmonic in Chile and more recently has been Principal Trumpet of the Mobile Symphony Orchestra and Mobile Opera. He has also performed with the Utah Symphony, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, Dallas Symphony, Dallas Opera, Fort Worth Symphony, and the Dallas Winds, including on their Grammy-nominated album featuring the music of John Williams. Additionally, Bergman has performed in concert with the Canadian Brass, Rhythm & Brass and with conductor David Robertson at Carnegie Hall as part of the Weill Music Institute. He also performed as a fellow at the Music Academy of the West.

Bergman has given recitals and master classes at numerous institutions worldwide and has performed and presented at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, College Music Society, International Tuba and Euphonium Conference, Mississippi Bandmasters Association, Mississippi Music Teachers Association, Utah Music Educators Conference, International Trumpet Guild, and the Texas Music Educators Association Annual Convention. As a soloist, he has performed with the Royal Belgian Air Force Band, Garland Symphony Orchestra, Timpanogos Symphony, and the Beijing Central Conservatory of Music Wind Ensemble among many other groups.

In the United States, he has been a faculty member at the Idyllwild Chamber Fest, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and Grand Valley International Trumpet Seminar, and abroad at the Festival Internacional de Inverno da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Música nas Montanhas Festival and Festival de Música de Santa Catarina in Brazil and Semana de la Trompeta Peruana in Peru. A committed educator, Bergman previously served on the faculties of Brigham Young University, the University of North Texas, and the University of Southern Mississippi. He received the Class of ‘49 Young Scholar Award from Brigham Young University and the Nina Bell Suggs Endowed Professorship from the University of Southern Mississippi.

He served as President of the International Trumpet Guild from 2021-2023, where he has also served as an elected member of the Board of Directors. He is a regular adjudicator with the National Trumpet Competition and was host of the 2018 National Trumpet Competition. He also served with Irish trumpet artist, David Collins, as co-host of the 2021 Ellsworth Smith International Trumpet Solo Competition in Dublin, Ireland. Committed to research, Dr. Bergman is a contributing author for the Grove Dictionary of American Music and served as editor of the Orchestra Section Profile in the International Trumpet Guild Journal. He has released three solo albums on the MSR Classics label, each that includes numerous world premiere recordings. Bergman, who earned a MM and DMA at the University of Michigan and a BM at Brigham Young University, is a Yamaha Artist and exclusively plays Yamaha trumpets.

Mentioned in this episode:

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