Exploring Balance in Musicianship
By Vahid Jahandari
Setting the Stage
For this edition of Peyk, I interviewed Dr. Jaclyn Normandie, a dynamic musician, voice expert, conductor, and wellness mentor, focusing particularly on her 2021 book, The Mindful Musician: Finding a Healthy Balance. Over the past year following my return to Iran, I have observed a substantive disparity between the degree of attention prominent musicians in the United States allocate to their mental and physical well-being and the comparatively limited awareness of these practices among many domestically. The strategic cultivation of a balanced, sustainable, and goal-oriented relationship with one’s musicianship—across all professional stages—remains insufficiently recognized, as does the necessity of maintaining the fundamental practices required for long-term occupational well-being.
In light of this observation, and after reviewing the remarkable work Normandie has produced, I invited her to expand on some key themes during our conversation. She offered context for what had motivated her to devote her vocation to this field. She explained to me that, over time, she had observed a growing reliance on pharmaceutical coping mechanisms among musicians who struggle with anxiety, depression, and the residual effects of traumatic experiences—whether stemming from perceived career setbacks, pedagogical pressures, or other environmental stressors. She emphasized that this pattern of burnout is severely unhealthy, progressively eroding an individual’s sense of self across cognitive and bodily domains. In her view, many musicians distance themselves from their fundamental human needs as they become entrenched in cycles of comparison, thereby diverting themselves from pathways that support longevity in their profession.
Redefining the True Musician
From this perspective, Normandie underscored the essential role that mental and physical well-being plays in shaping a musician’s ultimate artistic output. Whether in conducting, performing, teaching, business development, or communication, healthy habits are not supplementary but foundational. She challenged the long-standing belief—rooted in Eurocentric traditions of past centuries—that only the artistic product matters. This legacy, reinforced by historical narratives of composers or performers who supposedly sacrificed everything in service of their work—a “sacrifice” that has most likely been a manifestation of a mental health crisis—has contributed to generational trauma to this day.
In the context of the twenty-first century—with its rapid pace, global interconnectedness, and the pervasive influence of social media—this approach is neither practical nor conducive to health. The myth of the “true musician” as someone who operates in a purely mechanistic mode, suppressing all personal needs, is no longer viable. As Normandie noted, people must be reminded that they are human beings composed of biological tissues, skeletal structures, emotions, and lived experiences that modulate their thinking, behavior, and decision-making. Sustaining a long-term musical career requires an understanding of healthy balance rather than an inaccurately idealized culture of self-sacrifice and burnout. A musician’s emotional life, physical well-being, and mental landscape matter just as much as the music they bring to life.
Movement, Mind, and Music
Upon requesting Normandie’s perspective on potential solutions, she emphasized that there is no single formula applicable to everyone. Human functioning and well-being are deeply shaped by biological factors, geography, sociocultural upbringing, personal history, and environments inhabited. Nevertheless, she highlighted several evidence-based practices that consistently support healthier outcomes. One of the recommendations she offered was the integration of regular physical activity—something as simple as a daily walk. She explained that aerobic movement supports metabolic regulation, reduces stress hormones, and enhances cognitive capacity.
Excess adipose tissue can negatively affect mental clarity, energy regulation, and overall neural functioning. Because the brain is responsible for orchestrating every dimension of human experience, disruptions to physical health inevitably influence emotional and psychological states, and, consequently, the overall expression of artistry. Normandie also addressed the psychological dimensions of musicianship, particularly the tendency to seek external validation. She cautioned against using others—whether colleagues or the purported quantifiable metrics of social media—as constant sources of approval. Such dependence can create cycles of anxiety and self-doubt, ultimately detaching musicians from their inner calling and true essence.
Letting Go to Move Forward
In what Normandie described as today’s crisis of perseverance—the struggle to hold on while simultaneously moving forward—she suggested that musicians may, at times, need to relinquish certain titles, roles, or inherited notions of success. Learning to walk away from identities that no longer serve one’s well-being, she argued, is an act of resilience rather than defeat. It requires faith in one’s own capacity to redefine a sustainable path in the world of music. Equally important is setting firm boundaries and distancing oneself from toxic individuals or environments—those who resent your growth or undermine your efforts. Recognizing their limits and disengaging helps conserve energy and protect well-being.
Normandie then turned to the neurochemical dimension of recovery, describing it as a process of cognitive and emotional recalibration. She explained that meaningful healing engages the brain’s capacity for neuroplasticity—the ability to reorganize neural pathways in response to new experiences. This process can feel like a form of rebirth, allowing one to perceive the world through a healthier and more integrated lens, recognizing that one has deeper aspirations and that what initially appears to be obstacles—often imposed by those who do not have your interests at heart—can point toward higher purpose, a direction more aligned with where one truly belongs, rather than the apparent way forward, especially when facing pressures to engage in exploitative or ethically compromising approaches to career development.
Rebuilding from Within
Rather than “selling your soul to the devil,” as she put it—sacrificing well-being for prestige or the illusion of superiority—musicianship should ideally be a source of joy, growth, and personal flourishing. Reflecting on her own life, Normandie shared that the past few years had been a period of significant upheaval. Following her divorce and her decision to step away from roles that no longer aligned with her values, she reached a point where it felt as though multiple aspects of her life were unraveling. It was in this turning point, however, that she experienced an opening toward practices that fundamentally reshaped her well-being. Yoga and Reiki, among other modalities, contributed to measurable shifts in her cognitive clarity, emotional regulation, and physical awareness. These practices supported what she described as a “rebuilding of the body,” rooted in attentiveness to breath, movement, and the somatic signals of stress and recovery.
She emphasized that learning how to repair oneself requires both self-knowledge and intentional engagement with one’s environment. Emotional release—whether through therapeutic work, meditative practices, or embodied movement—creates space for new information to be integrated by the brain, facilitating healthier patterns of thought and behavior. Healing is not a passive process but an active dialogue between one’s inner world and external realities. Through therapeutic intervention, individuals can interrupt dysfunctional cognitive loops and replace them with adaptive strategies that support long-term stability.
The Company You Keep
As our conversation deepened, Normandie highlighted the importance of seeking communities that resonate with one’s perspective, insight, and reasoning. She advised musicians to surround themselves with individuals who embody the qualities they aspire to cultivate and commitment to well-being. She also noted that many individuals in prestigious academic positions may appear accomplished yet feel profoundly dissatisfied internally. Some may construct a public persona that masks their inability to confront unresolved personal challenges. For this reason, she advised caution: do not take life or career advice from people whose lives you would not want to emulate, regardless of their titles or institutional status.
Normandie concluded that a genuine sense of belonging must be rooted in love—not in hierarchical structures, external validation, or outdated notions of artistic worthiness. Musicianship, she reminded us, must be grounded in the recognition that we are complex human beings whose emotional and physical well-being forms the foundation of any sustainable creative path.
Thriving Through Wellness
Reflecting on the principles outlined in Nancy Taylor’s Teaching Healthy Musicianship (Oxford University Press, 2016), it becomes increasingly clear that the mind and body are deeply interconnected in the pursuit of music. Taylor emphasizes that proper ergonomics, body mechanics, and daily wellness practices are not mere add-ons—they are essential to sustaining a long-term musical career. From back wellness to vocal care, environmental safety to hearing protection, the ability to perform at a high level consistently depends on an attentiveness to the body that complements the cultivation of the mind. Ignoring these factors can lead not only to physical injuries but also to mental fatigue, anxiety, and eventual burnout, demonstrating that artistic flourishing and personal health are inseparable.
With over twenty years of dedicated engagement with music, I have witnessed countless talented musicians step away from performance or struggle to reach their potential, often without realizing that wellness is the cornerstone of sustained success. Many were so focused on technical mastery or external validation that they overlooked the foundational practices that support resilience and longevity. Proper rest, mindful movement, and an integrated approach to mental and physical well-being are not optional—they are the keys to becoming a prosperous, fulfilled musician. In this light, the pursuit of musicianship becomes not just a technical endeavor but a holistic practice that nurtures both the creative spirit and the living body that sustains it.
On the other hand, I have also witnessed musicians—whether labeled as “child prodigies” or those who began their musical journey later in life—who, due to their mindset and healthy approach to practice, were able to progress at an astonishing pace. Their rapid development often surpassed what years of conventional hard work could achieve for others, illustrating the profound impact of a balanced, mindful attitude. The same principle applies to recovery and rehabilitation: musicians who, after experiencing setbacks or periods of stagnation, come to understand the interconnection of mind, body, and spirit are frequently able to evolve and reach deeply satisfying stages of their musical and personal lives. In these cases, wellness becomes not merely a support system but a catalyst for transformative growth and enduring artistic fulfillment.
Final Reflections
Healthy musicianship extends far beyond technical skill—it thrives in environments built on care, empathy, and reflection. Educators and mentors can challenge gender stereotyping, support mental health, and redefine failure as part of learning, while fostering safe, brave spaces and trauma-informed approaches that honor each individual’s experience. By encouraging empathic engagement, identity-affirming practices, and collaborative growth, we create communities where musicians can develop both creatively and personally.
Well-being, mindfulness, and awareness of the body and mind are not add-ons but central to sustainable artistic growth. When we embrace caring-with approaches, supportive peer networks, and thoughtful reflection, music becomes a space for mutual flourishing, expressive exploration, and genuine connection—reminding us that creativity and human thriving are inseparable. All of these observations, aligned with the themes in Normandie’s book, her online video coachings, and our richly layered conversation for Peyk, speak to her heroic dedication: she has committed her life to something larger than herself, guiding others through the challenges of transformation with wisdom, courage, and generosity.
