Author name: Patricia Daly

Getting ready for your first live performance? Learn how to plan your setlist, choose a venue, and perform with confidence using this simple step-by-step guide for musicians.   So, you’ve been invited to play — or maybe you’ve decided to host your own live event. Either way, this is an exciting step! Performing live can […]

Find calm and confidence by remembering why you started.   You know that flutter in your stomach that appears before a performance — that familiar knot of nerves that twists even though you love what you do? It’s not weakness; It’s a signal. A sign that what you’re about to do matters deeply. Every performer

Build unshakable performance confidence through the power of mental rehearsal.   Every performance is more than just the few minutes you spend on stage — it’s the culmination of your energy, your mindset, and your preparation.   Whether you’re performing at a wedding, concert hall, or intimate gathering, one simple but powerful tool can transform

If you’re a musician, singer-songwriter, or creative soul, you probably know that moment before playing in public   — the deep breath, the shaky hands, the mental flood of “what ifs.”   ➔What if I mess up? What if they don’t like me? What if I’m just… not good enough?   We all go looking

One of the most unique parts of my mentoring style is that I don’t always rush to give answers. Instead, I pause, sit with my intuition — or what I like to call my source connection — and allow responses to emerge from a deeper place within.   When I mentor from this space, I

Last weekend, I was playing harp at a very special wedding at Brooklodge, Wicklow.   The couple lives in Seattle, U.S.A and returned to the bride’s home-place in Co. Wicklow for their Irish celebration, then later they plan to visit the groom’s home-place for their Indian celebration.   This was an intimate, deeply personal setting—family

Last weekend, I had the absolute delight of performing at Malahide Library, Dublin for “Culture Night 2025.”   This was an intimate but lively audience—attentive harp lovers who were ready to engage with the music, the energy, and the historical background behind each piece.   Performing in this kind of public, intimate setting is all

Olivia came to her online music lessons carrying anxiety, fear of silence, and self-doubt. Every note felt heavy. Every pause felt scary. Playing her instrument was more about worry than expression.   Step 1: Grounding and Connection   In the first session, we introduced “Source Spot”exercise to help Olivia drop from her busy mind intoher

The scariest part of playing music isn’t hitting a wrongnote. It’s the voice that whispers: “You’re not goodenough.”   That lie has silenced more musicians than broken strings ever will.   But here’s the truth— Confidence doesn’t show up before you play. It shows up because you play.   Every artist you admire?They once froze.They

What would make this year most fulfilling for you? I was looking back over old surveys lately and Johnny’s responses stood out. He wanted a life filled with heart, creativity, and joy.   Not by doing everything perfectly, but by aligning who he was with how he performed.   Here’s a simple exercise you can