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Performance Psychology

Research

Dr. Christine Carter is one of the few active concert artists worldwide conducting research in performance psychology, bridging the gap between research and current practice. She leads an interdisciplinary research team on music learning and is a sought-after expert in the field, having published in a variety of outlets and presented over 90 performance psychology workshops for thousands of students, by invitation from top tier institutions such as the Juilliard School, Northwestern University, and McGill University, training programs including the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, San Diego Youth Symphony, and Interlochen Center for the Arts, and several professional teacher organizations. She has also been a consultant for a variety of diverse fields, from sport to medicine, with applications of her research being applied to such disparate activities as stroke rehabilitation and golf practice.

Christine currently holds a SSHRC Insight Development Grant with co-researchers Dr. Jessica Grahn (Brain and Mind Institute, Western University) and Dr. Jonathan De Souza (Don Wright Faculty of Music, Western University) to investigate how we can optimize music learning. She is a Visiting Scholar at Jessica Grahn’s Music and Neuroscience Lab.

Dr. Christine Carter, Dr. Jessica Grahn, Dr. Jonathan De Souza
Christine, Jessica and Jonathan in St. John’s, NL

The Curious Musician

Performance Psychology Blog

After over a decade of research and teaching in the area of performance psychology, I have decided to launch my own blog: The Curious Musician. This will be a place for me to share thoughts and research on a variety of topics related to how we can improve our experience on stage and in the practice room.

Christine Carter in 'The Strad'
Christine Carter / The Strad

Selected Articles on Practice Techniques

“Playing & Teaching: Learning at the speed of childhood”
The Strad
(January 2021) 

“Why the Progress You Make in the Practice Room Seems to Disappear Overnight. Part 2”
The Bulletproof Musician Blog
(July 2020) 

“Optimizing Music Learning: Exploring How Blocked and Interleaved Practice Schedules Affect Advanced Performance.”
Frontiers in Psychology | Performance Science
(August 2016) Cowritten by Dr. Jessica A. Grahn

“Ask the experts: How to make the best use of limited practice time.”
The Strad
(July 2014)

“Why the Progress You Make in the Practice Room Seems to Disappear Overnight. Part 1”
The Bulletproof Musician Blog
(October 2013) 

“Athletic Advantage.”
The Strad 123, no. 1472
(December 2012: 42-48)

Your presentation was brilliant. So timely and necessary for the students and faculty. I was truly inspired to expand my thinking, practicing and teaching…I will definitely share as much as I can about your teaching with my students. I know they learned a lot from both presentations today.”

John Rudolph

Principal Percussion, Toronto Symphony Orchestra

Christine Carter is available for workshops and talks.

Selected Performance Psychology Workshop Appearances

McGill University, Schulich School of Music, Montréal, QC

The Juilliard School Precollege, New York, NY

New York University, Department of Music, New York, NY

National Youth Orchestra of Canada, Kitchener-Waterloo, ON

Piano Symposium, PlayPianoNL, St. John’s, NL

Western University, Faculty of Music, London, ON

Acadia University, School of Music, Wolfville, NS

Bowdoin International Music Festival, Brunswick, ME

Interlochen Center for the Arts, Interlochen, MI

Brandon University Clarinet Festival, Brandon, MB

Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

University of Toronto, Faculty of Music, Toronto, ON

Joven Camerata de El Salvador, El Salvador

Dalhousie University, Fountain School of Performing Arts, Halifax, NS

Suzuki Association of the Capital District, Albany, NY

MUN Song Academy, St. John’s, NL

Lift Clarinet Academy, Fort Collins, CO

Colorado State University, Department of Music, Fort Collins, CO

University of Calgary, School of Creative and Performing Arts, Calgary, AB

Manhattan School of Music, New York, NY

San Diego Youth Symphony, San Diego, CA

Louisiana State University, School of Music, Baton Rouge, LA

Digital Clarinet Academy

Edward Said National Conservatory of Palestine, Birzeit, Palestine

New York State Music Teachers Association

The University of Kentucky, School of Music, Lexington, KY

The Gould Academy, Bethel, ME

Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra, Halifax, NS

Western Connecticut State University, Danbury, CT

Amateur Chamber Musicians Festival at MSM, New York, NY

Music Teachers National Association and College of Saint Rose, Albany, NY

Mount Allison University, Music Department, Sackville, NB

University of Texas at Austin, Butler School of Music, Austin, TX

Northwestern University Summer Violin Institute

Tuckamore Festival Young Artist Program, St. John’s, NL

Texas A&M University Kingsville, School of Music, Kingsville, TX

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