Can we make our new year resolutions stick? Let’s try! Nathalie’s vlog #53
A happy, healthy, joyous and wonderful 2024 to all of you! I hope you had a lovely holiday season and could regenerate a little bit.I don’t know about you, but I always feel a little uncomfortable with new year resolutions, since there are so many ideas and projects in my…
Tips on beating procrastination (requested video #5). Nathalie’s Vlog #48
Today’s video was requested by Ebbenielsen on Youtube We’ve all been there, procrastinating a task until the last second and making ourselves stress out in a way that could have been avoided. What might cause this behavior? And how can we possibly avoid it in the future? Here are my…
Sneaky stress-builders during music practice – distractions. Nathalie’s Vlog #47
Being an artist is a marvel and a privilege, but it does not come stress-free. Just like with any profession, a bit of healthy stress is of course fine…but it becomes problematic if it frequently establishes itself, in particular during your practice/creation time. This is the first vlog targeting these…
Practice tips on discovering a new composer; Carl Lafite – Lynkeu’s Lied. Nathalie’s Vlog #46
On May 11, 2023 I have the privilege together with mezzo-soprano Althea Wetter to let people (re)discover Carl Lafite in Vienna. He was a Viennese composer-conductor-organist, lived from 1872 to 1944, and his music hasn’t been heard in the last 50+ years.Since some of you indicated that they like the…
Tips to instantly better your piano playing (demonstrated with sight-reading 😬). Nathalie’s Vlog #45
In vlog #43, we tackled three things to avoid in any music practice in order to advance more efficiently, and I figured we could dive into practicing the piano a bit more deeply today! I faced a big fear of mine in doing so, namely sight-reading a piece on camera…
How to get over the fear of being judged. Nathalie’s Vlog #44
Oh my lord, this was a bumpy road to get the vlog out on time! In short, the vlog was fully made with all the bells and whistles, but the sound had a major issue caused by my camera being plugged in…and no matter what I or my boyfriend did,…
Three things to avoid in any music practice. Nathalie’s Vlog #43
Music practice! It’s what makes us better at our instrument, at understanding music, at listening, at performing…at least, if done well. As with any skill, it takes time to develop good habits and I thought it a good idea to share some big traps to avoid during your practice time.…
1Piece1Week Challenge – Mondschein Sonata
My second attempt at facing a big fear of mine; sight-reading! During the summer, I got exactly 6 days to learn and record this world-famous piece of music and I decided to document the process for those of you who are interested. 15 minutes for 6 consecutive days, you can…
Three cool life lessons that the arts teach you. Nathalie’s Vlog #42
We’re back with a vlog! In the spirit of the time of the year, when we are reflecting and looking forward, this is what popped into my brain during this week and so it manifested itself into this video.We’re checking out some things I’ve learned by being an active musician,…
Unlocking your full potential, by letting go of fixed ideas around your dreams. Nathalie’s Vlog #41
We are back after summer break! How are you all doing? In today’s vlog, I thought it appropriate to focus a bit on unlocking our potential. In my own experience, I noticed that it is very easy to hold on to a certain idea of what a dream should look…
Three things that keep your motivation high. Nathalie’s Vlog #40
We are celebrating the 40th vlog today! And like with anything in life, even if you love doing something, it does not mean that you sometimes need some extra incouragement to get it done. So here are three things that have helped me getting these vlogs out, and I sincerely…
Three elements that make any practice session valuable. Nathalie’s Vlog #39
Today we are tackling three elements that any practice session should feature, no matter how long or short, how much or little to do. warm-up Careful listening work hard, play hard Also, say hi to our newest member of the household, Eve! Hope this video serves you! Much love, Nathalie
What to think of and get done before you can step on stage. Nathalie’s Vlog #38
In this vlog three very important things to get covered BEFORE you step on stage! Some of these might seem trivial, but in the midst of preparing musically, it is very easy to forget or postpone until the very last minute…and that can underminde your performance.I edited this vlog on…
How to pace your music practice. Nathalie’s Vlog #37
It’s so good to be back with a new vlog and today we’re talking about pacing your practice. In particular when you have a close deadline or a program to prepare on short notice. Three main tips are to be discovered here:1. Familiarity2. Tailoring3. Build in rests Hope it serves…
How your thoughts influence your practice. Nathalie’s Vlog #36
Ahhh, our lovely brains. They can work so much for us, but if we aren’t careful, it can very much do the opposite too. A couple of years ago, I really noticed how my thoughts were undermining my practice rather than helping it, and so in this vlog I am…
Do this when you feel stuck in your music practice. Nathalie’s Vlog #35
Aaaaaand we made it back to a Friday release! I really had to take a nap today because last month and this week were so cramped with deadlines, but I am very happy to share this vlog with you today and I hope it serves you well! If you feel…
1Piece1Week Challenge – Traumerei
If there is one thing I firmly believe in, it’s that expanding your comfortzone is vital to a happy and fulfilled life.In that spirit, I thought it was time to tackle one of my biggest fears and turn it into a series that is hopefully also helpful to other (aspiring)…
5 basic principles to remember when practicing music. Nathalie’s Vlog #34
Music! It’s so FABULOUS and wonderous and awesome! So much so, that often times – when we practice – we forget some of the fundamentals…and therefore loose valuable time, effort, or even motivation. So as a reminder to both you and me, here are 5 basic principles to keep in…
My experience at the World Choir Games Flanders 2021. Nathalie’s Vlog #33
9 days of music, 9 days of singing together and sharing happiness, 9 days of meeting new people and working with amazing artists. The World Choir Games were such a gift and I am very very grateful and lucky that I could be a part of it. Hope you enjoy…
Happy Halloween Special! The scariest moment I ever had as an artist. Nathalie’s Vlog #32
Happy Halloween everyone! I must admit, I’m not the biggest Halloween fan. I cannot stand horror movies and don’t really care much for scaring other people, but I thought it would be nice to do something new and share a true story with you! Being a performer means dealing with…
Why it’s ALWAYS a good idea to bet on yourself. Nathalie’s Vlog #30
You may have noticed that the theme of my YouTube Channel is growth. Growth as an artist, growth as a human being, and all the obstacles and hurdles we face along the way. I was fortunate enough to have reached a big dream of mine in 2019, when I was…
Three simple ways to prevent injury as a musician. Nathalie’s Vlog #27
Before I’m taking my summer break, I thought it would be a good time to talk about preventing injury. As musicians we are often practicing long hours in the same position and whether we like it or not, that is devastating for our bodies. So the major goal is to…
The life of an accompanist: tips on improving your sight-reading. Nathalie’s vlog #26
Do you also struggle with sight-reading? Well, you’re not alone. For the longest time I’ve always felt huge anxiety come up whenever someone asked me to sight-read something. And that habit will not change within a year. But I do feel that exposing myself to more and more situations in…
How to get comfortable taking first steps. Nathalie’s vlog #25
A little late, but I’m so glad it’s out here! Taking first steps is so so so important to keep growing, to experience new things, to really get to know yourself and what you’re truly made of. On the other hands, it’s pretty darn scary to take first steps, no…
The process of setting up a Livestream Concert. Nathalie’s Vlog #24
Ever wondered what it’s like to set up a livestream concert? Well, today I’m sharing our full process, a couple of days before we’re coming live to you from Belgium. We’re talking concert preparation, logistics and tech support. Hope you find it interesting!Also, if you’d like to tune in to…
What it’s like growing up in a musical family [+ GIVEAWAY!]. Nathalie’s Vlog #23
Growing up in a musical family has a number of cool perks and I thought it would be great to share some of those with you. In this vlog I’m also presenting a giveaway in honor of my dad’s 65th birthday for our Livestream event on April 19, 2021! So…
Three tips to help you face high pressure. Nathalie’s Vlog #22
Today’s vlog is definitely inspired by personal turmoil in the last couple of weeks. I always feel March is an extremely busy month and each year I try to plan it better and each year it’s still hell. Maybe I should just back off, haha! Anyway, if you’re dealing with…
The power of setting intentions. Nathalie’s Vlog #21
Today's video was somewhat requested. Some of you asked if I could share my meditation process in the morning, when actually, I'm not the greatest meditator. I do however have created a new habit of setting intentions and feel very very good with that. So here's my offer, to help…
Massaging your hands, wrists and lower arms. Self-care for anyone. Nathalie’s Vlog #20
WE REACHED ANOTHER MILESTONE! 20 Vlogs, whew, it goes fast! Like with the tenth vlog, I thought it would be nice to have some self-care going on. This time for our lovely hands, wrists and lower arms, who basically make sure we can do whatever we want with our lives.…
Three hacks to maintain/regain balance in everyday life. Nathalie’s Vlog #19
We’re all human and so maintaining balance throughout is…well, practically impossible. However, there are a couple of things we can do to replenish our energy and to maintain a healthy workload throughout the day. I’m sharing three things that have helped me a lot, both a while ago and very…
Improving technique and speed. [Requested video #4]. Nathalie’s Vlog #18
Today’s video was requested by Agnes Tjandra, so thank you for your question! I’m sharing three tips on how to improve dexterity and speed when playing piano.We obviously have to talk about posture and I do want to mention that every body reacts differently, so the main thing is to…
Happy New Year everyone! Nathalie’s Vlog #17
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! I know this is a very short vlog, but new content is coming out soon and I wanted to wish you all the best for the coming year. Thank you to all of you who have subscribed so far, it blows my mind that there are…
What if you don’t like the music of a Great Composer? [requested video #3]. Nathalie’s Vlog #16
Music is such a marvelous thing, just as people are, but it’s also human to not love the music by all composers…just like it’s human to not like all people. Totally fine! However, sometimes we need to perform pieces of composers that we don’t seem to like, even if the…
Do this when you just don’t want to practice. Nathalie’s Vlog #15
I. LOVE. MUSIC. But sometimes, whether you are a professional or an amateur, we just don’t want to practice. We don’t feel the vibe, we don’t feel creative, it’s just not our day. Every once in a while, it’s okay to feel that way, but maybe you’ve been dealing with…
How to approach a score | tips on efficient practice [requested video #2]. Nathalie’s Vlog #14
This is the second requested video! Whoop! In this video I’m breaking down how I’m approaching a score and how I basically divide it into two main questions that need to be answered. Implementing everything you know from the beginning is such a vital part of your practice, even though…
How much should we practice? [requested video #1]. Nathalie’s Vlog #13
My grandfather always used to say “There’s nothing more fun than practice!” and then he would do what he loved most…and practice piano. As a kid, I had serious doubts about his priorities in life, but now that I’m older, I understand more what he meant.So how much should we…
Becoming your own rock. Nathalie’s Vlog #12
Anxious, difficult, frustrating times, we are definitely experiencing them. And it’s in times like this where we need to know that we can rely on the one person that will always be here: ourselves.I’m sharing four things I realized/learned in order to become my own best friend, my own anchor…
Why recording is so hard. Nathalie’s Vlog #11
If I am very honest with you, I have to admit that recording is not one of my favorite things involving music. It is one of the aspects I feel least comfortable in, for the three reasons I’m listing in the video, and if you’re a musician yourself and struggling…
Simple stretches for neck, upper back, shoulders and arms -Nathalie’s Vlog #10
This is the tenth vlog! I can’t believe how fast it goes! So in order to celebrate, I thought it would be nice to instead of spending some quality time with our minds, to spend some quality time with our bodies.I do want to warn you that I am NOT…
The One Thing You Need to Reach Your Potential – Nathalie’s Vlog #9
This is a cheesy one, I know. But sometimes life throws things at you so you would remember a valuable lesson that you lost sight of. So to all of you who are experiencing a very very stressful week or time: this one’s for you. To help you remind yourself…
Three tips to help you stop overthinking – Nathalie’s Vlog #8
Ahhh aren’t we all fed up with that inner critic of ours. It’s natural to have a little voice in our heads that questions what we are doing, but if not moderated well, this can turn into a real problem. Anxiety, health issues, sleeplessness, these are only a couple of…
When your plan blows up in your face, do these 4 things…[motivational video] -Nathalie’s vlog #7
If you have a soft spot for planning, you might have a list with all the steps you thought of in order to reach your ultimate goal in a smooth way. But often times, an uncontrollable factor throws you off balance, your nice list gets blown to pieces, and you…
When facing the unknown. Nathalie’s Vlog #6
I know I know, I’m late! But nevertheless, thanks to online ordering and delivery, my dear laptop could charge and I could render the video! Today I’m talking about change. Big change, small change, fun change, not-so-fun change…it’s a major part of life and even though we might realize this…
Doing what you love for a living. Nathalie’s Vlog #5
If you are looking to make your profession out of your passion, then this vlog is for you. Here are 4 things that I have learned so far when making my job out of my greatest love: music. However, even if your interest is in an entirely different field, I…
Handling perfectionism. Nathalie’s Vlog #4
We’re used to the haircut and there were far less “uhms” but MAN, there were a lot of distractions too! In any case, here are some of the things I do to deal with my own perfectionism. A trait that sometimes is a blessing, but can also be majorly crippling.…
Self-discipline when laziness wants to take over. Nathalie’s Vlog #3
Okay, so I have to confess that my face is not used to the new haircut yet…and my hair made my nose itch almost continuously which was wildly distracting. I probably edited out 25+ “uhms” haha! Anyway, today we’re diving in a little deeper on self-discipline. These days it can…
How to believe in yourself. Nathalie’s Vlog #2
Number two is officially here! WHOOP! Time to get that chocolate out. Today I’m zooming in on one of the steps I mentioned in my previous vlog: how to train your brain into believing in yourself. As a performing artist, it can sometimes be nerve-wracking to walk on stage, especially…
How to face your fears and reach your dreams. Nathalie’s Vlog #1
I have been debating with myself on uploading videos like this for SO LONG… So what better subject to kick-off this new chapter than facing your fears and chasing your dreams. Take that, self-doubt! Today I’m sharing three things I do and/or try to maintain in order to reach my…
The Universal Connections of Music and Fulbright
In my never ending pursuit of becoming the best musician I can possibly be, Fulbright aided me in successfully taking my next step. In the last couple of months I have become friends with people from all over the world, including the US, Korea, New-Zealand, Japan, Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica,…
Netwerken in het buitenland
Netwerken en ondernemen, dat zijn de twee magische werkwoorden van onze huidige maatschappij. Deze twee principes zijn zo ingeburgerd in onze samenleving dat we het al van jongs af aan doen: we maken vrienden op onze eerste schooldag, of dat nu kleuterschool, lagere school, middelbaar of unief is. In onze…
You only live once: a reflection on my first semester at IU
Two years ago, I actively initiated a lifelong dream of studying in the US. Today, only a couple of days away from 2020, my first semester at Indiana University has successfully ended and I’m getting ready for the next semester. The full story on how I managed to get here,…
Comfortabel ver van huis in vier stappen
Het vooruitzicht om langere tijd in het buitenland te studeren of te verblijven, is niets minder dan opwindend. Een nieuw avontuur staat voor de deur, je zal zoveel nieuwe mensen leren kennen, zoveel dingen ontdekken, ervaringen opdoen en bijleren. Maar het kan ook heel intimiderend zijn. De stap zetten om…
Studeren in de Verenigde Staten: van droom naar werkelijkheid
Indien het je ambitie is om net als ik in de Verenigde Staten te studeren, ben ik ervan overtuigd dat dit artikel je kan helpen bij het waarmaken van je plannen. De beslissing nemen om deze droom na te jagen is de eerste grote stap, maar het is een lange…
Three Effective Ways to Find the Courage to Keep Going
Let’s say you’ve been working really, really hard on a project. In order to get it done, you’ve invested every spare second, you’ve saved every penny, you’ve learned a ton of new skills, you’ve relocated your comfort zone to a brand new area and you’re actually starting to like the…
My US Audition Adventure: fundraising result
THE FUNDRAISING EVENT – RESULT Exactly three weeks ago, I threw my very first fundraiser to help fund my studies in the USA. I must say I had no idea what to expect, how many people would make it, how much money this project would raise…I was only convinced it…
Per aspera, ad astra
Why love is the answer to everything If you’ve had the time to scroll through my website, you might have noticed I want to study at Jacobs School of Music as of August this year. It’s been quite an adventure so far, with loads of studying, preparing, writing, playing, gritting…
My US Audition adventure: the verdict (+exciting announcement!)
Welcome back to the series! I know it’s been a loooooooong time since I’ve promised to keep you guys posted. Truth is a lot of different events kept alternating the definite outcome of the audition process. That’s why I procrastinated writing this blogpost. But ever since the end of 2018,…
Five Personally Tested and Approved Tips to Overcome Stage Fright
Whether you’re a musician, an actor, a comedian, a motivational speaker or you find yourself about to go on stage for any other reason...you might have encountered this little unwanted creeper called stage fright. It has the ability to reduce your regular wit and intelligence levels below 0% and
My US Audition adventure: last stop – Bloomington
It took me a while to find the time to write this final blogpost on my auditions, so let me catch you up again. This journey starts in New Jersey after my audition at Manhattan School of Music, where I booked a hotel near Newark airport. ARRIVING AT BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA…
My US audition adventure: second stop – New York
In my previous two blog posts you can find an overview of my preparations for the auditions and the first experience I had in Boston. Today I invite you to go along the second part of my trip: New York. THE ARRIVAL I left Boston on a bright sunny day,…
My US audition adventure: first stop – Boston
In my previous post, I told you guys all about preparing for the auditions from scratch up until audition day. Today and in the next few posts, I will give you the details of my actual trip: my stay in each of the cities and the schools I auditioned in.…
Auditioning in the States: from TOEFL to audition day
In my very first blogpost, I mentioned my plans on auditioning in the States. 7 months have passed since then and I actually went auditioning in 3 of the 5 schools I applied to. I won’t have news until the end of the month, but in the meantime – for…
Hit it!
2018 started and I have to admit it was one of my rougher starts of a new year. Of course you hope for a smooth lay-out, but sometimes it’s just not your week and shit happens. I sincerely hope you guys had a splendid kickstart of these new 365 days,…
Room service!
It’s the holidays! Merry Chri-… No, wait, Christmas passed already. (It what now? H-how? When?) Then…ehrr…Happy New Ye-… No, still a little too early. (Oh, thank goodness!) I’m telling you, dear reader, I can’t keep up anymore. 2017 barely started and now we’re on the brink of 2018. Does every…
When the Magic Happens
If I think about the exact reason why I became a musician, I always conclude that goosebumps is the main motive. Personally, there are very few things in the world that can unlock this sensation in such a profound way as music. So…what triggers this feeling? Because even though it’s…
An Ode to Optimism: my first blog post
So here we are, circa the middle of August, during one of the longest vacations I will ever have in my life – if not the longest – when suddenly THE question I have been trying to avoid all summer kicks in: Now what? I’m graduated, as a classical pianist,…
Vlog #52 How I practice memory work with Ravel Sonatine mvt 1
Practicing a piece by heart requires a great deal of effort, but there are some handy tricks to make the task easier and more comfortable.For today’s vlog, I thought it would be nice to film an actual authentic practice session for you, where I am in the process of relearning…
Diary of a concert tour in Belgium. Nathalie’s Vlog #51
October was a whirlwind for many reasons, but one of the biggest was our concert tour in Belgium at the beginning of the month. Two different programs, two different venues, two different ensembles…to say it was intense and fun is an understatement.So here’s what we’re covering today: Hope you enjoy!…
Why vlogging can help you reach new levels of artistry and musicianship. Nathalie’s Vlog #50
Fifty vlogs! So many lessons learned (including to not try something new under time pressure, lol) and so many things to still discover.So far these three things have really helped me into becoming a better artist and musician, especially as a freelancer: Much love, Nathalie
Sneaky stress-builders during music practice – neighbors. Nathalie’s Vlog #49
Being an artist is a marvel and a privilege, but it does not come stress-free. Just like with any profession, a bit of healthy stress is of course fine…but it becomes problematic if it frequently establishes itself, in particular during your practice/creation time. This is the second vlog targeting these…
