Photo by Domenico Loia on Unsplash
It’s back-to-school season – and a perfect time for a Fall Reset! Whether you’re a student, professional, parent, or lifelong learner, this episode is for all ages. Sara Sherman shares 3 practical tips to harness the power of music to build positive habits and strengthen executive function skills – while also developing connections and nurturing personal growth.
Guest
Sara Sherman is joining me today from NYC. Sara is a classical musician and educator whose work has been featured in media including NBC, The New York Times, and Psychology Today. She co-authored this year’s book “Resonant Minds: The Transformative Power of Music, One Note at a Time.” The book explores the profound impact that the purposeful use of music can have on focus and cognitive, emotional, and social experiences.
Notes
We discuss:
- Practical tips for working music into our productivity toolkit so we can hit the ground running as we launch into this fall season.
- These insights are for anyone of any age interested in how to use music intentionally to transform focus, personal growth, and emotional well-being.
- What are Executive Functioning Skills and why are they so important?
- How Sara defines Mindfulness and why it differs from common perceptions.
- Why music? How is music uniquely equipped to help us develop Mindfulness, Focus, and Resilience?
- Sara shares 3 practical ways to integrate music into our daily life this fall to enhance focus, productivity, and emotional well-being, whether in the classroom, at work, or at home.
- Some of Mindy’s favorite quotes from Sara’s book:
- “Resonance is not just a musical term; it’s a way of life. How we treat ourselves, how we interact with others, and how music vibrates through every part of our lives—that’s resonance . . . musical, personal, and interpersonal resonance. Pulse, timbre, vibrations synchronized. Life.”
- “Today will be legato— a day where each action will flow purposefully and smoothly into the next. Much like a symphony, life has its own sections—some fast and intense, others slow and reflective. With practice we can learn to transition smoothly, using our executive function skills to connect the dots.”
Connect/Other Resources
- Sara’s website: https://www.saraleilasherman.com/
- Sara’s work with Mozart For Munchkins provides interactive family concert experiences for the whole family.
- Sara’s work with Little Mozart Foundation brings the joy of music to children and families in underserved neighborhoods through educational and interactive concerts performed by professional musicians.
- Sara co-authored the book Resonant Minds: The Transformative Power of Music, One Note at a Time with her father, Morton Sherman, PhD. Learn more at Resonant Minds.
Other episodes we mentioned or that you may enjoy:
- Ep. 152: Helping children identify, express, and regulate emotions with music; with Stephanie Leavell, MT-BC
- Ep. 182: Unlocking the Power of Purposeful Playlists; with Jennifer Buchanan, MBA, MTA
- Ep. 162: Unlocking productivity with the power of music; with Erik Fisher, Host of Beyond The To-Do List Podcast
- Ep. 203: Functional Music – Music powered by science for improved sleep, focus, or relaxation on demand; with Kevin JP Woods, PhD
- View all episodes related to Education & Community
In-Episode Promo
JAMBAR: Staying balanced in life is very important to me – balance in work and play, activity and rest, and balance in fueling my energy. When I am on the go – or just find my cupboards running a little bare – the fuel I reach for is JAMBAR energy bars. These bars are Certified Organic whole food bars; they’re non-GMO and gluten-free. I especially love that they are higher in protein than the other all-natural bars I’ve found, and they’re minimally sweetened with only all-natural sweeteners. While I love all five flavors, my personal favorites are Musical Mango and Tropical Trio. JAMBAR flavor names reflect the company founder’s passion for music, and JAMBAR donates a whopping fifty percent of net profits to programs that support music and active living. Join me in supporting a balanced life and world by reaching for JAMBARs. Available at Amazon, select retailers, and jambar.com. (Learn more in Ep. 160.)
Coda
Sara discusses the power of music and shining eyes in all communities of students.
Closing Words
Thank you so much to Sara for joining us today and for all she does to enhance lives with music through her work and book Resonant Minds: The Transformative Power of Music, One Note at a Time. This book was co-authored with her father, Dr. Morton Sherman!
You can always connect with me on email (mindy@mpetersonmusic.com), Facebook, Instagram, X, or LinkedIn.
Thank you so much for joining me today. Until next time, may your life be enhanced with music.
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