October 2026. Kristine Whitson “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” -Jesus, in Luke 10:18 I spent the summer of my junior year of college at music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California. I was scheduled to play in a masterclass (a public performance plus a lesson, rolled into one) taught by a well-known professor from the Eastman School of Music. Music Academy masterclasses

September 2026. “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” Luke 10:18 Anxiety got its hooks in me early on, as a young violinist. Music became linked with worry: worry about failing, of not measuring up. My childhood household ran on perpetual high alert. For Mom, who was naturally anxious, everything was A REALLY BIG DEAL. Life was a fire drill. We were always in a hurry, and impending do

August 2026. “We demolish arguments and every pretension that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ…” 2 Corinthians 10:5 I was in Salzburg, Austria for another Philharmonic tour. Mozart’s birthplace. You could almost smell the rich musical tradition…and taste it too, in their famous Salzburger Mozartkugel chocolate. The Grosses Festpielhaus was sold out, wall to wall people, and stifling hot. The secon

July 2026. “Come ON, Kristine! We don’t have time for this! It’s not that hard!” our exasperated mom barked from the piano bench, frustration boiling over. I was about 8 at the time, and had been playing violin for 4 years. My sisters and I were rehearsing for a concert, with Mom accompanying us at the piano. It wasn’t going great. Everyone was on their last nerve, and I wanted to throw my violin out the window. We had train wrecked mid-phrase in the Rosenmueller, because I h

June 2026. Just a brief announcement before we talk about this month's topic; I've moved my monthly newsletter to Substack. You will still receive emails as usual, and you can always unsubscribe at any time. Anxiety is a hot topic in my coaching practice, and it’s played a big part in my own back story. In my early years with the LA Philharmonic, I struggled regularly with panic attacks and performance anxiety. I even had a revolving playlist of anxiety dreams. The recurring