Same Brain, Different Stage

April 2026 | by Alyssa Sonnier

When your kids are getting ready to play a flag-football game, the coach often brings them in for a pep-talk. They do some drills, some stretching, deep breathing, crank up the music, or maybe even sit in silence. The coach is prepping their bodies and minds to go out on the field and give it all they've got.

Performance is performance. The similarities between sports performance and music performance are striking. Starting with a pre-performance routine that can look startlingly similar at a sporting event or a music recital. Instead of leg stretches, it's gentle finger stretches. Instead of rehearsing plays in their mind, it's measures of music. And while they are doing some deep breathing, they're envisioning a successful performance, wiggling fingers or tapping toes to the song in their head.

So whether it's music or sports, pre-performance routines aren't just routine. They are actively developed and practiced so that students can bring their very best to the field or the stage. In doing so, students build self-regulation, focus, and confidence. These are real skills that transfer anywhere that life takes them.

That's why we ask parents to take notice and actively support this process. Give them space and silence to do their routine before they perform. Better yet, learn it alongside them. You might be surprised what it does for your own nerves too.