PercussionMind

Mike Cerreto, Sports and Performing Arts Psychologist

PercussionMind is a research-based project collaboration with Virginia-based Sports Psychologist Mike Cerreto. A chance meeting at a JMU Graduation celebration resulted in conversations about the need for insight and self-care in the Performing Arts, and the potential of using tools that already exist to make that happen.

Mike already works with musicians through his partnership with the Richmond Symphony, and runs the state's most recognized Sports Psychology program at his practice: A Talented Mind Clinic.

What is PercussionMind?

By utilizing a psychological tool known as TAIS, PercussionMind categorized the mental performance habits from 28 of today's top percussionists in the field among four career categories: Soloists, Orchestral Players, Teachers, and Diversifiers.

TAIS, or (The Attentional Interpersonal Style Inventory), measures 20 traits. Data from our top professionals was compounded and analyzed for each career category, giving us a strong idea of correlation between mental performance trends and each career path. We make that data anonymously available for comparison of one's own TAIS results to a professional already in the field.

Some professionals include Casey Cangelosi, She-e Wu, Cynthia Yeh, Pius Cheung, and Dame Evelyn Glennie.

Interact with PercussionMind

This project created a new resource for today's upcoming professionals and their educators. With a database of categorical trends, we designed an interface where anyone can take the assessment and compare themselves against one of the four categories. The comparison provides insight into a person's mental style - how the mind prefers to operate - and how it relates to a possible career path. A feedback session with Mike and I explains the results and provides potential strategies to improve mental performance.

Learn more at percussionmind.org

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