Dr Rob Szymanek, PhD
Performance Coaching for Musicians
Supporting Your Journey in Music
I am a Performance Coach for Musicians. I help players, singers, composers and producers of all styles with a broad range of issues and goals, including:
— mental preparation for auditions, concerts, and recordings
— managing performance anxiety
— building confidence and self-belief
— improving technical control and performance satisfaction
— deepening self-expression and unlocking creativity
— recovering after setbacks
— managing pressure, perfectionism, stress and burnout
— maintaining physical and emotional wellbeing
— improving focus, enjoyment, and motivation
— balancing work and life goals
— career planning and professional development
The breadth of my work stems from my experience, with over twenty years as a performer, composer, and educator at universities and conservatoires. I also have extensive and ongoing training as a coach and in psychological approaches. I receive regular supervision, and collaborate with psychologists, therapists, and other coaches on my work.
I know that working in music can be highly rewarding. It also know it can be challenging, mentally, physically, and emotionally. My passion is to support for musicians in these respects, helping to strengthen inner resources, improve confidence and wellbeing, and apply practical tools that can bring more flow and satisfaction to music-making.
I am based in central London, UK, and offer one-to-one coaching online via Zoom. I work with musicians internationally, with current clients based in the UK and Europe.
I offer complimentary 40-minute consultations for new clients and a range of coaching packages to suit individual finances.
"Thank you so much! You've helped me so much, I don't think I would have ever had the confidence to play without it." - Amy
"You have restored my faith and love in music. You have truly been an inspiration and a role model. I really valued the freedom you gave me in encouraging me to experiment, and you have shown me how to combine music and well-being." - Ryan
"Thank you so much for everything you have done for me! You have taught me so much that I will remember forever!" - Caitlin
Deeper, Longer-Lasting Change
My approach is called Schema Coaching for Musicians.
Schema Coaching is a powerful approach that helps people in a number of ways. It can enable greater insight into our challenges. It can help understand and navigate our internal world of thoughts and emotions and the relationships between mind and body. It can help strengthen our inner resources, so our goals are more attainable. It also brings a range of psychological tools and approaches that foster more wellbeing, confidence, and creative freedom.
Schema Coaching is derived from Schema Therapy. However, it is distinct and separate from therapy. It is not about resolving past traumas, but about understanding your experience in the here and now and supporting you towards your goals.
Since 2020, I have worked extensively with psychologists, researchers, therapists, and coaches to translate the original model to coaching and teaching contexts. I am Chair of the Schema Coaching SIG within the International Society of Schema Therapists (ISST).
I have developed my approach specifically for musicians, and apply it daily to my own performing, composing, teaching, and broader relationships. It has significantly changed the way I make music for the better. I have seen similar positive changes in the many musicians I've worked with. It is what clients regularly report back to me:
— improved wellbeing
— greater clarity of mind
— more expressive and creative freedom and enjoyment
— improved technical command and performance satisfaction
I am very happy to see and hear about these changes. I believe in this approach and enjoying sharing, exploring, and adapting it with the people I work with. It is very much my passion because I see that it is helpful — from the inside-out.
Coaching in Practice
My coaching sessions are tailored to your goals. We can work directly with the music you're preparing, learning, composing or performing, combining coaching conversations with practical music-making.
Together we can explore what's useful to you and develop a toolkit of practical, embodied approaches that can become part of your playing, singing or composing.
Depending on your needs, this might include work with:
• breathing, posture and movement to reduce unhelpful tension
• positive imagery and free association to deepen expression
• developing a more constructive inner dialogue
• attention training to improve focus under pressure
Rather than just learning techniques separately, we can integrate them into music itself, so they become natural parts of your music-making.
My Experience and Commitment
I aim to bring a high level of commitment, professionalism and expertise to all my work. This includes insights from continuous professional development and ongoing training.
I trained in the Schema Model in 2022 through Schema Therapy Associates, working from the outset to adapt the approaches to coaching contexts. I continue to regularly consult and collaborate with psychologists to develop Schema Coaching concepts and approaches further. I am currently working towards EMCC Accreditation as a Practitioner Coach and receive regular Schema Coaching Supervision.
I give presentations and webinars on the approach, including recently for the Independent Society of Musicians (ISM). I have spoken about the approach on podcasts, and have also been invited to present at the ISST INSPIRE 2026 Conference in Thessaloniki, Greece.
I am Chair of the Schema Coaching Special Interest Group within the International Society of Schema Therapists (ISST), and part of a community of coaches and psychologists bringing the benefits of this model to coaching contexts.
Fees
I offer a 40-minute complimentary consultation.
Individual coaching sessions start from £90.
Discounted session packages and a limited number of supported-fee places are available for students and musicians on lower incomes.