Focus

Art can make the brain's wiring stronger, more flexible and ready to learn, say the authors of a new book, Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us.

Jason Max Ferdinand drew from the success of his acclaimed choir, the Aeolians, to create a guide that combines sound choral concepts with awareness for social justice issues.

On this episode of YourClassical Story, Candilee Jackson from Crystal City, Mo., shares how she turned to classical music to help her students focus and how they eventually became hooked.

Lonnie Dupre is a Minnesota legend who loves classical music. It keeps him focused, calm, centered, brave and empowered -- and you need every single one of those feelings if you're planning to travel across the North Pole in summer, or circumnavigate Greenland by kayak, or climb Denali all alone in the darkest time of year.

Whatever it is you need an escape from, help drown out the chaotic noise of the day with two hours of peaceful and meditative music by Max Richter, Nils Frahm, Johann Johannssson and more.

Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) is an instructor-led method of recognizing muscle tension and increasing body awareness. By providing relaxation and soothing tired muscles, PMR can be part of one's overall fitness plan. Hear more about PMR from fitness expert Nathan Bahr, and listen to some PMR sessions.

In a recent article, KQED/MindShift staff writer Katrina Schwartz investigates self-control strategies in children, with a focus on the research of psychology professor Walter Mischel. When Mischel was a professor at Stanford University in the late 60s/early 70s, he led a team or researchers who who studied delayed gratification in what became known as “The Stanford Marshmallow Experiment.” … Continue reading Strategies to help children develop self-control →

It's easy to get caught up in the stress of the work day. Here are some tips for catching your breath and renewing your focus on the job.

Taking time out for animals shouldn't feel like a guilty pleasure: it can actually help you get your job done.

If you're a writer with an unfinished "Grapes of Wrath" in hiding, let Daniel Johnson help you make the most of your writing time by offering some musical suggestions to get help set the mood.