In this podcast episode, Brent addresses a question from David Garcia about his biggest challenge in jazz. Brent candidly discusses the significant obstacle he faced throughout his jazz journey—the fear of sounding bad. He emphasizes how this fear, rooted in concerns about ego and judgment, can impede progress, hinder creativity, and diminish the joy of playing music. Brent shares his personal experience of gradually overcoming this challenge by adopting a growth mindset, embracing mistakes, and focusing on the joy of the musical journey. He highlights the importance of mindset in jazz and suggests that at least 50% of playing music is about cultivating a positive and growth-oriented mindset. Brent concludes by encouraging musicians to equally prioritize their mental well-being alongside technical proficiency in their musical endeavors.Important Links:Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLJS Inner Circle MembershipListen to the Learn Jazz Standards PodcastLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month! Want to get your jazz question answered on the podcast? Click here.