Mumbai, India: “Confidence does not suddenly show up when you turn 18 or 25. It grows only when you practise being brave,” said Dr Chaerin Kim, global composer, conductor and Grammy Awards Voting Member, as she addressed students at SVKM’s NMIMS School of Performing Arts during a special guest lecture and workshop.
A Global Perspective on Confidence and Performance
Dr Kim, who teaches at the University of Massachusetts Boston and is an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music, London, spoke to students about the emotional, physical and mental layers of becoming a performer. Blending humour with lived experience, she recalled the early years of her career when she believed confidence would magically appear with age, only to realise it must be built through daily practice and honest self reflection.
Guiding Students Through Practice, Anxiety and Artistic Well-Being
The session focused on helping students understand performance anxiety and develop a healthier relationship with their craft. Reflecting on the true purpose of practice, she remarked, “The goal of practice is not instant perfection. It is repetition. You are teaching your body a language through daily choices.” Students resonated with her clarity and relatable storytelling, noting how her anecdotes made them feel understood rather than judged.
Addressing burnout among young artists, Dr Kim emphasised that discipline also means knowing when to pause. “Real courage is also knowing when to rest. Your mind needs space to grow. Your body needs room to recover. You are not a machine. You are an artist,” she shared, encouraging students to embrace rest as an essential part of their artistic journey.
Dr Vikas Bharadwaj, Dean, School of Performing Arts, SVKM’s NMIMS, appreciated Dr Kim’s expertise and the depth of artistic insight she brought to the students, noting that her practical and mindful approach enriched the school’s learning environment.
