{"id":74,"date":"2026-07-15T19:23:03","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T19:23:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/riseupeight.com\/perform-with-confidence\/about\/"},"modified":"2026-08-16T18:39:05","modified_gmt":"2026-08-16T18:39:05","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/riseupeight.com\/perform-with-confidence\/about\/","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dr. David Lee Fish, Ph.D.<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Creator of Perform with Confidence<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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I earned my authority on performance anxiety the hard way, through years of nerves sabotaging performances, lectures, and other high-stakes moments.

My turning point came from Zen-rooted wisdom learned as a student of the same Korean master who taught Jon Kabat-Zinn, the pioneer who brought mindfulness into the mainstream. 


Drawing on this tradition and my professional work with performers, speakers, and athletes, I developed a simple, powerful method to help people shift from spiraling nerves to grounded presence whenever they speak, perform, or compete in front of others.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Just Some of the Podcasts Dr. Fish Has Appeared on Recently<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Unlikely Path to Performance Anxiety Authority<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Here's my story in two parts: a biographical sketch and a reflection on my journey with stage and speech fright, which led to the development of a mindful solution for performance anxiety (stage fright, speech fright, and competition anxiety).<\/em><\/p>\n

Biographical Sketch<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I grew up in Tucson, Arizona, and began playing saxophone in 5th grade, quickly developing a passion for music. This led me to Western Michigan University<\/strong>, where I studied saxophone and performed alongside legendary artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Little Richard, and the Temptations<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

A turning point came when I saw Harry Chapin<\/strong> in concert, inspiring me to pursue singer-songwriter dreams<\/strong> in the San Francisco Bay Area. While there, I also explored Zen Buddhism<\/strong> at the Empty Gate Zen Center<\/strong>, studying under Korean Master Seung Sahn<\/strong>, an experience that profoundly shaped my approach to life.<\/p>\n

When my music career didn’t take off as planned, I returned to school and earned a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology from the University of Michigan<\/strong>. My studies took me to Japan<\/strong>, where I performed traditional festival music on the bamboo flute <\/strong>with my teacher, Wakayama Taneo.<\/p>\n

I later founded a popular music program<\/strong> at Catawba College<\/strong> in North Carolina, where I spent years teaching and frequently speaking in public. One of my proudest accomplishments was co-founding the Association for Popular Music Education<\/strong>, which continues to shape music education today.<\/p>\n

I’ve remained active as a performer, releasing the folk-rock album The Last Troubadour<\/em><\/strong> through Renaissance Records, produced by David Kershenbaum<\/strong> and featuring Leland Sklar<\/strong> on bass.<\/p>\n

Now in Durham, North Carolina<\/strong>, I'm the principal of College Music Major<\/strong>, a consultancy that helps music students gain admission to college. However, my primary focus is the program I developed to help others tame their performance anxiety, a journey I’ve lived firsthand.<\/p>\n

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Performance Anxiety and Me<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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My struggle with performance anxiety<\/strong> began in elementary school<\/strong>, when I stumbled over my words while reading aloud. Later, in Little League<\/strong>, I crushed batting practice but froze in actual games. As a teen saxophonist<\/strong>, I experienced the same paralysis while backing Sonny and Cher<\/strong>, despite performing well in rehearsals.<\/p>\n

Even in college<\/strong>, stage fright followed me, yet my music teachers offered no real solution beyond \"just push through.\" It wasn’t until I joined the Empty Gate Zen Center<\/strong> that I discovered a way forward. Seung Sahn’s teachings on detachment<\/strong> helped me realize that I didn’t need to fight my anxiety. I just had to let go of it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Years later, while trying co-author a book with a therapist, I described my Zen-based approach<\/strong> to handling stage fright. She immediately recognized it as mindfulness<\/strong>, a psychological practice gaining mainstream attention. She lent me a book by Jon Kabat-Zinn<\/strong>, and to my shock, I discovered that he, too, had studied under Seung Sahn<\/strong>, meaning our methods stemmed from the same source.<\/p>\n

This realization led me to formalize my approach into the 5-Day Solution<\/strong>, which I first shared with Catawba College students<\/strong> and later expanded to faculty and non-musicians. Over time, I refined the method, adapting it for speakers, performers, and professionals<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

When I released the 5-Day Solution book<\/strong>, the response was overwhelmingly positive. Readers found it life-changing<\/strong>, helping them manage performance anxiety<\/strong> and find confidence on stage<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Now, after pandemic-related delays, I’m launching an online course to ensure<\/strong> this method can reach and help even more people<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

If performance anxiety holds you back, I’m here to tell you. There’s a way beyond it.<\/p>\n

I’ve lived it, I’ve studied it, and I can help you move past it, too.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>


\n\ud83c\udf8a Achievements \n& \ud83d\ude1f Challenges<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Red-Faced Embarrassment<\/strong>
My first experience with speech anxiety was stumbling over words while reading aloud in elementary school.<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Little League Strikeout King<\/strong>
Knocked the ball out of the park in practice. Wiffed every single time at bat in games.<\/td><\/tr>
Gonna Work the Saxophone<\/strong>
Took to the instrument like a \"duck to plum sauce.\" Performed with Ella Fitzgerald, Little Richard, and more.<\/td><\/tr>
Big Stage, Bigger Stage Fright<\/strong>
First \"big gig\" caused me to freeze on stage while backing Sonny and Cher at a local show.<\/td><\/tr>
California Here I Come<\/strong>
Moved to the Bay Area after graduation from college to pursue my singer-songwriter dreams.<\/td><\/tr>
\"Only Go Straight\"<\/strong>
Learned the power of detachment studying Zen under Korean master Seung Sahn.<\/td><\/tr>
Japan<\/strong>
Studied Japanese festival music and dance for two years in Tokyo under the leader of trouped honored as an Important Cultural Asset by Japanese government.<\/td><\/tr>
Becoming Dr. Fish<\/strong>
Earned Ph.D. under William Malm in ethnomusicology from the University of Michigan.<\/td><\/tr>
Catawba College<\/strong>
Founded a thriving program for students of popular music in North Carolina.<\/td><\/tr>
APME<\/strong>
Played central role in founding the Association for Popular Music Education, a leading professional organization.<\/td><\/tr>
Last Troubadour<\/strong>
Renaissance Records releases my album of original folk-rock songs produced by David Kershenbaum.<\/td><\/tr>

Performance Anxiety Solution<\/strong>
Developed a successful approach for taming performance anxiety based on mindful detachment.

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Performance Anxiety and Me<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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My struggle with performance anxiety<\/strong> began in elementary school<\/strong>, when I stumbled over my words while reading aloud. Later, in Little League<\/strong>, I crushed batting practice but froze in actual games. As a teen saxophonist<\/strong>, I experienced the same paralysis while backing Sonny and Cher<\/strong>, despite performing well in rehearsals.<\/p>\n

Even in college<\/strong>, stage fright followed me, yet my music teachers offered no real solution beyond \"just push through.\" It wasn’t until I joined the Empty Gate Zen Center<\/strong> that I discovered a way forward. Seung Sahn’s teachings on detachment<\/strong> helped me realize that I didn’t need to fight my anxiety. I just had to let go of it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Years later, while trying co-author a book with a therapist, I described my Zen-based approach<\/strong> to handling stage fright. She immediately recognized it as mindfulness<\/strong>, a psychological practice gaining mainstream attention. She lent me a book by Jon Kabat-Zinn<\/strong>, and to my shock, I discovered that he, too, had studied under Seung Sahn<\/strong>, meaning our methods stemmed from the same source.<\/p>\n

This realization led me to formalize my approach into the 5-Day Solution<\/strong>, which I first shared with Catawba College students<\/strong> and later expanded to faculty and non-musicians. Over time, I refined the method, adapting it for speakers, performers, and professionals<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

When I released the 5-Day Solution book<\/strong>, the response was overwhelmingly positive. Readers found it life-changing<\/strong>, helping them manage performance anxiety<\/strong> and find confidence on stage<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Now, after pandemic-related delays, I’m launching an online course to ensure<\/strong> this method can reach and help even more people<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

If performance anxiety holds you back, I’m here to tell you. There’s a way beyond it.<\/p>\n

I’ve lived it, I’ve studied it, and I can help you move past it, too.<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>