Professional violinist Vijay Gupta grew up performing on the world’s biggest stages in order to fulfill his parents' dreams for him. But the pressure to play perfectly became too much, and over time he lost his love of the violin.

Then Vijay started performing in homeless shelters and mental health clinics, where audiences wanted something very different from him: not perfection, but connection. 

This week, Vijay joins Maya to share how those experiences rekindled his passion for music, and gave him the courage to walk away from his parents’ dreams towards his own.

Check out Vijay’s new book, “Restrung: A Memoir of Music and Transformation,” and learn more about his work with Street Symphony at StreetSymphony.org.

For Fun: Watch young violinists Vijay and Maya on PBS’s Reading Rainbow in 1996, “Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin.”

For more episodes like this, we recommend our conversation with Shira Gabriel, “Why Experiencing Awe With Others Feels So Magical.”

Professional violinist Vijay Gupta grew up performing on the world&rsquo;s biggest stages in order to fulfill his parents' dreams for him. But the pressure to play perfectly became too much, and over time he lost his love of the violin.
Then Vijay started performing in homeless shelters and mental health clinics, where audiences wanted something very different from him: not perfection, but connection.&nbsp;
This week, Vijay joins Maya to share how those experiences rekindled his passion for music, and gave him the courage to walk away from his parents&rsquo; dreams towards his own.
Check out Vijay&rsquo;s new book, &ldquo;<a href="https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/vijay-gupta/restrung/9780306835988/" data-airgap-id="11">Restrung: A Memoir of Music and Transformation</a>,&rdquo; and learn more about his work with Street Symphony at <a href="http://streetsymphony.org/" data-airgap-id="12">StreetSymphony.org</a>.
For Fun: Watch young violinists Vijay and Maya on PBS&rsquo;s Reading Rainbow in 1996, &ldquo;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iTor9-2WVI" data-airgap-id="13">Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin</a>.&rdquo;
For more episodes like this, we recommend our conversation with Shira Gabriel, &ldquo;<a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/a-slight-change-of-plans/why-experiencing-awe-with-others-feels-so-magical" data-airgap-id="14">Why Experiencing Awe With Others Feels So Magical</a>.&rdquo;

What happens when life doesn’t go according to plan? In this award-winning podcast, cognitive scientist Dr. Maya Shankar explores how we experience change and strategies we can use to better navigate moments of upheaval.

Maya’s life took a dramatic turn when an injury ended her career as a violinist and inspired her to study the science of change.

Named Apple Podcasts’ Best Show of the Year, A Slight Change of Plans features deeply personal stories and scientific insights about who we are and who we become in the face of a big change.

Past guests include Kacey Musgraves, Brené Brown, Ruby Bridges, Amanda Knox, Adam Grant, Angela Duckworth and more.

Whether it’s a sudden pivot or a slow transformation, each episode reveals how change can give us an opportunity to reimagine who we are and unlock greater possibility.

You can follow Maya on instagram @DrMayaShankar and read her free newsletter at changewithmaya.com.

 

Get early, ad-free access to episodes of A Slight Change of Plans by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or Pushkin.fm. Pushkin+ subscribers can access ad-free episodes, full audiobooks exclusive binges, and bonus content for all Pushkin shows. 

Subscribe on Apple: apple.co/pushkin
Subscribe on Pushkin: pushkin.fm/plus

What happens when life doesn&rsquo;t go according to plan? In this award-winning podcast, cognitive scientist Dr. Maya Shankar explores how we experience change and strategies we can use to better navigate moments of upheaval.
Maya&rsquo;s life took a dramatic turn when an injury ended her career as a violinist and inspired her to study the science of change.
Named Apple Podcasts&rsquo; Best Show of the Year, A Slight Change of Plans features deeply personal stories and scientific insights about who we are and who we become in the face of a big change.
Past guests include Kacey Musgraves, Bren&eacute; Brown, Ruby Bridges, Amanda Knox, Adam Grant, Angela Duckworth and more.
Whether it&rsquo;s a sudden pivot or a slow transformation, each episode reveals how change can give us an opportunity to reimagine who we are and unlock greater possibility.
You can follow Maya on instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/drmayashankar/?hl=en">@DrMayaShankar</a> and read her free newsletter at&nbsp;<a href="http://changewithmaya.com/" data-stringify-link="http://changewithmaya.com" data-sk="tooltip_parent">changewithmaya.com</a>.
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Get early, ad-free access to episodes of A Slight Change of Plans by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/join-pushkin">Pushkin.fm</a>. Pushkin+ subscribers can access ad-free episodes, full audiobooks exclusive binges, and bonus content for all Pushkin shows.&nbsp;
Subscribe on Apple: <a href="http://apple.co/pushkin">apple.co/pushkin</a> Subscribe on Pushkin:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/join-pushkin">pushkin.fm/plus</a>

A Slight Change of Plans

Leaving the Life You Trained For

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