about dave laughlin & this substack
I am an applied practitioner of motor learning, which means I help people learn to perform movement-related activities. I also help coaches design better practice conditions and help organizations better support the learning and performance of their athletes.
This substack is a place to explore creative approaches to performer preparation, with a special interest in the overlap of music and sport. In my work with athletes, I have seen how athletes use music to enhance performance and connect meaning to their sport participation. The evidence for music as a performance enhancer is substantial, but it is an under-utilized intervention (imo). I started chordinnate in 2023 as an effort to specifically help athletes use music to enhance their sport experience. This substack is a place to (hopefully) help any performer learn to prepare more creatively, move more effectively, and enjoy their experiences more thoroughly.
more about my background
Since 2016, I have worked as a consultant for Courtex Performance, a mental performance company. In my role with Courtex, I have worked with athletes and coaches in the MLB, NBA, OLY, Euroleague, and NCAA. With Courtex, I focus on athlete profiling, mental skills training, and practice design to improve learning and performance. I have helped several NBA organizations (e.g., Milwaukee Bucks, Utah Jazz, Miami Heat, Philadelphia Seventy-Sixers) with pre-draft athlete evaluation, and have also provided profiling support to Under Armour for its sponsored athletes.
From 2012 until 2021, I was a university professor. I taught courses in Sport Psychology, Motor Learning, and Evidence-informed Practice in Exercise Science. I left my university role in 2021 to devote my focus fully to helping athletes and coaches get more out of their practice and performances. I was increasingly feeling like I was working at Initech within the university system and wanted to get back to doing what made me love the field in the first place.
I have PhD in Kinesiology with a concentration in Sport Psychology and Motor Behavior from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. My research focused on how performers could learn to manage practice so that they could be at their best under pressure.
Prior to my work within the field of mental performance, I played college baseball at William Jewell College (Liberty, Missouri) and coached baseball at the youth, high school, and collegiate levels.
I live with my spouse, child, and pets in central new york state. This site is entirely my own work. There are no robots involved as I refuse to train my replacements! The newsletter will always be free. Glad to have you and reach out anytime!
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