The Mind Over Finger Podcast

https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfinger

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme: Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

183 Three Mistakes You Make & How to Solve Them

24 november 2023 | 23 min

182 Njioma Grievous: Backstage Pass

17 november 2023 | 23 min

181 Sam Reti: The Future of Music Education

10 november 2023 | 57 min

180 Overcome Overwhelm

27 oktober 2023 | 13 min

179 David Cooper: Passion, Purpose, and Dedication in Music as a Performer – Backstage Pass Series

20 oktober 2023 | 32 min

178 The Cost of Scarcity

13 oktober 2023 | 36 min

177 Kristin Leitterman: Answers from Within

29 september 2023 | 46 min

176 Shedding Limiting Beliefs

22 september 2023 | 16 min

175 Esteban Batallán on Auditioning, Performing, and Passion – Backstage Pass Series

15 september 2023 | 28 min

174 Mind Over Finger with Drs. Renée-Paule Gauthier & Heidi Kay Begay

8 september 2023 | 57 min

173 Stewart Goodyear: Sound World

26 maj 2023 | 43 min

172 Inner Mastery

19 maj 2023 | 22 min

In this episode, we finish our journey on the topic of mastery and we take a dive into the transformative power of presence, introspection, and self-exploration!

Join me as I:

⭐ Discuss the significance of inner mastery for classical musicians ⭐ Explore the importance of looking inward, nurturing self-exploration, and cultivating presence in practice, in performance, and in life ⭐ Share techniques for nurturing presence, introspection, and self-exploration

Enrollment for the Music Mastery Experience, the most comprehensive, life-changing, highly personalized group coaching program for musicians is now open!

In the, Music Mastery Experience we cover everything from practice methods that work, to performance preparation strategies that have you perform with confidence, and mind management techniques that will remove all the obstacles and self-limiting beliefs that hold you back.

BUT: you will go beyond just strategies and methods. You will get to the root cause of issues and unlock everything that’s keeping you stuck. You will experience amazing results at every level of your music-making and of your life.

If you’re ready to make big dreams, plans, and more happen in your musical life, book a call today at MindOverFinger.com and let’s make it happen.

Join my mailing list HERE and become a Mind Over Finger VIP member!

As a VIP member, you will you receive my free guide to a highly productive practice, a transcript of each new podcast episode delivered to your inbox every week, and all the insider information about my coaching programs, including VIP prices on most of them. March bonus: get 10$ off the Performance Anxiety Solution when you join the mailing list HERE!

Do you have specific questions for me or my guests you would like answered on the podcast? Share them with me HERE!

Mind Over Finger

Visit MindOverFinger.com for resources on mindful practice and information on how to work with me.

Sign up for my newsletter to receive your free guide to a highly productive mindful practice and to get the transcripts of the Mind Over Finger Podcast episodes delivered to your inbox.

Join the Join the Mind Over Finger Community for access to my live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians.

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme: Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

171 Mastery Pitfalls

12 maj 2023 | 20 min

In this episode, we explore the common pitfalls that can arise on the path to mastery.

From conflicting ways of life to obsessive goal orientation, over competitiveness, injuries, and more, we discuss how to recognize and overcome these challenges on the road to success.

EXCITING NEWS! ®®®

Enrollment for the Music Mastery Experience, the most comprehensive, life-changing, highly personalized group coaching program for musicians is now open!

In the, Music Mastery Experience we cover everything from practice methods that work, to performance preparation strategies that have you perform with confidence, and mind management techniques that will remove all the obstacles and self-limiting beliefs that hold you back.

BUT: you will go beyond just strategies and methods. You will get to the root cause of issues and unlock everything that’s keeping you stuck. You will experience amazing results at every level of your music-making and of your life.

If you’re ready to make big dreams, plans, and more happen in your musical life, book a call today at MindOverFinger.com and let’s make it happen.

Join my mailing list HERE and become a Mind Over Finger VIP member!

As a VIP member, you will you receive my free guide to a highly productive practice, a transcript of each new podcast episode delivered to your inbox every week, and all the insider information about my coaching programs, including VIP prices on most of them. March bonus: get 10$ off the Performance Anxiety Solution when you join the mailing list HERE!

Do you have specific questions for me or my guests you would like answered on the podcast? Share them with me HERE!

Mind Over Finger

Visit MindOverFinger.com for resources on mindful practice and information on how to work with me.

Sign up for my newsletter to receive your free guide to a highly productive mindful practice and to get the transcripts of the Mind Over Finger Podcast episodes delivered to your inbox.

Join the Join the Mind Over Finger Community for access to my live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians.

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme: Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

170 Energy: Charged Up for Success

5 maj 2023 | 22 min

170 - Energy: Charged Up for Success

In this episode, we discuss how nurturing our leads to greater productivity and success.

Enrollment for the Music Mastery Experience, the most comprehensive, life-changing, highly personalized group coaching program for musicians is now open!

In the, Music Mastery Experience we cover everything from practice methods that work, to performance preparation strategies that have you perform with confidence, and mind management techniques that will remove all the obstacles and self-limiting beliefs that hold you back.

BUT: you will go beyond just strategies and methods. You will get to the root cause of issues and unlock everything that’s keeping you stuck. You will experience amazing results at every level of your music-making and of your life.

If you’re ready to make big dreams, plans, and more happen in your musical life, book a call today at MindOverFinger.com and let’s make it happen.

Join my mailing list HERE and become a Mind Over Finger VIP member!

As a VIP member, you will you receive my free guide to a highly productive practice, a transcript of each new podcast episode delivered to your inbox every week, and all the insider information about my coaching programs, including VIP prices on most of them. March bonus: get 10$ off the Performance Anxiety Solution when you join the mailing list HERE!

Do you have specific questions for me or my guests you would like answered on the podcast? Share them with me HERE!

Mind Over Finger

Visit MindOverFinger.com for resources on mindful practice and information on how to work with me.

Sign up for my newsletter to receive your free guide to a highly productive mindful practice and to get the transcripts of the Mind Over Finger Podcast episodes delivered to your inbox.

Join the Join the Mind Over Finger Community for access to my live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians.

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme: Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

169 Susanna Klein – Empowered Music Making

28 april 2023 | 70 min

In this episode, I bring you violinist, pedagogue, tech entrepreneur, practice researcher, and author Susanna Klein.

We covered many topics, including performance training, empowerment, a mindful approach to practicing and making music, as well as her work and research in the field.

Join my mailing list HERE and become a Mind Over Finger VIP member!

MORE ABOUT Susanna Klein

· Website: https://www.susannaklein.com/
· YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/PracticeBlitz
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/practizma
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/practizma/
· Practizma: https://www.practizma.com/

And, if you’re on a personal journey to greater mastery, to growing your career, to win that job, I HAVE GREAT NEWS FOR YOU!

🎉 🎉 Enrollment for the Music Mastery Experience, the most comprehensive, life-changing, highly personalized group coaching program for musicians is now open! 🎉 🎉

⚡In the, Music Mastery Experience we cover everything from practice methods that work, to performance preparation strategies that have you perform with confidence, and mind management techniques that will remove all the obstacles and self-limiting beliefs that hold you back. ⚡

BUT: you will go beyond just strategies and methods. ⚡You will get to the root cause of issues and unlock everything that’s keeping you stuck.

You will experience amazing results at every level of your music-making and of your life.

⚡ If you’re ready to make big dreams, plans, and more happen in your musical life, book a call today at mindoverfinger.com and let’s make it happen. ⚡

As a VIP member, you will you receive my free guide to a highly productive practice, a transcript of each new podcast episode delivered to your inbox every week, and all the insider information about my coaching programs, including VIP prices on most of them. March bonus: get 10$ off the Performance Anxiety Solution when you join the mailing list HERE!

Do you have specific questions for me or my guests you would like answered on the podcast? Share them with me HERE!

Mind Over Finger

Visit mindoverfinger.com for resources on mindful practice and information on how to work with me.

Sign up for my newsletter to receive your free guide to a highly productive mindful practice and to get the transcripts of the Mind Over Finger Podcast episodes delivered to your inbox.

Join the Join the Mind Over Finger Community for access to my live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians.

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme: Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

168 Why Resolutions Fail

21 april 2023 | 18 min

Exploring why resolutions often fail and how we can overcome challenges on this road to mastery.

Enrollment for the Music Mastery Experience, the most comprehensive, life-changing, highly personalized group coaching program for musicians is now open!

In the, Music Mastery Experience we cover everything from practice methods that work, to performance preparation strategies that have you perform with confidence, and mind management techniques that will remove all the obstacles and self-limiting beliefs that hold you back.

BUT: you will go beyond just strategies and methods. You will get to the root cause of issues and unlock everything that’s keeping you stuck. You will experience amazing results at every level of your music-making and of your life.

If you’re ready to make big dreams, plans, and more happen in your musical life, book a call today at MindOverFinger.com and let’s make it happen.

Join my mailing list HERE and become a Mind Over Finger VIP member!

As a VIP member, you will you receive my free guide to a highly productive practice, a transcript of each new podcast episode delivered to your inbox every week, and all the insider information about my coaching programs, including VIP prices on most of them. March bonus: get 10$ off the Performance Anxiety Solution when you join the mailing list HERE!

Do you have specific questions for me or my guests you would like answered on the podcast? Share them with me HERE!

Mind Over Finger

Visit MindOverFinger.com for resources on mindful practice and information on how to work with me.

Sign up for my newsletter to receive your free guide to a highly productive mindful practice and to get the transcripts of the Mind Over Finger Podcast episodes delivered to your inbox.

Join the Join the Mind Over Finger Community for access to my live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians.

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme: Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

167 The 5 Keys to Mastery

14 april 2023 | 24 min

Join me in this episode as bring you the 5 essential keys to achieving mastery in any field. Discover practical insights and actionable tips to unlock your full potential and master your craft. Don't miss this episode if you're seeking excellence and long-term success in your pursuits.

Enrollment for the Music Mastery Experience, the most comprehensive, life-changing, highly personalized group coaching program for musicians is now open!

In the, Music Mastery Experience we cover everything from practice methods that work, to performance preparation strategies that have you perform with confidence, and mind management techniques that will remove all the obstacles and self-limiting beliefs that hold you back.

BUT: you will go beyond just strategies and methods. You will get to the root cause of issues and unlock everything that’s keeping you stuck. You will experience amazing results at every level of your music-making and of your life.

If you’re ready to make big dreams, plans, and more happen in your musical life, book a call today at mindoverfinger.com and let’s make it happen.

Join my mailing list HERE and become a Mind Over Finger VIP member!

As a VIP member, you will you receive my free guide to a highly productive practice, a transcript of each new podcast episode delivered to your inbox every week, and all the insider information about my coaching programs, including VIP prices on most of them. March bonus: get 10$ off the Performance Anxiety Solution when you join the mailing list HERE!

Do you have specific questions for me or my guests you would like answered on the podcast? Share them with me HERE!

Mind Over Finger

Visit mindoverfinger.com for resources on mindful practice and information on how to work with me.

Sign up for my newsletter to receive your free guide to a highly productive mindful practice and to get the transcripts of the Mind Over Finger Podcast episodes delivered to your inbox.

Join the Join the Mind Over Finger Community for access to my live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians.

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme: Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

166 The Path to Mastery

7 april 2023 | 23 min

Discussing mastery – what it is and what the path leading to it looks like.

Enrollment for the Music Mastery Experience, the most comprehensive, life-changing, highly personalized group coaching program for musicians is now open!

In the, Music Mastery Experience we cover everything from practice methods that work, to performance preparation strategies that have you perform with confidence, and mind management techniques that will remove all the obstacles and self-limiting beliefs that hold you back.

BUT: you will go beyond just strategies and methods. You will get to the root cause of issues and unlock everything that’s keeping you stuck. You will experience amazing results at every level of your music-making and of your life.

If you’re ready to make big dreams, plans, and more happen in your musical life, book a call today at MindOverFinger.com and let’s make it happen.

Join my mailing list HERE and become a Mind Over Finger VIP member!

As a VIP member, you will you receive my free guide to a highly productive practice, a transcript of each new podcast episode delivered to your inbox every week, and all the insider information about my coaching programs, including VIP prices on most of them. March bonus: get 10$ off the Performance Anxiety Solution when you join the mailing list HERE!

Do you have specific questions for me or my guests you would like answered on the podcast? Share them with me HERE!

Mind Over Finger

Visit MindOverFinger.com for resources on mindful practice and information on how to work with me.

Sign up for my newsletter to receive your free guide to a highly productive mindful practice and to get the transcripts of the Mind Over Finger Podcast episodes delivered to your inbox.

Join the Join the Mind Over Finger Community for access to my live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians.

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme: Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

165 Heidi Kay Begay: Amplify Your Voice

31 mars 2023 | 49 min

164 Practice Room Superpower: Joy

24 mars 2023 | 30 min

In this episode, I cover ways to incorporate more joy, presence, variety, and creativity in your practice.

Infusing joy and purpose in your preparation journey – having it alongside you day after day – will have a profound impact on both how well you prepare and how confident you feel on stage.

Joyful Practice Resources:

- Handout for this episode: Download Here

· - Episode 72 – Joyful Practice – Joyful Practice Challenge 2020

o Handout: Download Here

· - Joyful Practice Challenge 2021 – Live video replays in the Mind Over Finger Facebook Community

· - Episode 128 - More Joyful Practice: – Joyful Practice Challenge 2022

o Handout: Download Here

Sign up for my brand-new workshop – THE PERFORMANCE ANXIETY SOLUTION!

Find all the info at www.performanceanxietysolution.com

Join my mailing list HERE and become a Mind Over Finger VIP member!

As a VIP member, you will you receive my free guide to a highly productive practice, a transcript of each new podcast episode delivered to your inbox every week, and all the insider information about my coaching programs, including VIP prices on most of them. March bonus: get 10$ off the Performance Anxiety Solution when you join the mailing list HERE!

Do you have specific questions for me or my guests you would like answered on the podcast? Share them with me HERE!

Mind Over Finger

Visit mindoverfinger.com for resources on mindful practice and information on how to work with me.

Sign up for my newsletter to receive your free guide to a highly productive mindful practice and to get the transcripts of the Mind Over Finger Podcast episodes delivered to your inbox.

Join the Join the Mind Over Finger Community for access to my live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians.

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme: Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who makes this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you!

163 Mock Performances, For Real

17 mars 2023 | 26 min

162 Your No-Excuse Recording Technique

10 mars 2023 | 18 min

Always hated recording yourself? There’s no reason you should miss out on this EXTRAORDINARY way to increase your results in the practice room. In this episode, I have removed all the excuses NOT to record yourself by offering you a simple and powerful approach to start enjoying the process.

Join my mailing list HERE and become a Mind Over Finger VIP member!

As a VIP member, you will you receive my free guide to a highly productive practice, a transcript of each new podcast episode delivered to your inbox every week, and all the insider information about my coaching programs, including VIP prices on most of them. March bonus: get 10$ off the Performance Anxiety Solution when you join the mailing list HERE!

Don’t wait and sign up for my brand new workshop – THE PERFORMANCE ANXIETY SOLUTION!

Find all the info at www.performanceanxietysolution.com

Do you have specific questions for me or my guests you would like answered on the podcast? Share them with me HERE!

Mind Over Finger

Visit MindOverFinger.com for resources on mindful practice and information on how to work with me.

Sign up for my newsletter to receive your free guide to a highly productive mindful practice and to get the transcripts of the Mind Over Finger Podcast episodes delivered to your inbox.

Join the Join the Mind Over Finger Community for access to my live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians.

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme: Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who makes this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you!

161 How to Master a Scary Passage for Performance

3 mars 2023 | 22 min

What is your current strategy to deeply, fully master a scary passage performance? Is it simply to practice it more? In this episode, I present you a better option that will allow you to not only learn it better but also learn it faster and facilitate flow in your performance!

Join my mailing list HERE and become a Mind Over Finger VIP member!

As a VIP member, you will you receive my free guide to a highly productive practice, a transcript of each new podcast episode delivered to your inbox every week, and all the insider information about my coaching programs, including VIP prices on most of them. March bonus: get 10$ off the Performance Anxiety Solution when you join the mailing list HERE!

Do you have specific questions for me or my guests you would like answered on the podcast? Share them with me HERE!

Don’t wait and sign up for my brand new workshop – THE PERFORMANCE ANXIETY SOLUTION!

Find all the info at www.performanceanxietysolution.com

Mind Over Finger

Visit MindOverFinger.com for resources on mindful practice and information on how to work with me.

Sign up for my newsletter to receive your free guide to a highly productive mindful practice and to get the transcripts of the Mind Over Finger Podcast episodes delivered to your inbox.

Join the Join the Mind Over Finger Community for access to my live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians.

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme: Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who makes this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you!

160 Robyn Bollinger: Artistry & Leadership

24 februari 2023 | 43 min

159 How to Get the Most Out of Your Lesson

17 februari 2023 | 22 min

In this episode, we continue where we left off in episode 158, discussing the teacher/student relationship, and we turn our attention to the second partner in the musical team: the student and how they can get the most out of their lesson and learning experience.

Reflection - Here are questions to increase your awareness of the topics I cover in the episode:

· What else can I try?
· How does this concept work for me?
· How can I make this work for me?
· How can I solve this?
· If I knew how to improve this, what would the solution look like?

Practicing for Peak Performance: Your Step-by-step Roadmap to Optimal Performance!

Do you have specific questions for me or my guests you would like answered on the podcast? Share them with me HERE!

Join me for FREE on February 17th for the Deep Practice Model Teacher Training Workshop when you join Practicing for Peak Performance!

Get you self-paced program HERE and transform how you perform TODAY!

Mind Over Finger

Visit MindOverFinger.com for resources on mindful practice and information on how to work with me.

Sign up for my newsletter to receive your free guide to a highly productive mindful practice and to get the transcripts of the Mind Over Finger Podcast episodes delivered to your inbox.

Join the Join the Mind Over Finger Community for access to my live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians.

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme: Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who makes this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you!

158 Teaching

10 februari 2023 | 19 min

157 Motivation: How to Get It & How to Keep It

3 februari 2023 | 20 min

156 Thomas Mesa: Process, Patience, & Creativity

23 december 2022 | 39 min

155 Why You’re Nervous & What You Can Do About It

16 december 2022 | 28 min

154 How to Get Different Results

9 december 2022 | 25 min

153 Why You Feel the Way You Feel & Do the Things You Do

2 december 2022 | 23 min

152 Jennifer Johnson: Body Mapping

25 november 2022 | 50 min

151 The Joy of Movement

18 november 2022 | 15 min

150 Practice Room Self-Care 101

11 november 2022 | 14 min

149 The Delightful Ten: How to Start Practicing When You Don't Feel Like It!

4 november 2022 | 14 min

148 Timothy Chooi: Intentionality & Dedication

28 oktober 2022 | 44 min

147 The Magic of Micro Rests

21 oktober 2022 | 16 min

146 Ten “Mistakes” Smart Musicians Make and How to Avoid Them – Part 2

13 oktober 2022 | 21 min

145 Ten "Mistakes" Smart Musicians Make and How to Avoid Them – Part 1

7 oktober 2022 | 21 min

144 Wu Han: Creating with Vision, Passion, & Commitment

30 september 2022 | 49 min

143 Practice Room Superpower: Self-Compassion

23 september 2022 | 12 min

142 Practice Room Superpower: Patience

16 september 2022 | 15 min

141 Practice Room Superpower: Mind Over Finger

9 september 2022 | 18 min

140 The Formula to Build Your Practice Session - Gear Up for Fall 22 Part 5

31 augusti 2022 | 34 min

139 How to Warm Up - Gear Up for Fall 22 Part 4

31 augusti 2022 | 24 min

138 How to Prepare for Practice - Gear Up for Fall 22 Part 3

31 augusti 2022 | 28 min

137 How to Plan for Efficient Practice - Gear Up for Fall 22 Part 2

31 augusti 2022 | 24 min

136 How to Set Goals - Gear Up for Fall 22 Part 1

31 augusti 2022 | 46 min

135 Aubrey Bergauer: Changing the Narrative for the Performing Arts

22 juli 2022 | 45 min

A conversation with art industry leader Aubrey Bergauer on the state of the classical music industry and how we can positively impact the future of our musical community.

MORE ABOUT AUBREY BERGAUER (bio below):

Website: https://www.aubreybergauer.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aubreybergauer/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aubreybergauer/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/aubreybergauer?lang=en
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Aubreyyyy326
Medium: https://aubreybergauer.medium.com/

MIND OVER FINGER:

Visit MindOverFinger.com for resources on mindful practice and information on how to work with me.

Sign up for my newsletter and receive your free guide to a highly productive mindful practice using a metronome.

Don’t forget to join the Join the Mind Over Finger Community for access to my live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians.

Aubrey Bergauer, Biography

“Redefining the classical concert experience” —Southwest Airlines magazine

Hailed as “the Steve Jobs of classical music” (Observer) and “the Sheryl Sandberg of the symphony” (LA Review of Books), Aubrey Bergauer is known for her results-driven, customer-centric, data-obsessed pursuit of changing the narrative for the performing arts. A “dynamic administrator” with an “unquenchable drive for canny innovation” (San Francisco Chronicle), her leadership as Executive Director of the California Symphony propelled the organization to double the size of its audience and nearly quadruple the donor base.

In 2019, the side hustle became the main hustle as she moved her consulting practice full time and has now served dozens of clients across artistic disciplines, geographies, and budgets up to $300M. Bergauer’s ability to cast and communicate vision moves large teams forward and brings stakeholders together across the institution, earning her “a reputation for coming up with great ideas and then realizing them” (San Francisco Classical Voice). Her drive to see opportunity in place of unsolvable challenges or irreversible trends produces different results than the norm, secures new revenue streams, and galvanizes audiences and donors. Bergauer builds strategic plans and organizations, leverages technology and new media to elevate and extend the brand, and prioritizes diversity and inclusion to create a stronger product on stage and off.

A graduate of Rice University with degrees in Music Performance and Business, her work and leadership has been covered in national publications including Entrepreneur, Thrive Global, Wall Street Journal, and Southwest Airlines and Symphony magazines, and she is a frequent speaker at universities and conferences including TEDx, Adobe’s Magento, the League of American Orchestras, Opera America, Chorus America, Classical:NEXT, APAP (Association of Performing Arts Professionals), Deutscher Orchestertag, and Orchestras Canada.

134 Kate Kayaian: Re-Writing the Script

17 juni 2022 | 57 min

133 Dr. Renée-Paule Gauthier & Christine Smith: Mindfulness for Musicians from the Musicians VS the World Podcast

27 maj 2022 | 45 min

Many musicians have found that adjusting back to normal life after the pandemic has been difficult in surprising ways. The stress from the transition back to the hustle of musician life has affected musicians on the stage, in the practice room, and in life balance. In today’s episode, Christine Smith, host of the Musicians vs The World Podcast speaks with Dr. Renee-Paule Gauthier, from “Mind Over Finger,” on how practicing mindfulness can increase quality of practice, quality of musicianship, and quality of life for all musicians. Dr. Gauthier also takes the time to give important advice for young musicians to get the most out of their musical training.

MORE ABOUT THE MUSICIANS VS THE WORLD PODCAST:

Website: https://frostedlens.com/musicians-vs-the-world
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musiciansvstheworldpodcast/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musiciansvstheworld
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MusiciansVs

Join professional musician, Christine Smith, as she discusses topics that face the day-to-day lives of those responsible for making the music we all love. Together, with experts and fellow musicians, Christine dives into everything from the business to the personal and even the social/political side of being a musician. It is a refreshing and honest look into the lives of those responsible for performing and creating the music in our lives.

CHRISTINE SMITH

Christine Smith Christine Smith is the Sound & Music Director/Composer-in-Residence for RPR Studios, and Founding Partner of Frosted Lens Entertainment. Her work has been heard in award-winning films, commercials, and promotional videos. In 2019 she became co-founder and co-owner of Frosted Lens Entertainment, an entertainment and informational content development company. She is currently the host and editor of the podcast "Musicians vs the World" where she explores the many aspects of Musician life.

A classically trained pianist, Christine studied with concert pianists Adelina Krivoshena and Asya Markova in her youth. She continued her studies in Piano Performance at Brigham Young University studying with Dr. Jeffrey Shumway and Dr. Scott Holden.

Since then Christine has enjoyed performing in solo recitals and in collaboration with various musicians, bands, and ensembles across the country. Though her first love is classical music, she has had the pleasure of working and learning from great musicians of all genres. She has performed as soloist, collaborator, and conductor. And because she loves teaching almost as much as she loves performing, she coaches a few favorite piano students in her home-town studio.

THE MUSIC MASTERY EXPERIENCE:

Enrollment for THE life-changing, highly personalized group coaching program for musicians is now open! You will go beyond just strategies and methods by getting to the root cause of issues and unlock everything that’s keeping you stuck to help you experience amazing results (in every level of your music-making and life).

We cover everything from practice methods that work, to performance preparation strategies that have you perform with confidence, and mind management techniques that will remove all the obstacles and self-limiting beliefs that hold you back.

So if you’re ready to make big dreams, plans, and more happen in your musical life, book a call today at MindOverFinger.com and let’s make it happen.

THANK YOU:

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who works really hard to make this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you.

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme. Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to pianist-singer-song-writer Louise Kelly for the introduction! You can find out more about Kelly and her creative work by visiting louisekelly.com.

MIND OVER FINGER:

Visit MindOverFinger.com for resources on mindful practice and information on how to work with me.

Sign up for my newsletter and receive your free guide to a highly productive mindful practice using a metronome.

Don’t forget to join the Join the Mind Over Finger Community for access to my live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians.

132 Dr. Renée-Paule Gauthier & Jennet Ingle: Mindful Practice & Building a Portfolio Career from The Crushing Classical Podcast

20 maj 2022 | 53 min

A conversation about practicing mindfully and building a fulfilling portfolio career.

MORE ABOUT JENNET:

Website: https://jennetingle.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennetingleoboist
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennetingle/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jennetingle
The Happiest Musician: https://amzn.to/3JkOV6g
Happiest Musician Workshop Series: https://jennetingle.com/product/happiest-musician-workshop-series/

THE MUSIC MASTERY EXPERIENCE:

Enrollment for THE life-changing, highly personalized group coaching program for musicians is now open! You will go beyond just strategies and methods by getting to the root cause of issues and unlock everything that’s keeping you stuck to help you experience amazing results (in every level of your music-making and life).

We cover everything from practice methods that work, to performance preparation strategies that have you perform with confidence, and mind management techniques that will remove all the obstacles and self-limiting beliefs that hold you back.

So if you’re ready to make big dreams, plans, and more happen in your musical life, book a call today at MindOverFinger.com and let’s make it happen.

THANK YOU:

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who works really hard to make this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you.

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme. Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to pianist-singer-song-writer Louise Kelly for the introduction! You can find out more about Kelly and her creative work by visiting louisekelly.com.

MIND OVER FINGER:

Visit MindOverFinger.com for resources on mindful practice and information on how to work with me.

Sign up for my newsletter and receive your free guide to a highly productive mindful practice using a metronome.

Don’t forget to join the Join the Mind Over Finger Community for access to my live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians.

131 Dr. Renée-Paule Gauthier & Davina Shum: Dealing with Performance Anxiety - from The Strad Podcast

13 maj 2022 | 23 min

A conversation from The Strad Podcast about performance anxiety and nerves, self-compassion, assessment vs judgement when playing, and dealing with inner battles when the stakes are so high.

The Strad Magazine & Strad Podcast:

Website: https://www.thestrad.com/
Subscribe – USE CODE MOFP20: https://www.thestrad.com/subscribe
The Strad Podcast: https://www.thestrad.com/playing-hub/podcasts
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thestrad/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_strad_/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheStradMag

THE MUSIC MASTERY EXPERIENCE:

Enrollment for THE life-changing, highly personalized group coaching program for musicians is now open! You will go beyond just strategies and methods by getting to the root cause of issues and unlock everything that’s keeping you stuck to help you experience amazing results (in every level of your music-making and life).

We cover everything from practice methods that work, to performance preparation strategies that have you perform with confidence, and mind management techniques that will remove all the obstacles and self-limiting beliefs that hold you back.

So if you’re ready to make big dreams, plans, and more happen in your musical life, book a call today at MindOverFinger.com and let’s make it happen.

THANK YOU:

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who works really hard to make this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you.

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme. Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to pianist-singer-song-writer Louise Kelly for the introduction! You can find out more about Kelly and her creative work by visiting louisekelly.com.

MIND OVER FINGER:

Visit MindOverFinger.com for resources on mindful practice and information on how to work with me.

Sign up for my newsletter and receive your free guide to a highly productive mindful practice using a metronome.

Don’t forget to join the Join the Mind Over Finger Community for access to my live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians.

130 Plan for the Hard Feelings – Try it at Home with Dr. Gauthier

6 maj 2022 | 11 min

129 Megan Ihnen: Breathing Life Into Music

29 april 2022 | 48 min

In today’s episode, I speak with the incredible mezzo soprano, coach, entrepreneur, and new music champion, Megan Ihnen.

You’re in for an amazing chat with someone who makes things happen and you’re going to get the permission slip you’ve been waiting for to go after what you really want!

Megan is on a mission to change the world through the commissioning, performance, and proliferation of new music. She is deeply committed to the belief that new music should be performed and loved in communities of all sizes. Her work at the intersection of performance, creative placemaking, audience development, and music entrepreneurship supports clients and organizations throughout the country.

We covered great topics for you, including:

Her journey creating a vibrant artistic career (7’52)
How her voice teacher handed her a permission slip that profoundly impacted her path (9’41)
How we can give ourselves permission to go for the things we want (11’47)
Her mission to empower artists and composers, and grow the voice repertoire (13’28)
Her advice on how to learn music (17’48)
The power of “just figuring it out” (23’09)
Her impact as a coach and artistic director (29’31)
… and so much more!

There's much inspiration for you in this conversation!

MORE ABOUT MEGAN:

Megan’s Practice Plan Bundle – Free download: https://meganihnen.com/cheers/
Website: https://meganihnen.com/
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/MeganIhnen
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MezzoIhnen
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mezzoihnen/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mezzoihnen?s=20&t=pvGjG4z9Hy_H8JYsEBTreg
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mezzoihnen
The Sybaritic Singer: https://meganihnen.com/sybaritic-singer/
Studio Class Podcast: https://meganihnen.com/studio-class/
Resources: https://meganihnen.com/store/

THE MUSIC MASTERY EXPERIENCE:

Enrollment for THE life-changing, highly personalized group coaching program for musicians is now open! You will go beyond just strategies and methods by getting to the root cause of issues and unlock everything that’s keeping you stuck to help you experience amazing results (in every level of your music-making and life).

We cover everything from practice methods that work, to performance preparation strategies that have you perform with confidence, and mind management techniques that will remove all the obstacles and self-limiting beliefs that hold you back.

So if you’re ready to make big dreams, plans, and more happen in your musical life, book a call today at MindOverFinger.com and let’s make it happen.

THANK YOU:

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who works really hard to make this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you.

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme. Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to pianist-singer-song-writer Louise Kelly for the introduction! You can find out more about Kelly and her creative work by visiting louisekelly.com.

MIND OVER FINGER:

Visit MindOverFinger.com for resources on mindful practice and information on how to work with me.

Sign up for my newsletter and receive your free guide to a highly productive mindful practice using a metronome.

Don’t forget to join the Join the Mind Over Finger Community for access to my live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians.

128 More Joyful Practice - Try It At Home with Dr. Gauthier

22 april 2022 | 43 min

127 Jennet Ingle: The Happiest Musician

8 april 2022 | 52 min

I'm so happy to bring you someone phenomenal and highly inspiring on the podcast this week: I'm speaking with oboe player, teacher, entrepreneur, coach, and author Jennet Ingle.

We had a great time covering of variety of topics in our conversation, including what shaped her career and got her where she is today, what it looks like to be a multi passionate performer entrepreneur, how to start taking agency in your career, her fantastic book, The Happiest Musician, and so much more!

I know you're going to walk away with so many ideas and find yourself really inspired by Jennet’s wisdom!

Jennet elaborated on:

How she got started (04:09) and what lead her to a portfolio career she loves (06:18)
The various hats she wears in her career (08:00)
How she transformed her teaching career and created a new impactful way to reach oboists (13:44)
Her awesome new book, The Happiest Musician (22:05)
Her thoughts on the Tall Poppy Syndrome (33:57)
The habit that contributed to her success, the skill she thinks young musician should acquire, what balance looks like for her, and her actionable tip for the listeners (38:44)

MORE ABOUT JENNET:

Website: https://jennetingle.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennetingleoboist
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennetingle/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jennetingle
The Happiest Musician: https://amzn.to/3JkOV6g
Happiest Musician Workshop Series: https://jennetingle.com/product/happiest-musician-workshop-series/

THE MUSIC MASTERY EXPERIENCE:

Enrollment for THE life-changing, highly personalized group coaching program for musicians is now open! You will go beyond just strategies and methods by getting to the root cause of issues and unlock everything that’s keeping you stuck to help you experience amazing results (in every level of your music-making and life).

We cover everything from practice methods that work, to performance preparation strategies that have you perform with confidence, and mind management techniques that will remove all the obstacles and self-limiting beliefs that hold you back.

So if you’re ready to make big dreams, plans, and more happen in your musical life, book a call today at MindOverFinger.com and let’s make it happen.

THANK YOU:

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who works really hard to make this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you.

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme. Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to pianist-singer-song-writer Louise Kelly for the introduction! You can find out more about Kelly and her creative work by visiting louisekelly.com.

MIND OVER FINGER:

Visit MindOverFinger.com for resources on mindful practice and information on how to work with me.

Sign up for my newsletter and receive your free guide to a highly productive mindful practice using a metronome.

Don’t forget to join the Join the Mind Over Finger Community for access to my live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians.

126 Teaching Mastery – Try it at Home with Dr. Gauthier

1 april 2022 | 13 min

125 Paul Ellison: The Essence of Pedagogy

25 mars 2022 | 60 min

For this episode, I’m delighted to bring you one of the world's leading teachers and performers of the Double Bass, the legendary Paul Ellison.

This is a really powerful conversation that I know will have you walk away feeling completely inspired! Paul shares with us his wisdom on practicing, learning, and teaching. Wherever you are in your musical journey, there is something for you in this interview.

MORE ABOUT PAUL:

Videos featuring Paul - https://www.google.com/search?q=paul+ellison+bass&source=lmns&tbm=vid&bih=1611&biw=3200&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS974US974&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwirk8yhxdX2AhVhB50JHRldCHMQ_AUoBHoECAEQBA

Books Paul Recommends: (henri, please keep those links – they’re my associates links, thanks!)

A Soprano on Her Head: Right-Side-Up Reflections on Life and Other Performances - https://amzn.to/3D0M8Oi
Superlearning 2000: New Triple Fast Ways You Can Learn, Earn, and Succeed in the 21st Century - https://amzn.to/3tp9idI
Performing in The Zone: Unleash your true performing potential! - https://amzn.to/3tpQX0l

THE MUSIC MASTERY EXPERIENCE:

Enrollment for THE life-changing, highly personalized group coaching program for musicians is now open! You will go beyond just strategies and methods by getting to the root cause of issues and unlock everything that’s keeping you stuck to help you experience amazing results (in every level of your music-making and life).

We cover everything from practice methods that work, to performance preparation strategies that have you perform with confidence, and mind management techniques that will remove all the obstacles and self-limiting beliefs that hold you back.

So if you’re ready to make big dreams, plans, and more happen in your musical life, book a call today at MindOverFinger.com and let’s make it happen.

THANK YOU:

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who works really hard to make this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you.

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme. Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to pianist-singer-song-writer Louise Kelly for the introduction! You can find out more about Kelly and her creative work by visiting louisekelly.com.

MIND OVER FINGER:

Visit MindOverFinger.com for resources on mindful practice and information on how to work with me.

Sign up for my newsletter and receive your free guide to a highly productive mindful practice using a metronome.

Don’t forget to join the Join the Mind Over Finger Community for access to my live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians.

PRACTICING FOR PEAK PERFORMANCE: The workshop for curious musicians who want to find the FLOW that powers new PEAKS of PERFORMANCE

124 The Three-Note Exercise – Try it at Home with Dr. Gauthier

18 mars 2022 | 10 min

123 Joseph Alessi: Clarity & Vision

11 mars 2022 | 49 min

Welcome to today’s conversation with Joseph Alessi, Principal Trombone with the New York Philharmonic.

In our conversation, Joe shares wonderful wisdom on many topics, including the importance of fundamentals, the types of mindset that are helpful to nurture, tips on performance preparation, helpful habits to adopt, and so much more. I know that you're going to find this discussion really interesting and will take a lot of Joe’s insight with you in the practice room today!

We covered:

How Joseph’s artistic journey has unfolded (3:53)
What his mindful, efficient practice looks like (07:58)
The importance of having a clear image before you play, using skills like conducting and emotive singing (13:17)
Consistently bringing a performance mindset into your practice room (19:18)
Joseph’s approach to teaching (25:26)
Additional skills musicians should hone (33:30)
How Joseph’s habit of planning contributed to success (37:37)

LINKS:

Website: https://slidearea.com/
Alessi Music Studios: http://alessimusicstudios.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josephalessi_ny/

WATCH JOSEPH TALK ABOUT THE TROMBONE & PRACTICING:

New World Symphony: https://musaic.nws.edu/videos/audition-preparation-and-style
All-star Orchestra: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qld3ZF3-qWo
SOAxNYPhil Virtual Masterclass 3: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=750234919063308

THE MUSIC MASTERY EXPERIENCE:

Enrollment for THE life-changing, highly personalized group coaching program for musicians is now open! You will go beyond just strategies and methods by getting to the root cause of issues and unlock everything that’s keeping you stuck to help you experience amazing results (in every level of your music-making and life).

We cover everything from practice methods that work, to performance preparation strategies that have you perform with confidence, and mind management techniques that will remove all the obstacles and self-limiting beliefs that hold you back.

So if you’re ready to make big dreams, plans, and more happen in your musical life, book a call today at MindOverFinger.com and let’s make it happen.

THANK YOU:

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who works really hard to make this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you.

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme. Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to pianist-singer-song-writer Louise Kelly for the introduction! You can find out more about Kelly and her creative work by visiting louisekelly.com.

MIND OVER FINGER:

Visit MindOverFinger.com for resources on mindful practice and information on how to work with me.

Sign up for my newsletter and receive your free guide to a highly productive mindful practice using a metronome.

Don’t forget to join the Join the Mind Over Finger Community for access to my live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians.

122 The Power of Gratitude – Try it at Home with Dr. Gauthier

4 mars 2022 | 10 min

121 Mary Elizabeth Bowden: A Driving Force

25 februari 2022 | 47 min

Welcome to today’s episode with award-winning trumpet soloist, Mary Elizabeth Bowden. Mary is an artist with a profound, genuine approach to music-making.

In our conversation, we covered:

How her artistic path has unfolded (3:45)
Mary’s creative journey to a soloist career, and a discussion of the age limit on competitions (7:05)
What her life looks like now, as someone who wears so many hats (14:26)
Her approach to staying in playing shape, practicing, and learning new pieces through mental preparation (19:02)
Advice for how to show up as the best musician you can be (29:25)
How Mary deals with doubt, and continues to craft her own path (35:40)
Habits that contributed to her success, suggested skills for young musicians to acquire outside of musicianship, and Mary’s favorite tool in the practice room (39:24)

LINKS:

Website: https://www.maryelizabethbowden.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marytrpt/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MaryElizabethBowden

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maryelizabethbowdentrumpet

JOYFUL PRACTICE CHALLENGE:

Join me March 7-18, 2022 for the Joyful Practice Challenge: A motivating FREE 10-Day Challenge for Musicians.

Take 10 minutes a day to transform your practice:

Reconnect with your love of playing and making music
Revive your motivation and your joy of practicing
Bring more mindfulness and efficiency in the practice room

Get ready to be inspired by wisdom from:

Rachel Barton Pine, Mimi Zweig, Brian Lewis, Laurie Niles, Vijay Gupta, Kim Kashkashian, Tom Hooten, Elizabeth Rowe, Jennifer Montone, Mary Elizabeth Bowden, and Ralph Skiano!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

The JOYFUL PRACTICE CHALLENGE includes:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

🔷 10 days

🔷 10 actionable tips

🔷 Amazing guests

🔷 PDF worksheets

🔷 Accountability & support

🔷 ... and PRIZES!

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Sign up here: https://mailchi.mp/226ccc5528ff/jpc22

MIND OVER FINGER:

Visit MindOverFinger.com for resources on mindful practice and information on how to work with me.

Sign up for my newsletter and receive your free guide to a highly productive mindful practice using a metronome.

THANK YOU:

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who works really hard to make this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you.

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme. Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to pianist-singer-song-writer Louise Kelly for the introduction! You can find out more about Kelly and her creative work by visiting louisekelly.com.

120 Plan Your Practice – Try it at Home with Dr. Gauthier

18 februari 2022 | 10 min

119 Rachel Barton Pine: Connection & Expressive Power

11 februari 2022 | 70 min

Today’s episode is packed with wisdom from the wonderful Rachel Barton Pine. As a violinist, Rachel performs with the world's leading orchestras, including the Chicago Symphony, Vienna Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic, and Camerata Salzburg.

Rachel is also the founder of the RBP Foundation, which assists young artists through its instrument loan program, as well as providing scholarships and grants for education and career development. Through the RPB Foundation, Rachel also leads the groundbreaking organization Music by Black Composers which she started in 2001 to spread awareness of work by Black composers and make that music available to all through online and printed collections.

Rachel holds prizes from several of the world’s leading competitions, including a gold medal at the 1992 J.S. Bach International Violin Competition in Leipzig, Germany.

This is an impactful conversation that I’m sure you’ll want to revisit often! Here’s what we discussed:

How Rachel’s artistic path has unfolded (04:00)
Advice for handling large amounts of repertoire, and her own process for scheduling piece preparation, practice and performance (05:50)
Rachel’s experience with last-minute replacements, specifically when she performed with the Chicago Symphony with 4-hour notice (15:30)
The element of facial expressions in conjunction with musical expression (23:50)
Her journey with teaching and practicing parents, both as one herself and practicing with her own mother growing up (32:20)
How and why Rachel began the RBP Foundation, their mission, and some ways they support young, aspiring musicians (35:20)
How and why she founded the organization Music by Black Composers, and how their resources have developed over the years (38:41)
A series of rapid-fire questions, including habits that have contributed to her success (48:00), nurturing creativity in young musicians (49:07), and the importance of weekly planning (53:00)
How valuable it is to allow yourself the time and space you need to improve, without comparing yourself to others (56:55)
Rachel’s upcoming projects (59:25)

LINKS:

Website: https://rachelbartonpine.com/

Link to Rachel’s CD, Violin Concertos by Black Composers of the 18th and 19th Centuries: https://www.cedillerecords.org/albums/violin-concertos-by-black-composers-of-the-18th-and-19th-centuries/

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/RachelBartonPine

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RBPviolinist/

Instagram: @RBPviolinist

RBP Foundation website: https://www.rbpfoundation.org/

Music by Black Composers website: https://www.musicbyblackcomposers.org/

MIND OVER FINGER:

I encourage you to visit MindOverFinger.com for a plethora of resources on mindful practice and information on how to work with me.

Sign up for my newsletter and receive your free guide to a highly productive mindful practice using a metronome!

PRACTICING FOR PEAK PERFORMANCE:

Practicing for Peak Performance, my transformative workshop, is now available for download. Go to MindOverFinger.com for access to all the tools that will help you transform your practice, gain confidence in your process, and start performing at your best.

With the purchase of PPP, you gain:

Access to all recorded content - over 7 hours of instruction
Guidance in effective high-performance systems
Detailed handouts

THANK YOU:

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who works really hard to make this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you.

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme. Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to pianist-singer-song-writer Louise Kelly for the introduction! You can find out more about Kelly and her creative work by visiting louisekelly.com.

118 Remember Your Why – Try it at Home with Dr. Gauthier

4 februari 2022 | 13 min

117 Jesus Sáenz & Kelley McGarry: Musicians for the World

28 januari 2022 | 41 min

Today I have two wonderful guests for you - Kelley McGarry and Jesus Sáenz. These two musicians were brought together by a desire to make music accessible to all, and when the pandemic hit, founded Musicians for the World.

Musicians for the World is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating “a world where opportunity is accessible to those who dream of it, no matter their geographic location or socioeconomic standing.”

They’ve created global partnerships with schools in several countries (likely not the first countries you’d think of!), collaborations with festivals, universities, and competitions, and they hold masterclass series with world-class artists.

Kelley and Jesus have already made such a difference in the world through music, and will only continue to spread music education across the globe. Make sure to stick around to the episode for ways that you can help today!

In our conversation, we discuss:

How Jesus and Kelley each found their starts in music (2:53)
The origin story of Musicians of the World and what’s behind their mission (5:29)
Particularly fun anecdotes from students, and some of the professional musicians Musicians of the World has partnered with to teach classes (10:33)
The impact their organization has not just on their students’ playing, but their own playing, and the musicianship of the other teachers they work with (15:33)
What we could do today to start creating change through music… starting with Google! (19:40)
The doubts and resistance they have met while running this nonprofit, as well as some of the brightest moments from this journey (21:55)
Tools that have been particularly efficient for their own playing and for their students (27:41)

LINKS:

Website: https://www.musiciansfortheworld.org/
Contact Form: https://www.musiciansfortheworld.org/contact
Where to Donate: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/musiciansfortheworld
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musiciansfortheworld/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Musicians-For-The-World-Inc-104639074609306/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaMgD-F6Y8ifh8eCeyE9NFg

MIND OVER FINGER:

I encourage you to visit MindOverFinger.com for a plethora of resources on mindful practice and information on how to work with me.

Sign up for my newsletter and receive your free guide to a highly productive mindful practice using a metronome!

PRACTICING FOR PEAK PERFORMANCE:

I’m excited to tell you that Practicing for Peak Performance, my transformative workshop, is now available for download! Go to MindOverFinger.com for access to all the tools that will help you transform your practice, gain confidence in your process, and start performing at your best.

With the purchase of PPP, you gain:

Access to all recorded content - over 7 hours of instruction
Guidance in effective high-performance systems
Detailed handouts

THANK YOU:

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who works really hard to make this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you.

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme. Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to pianist-singer-song-writer Louise Kelly for the introduction! You can find out more about Kelly and her creative work by visiting louisekelly.com.

116 Stand in the Gap – Try it at Home with Dr. Gauthier

21 januari 2022 | 11 min

115 Vijay Gupta: Vital Musical Connections

14 januari 2022 | 56 min

Welcome to the first Mind Over Finger Podcast episode of 2022! There are many exciting things coming up this year, including the Joyful Practice Challenge. Learn more in the intro to this episode!

There’s no better way to welcome in the new year than with today’s special guest: musician, speaker, and citizen-artist Vijay Gupta. His work embodies the belief that the work of artists and citizens is one: to make a daily practice of the world we envision.

We cover:

His musical path from a childhood adoration for music to his multifaceted professional career today (6:57)
What drew him away from the LA Philharmonic toward his work to, as he put it, “show up to the world through performing chamber music” (14:50)
How playing Schumann in the Twin Towers Correctional Facility helped to recontextualize his view of the role of musicians to provide humanity with nourishment (19:44)
His answer to the question: What is citizenship?, and how he chooses to think of musical currency (23:00)
How his views on communicating and the purpose of music influences his approach to playing pieces (alongside the social context of their composition) (24:56)
Some ways every musician can go out and serve our own communities (30:05)
Diving into the process Vijay is taking to record the Six Bach Sonatas (34:30)
Vijay’s redefinition of success, the importance of learning how to learn, and his favorite practice room tool (41:12)
And finally, the incredible actionable tip that left me speechless (50:19)

Vijay is the founder and Artistic Director of Street Symphony, a community of musicians creating spaces of connection for people in reentry from homelessness, addiction and incarceration in Los Angeles. He received the 2018 MacArthur Fellowship for his work as co-founder of the Skid Row Arts Alliance, a consortium dedicated to creating art for – and with – the largest homeless community in America.

As an international recitalist, soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral musician for over 20 years, Vijay has created a multifaceted and holistic career. I am so happy to share this conversation with you.

LINKS:

Website: https://guptaviolin.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guptaviolin/
Bandcamp: https://guptaviolin.bandcamp.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGjIVIprbRwiQCV9RBnOl4Q
Street Symphony Website: https://www.streetsymphony.org/
Street Symphony Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/streetsymph/

MIND OVER FINGER:

I encourage you to visit MindOverFinger.com for a plethora of resources on mindful practice and information on how to work with me.

Sign up for my newsletter and receive your free guide to a highly productive mindful practice using a metronome!

PRACTICING FOR PEAK PERFORMANCE:

I’m excited to tell you that Practicing for Peak Performance, my transformative workshop, is now available for download! Go to MindOverFinger.com for access to all the tools that will help you transform your practice, gain confidence in your process, and start performing at your best.

With the purchase of PPP, you gain:

Access to all recorded content - over 7 hours of instruction
Guidance in effective high-performance systems
Detailed handouts

THANK YOU:

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who works really hard to make this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you.

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme. Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to pianist-singer-song-writer Louise Kelly for the introduction! You can find out more about Kelly and her creative work by visiting louisekelly.com.

114 Jennifer Montone: Finding Your Voice

17 december 2021 | 53 min

I can’t wait for you to hear this week’s conversation with the inspiring Jennifer Montone.

Jennifer is the Grammy-Award-Winning Principal Horn of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and a world acclaimed soloist, chamber musician and teacher. She’s been on the faculty at the Curtis Institute of Music and the Juilliard School since joining the orchestra in 2006.

She regularly performs as a soloist with orchestras such as the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Saint Louis Symphony, the Dallas Symphony, the National Symphony, the Polish National Radio Symphony, the Warsaw National Philharmonic, among others. She’s an active recording artist with several albums under her belt and she performs as a chamber musician in festivals and on stages across the world.

In May 2006 Jennifer was awarded the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant. She is also the winner of the 1996 Paxman Young Horn Player of the Year Award in London, England.

Jennifer shares fantastic insight in our conversation, including:

How Jennifer’s artistic path has unfolded throughout her career (4:10)
The importance of music in conjunction with education, and the education that can be taken from attending orchestral concerts (7:42)
What her life looks like as a musician in a professional orchestra, and how it differs from her early expectations (11:07)
How negative mindsets and nerves prevent us from improving, how to find a balance with your own mindset, and how she settles into her own (14:26)
Particular steps Jennifer takes when she knows she will be in a potentially stressful situation or performance to help tap into a “flow state” (21:35)
Why preparation for major repertoire (especially for the first time) should include learning the history and context surrounding its composition as well as studying the score (29:16)
The balance Jennifer has found between her work and personal lives and how she achieved it (33:26)
What surprises her the most about professional orchestra life (spoiler alert: it’s the camaraderie of fellow musicians!) (39:45)
And finally Jennifer answers some rapid-fire questions, sharing the resistance she’s faced along her journey, advice for young musicians, her favorite warm-ups, advice she’d like to pass on to all the listeners, and an actionable tip you can try today (44:30)

LINKS:

Website: https://www.jenmontone.com/

PRACTICING FOR PEAK PERFORMANCE:

I’m excited to tell you that Practicing for Peak Performance, my transformative workshop, is now available for download! Go to MindOverFinger.com for access to all the tools that will help you transform your practice, gain confidence in your process, and start performing at your best.

With the purchase of PPP, you gain:

Access to all recorded content - over 7 hours of instruction
Guidance in effective high-performance systems
Detailed handouts
For a limited time only, a free 30-minute consultation with me.

MIND OVER FINGER:

As we head into this new season, I encourage you to visit MindOverFinger.com for a plethora of resources on mindful practice and information on how to work with me.

Sign up for my newsletter and receive your free guide to a highly productive mindful practice using a metronome!

THANK YOU:

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who works really hard to make this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you.

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme. Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to pianist-singer-song-writer Louise Kelly for the introduction! You can find out more about Kelly and her creative work by visiting louisekelly.com.

113 Elizabeth Rowe: Shaping the Future

10 december 2021 | 42 min

I had a fantastic conversation with Elizabeth Rowe that I can’t wait to share with you today!

Elizabeth is the principal flutist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. She’s a professional coach, teacher, social justice advocate, and public speaker. She has been hailed by The Boston Globe as a Bostonian of the Year following the lawsuit she won in 2018, demanding equal pay from her employer. Since then, she has continued to start conversations and advocate for equity and inclusion across all facets of today’s orchestras.

She also runs a successful coaching practice, supporting creative people of all types as they work to achieve their biggest vision for their personal and professional lives while remaining true to themselves. Her latest program, Your Tenure Team, supports and equips musicians to prepare for and successfully navigate the orchestral tenure process.

In our discussion, Elizabeth shared incredible insight on a plethora of topics, including:

How Elizabeth’s musical journey has unfolded (2:50)
Elizabeth’s vision for the future of the tenure process, and her own “Turning the Tables On Tenure” (4:21)
Addressing questions around how we respond to critical feedback, perform as professional musicians, and give ourselves space to think as artists (8:55)
How to show up as better colleagues and more positive influences in the workplace as professional musicians (10:30)
The development of Elizabeth’s career as the principal flutist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and what it looks like for her today (13:42)
Advice for young musicians who are struggling with finding a mindful balance between work and rest (18:14)
Elizabeth’s advocacy work, specifically pay equity, a realistic looks at what the classical world looks like now, and fostering conversations to transform today’s orchestras into a more inclusive, equitable, and welcome place for all (22:08)
Oppositions and alternatives to a scarcity mindset when it comes to considering pay equity (and other changes) within modern orchestras (25:56)
How learning to use recording in her practice sessions early contributed to her success (28:44)
The importance of communication skills and developing a balanced life (31:50)
And finally, Elizabeth gives two actionable tips: one for the practice room and one for your overall well-being as an artist (35:15)

LINKS:

Elizabeth’s guide, Turning the Tables on Tenure: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/613f44067accb4c021020826
Your Tenure Team, Elizabeth’s new small-group program beginning January 2022: https://www.yourtenureteam.com/
Website: IAmElizabethRowe.com
Instagram: @IAmElizabethRowe
Facebook: IamElizabeth Rowe

PRACTICING FOR PEAK PERFORMANCE:

I’m excited to tell you that Practicing for Peak Performance, my transformative workshop, is now available for download! Go to MindOverFinger.com for access to all the tools that will help you transform your practice, gain confidence in your process, and start performing at your best.

With the purchase of PPP, you gain:

Access to all recorded content - over 7 hours of instruction
Guidance in effective high-performance systems
Detailed handouts
For a limited time only, a free 30-minute consultation with me.

MIND OVER FINGER:

As we head into this new season, I encourage you to visit MindOverFinger.com for a plethora of resources on mindful practice and information on how to work with me.

Sign up for my newsletter and receive your free guide to a highly productive mindful practice using a metronome!

THANK YOU:

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who works really hard to make this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you.

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme. Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to pianist-singer-song-writer Louise Kelly for the introduction! You can find out more about Kelly and her creative work by visiting louisekelly.com.

112 Tom Hooten: Shifting Perspectives

26 november 2021 | 50 min

Today, you’re in for quite a treat! I spoke with Tom Hooten, Principal Trumpet of the LA Philharmonic and one of the world’s most prominent classical trumpeters. Be prepared to walk away from this conversation feeling highly motivated and inspired by the energy and wisdom he brought to this conversation!

We covered many great topics, including:

Tom’s self-described “unconventional” journey to this point in his career as a professional musician (3:38)
How important mindset is to practice and improvement (8:49)
Digging into meeting yourself “where your talent ends” (13:00)
Teaching as problem-solving and shifting perspectives (17:08)
Tom’s process in the practice room, specifically in preparation for a world-premiere piece (19:32)
- Asked himself: what is the end result? (21:06)
- Made a list of specific things that needed consistent attention (22:11)
- Planned out a routine, including the actual times to practice (and how, if you fail to commit to those times, you’ll end up with a “frustration cocktail”) (22:45)
- Got honest with what he could and could not do to fill out that schedule (24:00)
- Used the app “Seconds Pro” to create a timed, custom “workout” practice routine (24:14)
- Continued to tend to his foundational base of skills, in conjunction with the specialty skills required from a specific piece (28:00)
What it means to create for yourself, opposed to mimicking others’ interpretations (30:33)
Audition tips, including winning auditions through trust, honesty, and dedicated practice (32:35)
Some rapid-fire answers, including what Tom’s schedule looks like, the importance of asking good questions, and a (somewhat unexpected!) accountability tool to use during practice (37:11)

LINKS:

Instagram: @tomhooten
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TomHootenTrumpet
Website: https://www.tomhooten.com
Seconds Pro Interval Timer App, for Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/seconds-pro-interval-timer/id363978811
Seconds Pro Interval Timer App, for Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.runloop.seconds&hl=en

PRACTICING FOR PEAK PERFORMANCE:

I’m excited to tell you that Practicing for Peak Performance is now available for download! Go to MindOverFinger.com for access to all the tools that will help you transform your practice, gain confidence in your process, and start performing at your best.

With the purchase of PPP, you gain:

Access to all recorded content - over 7 hours of instruction
Guidance in effective high-performance systems
Detailed handouts
For a limited time only, a free 30-minute consultation with me.

PPP alumnus Karmen Palusoo has this to say about it:

“For a long time I have had this belief that learning an instrument is difficult and hard work or that it has to be, and there is no other way. Only a few weeks after PPP, I am starting to feel that change! My everyday practice sessions are now filled with freedom and ease!”

MIND OVER FINGER:

As we head into this new season, I encourage you to visit MindOverFinger.com for a plethora of resources on mindful practice and information on how to work with me.

Sign up for my newsletter and receive your free guide to a highly productive mindful practice using a metronome!

THANK YOU:

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who works really hard to make this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you.

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme. Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

111 Ralph Skiano: Preparing Your Next Audition

5 november 2021 | 48 min

I’m really excited to bring you this conversation with Ralph Skiano, principal clarinetist of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Though this conversation was our first time meeting, our views on practice and mindfulness couldn’t be more aligned. I hope you thoroughly enjoy this episode!

Before joining the Detroit symphony, Ralph served as principal clarinetist with the Cincinnati Symphony, the Richmond Symphony, and the Des Moines Metro Opera. He’s also appeared as guest principal clarinetist of the Seattle Symphony and the Cleveland Orchestra and as a soloist with ensembles throughout the United States, France, Germany, and Switzerland.

In addition to his soloist and orchestral work, he is an active presenter and clinician, presenting masterclasses and workshops at universities all across the United States. Take a look at the links below to learn more about the books Ralph has written as well as other resources for musicians.

In our conversation, Ralph shares with us fantastic tips and tricks on how to practice mindfully, develop a solid process to prepare for auditions, nurturing mental strength, and so much more!

He elaborates on...

How his artistic path began, and how it has unfolded (3:28)
The importance of music education and its availability in public schools (5:17)
How to make your practice more effective by having fun and finding creative solutions to your audition problems (6:48)
The game-changing effect mindful clarity and preparation has on your musicianship, and how to turn doubts into helpful stories (13:14)
His summary of the most important parts of the audition process, and how your practice regimine can shift with time and experience (19:34)
Thoughts on trusting in your work and overcoming self-doubt (29:06)
What his career looks like now, and what he has found surprising (32:52)
Habits that contributed to his success, advice for young musicians, and his latest practice-related interests (34:20)
Finally, Ralph shares some of the resources he has created for musicians (see the “Links” section for more information) (40:42)

LINKS:

Website: https://www.ralphskiano.com/

“Little Scores for Audition Success” by Ralph Skiano

“Behind the Screen: A Winner’s Guide to Preparing Your Next Audition” by Ralph Skiano

Instagram: @DetroitClarinet

PRACTICING FOR PEAK PERFORMANCE:

I’m excited to tell you that Practicing for Peak Performance is now available for download! Go to MindOverFinger.com for access to all the tools that will help you transform your practice, gain confidence in your process, and start performing at your best.

With the purchase of PPP, you gain:

Access to all recorded content - over 7 hours of instruction
Guidance in effective high-performance systems
Detailed handouts
For a limited time only, a free 30-minute consultation with me.

PPP alumnus Karmen Palusoo has this to say about it:

“For a long time I have had this belief that learning an instrument is difficult and hard work or that it has to be, and there is no other way. Only a few weeks after PPP, I am starting to feel that change! My everyday practice sessions are now filled with freedom and ease!”

THANK YOU:

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who works really hard to make this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you.

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme. Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to pianist-singer-song-writer Louise Kelly for the introduction! You can find out more about Kelly and her creative work by visiting louisekelly.com.

MIND OVER FINGER:

As we head into this new season, I encourage you to visit MindOverFinger.com for a plethora of resources on mindful practice and information on how to work with me.

Sign up for my newsletter and receive your free guide to a highly productive mindful practice using a metronome!

110 Kim Kashkashian: Expressive Artistry

22 oktober 2021 | 45 min

I have admired today’s guest for a very long time! Kim Kashkashian is an internationally recognized and decorated violist who has worked tirelessly to broaden the range of technique, advocacy, and repertoire for the viola.

Our conversation is absolutely filled with information and inspiration, including:

Her musical journey and how her artistic path has unfolded, focusing heavily on conquering her fears and belief in chance (3:24)
Why pursuing an objective view is essential to your growth (9:48)
How Kim defines mindful practice... (11:26)
...and how focusing on the entire production of your sound (including resonance, energy, and what you send out) maximizes your practice (12:51)
Kim’s suggestions to exercise expressive playing, including knowing exactly what a piece means to you by personifying the music (and letting how you transmit that message to an audience come second) (15:36)
How the difference between intention and desire relates to the tension in performance (22:56)
The distinction between being judgmental and making good differentiation, and the impact of each (29:55)
Kim’s advice to current music students on broadening your perspective, learning the language of music (separate from the craft of playing your instrument), and knowing the historical context of pieces (33:36)
The doubt and resistance Kim has faced on her own journey (36:38)
The importance of listening to yourself with love, knowing yourself and what you want to say, and knowing how to say it (37:50)

109 Brian Lewis: Empowering Pedagogy

8 oktober 2021 | 54 min

I recently had the true pleasure of chatting with my former teacher: violinist and pedagogue extraordinaire Brian Lewis! He is an exceptionally dedicated and passionate performer who is committed to growing the legacies of his own two incredible teachers, the great Dorothy DeLay and Dr. Shinichi Suzuki.

In our conversation we touched on...

How Brian’s artistic path has unfolded, from his own childhood studies to today’s pedagogical pursuits (3:13)
Teaching the language of music (11:50)
Practicing concentration, and the importance of shifting your focus to refocusing for optimizing your practice (13:00)
The legacy of Dorothy DeLay: how she empowered her students (including Brian) through positivity, removing judgement from her instruction, encouraging questions, and presenting the possibilities of playing to help young musicians sort out their own paths (15:01)
Leading teaching with love, and the lasting, negative impacts of “abusive teaching” (25:13)
Practicing habits (formed by DeLay and Suzuki) that helped set his playing apart, focusing on simplicity, the importance of listening, and repeating your own study of a score (30:01)
Brian’s advice for collegiate musicians to use your time in conservatory to prepare for a life as a professional musician (35:09)
The lineage of musicianship and importance of flexibility (42:15)
Brian’s answers to a series of rapid-fire questions, including consistent practicing, his most memorable performances, favorite practice room tools, and book recommendation! (44:10)

108 Laurie Niles: Trailblazing with Joy

24 september 2021 | 42 min

This week I had the pleasure of chatting with Laurie Niles, a performing violinist, pedagogue, and the genius behind Violinist.com! She founded the website in 1996 and, today, Violinist.com attracts more than 200,000 unique visitors each month and continues to bring together lovers of the violin and classical music from all over the globe.

Thanks to Laurie, we have been able to enjoy insight and information from the world’s best violinists for years. She is also an incredibly kind and enthusiastic person, and it was truly a joy to speak with her.

Together we discussed...

Her musical journey, including the advent of Violinist.com (2:59)
The community and stories of Violinist.com (6:30)
Laurie’s thoughts on developing skills and expression through technique in artistic pursuits (8:35)
What fluency in your instrument means (12:41)
Practice tips, routines, and “virtuous cycles” of joyful playing (13:41)
Laurie’s favorite takeaways from years of interviewing violinists (17:35)
The authenticity and experimentation required to be a happy and successful musician (22:43)
Advice for young musicians on the road to professional musicianship (25:41)
And finally, Laurie’s own habits, favorites, thoughts, books, and advice! (30:48)

107 Mimi Zweig: Teaching from the Heart

10 september 2021 | 39 min

Welcome to Season 4 of the Mind Over Finger Podcast! Thank you to everyone who has made this journey possible and found these conversations not only useful, but inspiring. I look forward to many more episodes with phenomenal musicians!

This season is all about helping you to create a fulfilling music experience, covering everything from navigating the road to a musical degree, to the life of a soloist, to being a musician entrepreneur and beyond.

My very special guest for the opening of Season 4 is Mimi Zweig, a true legend in violin pedagogy.

As a violinist myself, I was incredibly excited to sit down with Mimi to discuss her relationship with the instrument, how she came to begin teaching, and of course to hear her advice for students and professional musicians alike.

In our conversation, we covered...

The very beginning of Mimi’s journey with the violin (06:23)
How Mimi got her start teaching (11:32)
Mimi’s approach and philosophy of teaching, including the importance of a non-judgemental teaching environment (14:55)
The essential purpose of patience in lessons (17:40)
What students need to pursue a musical degree or professional life as a musician, broken down into several age brackets (21:08)
How to develop effective and healthy practicing habits using intentional repetition as a guide (25:48)
And finally, Mimi’s own habits, thoughts, favorites, and advice! (29:56)

106 Brandon Acker: Q&A Session

6 augusti 2021 | 58 min

Insight-packed conversation with guitar player and YouTube sensation Brandon Acker.

Sign up today for

MORE ABOUT BRANDON ACKER:

Website: http://brandonackerguitar.com/contact-2/
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-GiI_5U-WkPIKqsq056wvg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandon.acker.guitar/

Brandon J. Acker is a classical guitarist and specialist on early plucked instruments such as the lute, baroque guitar and theorbo. His latest passion has been to run his successful Youtube channel which now has over 260,000 subscribers and 14 million views. His channel provides educational content about early plucked instruments as well as guitar tips and artistic performance videos.

His interest in education has led him to found a new online music school with his wife called Arpeggiato which offers lessons in “All things that go pluck.” In the few months since it opened in 2020, the school has already taught over 500 lessons to students around the world and in countries like Saudi Arabia, Japan, The Nethislands, Germany, the UK, Australia and more.

Brandon’s performance career has varied from starting out playing electric guitar in metal bands to his current main focus researching and performing on early plucked instruments from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. He has toured extensively through England, Canada, Scotland and Wales, and performed with notable groups such as the Leipzig Baroque Orchestra, Piffaro, the Joffrey Ballet, the Chicago Philharmonic, the Newberry Consort, Haymarket Opera Company, Music of the Baroque, Third Coast Baroque, Opera Lafayette and Bella Voce.

He can be heard on his CDs: “A Wanderer’s Guitar,” Schubert lieder arranged for guitar and baritone, “Favorites” a CD of his dearest solo repertoire; and “Strung Up,” minimalist music arranged for harp and guitar.

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com and sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to an exceptionally productive practice using the metronome. This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights.

If you enjoy the show, leave a review on Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast provider. I genuinely appreciate your support.

THANK YOU:

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who works really hard to make this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you.

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme. Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to Susan Blackwell for the introduction. You can find out more about Susan, his fantastic podcast The Spark File, and his work helping creatives of all backgrounds expand their impact by visiting https://www.susanblackwell.com/home.

MIND OVER FINGER:

PERFORMING FOR PEAK PERFORMANCE – PROVEN TOOLS TO FIND THE PRACTICE FLOW THAT POWERS PEAK PERFORMANCE

105 Dr. Renée-Paule Gauthier & Dr. Kimberly Hankins : The Aligned Musician

30 juli 2021 | 49 min

Today is a special episode: I’m bringing you a conversation I had with Dr. Kimberly Hankins on her podcast, The Aligned Musician.

We had a great time covering a wide array of topics including practicing mindfully, self-compassion in practice and performance, and performance anxiety.

I love Kimberly and her work and I'm happy to have more opportunities to bring awareness to everything she does with the Aligned Musician here on the Mind Over Finger platform.

Check out my brand new workshop:

August 13-15, 2021

MORE ABOUT KIMBERLY HANKINS:

Website: www.thealignedmusician.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thealignedmusician/

Kimberly Hankins is a Trauma-Informed Yoga Teacher and Breathwork Facilitator. Combining her passions for both music and yoga, she performs sound meditations on viola and helps musicians find freedom while performing through movement, meditation, and breathwork. As a Musicians Wellness Content Creator, she works to remove the stigma associated with playing-related injuries, chronic pain, and mental health-related issues.

Join the Mind Over Finger Community for access to weekly live Q&As and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com and get your free guide to an exceptionally productive practice using the metronome. This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice. It’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your playing to new heights!

THANK YOU:

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who works really hard to make this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you!

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to Susan Blackwell for the introduction! You can find out more about Susan, her fantastic podcast The Spark File, and her work helping creatives of all backgrounds expand their impact by visiting https://www.susanblackwell.com/home.

MIND OVER FINGER:

104 Esther Abrami: Q&A Session

8 juli 2021 | 49 min

For you today: an insight-packed gem of a conversation with star violinist Esther Abrami.

This summer on the Mind Over Finger Podcast, I promise you fantastic time with wonderful guests! Every month I'm having a live Q&A with amazing musicians in my Facebook group, the Mind Over Finger Community and, as to be expected, much wisdom is being shared!

We start with pianist Konstantin Soukhovetski, we continue in May with violinist Callum Smart, in June you'll hear from trumpet player Christopher Still from Honesty Pill, July will bring violinist Esther Abrami, and we’ll spend time with guitarist Brandon Jack Acker in August.

All of the details are in the Mind Over Finger Community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfinger.

If you're enjoying today's content, take a screenshot as you're listening, share on social and tag me and my guest so we can thank you for tuning in!

MORE ABOUT ESTHER ABRAMI:

Website: https://www.estherabrami.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/estherabrami
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/estherabramiviolin
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/estherabrami/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/estherabrami
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@estherabrami?
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5zCkKfOMcIx8ISU53JBPng?si=4_N2pS4SSlStoCbrX83kwg&nd=1

Violinist Esther Abrami’s story is that of a young, modern day women of the internet age who has succeeded on international stages and secured a coveted recording contract with a major label due to her courage, determination and willingness to share the ups and downs of her own remarkable life as a musician with a wide online audience.

Born in 1996 and raised in Aix-en-Provence, Esther Abrami knows how it feels to grow up in a culture far from towering classical institutions. “I had a countryside childhood” she says. “I went to a small, country school and I was always outside as I loved nature. We had a wild garden at home; my dad built me a little bench up on the hill where I could go to read and play my violin”.

Aged just three, Esther was given her first tiny violin by her grandmother, who herself had been a gifted violinist but, as was the custom at the time, gave up her own music-making when she got married. “I remember her trying to teach me how to hold the little violin” Abrami recalls. Although enchanted by this small, beautiful object, it would not be until the age of ten before Esther started to learn how to play in earnest, taking to the violin immediately. “I loved the feeling of the violin tucked in so close to me, like a living creature. I loved the sensation of the warm sound traveling through my body. After just half an hour with the bow in my hand, I knew that this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life”, she recollects fondly.

Always serious about her art, even as a child, Esther would watch concerts on television and try to recreate the sounds she heard. Being extremely motivated and having studied incredibly hard, at the age of 14 she eventually became a boarding student at Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester, often getting up very early at 5am to spend extra time in the rehearsal rooms.

Her hard work paid off and in 2017 Esther was accepted as a student at the world-leading Royal College of Music in London. Alongside her lessons, Esther also began to build her online career, playing popular classical music on her social media channels. She was more surprised and gratified by the positive response, however, when she started uploading practice videos, sight-reading videos and tips and helpful techniques for aspiring young musicians.

Esther has approached social media with the same open mindedness with which she performs her music. She has a sense of fun and fashion and delights in her collaborations with leading fashion houses like Givenchy. She has also entertained people online by demonstrating the difference between the sound of a priceless Stradivarius and a copy and is not averse to including the rescue cats she fosters in her posts. A recent YouTube video of her practising with a kitten snuggled in a pouch around her waist has received over 100,000 views.

Of her upcoming debut single on Sony Classical showcasing Clara Schumann, Esther Abrami notes: “I’m passionate about highlighting the work of women composers overall. It is such a pleasure to discover and perform their works, some of whom are only just beginning to be celebrated. For International Women’s Day, I’m especially delighted to be recording a piece by the wonderful Clara Schumann”.

Esther believes people have connected with her because she has opened up and told her own real story - not just one of the glamour of international travel and performing on stage but also the truth about the hours of practice and toil that otherwise goes unseen and unnoticed. Esther confirms: “It actually makes me feel vulnerable to put practise videos out there as it’s rather intimate, but I do want other people to see what happens behind the scenes, because I think that is much more inspiring. When I first came to England, I often felt that I was behind many of my peers in terms of technique and at times that was discouraging, but I’ve come so far. I’ve learned that it’s never too late and that you can always improve – that’s the positive message I wish to convey. I am always humbled and heartened by the messages I receive from people all over the world, telling me that somehow I have encouraged them to start to learn to play an instrument. That never fails to inspire me”.

In 2019, Esther Abrami became the first classical musician to be nominated in the Social Media Superstar category at the Global Awards. She has been awarded a full scholarship for a master's degree at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire under the guidance of Professor Wen Zhou Li.

Esther Abrami plays a fine Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume violin, kindly loaned to her through the Beare's International Violin Society.

Join the Mind Over Finger Facebook Community for access to my weekly live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com and sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to an exceptionally productive practice using the metronome. This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights.

THANK YOU:

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who works really hard to make this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you.

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme. Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to Susan Blackwell for the introduction. You can find out more about Susan, her fantastic podcast The Spark File, and her work helping creatives of all backgrounds expand their impact by visiting https://www.susanblackwell.com/home.

MIND OVER FINGER:

Podcast: www.mindoverfinger.libsyn.com

103 Christopher Still: Tribe Q&A Session

16 juni 2021 | 50 min

For you today: an insight-packed gem of a conversation with LA Phil trumpet player and Honesty Pill founder, Christopher Still!

This summer on the Mind Over Finger Podcast, I promise you fantastic time with wonderful guests! Every month I'm having a live Q&A with amazing musicians in my Facebook group, the Mind Over Finger Tribe and, as to be expected, much wisdom is being shared!

We start with pianist Konstantin Soukhovetski, we continue in May with violinist Callum Smart, in June you'll hear from trumpet player Christopher Still from Honesty Pill, July will bring violinist Esther Abrami, and we’ll spend time with guitarist Brandon Jack Acker in August.

I hope you can join us live for the upcoming sessions. All of the details are in the Mind Over Finger Tribe at facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe.

If you're enjoying today's content, take a screenshot as you're listening, share on social and tag me and my guest so we can thank you for tuning in!

MORE ABOUT CHRISTOPHER STILL AND HONESTY PILL:

Website: https://honestypill.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-still-056423108/
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd0_NS1GmKSc0viEcbyoQSQ?view_as=subscriber
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/honestypill/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honestypill/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HonestyPill

CHRISTOPHER STILL joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 2007. Before coming to California, he was the Principal Trumpet of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. He has also held the positions of Associate Principal Trumpet of the Dallas Symphony and Principal Trumpet of the Charleston (SC) Symphony. Additionally, Christopher has served as Assistant Principal Trumpet with the Grant Park Festival Orchestra in Chicago’s Millennium Park and Guest Principal with the St. Louis Symphony. He has performed with numerous other orchestras including the Boston Symphony, the Boston Pops, and the Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia in La Coruña, Spain. He has appeared as a soloist with the Chamber Orchestra of Northern New York and the Colorado and the Littleton (CO) symphonies. He can be heard on recordings with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Grant Park, Dallas, and Albany (NY) symphony orchestras. A Yamaha Artist, Christopher is a dedicated educator and an active clinician.

Having grown up in a musical household, Christopher originally intended to become a band director and earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the Crane School of Music (SUNY – Potsdam). Switching to performance, he received his Master of Music Performance degree from the New England Conservatory in Boston. He was a Tanglewood Music Center Fellow in 1995 and 1996.

Christopher’s favorite aspect of his job is the orchestra’s frequent performance of contemporary music, especially the Green Umbrella concert series.

Christopher lives in Altadena with his wife, clarinetist Amanda McIntosh, and two children. He enjoys distance running, skiing, brewing beer, and hiking in the trails behind his house.

HONESTY PILL

Honesty Pill is the project of Christopher Still, a trumpet player with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Chris creates focused, actionable plans that help musicians and other creatives address the issues standing between them and their goals.

Intermediate through professional instrumentalists and singers can benefit from Honesty Pill coaching. This includes motivated high school students, college students, serious hobbyists, and professionals of all ages and levels of accomplishment.

Honesty Pill is for anyone who wants to master their art. Even if you’ve already achieved some level of success, Honesty Pill has information and tools that will help you take your musical life to the next level.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe for access to my weekly live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com and sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to an exceptionally productive practice using the metronome. This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights.

If you enjoy the show, leave a review on Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast provider. I genuinely appreciate your support.

THANK YOU:

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who works really hard to make this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you.

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme. Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to Susan Blackwell for the introduction. You can find out more about Susan, her fantastic podcast The Spark File, and her work helping creatives of all backgrounds expand their impact by visiting https://www.susanblackwell.com/home.

MIND OVER FINGER:

102 Callum Smart: Tribe Q&A Session

18 maj 2021 | 44 min

This summer on the Mind Over Finger Podcast, I promise you a fantastic time with wonderful guests! Every month I'm having a live Q&A with amazing musicians in my Facebook group, the Mind Over Finger Tribe and, as to be expected, much wisdom is being shared!

We start with pianist Konstantin Soukhovetski, we continue in May with violinist Callum Smart, in June you'll hear from trumpet player Christopher Still from Honesty Pill, July will bring violinist Esther Abrami, and we’ll spend time with guitarist Brandon Jack Acker in August.

I hope you can join us live for the upcoming sessions. All of the details are in the Mind Over Finger Tribe at facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe.

If you're enjoying today's content, take a screenshot as you're listening, share on social and tag me and my guest so we can thank you for tuning in!

Frustrated with your playing? Unsatisfied with you career? Ready for a change?

Whatever your challenge, you don't have to go at it alone, and I can help. Visit www. https://www.mindoverfinger.com/workwithme to learn more and book your call and let’s discuss how to get you from where you are to where you want to be.

THE MUSIC MASTERY EXPERIENCE will be back in June 2021. This is my LIFE CHANGING, highly personalized group coaching program where I show you how to implement mindful & effective practice techniques, how to make them habits, and how to get RESULTS.

Save your spot at http://www.mindoverfinger.com/mme and get access to some really cool bonuses.

MORE ABOUT CALLUM SMART:

Website: https://www.callumsmart.com/
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ecn1-p8BqHqeliOh-_weg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/callumsmartviolin/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/callumsmartviolin/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CallumLSmart
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=32598434&fan_landing=true

“…the sincerity of Smart’s singing line is cause for celebration, and the recital is quite outstanding in its unique sequence and profile of a superb young player.” Andrew Parker, International Record Review

Callum Smart is quickly developing an international reputation as one of Britain’s finest young violinists. Playing with ‘an inherent nobility that speaks to the heart’ (International Record Review), he is celebrated for combining ‘brilliant technique with the confidence to take risks’ (Bachtrack) and his ‘utterly convincing’ interpretations (BBC Music Magazine).

Recognised as a rising star since winning the BBC Young Musician strings category and being the top European prize-winner at the Menuhin Competition in 2010, Smart now enjoys concert appearances with the UK’s leading orchestras, including re-invitations to the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and the Philharmonia Orchestra. In 2020-21, Callum makes his debut with the Hallé Orchestra performing Korngold’s Violin Concerto, and also a Boston debut with the Lexington Symphony Orchestra performing Elgar’s Violin Concerto.

Last season, he made his debut with the BBC Philharmonic performing Berg’s Violin Concerto, and this season sees his return to the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and debut with the Manchester Camerata. Previous season highlights include his North American debut with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as performances with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, European Union Chamber Orchestra, Orpheus Sinfonia and Polish Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra, covering a range of concerto repertoire from Mozart and Beethoven to Glazunov, Britten, Prokofiev, Elgar, Weill, and Korngold.

As a recitalist, Smart performs at some of the world’s most prestigious venues including London’s Wigmore Hall, the Konzerthaus Berlin and the Auditorium du Louvre in Paris, and at a number of European festivals including the Cheltenham Festival, Dvorak Festival in Prague, Menuhin Festival, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and the Malmo International String Festival. Smart’s partnership with Richard Uttley continues this season with recitals across the UK; they are also joined by horn player Ben Goldscheider for a series of concerts as The Ashwell Trio.

Continuing his advocacy for new music, Smart worked with composer George Benjamin to perform his Three Pieces for solo violin at both the Wigmore Hall and the Royal Northern College of Music. He also performed Kaija Saariaho’s Nocturne for solo violin at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester.

Now with two recital discs to his name, 2016 saw the release of Smart’s second disc on the Orchid Classics Label with pianist Richard Uttley. ‘La Voix’ – including works by Fauré, Poulenc and Ravel – featured as one of the Strad Magazine’s recommended recordings of the month, and was accorded 4 star reviews both in the BBC Music Magazine and the Observer.

Having returned to the UK following his Premier Young Artist scholarship at the Jacobs School of Music in the United States studying with Mauricio Fuks, Smart took up a place on the International Artist Diploma postgraduate course at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) studying with Ana Chumachenco and Noah Bendix-Bagley. Having made an immediate impact on his return, he was subsequently appointed as a violin tutor at the RNCM.

Smart plays on a c.1730-35 violin by Carlo Bergonzi and is a Hattori Foundation Award Winner 2019.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe for access to my weekly live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com and sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to an exceptionally productive practice using the metronome. This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights.

THANK YOU:

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who works really hard to make this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you.

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme. Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to Susan Blackwell for the introduction. You can find out more about Susan, her fantastic podcast The Spark File, and her work helping creatives of all backgrounds expand their impact by visiting https://www.susanblackwell.com/home.

MIND OVER FINGER:

101 Konstantin Soukhovetski: Tribe Q&A Session

13 maj 2021 | 60 min

This summer on the Mind Over Finger Podcast, I promise you a fantastic time with wonderful guests! Every month I'm having a live Q&A with amazing musicians in my Facebook group, the Mind Over Finger Tribe and, as to be expected, much wisdom is being shared!

We start with pianist Konstantin Soukhovetski, we continue in May with violinist Callum Smart, in June you'll hear from trumpet player Christopher Still from Honesty Pill, July will bring violinist Esther Abrami, and we’ll spend time with guitarist Brandon Jack Acker in August.

I hope you can join us live for the upcoming sessions. All of the details are in the Mind Over Finger Tribe at facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe.

If you're enjoying today's content, take a screenshot as you're listening, share on social and tag me and my guest so we can thank you for tuning in!

Frustrated with your playing? Unsatisfied with you career? Ready for a change?

Whatever your challenge, you don't have to go at it alone, and I can help. Visit www. https://www.mindoverfinger.com/workwithme to learn more and book your call and let’s discuss how to get you from where you are to where you want to be.

THE MUSIC MASTERY EXPERIENCE will be back in June 2021. This is my LIFE CHANGING, highly personalized group coaching program where I show you how to implement mindful & effective practice techniques, how to make them habits, and how to get RESULTS.

Save your spot at http://www.mindoverfinger.com/mme and get access to some really cool bonuses.

MORE ABOUT KONSTANTIN SOUKHOVETSKI:

Website: https://www.konstantinthepianist.com/
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/konstantinstar
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRockStarPianist/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/konstantinstar/
Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/TheRockStarPianist/

Following the premiere of his transcription of R. Strauss’ Four Last Songs at L'Esprit du Piano Festival in Bordeaux, France Konstantin Soukhovetski has cemented his place as one of premiere pianist/composers of his generation. His transcriptions have been heard around the world from South African to Hong Kong; in United States' NYC's Lyric Chamber Music Society, New Orlean’s MASNO, Sacramento’s Crocker Museum and Pianofest in The Hamptons, where Konstantin is Artist-In-Residence since 2011. Konstantin has won 2019 Innovation Award from Music Academy Of The West. Konstantin Soukhovetski continues the Golden Age traditions of piano performance instilled in him by his mentor- the great American pianist Jerome Lowenthal.

Pending post-COVID schedule will take Konstantin Soukhovetski to Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall with Rachmaninoff Concerto #4 with Pegasus Orchestra, and UC Davis’s Mondavi Arts Center with Brahms Concerto #2 with Auburn Symphony. Konstantin will premiere a new ballet by Russian-American award-winning composer Polina Nazaykinskaya commissioned by MorDance in November of 2021.

Konstantin is currently working on his first opera libretto for “Tear Down This Wall” in collaboration with Polina Nazaykinskaya commissioned for the 75th Anniversary Season of Mississippi Opera in 2023. In 2018 Konstantin gave world premiere of Ms. Nazaykinskaya ballet “Nostalgia” with Rioult Dance at the Joyce Theater in New York City.

Acting credits include: as a narrator with Miami Symphony's Musimelange performance Stravinsky’s Soldier’s Tale, Forbidden Juilliard as multiple characters at The Juilliard School and Club Makkor in NYC and Victor or Children in Power as Young Victor at Moscow State Satire Theatre, Moscow, Russia. Feature film: Dishonorable Vendetta directed by Andre Josef. Short features: Decent Men, Ossetia and Hansel and Gretel, Carbon Based and Pictures.

Konstantin is a producer and host of “The Real Pianists of The Hamptons" filmed at Pianofest in The Hamptons.

Highlights of career: Johannesburg Philharmonic and Eastern Cape Philharmonic Orchestra on multiple South African tours after winning Silver at UNISA International Piano competition in Pretoria, South Africa; Miami Symphony Orchestra, Richmond, Austin, Auburn, Westmoreland, Virginia and Asheville Symphony Orchestras. He appeared at London's Wigmore Hall, New York’s Weill Recital and Zankel Halls at Carnegie Hall, Phillips Collection in Washington, DC, Auditorium Du Louvre in Paris, France and Zentrum Paul Klee in Bern, Switzerland to name a few.

Following his debut at Alice Tully Hall, in New York’s Lincoln Center asThe Juilliard School 's 2006 William Petschek Debut Recital Award winner The New York Times headlined: “Romanticism so intense it warms up Philip Glass.”

Mr. Soukhovetski has worked with distinguished conductors: Daniel Meyer, Gérard Korsten, Eduardo Marturet, James DePreist, Jahja Ling, François-Xavier Roth, Doron Salomon, Conrad von Alphen, Michael Goodwin, Stephen Ramsey, Omri Hadari, Andrew Grams and Emil Tabakov.

Mr. Soukhovetski is a board member of Southampton Cultural Center, NY where is an Managing Director of The Rising Stars Piano Series and has served on the juries of numerous competitions including Hong Kong Music Schools Festival.

Mr. Soukhovetski is an Adjunct Faculty and an alumnus of The Juilliard School where he has earned his BM, MM, and AD degrees with Jerome Lowenthal. Born in Moscow to a family of artists he studied at the Moscow Central Special Music School, under the auspices of the Moscow State Conservatory, with Anatoly Ryabov.

Awards:

Second Prize, 2011 Iowa International Piano Competition
Third Prize, 2011 Bosendorfer International Piano Competition
Second Prize and Audience Prize, 2010 Ima Hogg International Competition
First Prize and Audience Prize, 2007 New Orleans International Piano Competition
William Petschek Debut Recital Award
Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans
Second Prize, 2004 UNISA International Piano Competition in Pretoria, South Africa
Third Prize, 2003 Cleveland International Piano Competition
The Juilliard School’s Arthur Rubinstein Award
The Juilliard School’s 2003 Gina Bachauer Competition
First Prize, 2002 Hilton Head International Piano Competition
Second Prize, 2002 Walter W. Naumburg International Piano Competition
Grand Prize and First Prize at 1997 World Piano International Competition

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe for access to my weekly live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com and sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to an exceptionally productive practice using the metronome. This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights.

THANK YOU:

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who works really hard to make this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you.

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme. Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to Susan Blackwell for the introduction. You can find out more about Susan, her fantastic podcast The Spark File, and her work helping creatives of all backgrounds expand their impact by visiting https://www.susanblackwell.com/home.

MIND OVER FINGER:

100 Q&A with Dr. Mom: Dr. Renée-Paule Gauthier & friends

30 april 2021 | 23 min

100 EPISODES!!!!! This calls for a celebration!

We did this in a sweet way at Mind Over Finger with my own children interviewing me! It’s a short and cute one, where you’ll hear my own kids asking me questions about why we should all play music, mindfulness in practicing, my experience learning to play the violin, and dealing performance anxiety, before putting me in the hot seat for a round of rapid-fire questions!

Enjoy!

Frustrated with your playing? Unsatisfied with you career? Ready for a change?

Whatever your challenge, you don't have to go at it alone, and I can help. Visit www. https://www.mindoverfinger.com/workwithme to learn more and book your call and let’s discuss how to get you from where you are to where you want to be.

THE MUSIC MASTERY EXPERIENCE will be back in June 2021. This is my LIFE CHANGING, highly personalized group coaching program where I show you how to implement mindful & effective practice techniques, how to make them habits, and how to get RESULTS.

Save your spot at http://www.mindoverfinger.com/mme and get access to some really cool bonuses.

Also…

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe for access to my weekly live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com and sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to an exceptionally productive practice using the metronome. This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights.

If you enjoy the show, leave a review on Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast provider. I genuinely appreciate your support.

THANK YOU:

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who works really hard to make this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you.

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme. Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to Susan Blackwell for the introduction. You can find out more about Susan, her fantastic podcast The Spark File, and her work helping creatives of all backgrounds expand their impact by visiting https://www.susanblackwell.com/home.

MIND OVER FINGER:

JOIN THE 7-DAY MASTERFUL PRACTICE CHALLENGE TODAY!

099 Marc Gelfo: The Masterful Practice Challenge

27 april 2021 | 52 min

In this episode, Marc Gelfo from Modacity and Dr. Renée-Paule Gauthier from Mind Over Finger discuss elements of masterful instrumental practice and are excited to announce the Masterful Practice Challenge.

Learn skills & approaches that will forever elevate the quality of your learning.

Join us May 2-8, 2021 for this rare opportunity that includes live Q&A!

SIGN UP HERE!

Over the course of 7 days, starting May 2nd, Marc and Renée will take you along on a journey to masterful practice.

During that week, we will cover:

TIME MASTERY

To practice well, you must simultaneously manage your time well, and live in the timeless present.

Day 1 you will get set up in Modacity app to take advantage of its time budgeting, tracking, & planning features.

We will also cover important strategies like interleaving and timeboxing.

In right relationship with time, anything becomes possible.

INTENTION MASTERY

By taking the time to set your intention, you bring awareness and direction to your practice.

“Priming” is a key technique for getting what you most desire from your practice sessions.

Learn the best principles for intention setting and “flexible rigor”.

ATTENTION MASTERY

The quality of your life is determined by the focus of your attention.

On Day 3 you’ll receive a very special guided meditation download that will build your attentional capacity.

In addition, we’ll go through the various focus points that are most constructive in the practice room, and talk about how misguided attention can derail you.

BODY MASTERY

The body is your primary instrument.

Learn how to warm up and align your body for optimal practice results.

Physiology influences mindset, emotions, ability to focus, and so much more.

Get an overview the most effective movement modalities for music practice, and explore the role of tension in performance.

EMOTIONAL MASTERY

Your emotions can elevate you to greatness or completely destroy your day.

Begin to master the emotional aspect of practicing.

Challenging, strange, complex emotions can arise during practicing. Learn how to identify and regulate yourself so that a wave of frustration becomes an inspiration for change.

This day will cover the roles of reward & punishment, as well as our favorite tools for emotional awareness and mastery.

Impact/Output Mastery

Your music practice impacts your body, mind, emotions, and life trajectory.

Explore the inputs, outputs, and holistic impact of your music practice. This day will help you connect to a bigger picture for the role of music in your life and relationships.

Specific journaling prompts and exercises from permaculture design will help you identify regenerative, energy positive ways to make the most of your practice.

INTEGRATION MASTERY

No matter what you’re learning, maximize your chances of remembering it and making it your own through a conscious integration practice.

This final day offers the key to compounding lifelong learning: effective integration.

We’ll discuss the role of reflection, planning, and testing.

A final live Q&A session on Zoom will offer the chance to make sure you walk away from this challenge equipped to continue your path of practice mastery.

THE MASTERFULL PRACTICE CHALLENGE A CLEAR PATH TO MASTERY

Frustrated with your playing? Unsatisfied with you career? Ready for a change?

Whatever your challenge, you don't have to go at it alone, and I can help. Visit www. https://www.mindoverfinger.com/workwithme to learn more and book your call and let’s discuss how to get you from where you are to where you want to be.

THE MUSIC MASTERY EXPERIENCE will be back in June 2021. This is my LIFE CHANGING, highly personalized group coaching program where I show you how to implement mindful & effective practice techniques, how to make them habits, and how to get RESULTS.

Save your spot at http://www.mindoverfinger.com/mme and get access to some really cool bonuses.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe for access to my weekly live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com and sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to an exceptionally productive practice using the metronome. This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights.

THANK YOU:

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who works really hard to make this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you.

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme. Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to Susan Blackwell for the introduction. You can find out more about Susan, her fantastic podcast The Spark File, and her work helping creatives of all backgrounds expand their impact by visiting https://www.susanblackwell.com/home.

MIND OVER FINGER:

098 Leila Josefowicz: Infinite Possibilities

23 april 2021 | 74 min

I’m very exciting to have international violin soloist Leila Josefowicz on the show for the second time.

Leila shares incredible wisdom in our conversation, including:

Her outlook for how things are going to be like in the coming months
How her recent incredible project at The Metropolitan Museum of Art unfolded, from where it originated to the vision coming to reality
The significance of her performing Bach, and how she sees Bach as the music of infinite possibilities
What she calls the performance headspace
Thoughts about performance preparation and performance anxiety
What having fun in performance means to her
And many other wonderful musings !

This discussion is a window on the way artists like Leila approach a project - the power of the intention and the thoughtfulness they put behind each decision. How each aspect is carefully evaluated, weighed, and curated, and very angle crafted with care and love.

Partita

for Leila Josefowicz

Unseen in the field

a sapling trembled

naked. You touched

its slim trunk with

flayed fingertips,

tenderly and hard,

and it gave forth a cry,

oh. Sun ran like

water on line upon

line of buds. Bare,

you stood, electric,

head in this world,

feet planted. We

heard what we never

knew before.

_________

Natania Rosenfeld

Writer

Independent Scholar

Professor Emerita of English, Knox College

Frustrated with your playing? Unsatisfied with you career? Ready for a change?

Whatever your challenge, you don't have to go at it alone, and I can help. Visit www. https://www.mindoverfinger.com/workwithme to learn more and book your call and let’s discuss how to get you from where you are to where you want to be!

THE MUSIC MASTERY EXPERIENCE will be back in June 2021! This is my LIFE CHANGING, highly personalized group coaching program where I show you how to implement mindful & effective practice techniques, how to make them habits, and how to get RESULTS.

Save your spot at http://www.mindoverfinger.com/mme and get access to some really cool bonuses!

MORE ABOUT LEILA JOSEFOWICZ:

Website: https://www.leilajosefowicz.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Leila+Josefowicz
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeilaBJo
Leila Josefowicz at the The Metropolitan Museum of Art:
The Condo Concerts: Fred Sherry String Quartet:
In Performance: Leila Josefowicz at Hauser & Wirth
Leila's first conversation on the Mind Over Finger Podcast: Episode 82 - The Art of Authentic Music Making

Biography

Leila Josefowicz’s passionate advocacy of contemporary music for the violin is reflected in her diverse programmes and enthusiasm for performing new works. In recognition of her outstanding achievement and excellence in music, she won the 2018 Avery Fisher Prize and was awarded a prestigious MacArthur Fellowship in 2008, joining prominent scientists, writers and musicians who have made unique contributions to contemporary life.

Highlights of Josefowicz’s 2019/20 season include opening the London Symphony Orchestra’s season with Sir Simon Rattle and returning to San Francisco Symphony with the incoming Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen to perform his Violin Concerto. Further engagements include concerts with Los Angeles Philharmonic, NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Cleveland and Philadelphia orchestras, where she will be working with conductors at the highest level, including Susanna Mälkki, Matthias Pintscher and John Adams.

A favourite of living composers, Josefowicz has premiered many concertos, including those by Colin Matthews, Steven Mackey and Esa-Pekka Salonen, all written specially for her. This season, she will perform the UK premiere of Helen Grime’s Violin Concerto with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Dalia Stasevska. Other recent premieres include John Adams’Scheherazade.2 (Dramatic Symphony for Violin and Orchestra) in 2015 with the New York Philharmonic and Alan Gilbert, and Luca Francesconi’s Duende – The Dark Notes in 2014 with Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra and Susanna Mälkki. Josefowicz enjoyed a close working relationship with the late Oliver Knussen, performing various concerti, including his violin concerto, together over 30 times.

Alongside pianist John Novacek, with whom she has enjoyed a close collaboration since 1985, Josefowicz has performed recitals at world-renowned venues such as New York’s Zankel Hall, Washington DC’s Kennedy Center and London’s Wigmore Hall, as well as in Reykjavik, Chicago, San Francisco and Santa Barbara. This season, they appear together at Washington DC’s Library of Congress, New York’s Park Avenue Armory and Amherst College. She will also join Thomas Adès in recital to perform the world premiere of his new violin and piano work at Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris and the Japanese premiere at the Tokyo Opera City Cultural Foundation.

Recent highlights include engagements with the Berliner Philharmoniker, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Washington’s National Symphony Orchestra, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich and Boston and Finnish Radio symphony orchestras. In summer 2019, Josefowicz took part in a special collaboration between Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Royal Ballet, and Company Wayne McGregor featuring the music of composer-conductor Thomas Adès.

Josefowicz has released several recordings, notably for Deutsche Grammophon, Philips/Universal and Warner Classics and was featured on Touch Press’s acclaimed iPadapp, The Orchestra. Her latest recording, released in 2019, features Bernd Alois Zimmermann’s Violin Concerto with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted byHannu Lintu. She has previously received nominations for Grammy Awards for her recordings of Scheherazade.2 with the St Louis Symphony conducted by David Robertson, and Esa-Pekka Salonen’s Violin Concerto with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by the composer.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe for access to my weekly live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com and sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to an exceptionally productive practice using the metronome. This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights.

If you enjoy the show, leave a review on Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast provider! I genuinely appreciate your support!

THANK YOU:

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who works really hard to make this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you!

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to Susan Blackwell for the introduction! You can find out more about Susan, her fantastic podcast The Spark File, and her work helping creatives of all backgrounds expand their impact by visiting https://www.susanblackwell.com/home.

MIND OVER FINGER:

097 The Practice Session with Dr. Renée-Paule Gauthier

16 april 2021 | 32 min

In this fourth episode of my series on building an amazing practice routine I talk about the about how to create a efficient practice session breakdown

You will hear about the three basic qualities you want in a practice session, the mindsets to nurture to be productive in your work, and the general sections to include in a solid musical progression.

Download your free guided visualization exercise here: DOWNLOAD

Frustrated with your playing? Unsatisfied with you career? Ready for a change?

Whatever your challenge, you don't have to go at it alone, and I can help.

THE MUSIC MASTERY EXPERIENCE is back on June 1, 2021

This is my LIFE CHANGING, highly personalized group coaching program where I show you how to implement mindful & effective practice techniques, how to make them habits, and get RESULTS!

The Music Mastery Experience gives you all the tools you need to elevate your performance and create the musical life you want.

Spots are limited

Save yours now at http://www.mindoverfinger.com/mme and get access to all the early bird bonuses

Ziva Meditation – Emily Fletcher: https://zivameditation.com/

Emily’s book: Stress Less, Accomplish More: Meditation for Extraordinary Performance

THANK YOU:

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who works really hard to make this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you!

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Instrument and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, instrument, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to Susan Blackwell for the introduction! You can find out more about Susan, her fantastic podcast The Spark File, and her work helping creatives of all backgrounds expand their impact by visiting https://www.susanblackwell.com/home.

MIND OVER FINGER:

096 Uri Vardi: The Feldenkrais Method: Awareness Through Movement

9 april 2021 | 55 min

In this episode, I’m really happy to bring you a very special artist, cello professor and Feldenkrais practitioner Uri Vardi.

In our conversation, Uri talks to us about the basic principles of the Feldenkrais method, how it aims to bring new awareness and possibility into every aspect of our life using gentle, mindful movements, and he elaborates on his philosophy of teaching, which I think you will find very beautiful!

Frustrated with your playing? Unsatisfied with you career? Ready for a change?

Whatever your challenge, you don't have to go at it alone, and I can help. Visit www. https://www.mindoverfinger.com/workwithme to learn more and book your call and let’s discuss how to get you from where you are to where you want to be!

THE MUSIC MASTERY EXPERIENCE is back in June 2021! This is my LIFE CHANGING, highly personalized group coaching program where I show you how to implement mindful & effective practice techniques, how to make them habits, and how to get RESULTS.

Save your spot at http://www.mindoverfinger.com/mme and get access to some really cool bonuses!

MORE ABOUT URI VARDI:

Website: http://www.harmoniousmovement.com/
YouTube channel: Find videos here
Your Body Is Your Strad: http://www.yourbodyisyourstrad.com/

Uri Vardi has performed as a recitalist, soloist, and chamber player across the United States, Europe, South America, Asia, and his native Israel. Born in Szeged, Hungary, Vardi grew up on kibbutz Kfar Hahoresh, Israel. He studied at the Rubin Academy in Tel Aviv, was an artist diploma student at Indiana University, and earned his master’s degree from Yale University. His teachers have included Janos Starker, Aldo Parisot, Eva Janzer, and Uzi Wiesel. Vardi has recorded and toured widely with the Israel Chamber Orchestra and was a founding member of the Sol-La-Re String Quartet. He has served as assistant principal cellist of the Israel Chamber Orchestra and principal cellist of the Israel Sinfonietta. In 1990, following an extensive teaching and performing career in Israel, Vardi was appointed professor of cello at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition to his work at Wisconsin, Vardi has taught and conducted master classes at numerous music schools, including: Juilliard, Eastman School, New England Conservatory, Indiana University, Yale University, Oberlin College, Cleveland Institute of Music, University of Iowa, Ohio State University, Geneva Conservatory (Switzerland), Paris Conservatory (France), Tunghai University (Taiwan), Bartok Conservatory (Budapest, Hungary) , and the Jerusalem Music Center (Israel).

In recent years, Vardi has initiated four major projects.

–The St. Petersburg School – Music for Cello. In the St. Petersburg project, Vardi researched, performed and recorded (with pianist Uriel Tsachor), compositions written by Russian-Jewish composers, many of which had never been previously recorded. In 1977 Beth Hatfutzot (the Diaspora Museum in Tel Aviv) released the recording on a CD, which was favorably reviewed by the Jerusalem Post.
—Fusions, a chamber music project sponsored by the University of Wisconsin- Madison and the Consulate General of Israel in NYC. Fusions was a chamber music project of Jewish music and Arabic art music, culminating in a commissioned Trio for Oud, Cello and Piano. In this project, Vardi collaborated with Oud artist Taiseer Elias and pianist/composer Menachem Wiesenberg. The project toured Israel and the U.S and was positively reviewed by major newspapers such as the Washington Post and the Boston Globe. This successful chamber music project was the inspiration for the commission of a full orchestral composition.
—Forty Steps, a double concerto for cello, oud and symphony orchestra. In 2007 Joel Hoffman composed Forty Steps for Taiseer Elias and Uri Vardi. It was premiered on the Madison Symphony Orchestra’s 2007-2008 concert series in March 2008.
–The National Summer Cello Institute in conjunction with the Feldenkrais for Musicians Workshop. The National Summer Cello Institute is a unique program exploring the relationship between body awareness, creativity in performing and teaching, and prevention of music related injuries. This Institute is geared towards professional and graduate cellists and other performing musicians. It has been co-sponsored by The College Music Society and the UW-Madison Mead Witter School of Music, since 2010. Internationally renowned cello teachers, including Timothy Eddy, Laurence Lesser, Steven Doane, Ralph Kirshbaum, and Richard Aaron have been involved in instruction and in conducting masterclasses.

Vardi’s students have been successful as soloists, chamber players, faculty members of major music schools including Oberlin College, and the Peabody Institute, and members of major orchestras such as The New York Metropolitan Opera (associate principal), the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (principal), the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Simon Bolivar Orchestra in Caracas, Venezuela (principal), and the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. Click here for full list.

In his teaching, Vardi puts great emphasis on the relationship between movement and sound. In order to further his understanding of this approach, Vardi has specialized in the Feldenkrais Method, for which he received the 1999 UW-Madison Arts Institute Faculty Development Award. He completed a Feldenkrais Practitioners Training and in 2003 was certified by the Feldenkrais Guild of North America and by the International Feldenkrais Federation as a Feldenkrais practitioner. For five years, Vardi taught a Feldenkrais for Performing Artists course at UW-Madison. Vardi was awarded the UW-Madison Arts Institute Emily Mead Baldwin Award to create a program for somatic education in the performing arts at UW-Madison.

My Teaching Philosophy

I believe that my principal role as a teacher is to help my students become aware of who they are and to help them grow. It is not to define their faults nor cure them. The driving force in this process is my curiosity in the unique makeup of each of my students. As a cello teacher, I not only challenge my students to understand the intentions of each composer, I also help them to explore their inner world, and to express their unique voice within the context of the composition. Most of the learning occurs in the process of working towards a musical goal.

When I teach a musical composition, I often guide my students to attend to their habitual ways of musical expression. Musical expression encompasses the whole range of human emotions. Although the exploration of expressive nuances does not necessarily lead directly to the ultimate mastery of a composition, it frequently results in the expansion of the student’s personality and music-making abilities. This way of learning is organic rather than linear. Instead of setting concrete, simple goals and learning the prescribed tools to attain them, in organic learning, the experimentation with different ideas provides the student with the freedom to choose among a whole array of options for expressing a musical intention. The same principle of encouraging the search for a variety of options applies to the technical mastery of the musical instrument. In order for my students to gain the ability to meet any composition’s demands, they must have a vast repertoire of movements that will give them the freedom to use their bodies with maximum efficiency. Most of us accept the ways we move as if they are a part of our genetic makeup, whereas in reality, we learned to move by trial and error, and our nervous system is wired according to our experiences. Unless we are challenged to question this wiring, and to explore new possibilities of movement, we limit our range of expression. I constantly challenge my students to explore new ways of moving while playing, and to correlate them with minute differences in the quality of sound. Through my experience, I have found that when students discover the power of becoming aware of minute differences in their movement, it is not only their sound that changes, but also their coordination, and overall technical proficiency. The most fascinating aspect for me in approaching teaching in this manner, is that my students come to not only discover their personal involvement in the communication of a musical composition, and their ability to efficiently express it on their instrument, but they also very often gain self-confidence and imagination. The benefits of body awareness also help them in the prevention of injury, and in the healing after a disabling injury.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe for access to my weekly live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com and sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to an exceptionally productive practice using the metronome. This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights.

If you enjoy the show, leave a review on Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast provider! I genuinely appreciate your support!

THANK YOU:

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who works really hard to make this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you!

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to Susan Blackwell for the introduction! You can find out more about Susan, her fantastic podcast The Spark File, and her work helping creatives of all backgrounds expand their impact by visiting https://www.susanblackwell.com/home.

MIND OVER FINGER:

095 Eli Epstein: Music Making from the Inside Out

26 mars 2021 | 75 min

For this episode, I'm really excited to bring you and extremely knowledgeable, thoughtful , and inspiring musician: horn player, pedagogue, and author Eli Epstein.

I'm particularly excited about this episode because Eli's philosophy and approach to practicing and music making embody so much of what mind over finger is about.

Eli elaborates on:

His inspiring journey from picking up the horn to teaching at NEC and Berklee, via a 16- year tenure with the Cleveland Orchestra
The importance of listening to music in order to ignite our interest, refine our ears, and improve our playing
The process of myelination and how it affects our work
Ways to deal with our negative inner voice
Ways to express authentic emotions through sounds
The “Magic If”
… and so much more!

I I know you’re going to love this conversation!

Frustrated with your playing? Unsatisfied with you career? Ready for a change?

Whatever your challenge, you don't have to go at it alone, and I can help. Visit www. https://www.mindoverfinger.com/workwithme to learn more and book your call and let’s discuss how to get you from where you are to where you want to be!

THE MUSIC MASTERY EXPERIENCE will be back in June 2021! This is my LIFE CHANGING, highly personalized group coaching program where I show you how to implement mindful & effective practice techniques, how to make them habits, and how to get RESULTS.

Save your spot at http://www.mindoverfinger.com/mme and get access to some really cool bonuses!

MORE ABOUT Eli Epstein

Website: https://eliepstein.com/
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCabKpW2k2vQDAkpmI4H2D7w
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eliepsteinproductions/

Eli Epstein enjoys a multi-faceted career as performer, educator, conductor and author. Epstein was second horn of the Cleveland Orchestra (1987-2005), and horn professor at the Cleveland Institute of Music (1989-2005). He has appeared several times as soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra and Cleveland Orchestra.

Epstein left Cleveland in 2005, and moved to Boston to devote more time and energy toward educational and creative endeavors. He is currently on faculty of New England Conservatory and Boston Conservatory at Berklee. At NEC, Epstein is on the college faculty, NEC at Walnut Hill, and Brass Chair of the Preparatory School. Epstein's students hold positions as chamber musicians and teachers, and have won posts in more than 30 major orchestras in North America.

An active performer, Epstein has appeared on chamber programs at Jordan Hall, Severance Hall, Tanglewood, Philadelphia's Academy of Music, Kennedy Center, Music Academy of the West, where he was on faculty (2005-2013), and the Aspen Music Festival, where he served as principal horn of the Aspen Chamber Symphony (2000-2012). Epstein has collaborated with the Borromeo and Brentano String Quartets, and has been guest principal horn for the Rhode Island Philharmonic, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and the Saint Louis Symphony. Epstein performs with the Boston Symphony Orchestra from time to time and has played on the BSO Community Chamber Concerts series.

Director of the NEC Youth Brass Ensemble since 2009, Epstein has conducted college ensembles at Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Cleveland Institute of Music, Longy School of Music, Music Academy of the West, NEC, and El Sistema in Venezuela.

Advocating the idea that music can be a meaningful and uplifting force in society, in 2009 Epstein won Grand Prize in the Entrepreneur the Arts Contest for his Inside Out Concerts, and appeared on Heartbeat of America with William Shatner. Drawing on years of experience as a performer, educator and entrepreneur, in 2013 Epstein joined the NEC Entrepreneurial Musicianship faculty to teach their survey course The Entrepreneurial Musician.

Epstein's book, Horn Playing from the Inside Out, A Method for All Brass Musicians (Third Edition) was celebrated in Horn Matters: "Without a doubt the most physiologically correct book ever published on horn playing. Epstein presents a pedagogy that is truly informed by science, with new insights that should not be ignored."

Orchestral Excerpts for Low Horn, Epstein's album released in 2014, was acclaimed in HornWorld as "a perfect sequel to (Krebiehl's) original horn excerpts CD...you would be hard pressed to find more nuanced, musically substantial performances anywhere."

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe for access to my weekly live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com and sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to an exceptionally productive practice using the metronome. This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights.

If you enjoy the show, leave a review on Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast provider! I genuinely appreciate your support!

THANK YOU:

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who works really hard to make this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you!

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to Susan Blackwell for the introduction! You can find out more about Susan, her fantastic podcast The Spark File, and her work helping creatives of all backgrounds expand their impact by visiting https://www.susanblackwell.com/home.

MIND OVER FINGER:

094 Warming Up with Dr. Renée-Paule Gauthier

19 mars 2021 | 22 min

093 Amy Baltzell: The Power of Mindfulness

12 mars 2021 | 45 min

In this episode, high-performance coach and respected author Dr. Amy Baltzell discusses the power of mindfulness. She elaborates on:

The Olympic journey that led her to devoting her life to helping athletes and performers
How mindfulness and self-compassion are transformative and liberating, and how they can help us deal with fear, anxiety, and self-doubts
How accepting reality as it is – including all of our emotions – can be profoundly helpful
The concept of Fierce Presence and the Domino of Goodness
The power of self-compassion
The Mindful Meditation Cycle – how meditation can help train your mind and your heart so you can be more efficient in your practice
Tips to cope with undesirable results and things we can focus on to improve our performance
The power of acceptance and surrender
What Reiki is and how it can be helpful
Why we must let go of our fears of mistakes
Her message of hope: there’s a way out of anxiety

Frustrated with your playing? Unsatisfied with you career? Ready for a change?

THE MUSIC MASTERY EXPERIENCE is back in June 2021! This is my LIFE CHANGING, highly personalized group coaching program where I show you how to implement mindful & effective practice techniques, how to make them habits, and how to get the RESULTS YOU WANT.

Save your spot at http://www.mindoverfinger.com/mme and get access to some really cool bonuses!

MORE ABOUT DR. AMY BALTZELL:

Dr. Amy Baltzell, Ed.D., is an Author, high performance coach, Sport Psychologist, Speaker, Reiki Master, Potter, mother-of-three, and the co-creator of Mindful Meditation Training in Sport.

Dr. Baltzell is a high performance and well-being coach for athletes, musicians, sport coaches and business. She has offered invited keynote talks and workshops in the US, Canada, England, The Netherlands and Sweden. She has worked with Olympians, professional athletes, athletic coaches as well as classical musicians, and was Clinical Assistant Professor at Boston University for over 20 years.

Dr. Baltzell is a CMPC-AASP Certified Mental Performance Consultant via the Association of Applied Sport Psychology and a Reiki Master Teacher, Men Chhö Rei Kei certified practitioner. In 2016 Amy was elected president of AASP, serving 2017-2018. She was a member of the 1992 Olympic Rowing Team and a racing team member of 1995 America’s Cup women’s sailing team.

Dr. Baltzell is the author of The Power of Mindfulness (2018, Springer International); Mindfulness and Performance (2016, Cambridge University Press) and Living in the Sweet Spot: Preparing for Performance in Sport and Life (2011, FIT).

Dr. Baltzell will offer insights and lessons learned from creating, implementing and studying Mindful Meditation Training in Sport (MMTS), a 6-hour program designed to help athletes integrate a mindful approach into practicing and competing. Synthesizing her academic and applied understanding, she offers a conceptual model of the intersection of mindfulness, self-compassion and flow in sport.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe for access to my weekly live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com and sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to an exceptionally productive practice using the metronome. This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights.

If you enjoy the show, thank you for leaving a review on Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast provider! I genuinely appreciate your support!

THANK YOU:

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who works really hard to make this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you!

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to Susan Blackwell for the introduction! You can find out more about Susan, her fantastic podcast The Spark File, and her work helping creatives of all backgrounds expand their impact by visiting https://www.susanblackwell.com/home.

MIND OVER FINGER:

092 John Bruce Yeh: Storyteller of Sound

26 februari 2021 | 93 min

Today, I speak with a wonderful storyteller of sound, Assistant Principal Clarinetist of the Chicago Symphony John Bruce Yeh.

In our conversation, John shares how his artistic journey unfolded. He takes us on an amazing trip, featuring great musical figures, which shows the various elements that go into the making of a world-class musician.

He also talks about how to prepare fully for an audition (it involves “raiding” the stage... in a way!), how to enter the professional life, and he gives us amazing insight on music-making in general.

This was a great conversation and I know you’ll walk away inspired and motivated!

Frustrated with your playing? Unsatisfied with you career? Ready for a change?

Whatever your challenge, you don't have to go at it alone, and I can help.

THE MUSIC MASTERY EXPERIENCE is back in June 2021

This is a LIFE CHANGING, highly personalized group coaching program where I show you how to implement mindful & effective practice techniques, how to make them habits, and get RESULTS!

The Music Mastery Experience gives you all the tools you need to start performing at your best!

Save your spot now here and get access to all the early bird bonuses

MORE ABOUT JOHN BRUCE YEH:

Website: https://cso.org/about/performers/chicago-symphony-orchestra/clarinet1/john-bruce-yeh/
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXbWXWXVo6xV7jn4GE5oyig
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chicagopromusica
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jyehcondor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jyehcondor

The first Asian musician ever appointed to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, as well as the longest-serving clarinetist in CSO history, John Bruce Yeh joined the CSO in June of 1977, having been appointed solo Bass Clarinet of the Orchestra at the age of nineteen by Sir Georg Solti. Two years later, he was named Assistant Principal and solo E-flat Clarinet. He served as Acting Principal Clarinet of the CSO from 2008-2011. Recently he has also performed as Guest Principal Clarinet of The Philadelphia Orchestra as well as of the Seoul Philharmonic in Korea and the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra in China. Yeh has performed concertos with the CSO on several occasions, including the 1998 American premiere of Elliott Carter’s Clarinet Concerto with Pierre Boulez conducting, and the 1993 performance of Carl Nielsen’s Clarinet Concertowith Neeme Järvi. A concert recording of the Nielsen was released on the CSO CD set Soloists of the Orchestra II: From the Archives, vol. 15. In 2004, Yeh was featured in Leonard Bernstein’s Prelude, Fugue and Riffs in collaboration with the Hubbard Street Dance Company and the CSO conducted by David Robertson. An enthusiastic champion of new music, John Bruce Yeh is the dedicatee of new works for clarinet by numerous composers, ranging from Ralph Shapey to John Williams. A prizewinner at both the 1982 Munich International Music Competition and the 1985 Naumburg Clarinet Competition in New York, Yeh continues to solo with orchestras around the globe. His more than a dozen solo and chamber music recordings have earned worldwide critical acclaim. In 2007, Naxos International released a disc titled “Synergy,” of single and double concertos with clarinet and symphonic wind ensemble featuring John, his wife Teresa, his daughter Molly, and the Columbus State University Wind Ensemble conducted by Robert Rumbelow. Yeh is director of Chicago Pro Musica, which received the Grammy Award in 1986 for Best New Classical Artist. He frequently appears at festivals and on chamber music series worldwide, and he has performed several times with Music from Marlboro; the Guarneri, Ying, Colorado, Pacifica, Calder, and Avalon string quartets; as well as the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. With his wife, clarinetist Teresa Reilly, erhu virtuoso Wang Guowei, and pipa virtuoso Yang Wei, Yeh formed Birds and Phoenix an innovative quartet dedicated to musical exploration by bridging Eastern and Western musical cultures. In their debut performance in September 2006, the group performed works by Victoria Bond, Pamela Chen, Lu Pei, and Bright Sheng, all commissioned for them by Fontana Chamber Arts in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Passionately committed to music education, Yeh served for twenty-six years on the faculty of DePaul University’s School of Music, and he joined the faculty at Roosevelt University’s Chicago College for the Performing Arts in 2004. He has taught master classes at many universities and conservatories including the Juilliard, Eastman and Manhattan Schools of Music, The Cleveland Institute of Music, Northwestern University, and the University of Michigan. In addition, he is on the faculty of Midwest Young Artists in Fort Sheridan, Illinois. Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Los Angeles, John Bruce Yeh pursued premedical studies at UCLA, where he also won the Frank Sinatra Musical Performance Award. He entered the Juilliard School in 1975 and attended music schools in Aspen, Marlboro, and Tanglewood. He cites Gordon Herritt, Gary Gray, Michele Zukovsky, Harold Wright, Ray Still, Marcel Moyse, Allan Dennis, and Mehli Mehta as influential mentors.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe for access to my weekly live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com and sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to an exceptionally productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights!

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

THANK YOU:

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who works so hard to make the podcast sound as good as possible for you.

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to Susan Blackwell for the introduction! You can find out more about Susan, her fantastic podcast The Spark File, and her work helping creatives of all backgrounds expand their impact by visiting https://www.susanblackwell.com/home.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE GUIDED VISUALIZATION HERE

091 Priming Power with Dr. Renée-Paule Gauthier

19 februari 2021 | 25 min

In this second episode of my series on building an amazing practice routine I share my favorite tips about a powerful ritual that can transform the results you get in the practice room: PRIMING.

When we’re priming, we prepare the body and mind to be fully engaged and productive.

By setting up a priming ritual before a practice session, you can significantly affect your level of presence and focus. The pay off? Get more results during your practice.

A total game changer!

(I also squeeze in a little gift at the end: my priming guided visualization exercise!)

Enjoy!

Frustrated with your playing? Unsatisfied with you career? Ready for a change?

Whatever your challenge, you don't have to go at it alone, and I can help.

THE MUSIC MASTERY EXPERIENCE will be back in June 2021

This is my LIFE CHANGING, highly personalized group coaching program where I show you how to implement mindful & effective practice techniques, how to make them habits, and get RESULTS!

The Music Mastery Experience gives you all the tools you need to elevate your performance

Save your spot at http://www.mindoverfinger.com/mme and get access to all the early bird bonuses

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe for access to my weekly live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians!

THANK YOU:

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who works really hard to make this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you!

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to Susan Blackwell for the introduction! You can find out more about Susan, her fantastic podcast The Spark File, and her work helping creatives of all backgrounds expand their impact by visiting https://www.susanblackwell.com/home.

MIND OVER FINGER:

090 Dr. Frank Diaz: Mindful Musician

12 februari 2021 | 62 min

I’m very excited to welcome Dr. Frank Diaz to the show this week to cover a topic that is at the core of everything Mind Over Finger is: mindfulness.

In our conversation, Frank elaborates on:

How he defines what mindfulness is
Mindfulness techniques that can be helpful for musicians
The sequence he likes to use when he teaches mindfulness
Performance-related trauma
How we owe it to ourselves to tap into our inner resources
… and much more!

Frustrated with your playing? Unsatisfied with you career? Ready for a change?

Whatever your challenge, you don't have to go at it alone, and I can help.

THE MUSIC MASTERY EXPERIENCE will be back in June 2021

This is my LIFE CHANGING, highly personalized group coaching program where I show you how to implement mindful & effective practice techniques, how to make them habits, and get RESULTS!

The Music Mastery Experience gives you all the tools you need to elevate your performance

Save your spot at http://www.mindoverfinger.com/mme and get access to all the early access bonuses

MORE ABOUT FRANK DIAZ:

Website: http://www.mb-wp.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mbwpinstitute/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/musiczendude

Some fun YouTube videos featuring Frank:

Frank’s book recommendation:

In Tune: Music as the Bridge to Mindfulness by Richard Wolf

Dr. Frank Diaz is associate professor of music at the Jacobs School of Music and affiliate faculty for the department of cognitive science at Indiana University. He is also the founder and Director of the Institute for Mindfulness-Based Wellness and Pedagogy, where he collaborates with an international group of musicians, educators, and scholars on disseminating research and best practices on the art of mindful living, teaching, and performance. Frank has taught mindfulness to thousands of students across the US and internationally, and has served as a guest scholar, teacher, and advisor for numerous academic, civic, and arts institutions across the US and abroad. His research on mindfulness has been published in peer-reviewed and practitioner journals and has been featured on NPR, CNN, Science Daily, and the Huffington Post.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe for access to my weekly live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com and sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to an exceptionally productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights!

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to Susan Blackwell for the introduction! You can find out more about Susan, her fantastic podcast The Spark File, and her work helping creatives of all backgrounds expand their impact by visiting https://www.susanblackwell.com/home.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

089 Leon Bosch: Musical Ambassador

29 januari 2021 | 54 min

089 Leon Bosch: Musical Ambassador

In this episode, I’m so happy to bring you an exceptional person and artist, and one of my favorite musicians, internationally renowned classical double bass virtuoso Leon Bosch.

We covered a wide variety of topics, including:

How his artistic journey has unfolded until now
Some of the fundamental principles he applied along the way
How he is mission driven to be an advocate for the double bass and how he has pursued this mission throughout the years
The importance to recognize opportunities and be prepared to deliver when they appear
The two ingredients he thinks are among the most important when it comes to success
The system he developed and teaches for learning repertoire efficiently and fully
His enormous impact on the repertoire of the double bass
His views on the importance of curiosity, perfection of execution, artistry …
… and so much more!

Leon is a force of nature and a brilliant soul! As you’ll hear in our conversation, his wisdom runs deep and he sets an outstanding example of humanity and artistry for all of us. It was a great honor to speak with him and I know you’ll love our discussion!

ABOUT LEON BOSCH:

leonbosch.com
imusicanti.co.uk
imusicantipublishing.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leonboschdb
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leonenriquebosch/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leonbosch

Leon Bosch on Contrabass Conversations

Leon Bosch is an internationally renowned classical double bass virtuoso. With over a dozen solo CDs to his name, he regularly commissions repertoire for the instrument, making recital and concerto appearances around the world.

He is professor of double bass at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London. But he also gives masterclasses in the US, Europe, South Africa and the Far East, and coaches young eastern European musicians at the I, Culture Orchestra in Poland and the young South Africans who make up the Miagi Orchestra. He also acts as a mentor for South African musicians worldwide.

Leon Bosch grew up in 1960s and 70s South Africa, the son of the political activist Jonas Fred Bosch – he himself spent time in a police cell for organising protests while at school. He left the apartheid regime there to come to study at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester after achieving one of the highest ever marks awarded for the B Mus performance examination by the University of Cape Town

Remaining in the UK – he is now a British citizen – he was soon appointed principal double bass with the acclaimed Academy of St Martin in the Fields. He left the post in 2014 to devote himself to his solo career, to teaching and to establishing his now thriving chamber ensemble, I Musicanti. He also conducts and has a passion for researching lost or forgotten music for double bass such as by the Catalan Josep Cervera and the Danish court musician, Franz Keyper.

Away from music, Leon Bosch is a regular runner of marathons and ultra-marathons (winning silver medal for his age group in the 2017 86-mile Ridgeway Challenge) and holds a master’s degree in intelligence and international relations from Salford University. ‘I’ve always had a very wide range of interests,’ he says. ‘For example, the thing I’m highest qualified for in my life is international relations, not music. But this is a part of who I am: I’m not just a musician, I’m a human being.’

THE MUSIC MASTERY EXPERIENCE will be back in June 2021! This is my LIFE CHANGING, highly personalized group coaching program where I show you how to implement mindful & effective practice techniques, how to make them habits, and how to get RESULTS.

Save your spot at http://www.mindoverfinger.com/mme and get access to some really cool bonuses!

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe for access to my weekly live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com and sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to an exceptionally productive practice using the metronome. This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights.

If you enjoy the show, leave a review on Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast provider! I genuinely appreciate your support!

THANK YOU:

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who works hard to make this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you!

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to Susan Blackwell for the introduction! You can find out more about Susan, her fantastic podcast The Spark File, and her work helping creatives of all backgrounds expand their impact by visiting https://www.susanblackwell.com/home.

MIND OVER FINGER:

088 Efficient Practice Planning with Dr. Renée-Paule Gauthier

22 januari 2021 | 21 min

088 Efficient Practice Planning with Dr. Renée-Paule Gauthier

This winter, I’m bringing you a series of four episodes about building your amazing practice. In this series, I'll be covering many of the components that I think are essential in having a great productive practice session. At least, for me!

I'll be talking about planning and scheduling, priming for an efficient practice, building a great warmup regimen, and, finally, I’ll take you through my favorite practice session breakdown.

This episode is all about planning and scheduling efficiently for better results. I share strategies on how to plan for productive practice and how to schedule it in a way that maximizes your time so you can operate at the highest level possible.

THE MUSIC MASTERY EXPERIENCE will be back in June 2021! This is my LIFE CHANGING, highly personalized group coaching program where I show you how to implement mindful & effective practice techniques, how to make them habits, and how to get RESULTS.

Save your spot at http://www.mindoverfinger.com/mme and get access to some really cool bonuses!

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe for access to my weekly live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com and sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to an exceptionally productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights!

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

THANK YOU:

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who works really hard to make this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you!

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to Susan Blackwell for the introduction! You can find out more about Susan, her fantastic podcast The Spark File, and her work helping creatives of all backgrounds expand their impact by visiting https://www.susanblackwell.com/home.

MIND OVER FINGER:

088 Efficient Practice Planning with Dr. Renée-Paule Gauthier

22 januari 2021 | min

088 Efficient Practice Planning with Dr. Renée-Paule Gauthier

This winter, I’m bringing you a series of four episodes about building your amazing practice. In this series, I'll be covering many of the components that I think are essential in having a great productive practice session. At least, for me!

I'll be talking about planning and scheduling, priming for an efficient practice, building a great warmup regimen, and, finally, I’ll take you through my favorite practice session breakdown.

This episode is all about planning and scheduling efficiently for better results. I share strategies on how to plan for productive practice and how to schedule it in a way that maximizes your time so you can operate at the highest level possible.

THE MUSIC MASTERY EXPERIENCE will be back in June 2021! This is my LIFE CHANGING, highly personalized group coaching program where I show you how to implement mindful & effective practice techniques, how to make them habits, and how to get RESULTS.

Save your spot at http://www.mindoverfinger.com/mme and get access to some really cool bonuses!

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe for access to my weekly live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com and sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to an exceptionally productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights!

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

THANK YOU:

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who works really hard to make this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you!

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to Susan Blackwell for the introduction! You can find out more about Susan, her fantastic podcast The Spark File, and her work helping creatives of all backgrounds expand their impact by visiting https://www.susanblackwell.com/home.

MIND OVER FINGER:

087 Dr. Kimberly Hankins: Breathe Your Way to Better Musicianship

15 januari 2021 | 57 min

In this episode, Dr. Kimberly Hankins, discusses the multiple benefits of breathwork. She elaborates on:

How she came to discover yoga and breathwork and how it helped her discover her own voice
How the breath is central to all systems in the body and to how we interact with the world
How Breathwork affects the nervous system
Why the goal is not always to be calm: the goal is to react to stress in an appropriate way
The difference between pranayama and other different styles of breathwork
How breathwork can help musicians in their various functions
… and much more!

Dr Hankins is also going to guides us through a couple of breathing exercises that you can easily replicate as needed!

Frustrated with your playing? Unsatisfied with you career? Ready for a change?

Whatever your challenge, you don't have to go at it alone, and I can help. Visit www. https://www.mindoverfinger.com/workwithme to learn more and book your call and let’s discuss how to get you from where you are to where you want to be!

I’m also incredibly happy to announce that THE MUSIC MASTERY EXPERIENCE will be back in June 2021! This is my life changing, highly personalized group coaching program where I show you how to implement mindful & effective practice techniques, how to make them habits, and how to get RESULTS in the practice room, the teaching studio, and on stage!

Save your spot at http://www.mindoverfinger.com/mme!

MORE ABOUT KIMBERLY HANKINS:

Website: www.thealignedmusician.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thealignedmusician/

Kimberly Hankins is a Trauma-Informed Yoga Teacher and Breathwork Facilitator. Combining her passions for both music and yoga, she performs sound meditations on viola and helps musicians find freedom while performing through movement, meditation, and breathwork. As a Musicians Wellness Content Creator, she works to remove the stigma associated with playing-related injuries, chronic pain, and mental health-related issues.

SOME PRANAYAMA & BREATHWORK PRACTICES:

5 Step-By-Step Breathing Exercises For Beginners: https://yogalondon.net/monkey/5-beginner-breathing-exercises/

Sukha Purvaka Pranayama: https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/8904/sukha-purvaka-pranayama

The Power of Breathing: 4 Pranayama Techniques Worth Practicing: https://www.onemedical.com/blog/live-well/breathing-pranayama-techniques

Stress Management: Breathing Exercises for Relaxation: https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/uz2255

Wim Hof method: https://www.wimhofmethod.com/breathing-exercises

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe for access to my weekly live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com and sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to an exceptionally productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights!

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

THANK YOU:

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly, who works really hard to make this podcast as pleasant to listen to as possible for you!

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to Susan Blackwell for the introduction! You can find out more about Susan, her fantastic podcast The Spark File, and her work helping creatives of all backgrounds expand their impact by visiting https://www.susanblackwell.com/home.

MIND OVER FINGER:

086 Gear Up 2021! with Dr. Renée-Paule Gauthier

25 december 2020 | 44 min

Whether you want to rock the stage for your next performance, win an audition, land your dream job, transform your teaching studio, or start a new music business: IT’S POSSIBLE! And this episode will help you set things up for your massive success!

You will walk away with:
A renewed vision for the future
Clear goals and specific strategies to implement and create an incredible musical reality for yourself
Unwavering confidence in your ability to succeed
A feeling of dedication to the process
The motivation to get started and, more importantly, to KEEP GOING!

Gear Up for 2021!

Links:

Gear Up 2021! Handout: www.mindoverfinger.com/resources

Mind Over Finger Podcast Episode #71 – Motivation: https://www.mindoverfinger.com/podcast/episode/b4c36827/071-motivation-with-dr-renee-paule-gauthier

Blog post about the Argument of the Growing Heap: https://www.mindoverfinger.com/post/the-growing-heap

Frustrated with your playing? Unsatisfied with you career? Ready for a change?

Whatever your challenge, you don't have to go at it alone and I CAN HELP!

Visit https://www.mindoverfinger.com/workwithme to learn more and book your call!

Let’s discuss how to get you from where you are to WHERE YOU WANT TO BE!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com and sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to an incredibly productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights!

Don’t forget to visit the Mind Over Finger Resources’ page to check out amazing books recommended by my podcast guests, as well as my favorite websites, cds, the podcasts I like to listen to, and the practice and podcasting tools I use everyday! Find it here: www.mindoverfinger.com/resources!

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe for additional resources on practice and performing

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

THANK YOU:

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to Susan Blackwell for the introduction! You can find out more about Susan, her fantastic podcast The Spark File, and her work helping creatives of all backgrounds expand their impact by visiting https://www.susanblackwell.com/home.

MIND OVER FINGER:

085 Kenny Werner: Effortless Mastery

18 december 2020 | 74 min

In this episode, I speak with world-class pianist and composer Kenny Werner who’s prolific output of compositions, recordings and publications continue to impact audiences around the world, and author of the impactful book, Effortless Mastery, Liberating the Master Musician Within.

In our conversation, Kenny expands on:

His incredible journey, leading to the exploration of effortless mastery
How the need to play well is the thing we should – yet will never – surrender
How focus behaves like water
How to let “the master” play
Fear-based practicing and performing
How detachment can help us play better than ever & where lack of flow in performance comes from
Effortless Mastery in a nutshell:
1. Go into the space (it’s easier than you think, and Kenny shows us how…) and play a note in that state
2. Move around the instrument freely while in that space (think Ouija Board! Or try playing something as fast as possible.)
3. Play something you know really well in that state of effortless mastery
4. Practice in that state (and the state becomes your teacher!)

Kenny is an artist and pedagogue of great depth and I know the things he talks about today could transform your approach to practicing and performing!

Frustrated with your playing? Unsatisfied with you career? Ready for a change?

Whatever your challenge, you don't have to go at it alone and I CAN HELP! Visit https://www.mindoverfinger.com/workwithme to learn more and book your call so we can discuss how to get you from where you are to WHERE YOU WANT TO BE!

MORE ABOUT KENNY WERNER:

Website: https://kennywerner.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgHDUXumPbIfYbCcMozdEYg
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/kennywerner
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kennywernermusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/effortlessmastery/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kennywerner

For Kenny’s full discography and credit list, click here. For Kenny’s educational credits, awards, published works and educational videos, click here. For musician and press quotes about Kenny, click here.

Biography

Kenny Werner is a world-class pianist and composer. His prolific output of compositions, recordings and publications continue to impact audiences around the world.

Kenny was recently awarded the 2010 Guggenheim Fellowship Award for his seminal work, No Beginning No End. No Beginning No End is a musical journey exploring tragedy and loss, death and transition, and the path from one lifetime to the next. Utilizing over 70 musicians, Kenny's third album for Half Note Records is an expansive composition featuring Joe Lovano, Judy Silvano, Wind Ensemble, Choir and String Quartet.

Born in Brooklyn, NY on November 19, 1951 and then growing up in Oceanside, Long Island, Kenny began playing and performing at a young age, first recording on television at the age of 11. Although he studied classical piano as a child, he enjoyed playing anything he heard on the radio. In high school and his first years of college he attended the Manhattan School of Music as a classical piano major.

His natural instinct for improvisation led Kenny to the Berklee School of Music in 1970. There he sought tutelage of the renowned piano teacher Madame Chaloff. Her gracious wisdom and inspiration became a driving force in Kenny's conception: music conscious of its spiritual intent and essence.

From Boston, Kenny traveled to Brazil with the saxophonist Victor Assis Brasil. There he met Victor's twin brother, Brazilian pianist Joao Assis Brasil. He studied with Joao, who provided another piece of the puzzle for Kenny's conception that would lead to Effortless Mastery, his landmark opus on how to allow the master musician from within to manifest.

Kenny started his own trio in 1981 with drummer Tom Rainey and bassist Ratzo Harris. The Kenny Werner Trio matured for fourteen years, wowing audiences in America and Europe and recording four albums along the way.

Kenny had written many original compositions featuring trios and other small group configurations, but in the mid 1980s, he became the pianist for the Mel Lewis Orchestra (currently known as the Village Vanguard Orchestra). Challenged by Mel and Bob Brookmeyer to write for the band, he produced his first compositions and arrangements for jazz orchestra, consequently leading him to write for the major bands in Europe including the Cologne, Danish, and Stockholm Jazz Orchestras, The Umo Jazz Orchestra of Finland and several times as the guest composer and soloist with the Metropole Orchestra of Holland. Since then Werner has had many commissions to write for large ensembles such as jazz orchestras, full orchestras and most recently, wind ensemble, choir and string quartet as featured on his latest CD, No Beginning, No End.

Several outstanding musical partnerships began in the 1990s. Kenny continues to play duo with Toots Thielemans, the legendary harmonica player. For twenty years he has played with and arranged for Betty Buckley, a Broadway legend. They made six albums together and she has sung his arrangements for small band and orchestras across the globe. He also has had a nearly forty-year friendship and musical collaboration with Joe Lovano. They have recorded on a number of each other's projects.

In 2000, Kenny formed a new trio with Ari Hoenig on drums and Johannes Weidenmueller on bass. They played nearly a decade together and released three albums, with Kenny acting as composer, arranger, and pianist. Their last album, Peace - Live at the Blue Note, released in 2004, began a wonderful relationship with Half Note Records, the recording arm of the Blue Note Jazz Club. He created three CDs before the release of his masterpiece, No Beginning No End. In 2007, Kenny Werner released his first album for Blue Note Records. Lawn Chair Society, featuring Chris Potter, Dave Douglas, Scott Colley, and Brian Blade, received critical acclaim for its fusion of electro and acoustic elements.

Kenny's groundbreaking work on Improvisation, Effortless Mastery - Liberating the Master Musician Within, was published in 1996. Using his life experiences as a microscope into the artist's mind, Effortless Mastery is a guide to distill the emotional, spiritual, and psychological aspects of an artists' life. Today it is one of the most widely read books on music and improvisation. The book is a required reading at many universities. Werner, without intention, touched off a revolution of inspiring musicians to do inner work on the mind, body, and soul in attempt to upgrade their musical experience from the mundane to the profound. The book is also popular with artists of other mediums and business professionals. Kenny continues to teach and give clinics in the United States and abroad. He is currently on the Jazz Piano Faculty at New York University.

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com and sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to a super productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights!

Don’t forget to visit the Mind Over Finger Resources’ page to check out amazing books recommended by my podcast guests, as well as my favorite websites, cds, the podcasts I like to listen to, and the practice and podcasting tools I use everyday! Find it here: www.mindoverfinger.com/resources!

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe for additional resources on practice and performing

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

THANK YOU:

A HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to Susan Blackwell for the introduction! You can find out more about Susan, her fantastic podcast The Spark File, and her work helping creatives of all backgrounds expand their impact by visiting https://www.susanblackwell.com/home.

MIND OVER FINGER:

084 The Musician's Toolbox with Dr. Renée-Paule Gauthier

11 december 2020 | 52 min

In this episode, I share with you the conversation I had with Angela Ezeonyeka and Andrew Coleman on their show - The Musician’s Toolbox Podcast.

With the Musician’s Toolbox Podcast, Andrew and Angela aim to equip musicians with the information, inspiration, and imagination to pursue and achieve a career in music. And they do this by interviewing professionals in the industry and exposing listeners to all facets of a musician's life.

We cover a lot of ground in our chat, including mindful and effective practicing, anxiety management, and audition preparation.

I had a great time speaking with Angela and Andrew and I hope you find tons of value in our discussion! And when you’re done with the episode, don’t forget to head to themusicianstoolboxpodcast.com or search for the musician’s toolbox podcast in your favorite podcast player and make sure to check out their wonderful content.

Frustrated with your playing? Unsatisfied with you career? Ready for a change?

Whatever your challenge, you don't have to go at it alone, and I can help. Visit www. https://www.mindoverfinger.com/workwithme to learn more and book your call and let’s discuss how to get you from where you are to where you want to be!

MORE ABOUT ANGELA, ANDREW, AND THE MUSICIAN’S TOOLBOX PODCAST:

Website: https://www.themusicianstoolboxpodcast.com
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvFWEGoy67ZiU62tRuNt3iQ?view_as=subscriber
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusicianstoolbox
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themusicianstoolbox/

The vision of Musician’s Toolbox is to equip musicians with the information, inspiration, and imagination to pursue and achieve a career in music by finding professionals in the industry, interviewing them, and exposing listeners to all facets of a musician's life. Additionally, Musician’s Toolbox will showcase a contemporary composer monthly (or as regularly as possible) to further listeners’ understanding and appreciation for contemporary music.

ANGELA EZEONYEKA

Angela Ezeonyeka is a multi-faceted musician currently residing in Port Hueneme, CA. Her formal education began with a Bachelors of Music from Brigham Young University, emphasizing in Viola Performance. In 2010, she relocated to UCSB to study viola with Helen Callus in her graduate studies which she completed in 2016. While in her graduate studies, she performed for famous artists including Yo-Yo Ma, Gil Shaham, and members of the Silk Road Ensemble as a member of the Young Artists String Quartet in Residence.

Angela’s freelance work includes teaching and coaching for Santa Barbara Strings and Santa Barbara Symphony youth education programs, private studio instruction for piano, violin, viola, and beginning cello, studio recording, orchestra gigs with numerous orchestras along the coast, and performing for weddings and special events with the Santa Barbara String Quartet. Angela has performed on a few television programs like The Amazing Race Season 28 Finale Episode with the String Quartet.

From a young age, Angela has been interested in many different genres and styles of music. This interest makes her adaptable and desirable for recording artists in the studio. She has recorded on albums in folk, singer-songwriter, reggae, Irish, and Bluegrass.

ANDREW COLEMAN

From a young age, Andrew Coleman has always loved music. As an 18-month-old, young Andrew sat unmoving while his aunt's student played "Rhapsody in Blue" during a masterclass. Just a few years later at the ripe age of 4, Andrew gave his full attention to a family rehearsal of Schumann's Piano Quintet in E-Flat Major. Starting at age 6, Andrew began learning the piano from his grandma. From family reunions, to living rooms, to funerals, music is an essential piece that not only makes up a part of Andrew, but the entire family.

Most of Andrew's years developing his career as a musician are in front of him; yet, his beginning years are still full of achievement. Through his childhood and teenage years, Andrew developed a love for the piano, and Andrew is currently studying with Sue Miller at the College of Southern Idaho and will graduate in May 2021.

In October of 2018, he performed with the Magic Valley Symphony. At the beginning of his college years, he was a part of many ensembles at the College of Southern Idaho including, CSI Honors Chamber Quintet and Magic Valley Chorale. During the 2020 pandemic and shutdown, Andrew and cousin Michael produced an online senior recital. Andrew also competed, and won, in the 2020 international at-home-edition of #PlaywithRay. Recently, Andrew co-founded "Musician's Toolbox" with his cousin, Angela Ezeonyeka, whose goal is to equip musicians with the tools to achieve a career in music.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe for access to my weekly live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com and sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to an exceptionally productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights!

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to Susan Blackwell for the introduction! You can find out more about Susan, her fantastic podcast The Spark File, and her work helping creatives of all backgrounds expand their impact by visiting https://www.susanblackwell.com/home.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

Book your free 30 minute call today!

083 Jenny Clift: Emotional Freedom Technique

4 december 2020 | 64 min

Emotional Freedom Technique specialist and coach Jenny Clift talks to us about this powerful modality and how it can help musicians become more productive and handle emotions in an effective way.

Tapping information and resources: https://abetterlifetapping.com/eft-tapping/

MORE ABOUT JENNY CLIFT:

Website: https://abetterlifetapping.com/
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMK-XV7QjEKh6FvJnBaajcw
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abetterlifetapping/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennyclift.coach/
Jenny’s book – The Music Inside: https://www.amazon.com/Music-Inside-Techniques-Potential-Fulfilling/dp/1523404744/ref=sr_1_1

Jenny Clift is a classically-trained violinist, and an EFT Tapping Coach, based in Madrid, Spain. She is passionate about working with musicians, stage artists and coaches from all over the world, to help them achieve success, wealth, joy, and inner peace.

Having experienced lots of stops and starts in her own musical career Jenny feels strongly about helping others who’ve gone through similar things like:

Experiences with unsympathetic teachers
Traumatic past lessons, auditions, competitions etc
Frustration over technical limitations & difficulties
Struggles with confidence
Self-doubt and lack of belief that you can succeed in this challenging industry…

Or just the ‘normal’ blocks and anxiety around auditions, competition, job scarcity, money woes, performance stress etc.

Her secret weapon is EFT which stands for Emotional Freedom Techniques, also known as Tapping. EFT is an Energy Healing Technique which uses acupressure points – as in Acupuncture – but, instead of sticking needles into yourself, you tap – on your face and body - to stimulate the points. While doing so, you talk about the issue you are experiencing – and this focus, along with the tapping, helps to clear the energy, and to heal the associated emotions, limiting beliefs and memories, allowing you to move forward with ease and joy.

Jenny loves to help individuals and groups to discover and clear the hidden blocks, past and present traumas, and subconscious limiting beliefs around their money, their inner music and their work. This enables and empowers them to take action, achieve their goals, and feel excited, secure and fulfilled in the career that they love.

She’s looking forward to sharing this technique with you and to giving you a powerful experience of Tapping.

Are you curious to know how EFT Tapping can benefit you?

Frustrated with your playing? Unsatisfied with you career?

Ready for a change?

Whatever you’re facing, I can help.

Visit https://www.mindoverfinger.com/workwithme to book your call and let’s discuss how to get you from where you are to WHERE YOU WANT TO BE!

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe for access to my weekly live videos and to exchange with a community of like-minded musicians!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com and sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to an exceptionally productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights!

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to Susan Blackwell for the introduction! You can find out more about Susan, her fantastic podcast The Spark File, and her work helping creatives of all backgrounds expand their impact by visiting https://www.susanblackwell.com/home.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

https://prso.czechradio.eu/leila-josefowicz-and-prso-8179758

082 Leila Josefowicz: The Art of Authentic Music Making

20 november 2020 | 57 min

I’m very excited to have world-renowned violinist Leila Josefowicz on the show for you today!

As you’ll hear in our discussion, Leila is a profoundly passionate and dedicated musician who approaches her craft with great depth and she shares incredible wisdom with us.

Among many things, Leila elaborates on:

The power of memorization
What the “practice of violin playing” means to her
How exploring new repertoire helped her transition out of her “child prodigy” years
Her advice to all musicians suffering from lack of motivation
The importance of desire and dedication in the cultivation of talent
How our need to feel comfortable while performing is counterproductive
Vivid mindful practice

This is a particularly powerful conversation, and I know you’ll find inspiration and incredible value in this episode.

MORE ABOUT LEILA JOSEFOWICZ:

Website: https://www.leilajosefowicz.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeilaBJo

Find all the details for Leila’s World Premiere performance of ‘la linea evocativa. un disegno per violino solo’ by Matthias Pintscher HERE.

On the occasion of ‘George Condo. Internal Riot’ we are honored to host classical violinist Leila Josefowicz in the gallery to perform a new piece of original music in response to ‘George Condo. Internal Riot,’ an exhibition of the artist’s new paintings and works on paper that runs through 23 January 2021 at Hauser & Wirth New York.

‘Music is such a huge part of my life, without it I don’t know if I’d ever have painted anything. There are so many great pieces of music that have inspired me to paint…My favorite thing is to put on a record in the studio and to still be painting without noticing the fact that the music has stopped playing for hours and is just running through my head.’–George Condo

The performance comes at an incredibly challenging time for professional musicians. Condo is deeply aware of the adversity they face, and this specially organized event signifies his support for live music and for new ways in which it can reach people.

Join us on Friday 20 November 2020 11 am PST / 2 pm EST / 7 pm GMT.

Click here to register.

The performance will be streaming live from New York City on hauserwirth.com

Leila’s last Pre-Covid performance in Prague, Performing the Alban Berg Violin Concerto with the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra:

Biography

Leila Josefowicz’s passionate advocacy of contemporary music for the violin is reflected in her diverse programmes and enthusiasm for performing new works. In recognition of her outstanding achievement and excellence in music, she won the 2018 Avery Fisher Prize and was awarded a prestigious MacArthur Fellowship in 2008, joining prominent scientists, writers and musicians who have made unique contributions to contemporary life.

Highlights of Josefowicz’s 2019/20 season include opening the London Symphony Orchestra’s season with Sir Simon Rattle and returning to San Francisco Symphony with the incoming Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen to perform his Violin Concerto. Further engagements include concerts with Los Angeles Philharmonic, NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Cleveland and Philadelphia orchestras, where she will be working with conductors at the highest level, including Susanna Mälkki, Matthias Pintscher and John Adams.

A favourite of living composers, Josefowicz has premiered many concertos, including those by Colin Matthews, Steven Mackey and Esa-Pekka Salonen, all written specially for her. This season, she will perform the UK premiere of Helen Grime’s Violin Concerto with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Dalia Stasevska. Other recent premieres include John Adams’Scheherazade.2 (Dramatic Symphony for Violin and Orchestra) in 2015 with the New York Philharmonic and Alan Gilbert, and Luca Francesconi’s Duende – The Dark Notes in 2014 with Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra and Susanna Mälkki. Josefowicz enjoyed a close working relationship with the late Oliver Knussen, performing various concerti, including his violin concerto, together over 30 times.

Alongside pianist John Novacek, with whom she has enjoyed a close collaboration since 1985, Josefowicz has performed recitals at world-renowned venues such as New York’s Zankel Hall, Washington DC’s Kennedy Center and London’s Wigmore Hall, as well as in Reykjavik, Chicago, San Francisco and Santa Barbara. This season, they appear together at Washington DC’s Library of Congress, New York’s Park Avenue Armory and Amherst College. She will also join Thomas Adès in recital to perform the world premiere of his new violin and piano work at Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris and the Japanese premiere at the Tokyo Opera City Cultural Foundation.

Recent highlights include engagements with the Berliner Philharmoniker, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Washington’s National Symphony Orchestra, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich and Boston and Finnish Radio symphony orchestras. In summer 2019, Josefowicz took part in a special collaboration between Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Royal Ballet, and Company Wayne McGregor featuring the music of composer-conductor Thomas Adès.

Josefowicz has released several recordings, notably for Deutsche Grammophon, Philips/Universal and Warner Classics and was featured on Touch Press’s acclaimed iPadapp, The Orchestra. Her latest recording, released in 2019, features Bernd Alois Zimmermann’s Violin Concerto with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted byHannu Lintu. She has previously received nominations for Grammy Awards for her recordings of Scheherazade.2 with the St Louis Symphony conducted by David Robertson, and Esa-Pekka Salonen’s Violin Concerto with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by the composer.

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com and sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to an exceptionally productive practice using the metronome. This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights.

You can check out amazing books recommended by my podcast guests, as well as my favorite websites, cds, the podcasts I like to listen to, and the practice and podcasting tools I use everyday by visiting: www.mindoverfinger.com/resources!

And click here for details on how to work with me:

https://www.mindoverfinger.com/workwithdrg

And don’t forget to join the Mind Over Finger Tribe for additional resources on practice and performing!

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to Susan Blackwell for the introduction! You can find out more about Susan, her fantastic podcast The Spark File, and her work helping creatives of all backgrounds expand their impact by visiting https://www.susanblackwell.com/home.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

081 Effective Practice – Tips, Habits, & Mindsets: Dr. Renée-Paule Gauthier & Eric Mrugala

13 november 2020 | 56 min

Today I’m bringing you a conversation previously aired on the Violin Podcast, hosted by Eric Mrugala.

On the Violin Podcast Eric interviews violinists worldwide on a bi-weekly basis discussing violin news, practice tips, career advice, and their journey with the violin.

Now, this was for the Violin Podcast, but it’s valuable information for all musicians, regardless of the instrument.

Eric and I talked about

How to solve problems in the practice room
How to prepare optimally for performances, auditions, and competitions
Effective mindful practice that yields results
The importance of knowing yourself when it comes to working efficiently
…and much more!

I hope you enjoy this conversation with Eric Mrugala from the Violin Podcast, and that you find some useful tips and inspiration for your work today! Let’s go to the show!

MORE ABOUT THE VIOLIN PODCAST

We interview violinists worldwide on a bi-weekly basis discussing violin news, practice tips, career advice, and their journey with the violin.

The podcast: https://violinpodcast.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/violinpodcast/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/violinpodcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/violinpodcast
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzi3HNgHFQ5ndr9K2OeJYag

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com and sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to an outstanding practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe for additional resources on practice and performing.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to Susan Blackwell for the introduction! You can find out more about Susan, her fantastic podcast The Spark File, and her work helping creatives of all backgrounds expand their impact by visiting https://www.susanblackwell.com/home.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

080 Lori Schiff: The Alexander Technique - At Home with Yourself

6 november 2020 | 59 min

For this episode, I bring you a powerful conversation with world-renowned Alexander Technique teacher Lori Schiff.

As Lori shares on her website, the Alexander Technique “is a method for living better through your own mindfulness in action.” It can help you gain confidence and reduce pain, tension and fatigue. It allows you to connect with yourself to nourish presence and mobility and, from there, leads to performing better in all areas of your life.

Lori expands on:

How Alexander Technique affected her life and her journey
Who the Alexander Technique is for
What the Alexander Technique is: a method for living that teaches us to pay attention and choose our reactions to stimuli
How the Alexander Technique encourages the connection with our self – our wholeness – and the development of conscious control (mind body connector)
How the Alexander Technique is a means to more freedom, for the whole person and their whole life
How it can help in class and in lessons, in the practice room, and on stage

This is an information and inspiration packed episode and I know you will appreciate Lori’s knowledge and wisdom and lover her energy as much as I did!

MORE ABOUT LORI SCHIFF:

Website: http://lorischiff.com/

Ms. Schiff is a full-time professor of The Alexander Technique at The Juilliard School and a guest teaching artist for various schools and organizations nationally and internationally. She has been a faculty member of The Juilliard School since 1991 and was in residence at The Aspen Music Festival and School from 1993 - 2015.

Ms. Schiff joined The Riverside Initiative for The Alexander Technique as Associate Director and Senior Teacher for Teacher Training in 2018.

Ms. Schiff was Certified as a Teacher of the Alexander Technique at ACAT-New York in 1987. She continued with years of postgraduate training with Walter and Dilys Carrington at the Constructive Teaching Centre in London.

She is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Music in Trumpet Performance and has her Masters in Music from Manhattan School of Music.

She served as the Alexander Technique Teacher for the Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artists Development Program, and at the 92nd Street Y in New York City. She also served on the senior faculty of the American Center for the Alexander Technique's Teacher Certification Program.

Institutions where she has been a guest teaching artist include: The New World Symphony, The U.S. Military Academy Band at West Point, The U.S. Army Field Band and U.S. Army Soldier's Chorus, The San Diego Symphony, ToneBank International Music Festival, National Youth Orchestra of China, University of Maryland Opera Studio, and The Internationale Meistersinger Akademie in Neumarkt, Germany.

She has presented Master Classes at institutions including The Metropolitan Opera, Opera America, West Point Military Academy, Fort Meade, The Academy (ACJW) at Carnegie Hall, Manhattan School of Music, Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras, The National Orchestral Institute, The Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra and The New York Youth Symphony, Theater Aspen, MorseLife Senior Residences, and Holland and Knight, LLP.

In 2013, she assisted in organizing and taught the Alexander Technique for actress and playwright, Anna Deavere Smith's Acting and Empathy course in San Francisco. She returned to San Francisco in 2014 to work with Ms. Smith's course, Personal Narratives: Global Identities.

Ms. Schiff is a recognized senior teacher of the Alexander Technique by the American Society for the Alexander Technique and has presented master classes at the AmSAT Annual Meetings in San Francisco, Ann Arbor, Las Vegas, New York City, Boston, and Minneapolis. She was a guest lecturer on Teaching the Alexander Technique in schools of music for The International Congress for the Alexander Technique in Lugano, Switzerland.

Ms. Schiff served on the Board of Directors of the Aspen Music Festival and School as Chair of the Music Committee for nine years and was President and Chairman of the Board of The American Center for the Alexander Technique for five years. More recently, she completed two years on the Board of Directors of The American Society for the Alexander Technique.

Ms. Schiff has a private Alexander Technique practice in NYC. She is the founding director of Flight Feather Productions, LLC, an organization for creating and supporting uplifting educational experiences for corporate and artistic communities.

With composer Lance Horne, she is the Co-Director of Creativity Lab, a program for inspiring community and collaboration through collective creativity.

As a committed recreational runner, she has completed four marathons, several half marathons, and countless 10ks, 5 Milers, 4 Milers, and 5ks.

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com and sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to a super productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights!

Don’t forget to visit the Mind Over Finger Resources’ page to check out amazing books recommended by my podcast guests, as well as my favorite websites, cds, the podcasts I like to listen to, and the practice and podcasting tools I use everyday! Find it here: www.mindoverfinger.com/resources!

And don’t forget to join the Mind Over Finger Tribe for additional resources on practice and performing!

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to Susan Blackwell for the introduction! You can find out more about Susan, her fantastic podcast The Spark File, and her work helping creatives of all backgrounds expand their impact by visiting https://www.susanblackwell.com/home.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

079 Ira Gold: Practicing Wisdom

30 oktober 2020 | 55 min

In this inspiring and motivating conversation, National Symphony double bass player Ira Gold shares his wisdom on practicing and on leading a meaningful musical life.

Ira expands on:

How the things he does are reflections of his passions
How serving the community and those who are following the artistic path has become vital part of his career
How his career grew out of him making the conscious decision of seriously dedicating himself to his musical education
The important of adopting a growth mindset and of being mindful of the information that is available to you and how you can apply it to nurture your long-term goals
The importance of being teachable
The new metrics he uses to define success
How the pandemic has allowed him to take a step back and reflect
Practicing strategies:
- Constructing and deconstructing
- Adding and subtracting
- How to bring life experiences into your art – everything you experience and everything you are influences your playing
How to maximize your learning experience – in college and beyond

MORE ABOUT IRA:

Website: https://irajgold.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BassRabbi

Ira Gold made his Carnegie Hall solo debut in 2011, performing the Vanhal Bass Concerto with the Catholic University of America Symphony Orchestra.

Prior to joining the National Symphony in 2005, he performed with several American orchestras, as Section Bass with the Minnesota Orchestra and as guest Principal Bassist with the San Francisco Symphony and Detroit Symphony. He has attended festivals such as Grand Teton Music Festival, Domaine Forget Music Academy, Bach Festival Leipzig, Aspen, and Tanglewood. Mr. Gold spent several summers at the International Festival Institute at Round Top both as a student and faculty. He is continually in demand for recitals and masterclasses, including recent visits at The Colburn School, University of Southern California, The Moscow State Conservatory, Boston University, New England Conservatory, Boston Conservatory, University of Colorado (Boulder), The Juilliard School, Boston University Tanglewood Institute, The International Society of Bassists Convention, and The Manhattan School of Music. Mr. Gold maintains a studio of private students, has taught lessons and coached chamber music in the National Symphony Orchestra Youth Fellowship program, and has been a Double Bass Faculty member of Peabody Conservatory since 2009. He is also a co-founding member of Peabody Bass Works, a one week bass camp held every July at Peabody Conservatory.

Mr. Gold has been interviewed multiple times by Jason Heath for the podcast Contrabass Conversations, and more recently as a featured guest on The Audition Breakthrough Summit, which launched in March 2017. In 2016 he published an article for the ISB’s journal Bass World, in which he discusses the qualities of teaching that affect the relationship of teacher and student.

An active chamber musician, Mr. Gold has performed with East Coast Chamber Orchestra, the NSO Millenium Stage Prelude Series, Peabody Conservatory Faculty, and the New Orchestra of Washington.

He earned his Bachelor of Music degree at Boston University’s College of Fine Arts, and his Master of Music degree at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, where he won the strings division of the 2005 Concerto Competition. His primary teachers include Edwin Barker and Paul Ellison, and additional studies with Albert Laszlo, Kenneth Harper, Dennis Whittaker, Mark Shapiro, and Harry Lantz.

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com and sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to a super productive practice! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights!

And don’t forget to join the Mind Over Finger Tribe for additional resources on practice and performing!

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Thank you to Susan Blackwell for the introduction! You can find out more about Susan, her fantastic podcast The Spark File, and her work helping creatives of all backgrounds expand their impact by visiting https://www.susanblackwell.com/home.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

078 Finding Your Perfect Teacher: Dr. Renée-Paule Gauthier

16 oktober 2020 | 43 min

In this episode I share with you the conversation I had with Trevor Jones on his Podcast, the Scholarship Roadmap! We cover a lot of ground in this 40-minute conversation including:

The importance finding the right teachers for your education.
Developing an efficient practicing system and excellent awareness
Why practicing slowly isn’t enough
A mini Music Mastery Experience lesson
Comfort and effectiveness in your performance
Reverse Engineering your audition preparation
Chunking, mapping, and learning - deep practice model
Spotlight Performing
Why finding the right teacher can be tricky.
Your relationship with constructive criticism
How to be teachable
Communicating with your teacher
Trust your own work and show them who you are.

I had a great time speaking with Trevor and I hope you find tons of value in our discussion

MORE ABOUT TREVOR AND THE SCHOLARSHIP ROADMAP:

The Scholarship Roadmap: https://thescholarshiproadmap.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thescholarshiproadmap/
FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/thescholarshiproadmap
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-scholarship-roadmap/id1526994519

The Scholarship Roadmap is an online program developed by bassist and educator, Trevor Jones. Trevor is the house bassist at the Marriott Theatre and was the instructor of double bass and bass guitar at Illinois Wesleyan University School of Music from 2012-2020.

Trevor developed The Scholarship Roadmap after a decade of guiding students through the music school preparation process. Student musicians who are pursuing a career in music will benefit from The Scholarship Roadmap. The program will assess the student's needs, align them with the right school and teacher, and focus the student's attention on the fundamentals of the music school preparation process.

"For years I have advocated for my students to attend colleges and universities that best serve their needs. That doesn't mean you need to attend a brand-name school. Many fine institutions will not only serve your musical needs but will pay for you to attend. It is my sincere belief, that a proactive approach can result in a stellar musical education that won't leave you saddled with debt."

I'm Trevor Jones, a bassist, and educator based in Chicago. I perform in symphony halls, clubs, and theaters. For the last five years, I have been the house bassist at The Marriott Theatre, where I have played in over 25 productions. I also perform on Broadway in Chicago, most notably as a substitute for the Chicago production of Hamilton. I have toured across the country and released a handful of recordings with my group Molehill. We have been been featured in online publications and the Chicago Tribune.

As an educator, I was the instructor of double bass and bass guitar for eight years at Illinois Wesleyan University School of Music. I also maintain a studio at Midwest Young Artists in Highwood, IL.

For years I have advocated for my students to attend colleges and universities that best serve their needs. That doesn't mean you need to attend a brand-name school. There are many fine institutions that will not only serve your musical needs but will pay for you to attend. It is my sincere belief, that a proactive approach can result in a stellar musical education that won't leave you saddled

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com and sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to a super productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights!

Head over to the Mind Over Finger Resources’ page to check out amazing books recommended by my podcast guests, as well as my favorite websites, cds, the podcasts I like to listen to, and the practice and podcasting tools I use everyday! Find it here: www.mindoverfinger.com/resources!

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe for additional resources on practice and performing!

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

058 Stefan Jackiw: Overcoming Injury

077 David Cartolano: The Conditioned Musician

9 oktober 2020 | 41 min

In this episode I’m talking health and wellness with David Cartolano, Host of the Conditioned Musician podcast! David is an ACSM certified Exercise Physiologist and has a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and he’s on a mission to build stronger, more resilient, and more creative musicians.

We cover the things that musicians can do to be healthier, practice better, perform more optimally, and, overall, be more happy, productive, and conditioned musicians!

David has a lot of great advice for us, so sit back, relax, and start thinking about the different ways you can improve your musical life

MORE ABOUT DAVID:

Classically Conditioned Program: www.com
Instagram: http://bit.ly/tcmigp
FB Group: http://bit.ly/tcmfbgroup
Podcast: http://bit.ly/tcmpod2pod

More Mind Over Finger Podcast episodes about injury recovery:

044 Sarah Whitney: Thriving Through Injury

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com and sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to a super productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights!

Head over to the Mind Over Finger Resources’ page to check out amazing books recommended by my podcast guests, as well as my favorite websites, cds, the podcasts I like to listen to, and the practice and podcasting tools I use everyday! Find it here: www.mindoverfinger.com/resources!

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe for additional resources on practice and performing!

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

facebook.com/AlisaWeilerstein

076 Alisa Weilerstein: Artistry & Interpretative Depth

25 september 2020 | 27 min

In this episode, I have the great pleasure of speaking about all things mindful practice with international cello soloist Alisa Weilerstein.

Alisa has attracted widespread attention for her playing that combines natural virtuosity and technical precision with impassioned musicianship.

In this episode, Alisa shares insight on:

How her parents nurtured a natural unfolding and healthy progression of her career
Practicing: focusing efficient practice, intentional breaks and time off management (so important for long term sustainability + physical and mental health!)
Her approach to learning a piece
The importance of keeping musicality part of the technical work (as she said “Keeping everything married”)
How practicing mindfully is the key for her to get rid of nerves and feel comfortable in performance
How she plays mock performance for friends
How to develop a natural rubato using the metronome
… and much more!

It’s an information and inspiration packed episode and I hope you enjoy and find value in our discussion!

MORE ABOUT ALISA WEILERSTEIN

alisaweilerstein.com

twitter.com/aweilerstein

instagram.com/alisaweilerstein/

Alisa Weilerstein is one of the foremost cellists of our time. Known for her consummate artistry, emotional investment and rare interpretive depth, she was recognized with a MacArthur “genius grant” Fellowship in 2011. Today her career is truly global in scope, taking her to the most prestigious international venues for solo recitals, chamber concerts, and concerto collaborations with all the preeminent conductors and orchestras worldwide. “Weilerstein is a throwback to an earlier age of classical performers: not content merely to serve as a vessel for the composer’s wishes, she inhabits a piece fully and turns it to her own ends,” marvels the New York Times. “Weilerstein’s cello is her id. She doesn’t give the impression that making music involves will at all. She and the cello seem simply to be one and the same,” agrees the Los Angeles Times. As the UK’s Telegraph put it, “Weilerstein is truly a phenomenon.”

Bach’s six suites for unaccompanied cello figure prominently in Weilerstein’s current programming. Over the past two seasons, she has given rapturously received live accounts of the complete set on three continents, with recitals in New York, Washington DC, Boston, Los Angeles, Berkeley and San Diego; at Aspen and Caramoor; in Tokyo, Osaka, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, London, Manchester, Aldeburgh, Paris and Barcelona; and for a full-capacity audience at Hamburg’s iconic new Elbphilharmonie. During the global pandemic, she has further cemented her status as one of the suites’ leading exponents. Released in April 2020, her Pentatone recording of the complete set became a Billboard bestseller and was named “Album of the Week” by the UK’s Sunday Times. As captured in Vox’s YouTube series, her insights into Bach’s first G-major prelude have been viewed almost 1.5 million times. During the first weeks of the lockdown, she chronicled her developing engagement with the suites on social media, fostering an even closer connection with her online audience by streaming a new movement each day in her innovative #36DaysOfBach project. As the New York Times observed in a dedicated feature, by presenting these more intimate accounts alongside her new studio recording, Weilerstein gave listeners the rare opportunity to learn whether “the pressures of a pandemic [can] change the very sound a musician makes, or help her see a beloved piece in a new way.”

Earlier in the 2019-20 season, as Artistic Partner of the Trondheim Soloists, Weilerstein joined the Norwegian orchestra in London, Munich and Bergen for performances including Haydn’s two cello concertos, as featured on their acclaimed 2018 release, Transfigured Night. She also performed ten more concertos by Schumann, Saint-Saëns, Elgar, Strauss, Shostakovich, Britten, Barber, Bloch, Matthias Pintscher and Thomas Larcher, with the London Symphony Orchestra, Zurich’s Tonhalle Orchestra, Frankfurt Radio Symphony, Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne, Tokyo’s NHK Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, and the Houston, Detroit and San Diego symphonies. In recital, besides making solo Bach appearances, she reunited with her frequent duo partner, Inon Barnatan, for Brahms and Shostakovich at London’s Wigmore Hall, Milan’s Sala Verdi and Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw. To celebrate Beethoven’s 250th anniversary, she and the Israeli pianist performed the composer’s five cello sonatas in Cincinnati and Scottsdale, and joined Guy Braunstein and the Dresden Philharmonic for Beethoven’s Triple Concerto, as heard on the duo’s 2019 Pentatone recording with Stefan Jackiw, Alan Gilbert and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields.

Committed to expanding the cello repertoire, Weilerstein is an ardent champion of new music. She has premiered two important new concertos, giving Pascal Dusapin’s Outscape “the kind of debut most composers can only dream of” (Chicago Tribune) with the co-commissioning Chicago Symphony in 2016 and proving herself “the perfect guide” (Boston Globe) to Matthias Pintscher’s cello concerto un despertar with the co-commissioning Boston Symphony the following year. She has since reprised Dusapin’s concerto with the Stuttgart and Paris Opera Orchestras and Pintscher’s with the Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne and with the Danish Radio Symphony and Cincinnati Symphony, both under the composer’s leadership. It was also under Pintscher’s direction that she gave the New York premiere of his Reflections on Narcissus at the New York Philharmonic’s inaugural 2014 Biennial, before reuniting with him to revisit the work at London’s BBC Proms. She has worked extensively with Osvaldo Golijov, who rewrote Azul for cello and orchestra for her New York premiere performance at the opening of the 2007 Mostly Mozart Festival. Since then she has played the work with orchestras around the world, besides frequently programming his Omaramor for solo cello. Grammy nominee Joseph Hallman has written multiple compositions for her, including a cello concerto that she premiered with the St. Petersburg Philharmonic and a trio that she premiered on tour with Barnatan and clarinetist Anthony McGill. At the 2008 Caramoor festival, she premiered Lera Auerbach’s 24 Preludes for Violoncello and Piano with the composer at the keyboard, and the two subsequently reprised the work at the Schleswig-Holstein Festival, Washington’s Kennedy Center and for San Francisco Performances.

Weilerstein’s recent Bach and Transfigured Night recordings expand her already celebrated discography. Earlier releases include the Elgar and Elliott Carter cello concertos with Daniel Barenboim and the Staatskapelle Berlin, named “Recording of the Year 2013” by BBC Music, which made her the face of its May 2014 issue. Her next album, on which she played Dvořák’s Cello Concerto with the Czech Philharmonic, topped the U.S. classical chart, and her 2016 recording of Shostakovich’s cello concertos with the Bavarian Radio Symphony and Pablo Heras-Casado proved “powerful and even mesmerizing” (San Francisco Chronicle). She and Barnatan made their duo album debut with sonatas by Chopin and Rachmaninoff in 2015, a year after she released Solo, a compilation of unaccompanied 20th-century cello music that was hailed as an “uncompromising and pertinent portrait of the cello repertoire of our time” (ResMusica, France). Solo’s centerpiece is Kodály’s Sonata for Solo Cello, a signature work that Weilerstein revisits on the soundtrack of If I Stay, a 2014 feature film starring Chloë Grace Moretz in which the cellist makes a cameo appearance as herself.

Weilerstein has appeared with all the major orchestras of the United States, Europe and Asia, collaborating with conductors including Marin Alsop, Daniel Barenboim, Jiří Bělohlávek, Semyon Bychkov, Thomas Dausgaard, Sir Andrew Davis, Gustavo Dudamel, Sir Mark Elder, Alan Gilbert, Giancarlo Guerrero, Bernard Haitink, Pablo Heras-Casado, Marek Janowski, Paavo Järvi, Lorin Maazel, Cristian Măcelaru, Zubin Mehta, Ludovic Morlot, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Peter Oundjian, Rafael Payare, Donald Runnicles, Yuri Temirkanov, Michael Tilson Thomas, Osmo Vänskä, Joshua Weilerstein, Simone Young and David Zinman. In 2009, she was one of four artists invited by Michelle Obama to participate in a widely celebrated and high-profile classical music event at the White House, featuring student workshops hosted by the First Lady and performances in front of an audience that included President Obama and the First Family. A month later, Weilerstein toured Venezuela as soloist with the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra under Dudamel, since when she has made numerous return visits to teach and perform with the orchestra as part of its famed El Sistema music education program.

Born in 1982, Alisa Weilerstein discovered her love for the cello at just two and a half, when she had chicken pox and her grandmother assembled a makeshift set of instruments from cereal boxes to entertain her. Although immediately drawn to the Rice Krispies box cello, Weilerstein soon grew frustrated that it didn’t produce any sound. After persuading her parents to buy her a real cello at the age of four, she developed a natural affinity for the instrument and gave her first public performance six months later. At 13, in 1995, she made her professional concert debut, playing Tchaikovsky’s “Rococo” Variations with the Cleveland Orchestra, and in March 1997 she made her first Carnegie Hall appearance with the New York Youth Symphony. A graduate of the Young Artist Program at the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she studied with Richard Weiss, Weilerstein also holds a degree in history from Columbia University. She was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) at nine years old, and is a staunch advocate for the T1D community, serving as a consultant for the biotechnology company eGenesis and as a Celebrity Advocate for JDRF, the world leader in T1D research. Born into a musical family, she is the daughter of violinist Donald Weilerstein and pianist Vivian Hornik Weilerstein, and the sister of conductor Joshua Weilerstein. She is married to Venezuelan conductor Rafael Payare, with whom she has a young child.

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com and sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to a super productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights!

Don’t forget to visit the Mind Over Finger Resources’ page to check out amazing books recommended by my podcast guests, as well as my favorite websites, cds, the podcasts I like to listen to, and the practice and podcasting tools I use everyday! Find it here: www.mindoverfinger.com/resources!

And don’t forget to join the Mind Over Finger Tribe for additional resources on practice and performing!

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

Mindful efficient practice can completely transform the way you perform and feel about-music making!

075 Practicing from the Beginning: Dr. Renée-Paule Gauthier & David Cartolano

18 september 2020 | 50 min

074 Melissa White and Elena Urioste: Powerful Presence

11 september 2020 | 61 min

073 Performance Reboot with Dr. Renée-Paule Gauthier

31 augusti 2020 | 39 min

072 Joyful Practice with Dr. Renée-Paule Gauthier

13 maj 2020 | 25 min

071 Motivation with Dr. Renée-Paule Gauthier

6 maj 2020 | 13 min

070 Jennifer Higdon: A Creative Force

24 april 2020 | 30 min

It’s hard to believe it, but we’ve reached the end of Season 2 of The Mind Over Finger Podcast!!! To celebrate, I have a great treat for you. I’m speaking with one of the most acclaimed and frequently performed composers working today: Jennifer Higdon!

It was an incredible honor to have the chance to sit with Jennifer and to soak up her wisdom and this wonderful energy that she’s got! Among many other things, you’ll get to hear about her unusual path to a career as a composer, how she approaches the compositional process, her view on the classical music world today, and she tells us about the habit that has contributed to her success.

If you think this would change your life…… then this is for YOU!

Dr. Renée-Paule Gauthier invites you to join :

THE MUSIC MASTERY EXPERIENCE

A TRANSFORMATIONAL JOURNEY TO LOVING THE PRACTICE ROOM, ROCKING THE STAGE, WINNING THE JOB, AND TAKING YOUR CAREER TO NEW HEIGHTS

A 3-month experience for all musicians, starting June 1st, 2020

BOOK A CALL AND LET’S SEE HOW WE CAN GET YOU RESULTS!

MORE ABOUT JENNIFER HIGDON:

Website: http://jenniferhigdon.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=jennifer+higdon

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jennifer-Higdon-127096427366514/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/BwFJrDGB2sZ/

Pulitzer Prize and three-time Grammy-winner Jennifer Higdon taught herself to play flute at the age of 15 and began formal musical studies at 18, with an even later start in composition at the age of 21. Despite these obstacles, Jennifer has become a major figure in contemporary Classical music. Her works represent a wide range of genres, from orchestral to chamber, to wind ensemble, as well as vocal, choral and opera. Her music has been hailed by Fanfare Magazine as having "the distinction of being at once complex, sophisticated but readily accessible emotionally", with the Times of London citing it as "…traditionally rooted, yet imbued with integrity and freshness." The League of American Orchestras reports that she is one of America's most frequently performed composers.

Higdon's list of commissioners is extensive and includes The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Chicago Symphony, The Atlanta Symphony, The Cleveland Orchestra, The Minnesota Orchestra, The Pittsburgh Symphony, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, as well such groups as the Tokyo String Quartet, the Lark Quartet, Eighth Blackbird, and the President's Own Marine Band. She has also written works for such artists as baritone Thomas Hampson, pianists Yuja Wang and Gary Graffman, violinists Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, Jennifer Koh and Hilary Hahn. Her first opera, Cold Mountain, won the prestigious International Opera Award for Best World Premiere in 2016; the first American opera to do so in the award's history. Performances of Cold Mountain sold out its premiere run in Santa Fe, North Carolina, and Philadelphia (becoming the third highest selling opera in Opera Philadelphia's history).

Upcoming commissions include a chamber opera for Opera Philadelphia, a string quartet for the Apollo Chamber Players, a double percussion concerto for the Houston Symphony, an orchestral suite for the Made In America project, and a flute concerto for the National Flute Associations' 50th anniversary.

Higdon received the 2010 Pulitzer Prize in Music for her Violin Concerto, with the committee citing the work as "a deeply engaging piece that combines flowing lyricism with dazzling virtuosity." She has also received awards from the Guggenheim Foundation, the American Academy of Arts & Letters, the Koussevitzky Foundation, the Pew Fellowship in the Arts, The Independence Foundation, the NEA, and ASCAP. As winner of the Van Cliburn Piano Competition's American Composers Invitational, Higdon's Secret & Glass Gardens was performed by the semi-finalists during the competition.

Higdon has been a featured composer at many festivals including Aspen, Tanglewood, Vail, Norfolk, Grand Teton, and Cabrillo. She has served as Composer-in-Residence with several orchestras, including the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Fort Worth Symphony. She was honored to serve as the Creative Director of the Boundless Series for the Cincinnati Symphony's 2012-13 season. During the 2016-17 and 2017-18 academic years Higdon served as the prestigious Barr Laureate Scholar at the University of Missouri Kansas City.

Most recently, Higdon received the prestigious Nemmers Prize from Northwestern University which is awarded to contemporary classical composers of exceptional achievement who have significantly influenced the field of composition. Beginning in 2018, Higdon will complete two residences at the Bienen School of Music as the Nemmers Prize recipient. Also in the 2018-19 season, Higdon will be in residence at University of Texas, Austin, as part of the Eddie Medora King Award.

Higdon enjoys more than 200 performances a year of her works. Her orchestral work, blue cathedral, is one of the most performed contemporary orchestral works in the repertoire, more than 600 performances since its premiere in 2000.

Her works have been recorded on over 60 CDs. Higdon has thrice won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Classical Composition: first for her Percussion Concerto in 2010 and in 2018 for her Viola Concerto.

Dr. Higdon received a Bachelor's Degree in Music from Bowling Green State University, an Artist Diploma from The Curtis Institute of Music, and an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. She has been awarded honorary doctorates from the Hartt School and Bowling Green State University.

Dr. Higdon currently holds the Rock Chair in Composition at The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Her music is published exclusively by Lawdon Press.

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com and sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to a super productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights!

Don’t forget to visit the Mind Over Finger Resources’ page to check out amazing books recommended by my podcast guests, as well as my favorite websites, cds, the podcasts I like to listen to, and the practice and podcasting tools I use everyday! Find it here: www.mindoverfinger.com/resources!

And don’t forget to join the Mind Over Finger Tribe for additional resources on practice and performing!

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

Join my FREE 3-day training: The Performance Makeover Masterclass

069 Simon Fischer: Practicing & Performing Wisdom

17 april 2020 | 68 min

In this very special episode, I’m speaking with violinist and pedagogue Simon Fischer, who is recognized world-wide as a performer, educator and recording artist, and who’s published work greatly influences the teaching of the violin. In this conversation Simon talks to us in details about the fundamentals of high quality practice and performance preparation, and shares incredible wisdom on various aspects of efficient learning.

Monday 4/20 through Wednesday 4/22 11 am CT / 12pm ET

I can’t wait to discuss optimal performance with you!

Sign up here: https://mailchi.mp/f2552e4cb885/performancemakeover

MORE ABOUT SIMON FISCHER:

Website: https://www.simonfischeronline.com/

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqleyIypa4AsYxW1bnOYGoQ

Facebook: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqleyIypa4AsYxW1bnOYGoQ

Simon’s INCREDIBLE books: https://www.simonfischeronline.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html

Simon Fischer is recognised as one of the pre-eminent musicians of our time, enjoying a distinguished and wide-ranging career as a performer, educator and recording artist.

As a recitalist he has performed in the UK, the USA, Europe and Australia, at venues including the Wigmore Hall and the Purcell Room. Alongside standard repertoire he delights audiences by performing his own transcriptions of famous works by composers such as Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn, Johann Strauss, Rossini and Purcell. For many years Simon played duo recitals with his father, the pianist Raymond Fischer. Amongst UK and foreign touring projects they played the three Brahms Sonatas in a live broadcast from Sydney, Australia. These Sonatas have also been recorded on CD, receiving high praise in Gramophone Magazine.

Simon Fischer has frequently played as soloist or leader/soloist with major orchestras including the Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic, BBC Philharmonic, Scottish Chamber and the Ulster Orchestra, working with celebrated conductors such as Vladimir Ashkenazy, Sir Charles Groves, Richard Hickox, Andrew Litton, Sir Yehudi Menuhin, Yan-Pascal Tortelier and André Previn. As a chamber musician he was leader of the Chamber Group of Scotland, with whom he gave many broadcasts and concerts of contemporary music, and worked closely with composers such as Sally Beamish and James MacMillan. He has directed the European Union Chamber Orchestra on tours including to Korea, China and Ireland.

Simon Fischer is recognised as having a place amongst the world's elite teachers. Having studied in London with Yfrah Neaman, and in New York with Dorothy DeLay, Fischer's approach unites the best elements of the French, Russian and American violin traditions.

He is a professor at the Guildhall School of Music. He has also held positions at three specialist music schools, the Yehudi Menuhin, Wells Cathedral and Purcell, For 15 years he was also a visiting professor at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music.

Fischer's published work greatly influences the teaching of the violin. Having written for The Strad magazine from 1991-2014, his monthly articles attracted a worldwide following.

Published by Edition Peters, his technique books Basics and Practice, Scales and The Violin Lesson (translated variously into Korean, Italian, Japanese and German), have become standards on many continents - as has his DVD The Secrets of Tone Production, His book and DVD Warming Up, was described by The Strad magazine as "23 pages of pure technical gold".

In 2014 Simon Fischer was awarded the European String Teachers Association prize "In celebration of a lifetime contribution to String Teaching".

In conjunction with his playing engagements he frequently gives masterclasses and workshops . Recent residencies have taken place in the USA, Holland, Italy, Norway, Ireland, Hong Kong, Germany and Australia. Simon Fischer plays a violin by Peter Guarnerius of Venice from c. 1732.

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com and sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to a super productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights!

Don’t forget to visit the Mind Over Finger Resources’ page to check out amazing books recommended by my podcast guests, as well as my favorite websites, cds, the podcasts I like to listen to, and the practice and podcasting tools I use everyday! Find it here: www.mindoverfinger.com/resources!

And don’t forget to join the Mind Over Finger Tribe for additional resources on practice and performing!

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

Join my FREE 3-Day TRAINING: The Performance Makeover Masterclass

068 Lauren Pierce: Bassically Fabulous

10 april 2020 | 57 min

This week, I’m speaking with fabulous double bass player, Lauren Pierce!

Known for her hugely popular YouTube channel, which features her virtuosic performances and has more than 13 thousand followers and 1.3 million views, Lauren is a highly regarded soloist, musical innovator, and educator.

As you’ll hear in our conversation, Lauren is an amazingly thoughtful musician, who has put a great amount of effort in refining the process of practicing and expanding her skills and artistry.

Among many things, we discuss her highly intentional and effective approach practicing and learning new repertoire, how our habits and our rituals create the life we have, and the importance of having clarity in building a career.

Lauren also talks about

How her musical path unfolded
How the repertoire for the double bass is evolving these days
How her deep love of the instrument, her passion for music, and her profound interest for the process fuel her enthusiasm for practicing
Her amazing program - The Virtuosity Blueprint

Monday 4/20 through Wednesday 4/22 11 am CT / 12pm ET

I can’t wait to discuss optimal performance with you!

Sign up here: https://mailchi.mp/f2552e4cb885/performancemakeover

MORE ABOUT LAUREN PIERCE:

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXd5tle97L70_79yl72c32g

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaurenPierceBass/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bassicallyfabulous/?hl=en

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bassicallyfab?lang=en

Lauren’s amazing Virtuosity Blueprint program: https://laurenpierce.lpages.co/the-virtuosity-blueprint/

Lauren Pierce is one of those generational instrumentalists with not only the technique necessary to excel on her instrument, but with a flair and presentation that amazes everyone who watches her musically navigate on the double bass. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Lauren began her musical studies at the age of seven on piano and voice. Later, she was introduced to the Double Bass and soon began lessons with the late Douglas Sommer, section bassist for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

She continued her studies at the University of South Carolina under the tutelage of Dr. Craig Butterfield. During her studies at USC, Lauren was given the Presser Scholar Award, named a Magellan Scholar, and in 2010, performed a concerto with the University of South Carolina Symphony as the winner of that years USC Concerto Competition. After graduating from USC, Lauren moved to Denton, Texas to study with Jeffrey Bradetich and work as his Teaching Fellow. As a Teaching Fellow, she was in charge of maintaining a studio of college-aged double bassists and often running master classes for the full double bass studio at UNT. During this period, Lauren competed in the American String Teachers Association Competition and the International Society of Bassists Competition. In 2016, she was named a Pirastro Strings Artist, sponsored by the largest bowed string company in the world, Pirastro Strings.

Her popularity through performance videos on YouTube is unparalleled in the classical music world. Lauren is regarded as a musical innovator through her performing and teaching, and is famous for playing works for instruments other than the double bass with ease and virtuosity.

Lauren has worked in many different genres and artistic mediums. She has worked as a section member for many orchestras, including the South Carolina Philharmonic, the Austin Symphony, the Austin Lyric Opera, and the Laredo Philharmonic. Lauren appeared as a soloist in the 2011 film "Luz," by Los Angeles filmmaker Ellie Ann Fenton. She has recorded as a soloist on multiple albums, including singer-songwriter Collin Hauser's debut album Collin Hauser, Fall River Footman's Mullen Road, and R&B artist Mikaela Kahn's Milk And Honey.

Lauren brings an impressive performance repertoire to the table, exceptional for the double bass, where she takes many a risk playing works designed for more versatile and manageable smaller instruments. Most critics find her flair and presentation almost magical. Her music has been featured many times on sites such as Classic FM, MusicOff, The Entreprenurial Musician Podcast, Discover Double Bass, Jason Heath's Double Bass Blog, Patternroot, and more.

Lauren is a frequent clinician at several workshops, including the Bradetich Summer Bass Camps, the Austin Bass Workshop, and Bassmania at Columbus State University. She resides in Austin, Texas, where she enjoys teaching, performing, and working on her zombie romance novel, The Loving Dead.

Lauren plays on a small Italian instrument, built by an unknown maker, ca. 1850s.

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com and sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to a super productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights!

Don’t forget to visit the Mind Over Finger Resources’ page to check out amazing books recommended by my podcast guests, as well as my favorite websites, cds, the podcasts I like to listen to, and the practice and podcasting tools I use everyday! Find it here: www.mindoverfinger.com/resources!

And don’t forget to join the Mind Over Finger Tribe for additional resources on practice and performing!

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

TURN THE METRONOME ON AND START PRACTICING BETTER AND LEARNING FASTER RIGHT NOW! GET YOUR FREE METRONOME GUIDE TODAY AT www.mindoverfinger.com!!!!

067 Lara St. John: Creativity & Ease in Practice

3 april 2020 | 60 min

In this episode, famed violinist Lara St. John discusses several aspects of practicing and performance preparation, including the importance of working on the fundamentals, fostering curiosity and creativity in our work, developing our listening skills, and practicing performing.

Lara also expands on:

How she learned to “speak” violin
How curiosity and listening skills are at the core of developing freedom to improvise on the instrument and to improve our versatility as performers
Her process to prepare a work for a performance
The importance of practicing in a relaxed state
How she always maximizes time when she practices
The awesome story of how she came to rethink how she approached Bach
Her advice on managing expectations in performance
Her “social distancing” artistic plans, including learning 2 concerti that were written for her, an upcoming home recital for The Violin Channel, her new cd coming out April 17, 2020, and the documentary she’s working on, which covers a topic that is really close to her heart

And so much more!

Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to a super productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights!

More about Lara:

Website: https://www.larastjohn.com/

Ancalagon Records: https://www.larastjohn.com/ancalagon

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stjohnlara/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AncalagonRecords/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/stjohnlara?lang=en

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Ancalagon33

Lara’s tips on relaxation in playing as found in the Strings Magazine: https://stringsmagazine.com/shutdown-skills-series-relaxation-tips-from-lara-st-john/

Canadian-born violinist Lara St. John has been described as "something of a phenomenon" by The Strad and a “high-powered soloist” by the New York Times.

She has performed as soloist with the orchestras of Cleveland, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, the Boston Pops, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, NDR Symphony, Zurich Chamber Orchestra, Ensemble Orchestral de Paris, Strasbourg Philharmonic, Bournemouth Symphony, Camerata Ireland, Belgrade Symphony, Amsterdam Symphony, and the Akbank Chamber Orchestra in Turkey, among others.

Lara has also performed with the Queensland Orchestra, Adelaide Symphony, ACO², Auckland Philharmonia, Tokyo Symphony, Kyoto Symphony, Yomiuri Nippon Symphony, Hong Kong Philharmonic, China Philharmonic, Hangzhou Symphony and the Shanghai Symphony.

She has traveled to Latin America for appearances with the Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela, the Sao Paulo Symphony, Rio de Janeiro’s Orquestra Sinfonica Brasileira, Orquestra Filarmônica de Minas Gerais, Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional del Ecuador, Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de México, the SODRE in Montevideo and the Sociedad Filarmónica de Lima in Peru.

Recitals in major concert halls have included New York, Boston, San Francisco, Ravinia, Wolf Trap, Washington DC, Prague, Berlin, Toronto, Montreal, Bogotá, Lima, and in the Forbidden City.

The Los Angeles Times wrote “Lara St. John happens to be a volcanic violinist with a huge, fabulous tone that pours out of her like molten lava. She has technique to burn and plays at a constant high heat.”

Lara owns and runs her own label, Ancalagon, which she founded in 1999. Bach: The Six Sonatas & Partitas for Violin Solo was the best-selling double album on iTunes in 2007. Her 2008 world premiere recording of Matthew Hindson’s Violin Concerto prompted Gramophone to write: “It’s the sort of work that should get audiences running, not walking, back to concert halls on new-music nights.”

In 2009, American Record Guide said of her Vivaldi/Piazzolla disc with the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela: “I can imagine no suaver, more atmospheric performance.” Her Mozart recording won a Juno Award in 2011.

In 2014, her Schubert album with Berlin Philharmonic harpist Marie-Pierre Langlamet, cellist Ludwig Quandt and soprano Anna Prohaska was chosen as one of ‘The Best CDs of Spring’ by Der Tagsesspiegel and MDR Figaro recommended it for its “boundless enchantment.”

Her 2016 release of re-imagined folk music with pianist Matt Herskowitz got a five-star review from All About Jazz: “Music like this is beyond imagination and talent. It exists only in the loosely-held molecules found on the razor's edge of Creation.”

She has been featured in People, US News and World Report, on CNN's Showbiz Today, NPR's All Things Considered, CBC, BBC, a Bravo! Special: Live at the Rehearsal Hall and on the cover of Strings.

Lara began playing the violin when she was two years old. She made her first appearance as soloist with orchestra at age four, and her European debut with the Gulbenkian Orchestra when she was 10. She toured Spain, France, Portugal and Hungary at ages 12 and 13 and entered the Curtis Institute at 13. Her teachers have included Felix Galimir and Joey Corpus.

She performs on the 1779 “Salabue” Guadagnini.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

And…

Don’t forget to visit the Mind Over Finger Resources’ page to check out amazing books recommended by my podcast guests, as well as my favorite websites, cds, the podcasts I like to listen to, and the practice and podcasting tools I use everyday! Find it here: www.mindoverfinger.com/resources!

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

TURN THE METRONOME ON AND START PRACTICING BETTER AND LEARNING FASTER RIGHT NOW! GET YOUR FREE METRONOME GUIDE TODAY AT www.mindoverfinger.com!!!!

066 Sondra Radvanovsky: Authenticity & Expression

27 mars 2020 | 44 min

Today on the show, I’m so excited to speak with the incredible and globally celebrated soprano Sondra Radvanovsky!

In our conversation, Sondra covers a variety of topics, including how she prepares for a role, the importance of understanding how we learn, how to perform at our best, and the importance of kindness in our field.

She also expands on:

The importance of understanding how and how quickly we learn
When it’s good to walk away and hit reset in order to learn faster
How a desire to please and to express emotions can negatively affect the quality of our performance
The importance of being in the moment during a performance
How she prioritizes her health while maintaining a heavy performing schedule involving lots of travel

Sondra has wonderful insight in store for you, and I know you will enjoy this episode!

Don’t forget to visit the Mind Over Finger Resources’ page to check out amazing books recommended by my podcast guests, as well as my favorite websites, cds, the podcasts I like to listen to, and the practice and podcasting tools I use everyday! Find it here: www.mindoverfinger.com/resources!

And join the Mind Over Finger Book Club in the Tribe! We meet HERE, and we’ll begin 2020 with The Inner Game of Golf by Tim Gallwey!

Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to a super productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights!

More about Sondra Radvanovsky:

Website: https://www.sondraradvanovsky.com/:

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=sondra+radvanovsky

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sondra-Radvanovsky-43465428333/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sondraradvanovsky/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SondraRadvan?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Sondra at The Met: https://www.metopera.org/discover/artists/soprano/sondra-radvanovsky/

Soprano Sondra Radvanovsky is a globally celebrated artist. The depth and exquisite color of her voice are matched by her dramatic acting ability and versatility across a remarkable range of repertoire, from the title roles in Rusalka and Lucrezia Borgia, to Roxanne in Cyrano de Bergerac and the title role in Manon Lescaut. She is widely regarded as one of the premiere Verdi sopranos alive today, as well as one of the premiere interpreters of bel canto.

Radvanovsky begins the 2019-20 season in the title role of a production of Sir David McVicar’s Rusalka at the Canadian Opera Company. She then performs in concert and recital in Vancouver, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Ã Coruña (Spain) and Baden-Baden (Germany). Radvanovsky will sing a concert titled “The Three Queens” at the Chicago Lyric Opera, a concert featuring the last act of each of the three Queens trilogy. This will be followed by a concert version of Il Pirata at the Palais Garnier in Paris. In February 2020, the soprano will be singing Liza in Pique Dame at the Chicago Lyric Opera. This is followed by both the title role in Aida and Liza in Pique Dame at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. The season ends with Sondra Radvanovsky singing the title role of Aida at the Staatsoper in Vienna.

She has performed in every major opera house in the world, including the Royal Opera House, Teatro alla Scala, Opernhaus Zürich, and numerous others. Her signature interpretations of Verdi's heroines include the title roles in Aïda and Luisa Miller, Elvira in Ernani, Elena in I Vespri Siciliani, Elisabeth de Valois in Don Carlo, Amelia in Simon Boccanegra, and Lina in Stiffelio, among others.

She trained at the Metropolitan Opera in the late 1990s in the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program. After performances in smaller roles there, Radvanovsky caught the attention of critics as Antonia in Les Contes d'Hoffmann and was singled out as a soprano to watch. On the concert platform, she has sung with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Verbier Festival Orchestra, both with James Levine; with the Chicago Symphony and David Zinman; with the San Francisco Symphony and James Conlon, and with the Bayerische Staatsoper and Zubin Mehta.

Radvanovsky's debut recording, Verdi Arias, was released in April 2010 on the Delos label. The album quickly became a critical hit and made several season-best lists, including those of NPR and The New Yorker. In 2011 Delos released a CD of Verdi opera scenes with Radvanovsky and her frequent artistic partner Dmitri Hvorostovsky to coincide with the pair’s return to the Met stage in Il Trovatore. The disc was recorded with the Philharmonia of Russia and Constantine Orbelian.

Radvanovsky is no stranger to the screen. She stars in a Naxos DVD of Cyrano de Bergerac alongside Plácido Domingo, and in Il Trovatore, Un Ballo in Maschera, and Roberto Devereux for the wildly popular “Met: Live in HD” series. She has also been an enthusiastic host for the “Live in HD” transmissions of La Fanciulla del West, Otello, and Francesca da Rimini.

Born just outside Chicago, Radvanovsky now makes her home with her husband near Toronto and has dual citizenship.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

your free guide to a super productive practice

065 Kimberlee Dray: Adaptability & Mission in Music Making

20 mars 2020 | 70 min

065 Kimberlee Dray: Adaptability & Mission in Music Making

I’m incredibly happy that my guest today is violinist and composer Kimberlee Dray! Kimberlee is an incredible example of adaptability, resourcefulness, and courage in the face of adversity, and I can’t think of a better message to share today than her story!

In this episode, Kimberlee talks about her return to music – how she answered the call and how she let no obstacles stand in the way of her following her dream path.

Kimberlee strives to wake others who have allowed their music to lapse, inviting them back and standing as witness of the power of music to heal. She hopes her music will illustrate the potential of motivated work and the possibilities when one answers an inner call.

I drew so much inspiration from my conversation with Kimberlee, and I know you will too! Let’s go to the show!

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe HERE!

Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter to get

using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights!

Visit the Mind Over Finger Resources’ page to check out amazing books recommended by my podcast guests, as well as my favorite websites, cds, the podcasts I like to listen to, and the practice and podcasting tools I use every day!

More about Kimberlee:

Website: http://kimberleedray.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greencasegirl/

The Share Music Society on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/611434913027504/

Kimberlee in the news:

https://fiddlershop.com/blogs/fiddlershop-blog/fiddlershops-music-is-for-everyone-series-kimberlee-dray

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/a-vision-and-a-violin-yakima-woman-takes-a-non/article_06d9cfad-22c5-5ed5-9534-142a87b43f99.html

As the eldest of twelve children, family was always a central theme for violinist Kimberlee Dray. When music dreams naturally gave way to parenthood, Kimberlee followed the rhythm until she was diagnosed with Menieres Disease. Healing took the form of a highly motivated return to the violin; her subsequent dedication eventually lessened symptoms and brought on a remission.

Kimberlee’s offbeat path led to performances in masterclass for luminaries such as Joseph Silverstein and Elmar Oliveira, to study with Aaron Rosand at Summit Music Festival and Sherry Kloss at the Heifetz Symposium, culminating in a three-year commute from Seattle to New York City to train with Nina Beilina of the Mannes School of Music. Juggling four children and advanced violin study required healthy doses of negotiating and creativity, bribes, begging, freezer meals.

Prior to her ten-year hiatus, Kimberlee was honored with the Clark Mathesius music scholarship, studying with Nell Gotkovsky at Brigham Young University, ultimately graduating in English literature.

Kimberlee has been honored to solo with orchestras and perform for recital series throughout the United States. She has premiered her own composition for solo violin at The Salon in Philadelphia and completed a commission for violin and piano premiered by Sherry Kloss at the Jascha Heifetz Symposium. She recorded a work for solo violin by Christopher Lacy and seeks opportunities to collaborate with other contemporary composers. An active recitalist, Kimberlee is particularly fond of lesser known works from twentieth-century American composers.

Kimberlee strives to wake others who have allowed their music to lapse, inviting them back and standing as witness of the power of music to heal. She hopes her music will illustrate the potential of motivated work and the possibilities when one answers an inner call.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

064 Karen Bulmer: Music, Mind, & Movement

13 mars 2020 | 50 min

064 Karen Bulmer: Music, Mind, & Movement

I’m really happy to welcome Karen Bulmer, Associate Professor of Trombone, Euphonium and Tuba, at memorial University, and host of the Music, Mind, and Movement Podcast to the show!

In our conversation, with cover many topics, including:

How our feelings towards practice affects our attitude about performance
Attention, intention, playfulness, and exploration in practice
How mindfulness helps us relate in a positive way to stress and stimuli
Some tools musicians can develop to get more connected with their body & exercises that can help us engage our mind/body connection
What lead her to the mindfulness path
The Music, Mind, & Movement Podcast
What happens when someone undertakes meditation and how it affects their practice and performance
The balance she’s created in her life (so inspiring!!!) & the importance of finding balance in our lives

I’m a huge fan of the Music, Mind, and movement podcast, and I hope all of you will check it out! Karen is a wise host, with so much knowledge and experience in the field of mindful music-making, and I’ve found so much inspiration from her words!

At a time when things seem to be getting only more stressful and hectic, Karen brings us a message of very much needed mindful attention, and I think you will really resonate with our discussion!

Visit the Mind Over Finger Resources’ page to check out amazing books recommended by my podcast guests, as well as my favorite websites, cds, the podcasts I like to listen to, and the practice and podcasting tools I use every day!

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe HERE!

Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to a super productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights!

More about Karen:

Website: https://musicmindandmovement.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musicmindandmovement/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musicmindandmovement/

Karen Bulmer is a versatile tuba player, educator, and writer. She is active as a tuba soloist and improviser and has performed her original one-woman show, Girl Meets Tuba, which chronicles her on-again off-again relationship with the tuba, in venues across Canada. Her radio piece, Joined at the Lip, which first aired on CBC’s Outfront in 2001, continues to be featured at radio festivals around the world, most recently at the Copenhagen Radio Cinema. Karen has presented at the annual inter-disciplinary ideaCity conference in Toronto and has recorded and performed with some of the finest classical, folk, and pop artists in Newfoundland.

In recent years, Karen’s research and creative interests have expanded to include the exploration of various mind-body practices and their particular relevance to musicians. Her unique Mind/Body Tools for Musicians program combines mindfulness with movement and self-regulation strategies to help musicians access a greater sense of their innate capacity for expression, presence, and resilience. Karen is also the creator and host of the Music, Mind, and Movement Podcast, a show that explores holistic approaches to music training and performance through in-depth conversations with educators, health professionals, somatic practitioners, and more. To listen to the podcast or to find out more about Karen’s work, including tips and tools to implement in your own practice, visit her website: www.musicmindandmovement.com

Karen holds a Bachelor of Musical Arts from the University of Western Ontario, a Professional Studies Diploma from the HARID Conservatory, and both a Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts from Yale University. Karen trained in meditation facilitation under the mentorship of Michael Stone and is a certified yoga instructor with additional training in biomechanics, anatomy, and movement for trauma.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

TURN THE METRONOME ON AND START PRACTICING BETTER AND LEARNING FASTER RIGHT NOW! GET YOUR FREE METRONOME GUIDE TODAY AT www.mindoverfinger.com!!!!

063 Robert Hanford: Exploration in Practice

6 mars 2020 | 36 min

In this episode, we discuss many important topics, including curiosity and exploration in practicing, the importance of maintaining a strong technical regimen, strategies to learn and handle a lot of repertoire in the context of an orchestra job, and tactics to foster focus in the practice room.

Robert also elaborates on:

How his career evolved into what it is today
The different elements he got from his various teachers
The importance of being eager to acquire more knowledge
How books inspired his practice
The importance of varying what we practice, and intentionally keeping practicing feeling rewarding
Curiosity and thorough thinking as a strategy to foster focus in the practice room
Using a script in practice

Robert is an incredible musician, with great wisdom and I know you’ll find much inspiration in what he’s sharing with us today!

Robert Hanford is concertmaster of the Lyric Opera of Chicago. During the summer, he is a concertmaster and instructor at the Aspen Music Festival. Previously, Mr. Hanford was the Associate Principal Second Violinist of the Minnesota Orchestra, a member of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and a member of Chicago's Grant Park Symphony. He has appeared as soloist on many occasions with the Minnesota Orchestra, the Milwaukee Symphony and other Midwestern orchestras, including the Chicago Philharmonic. He has performed with numerous chamber ensembles, most recently as a member of the Rembrandt Chamber Players. For many summers, he was concertmaster and violin instructor at the Birch Creek Music Festival in Wisconsin and performed and taught at the MidAmerica Chamber Music Festival, the Milwaukee Chamber Music Festival and the Roycroft Chamber Music Festival.

In addition to his professional career as a violinist, Robert has studied and performed on the theremin, one of the first electronic instruments. Robert is also an amateur artist blacksmith, having attended courses of study in Wyoming and Illinois. Other interests include table tennis, juggling, unicycling, and high-voltage electronics.

Mr. Hanford lives in Evanston, Illinois, with his wife Sheila, also a violinist. They have three sons.

Don’t forget to visit the Mind Over Finger Resources’ page to check out amazing books recommended by my podcast guests, as well as my favorite websites, cds, the podcasts I like to listen to, and the practice and podcasting tools I use everyday! Find it here: www.mindoverfinger.com/resources!

And join the Mind Over Finger Book Club in the Tribe! We meet HERE!

Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to a super productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights!

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

062 Howard Herring: The 21st Century Musician

28 februari 2020 | 45 min

I’m incredibly happy to welcome someone I admire and respect profoundly to the show this week: Howard Herring, President and CEO of the New world Symphony!

In our conversation, Howard talks about the many aspects of NWS, including the first rate musical training , the incredible programs and initiatives that they have, the support they offer to their musicians, the richness they bring to their community, how they train future leaders in our industry, and how we can all be powerful agents of artistic innovation in our communities.

He also elaborates on:

Their formula for audience building
How they create programs tailored for their audience
The importance of creating an experience for the audience and getting feedback from the public

NEW ON THE WEBSITE: A Resources page!

You can find my favorite websites, cds, as well as the other podcasts I like to listen to and the amazing books recommended by my podcast guests!

TURN THE METRONOME ON AND START PRACTICING BETTER AND LEARNING FASTER RIGHT NOW! GET YOUR FREE METRONOME GUIDE TODAY AT www.mindoverfinger.com!!!!

Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to a super productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights!

MORE ABOUT HOWARD AND ABOUT THE NEW WORLD SYMPHONY:

Website: https://www.nws.edu/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewWorldSymphony

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nwsymphony/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nwsymphony

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN0U8vgodeDz9pL16A_eBTA

Howard Herring

Howard Herring is a native of Oklahoma, a pianist by training, and now President and CEO of the New World Symphony. After his academic work at Southern Methodist University and Manhattan School of Music, he was pianist of the Claremont Trio, a winner of the Artists International Competition, and an active musician and teacher in New York City. In 1986, he became Executive Director of the Caramoor Music Festival. Mr. Herring led that institution’s development of the Rising Stars program for young instrumentalists, Bel Canto at Caramoor for young singers, and a curriculum-based arts program integrating music and visual art into K-12 studies. During his fifteen-year tenure, Caramoor celebrated its 50th anniversary and established its first endowment.

In 2001, Mr. Herring assumed leadership of the New World Symphony – America’s Orchestral Academy, a three-year post-graduate fellowship program for aspiring classical musicians and leaders. He was given the charge of energizing the institution’s national and international profile and developing a new building designed to explore its unique experiential curriculum and cutting edge digital work. The building was completed on time and on budget and opened to national and international acclaim in January 2011. The New World Center, designed by Frank Gehry, enables New World Symphony to exploit the global reach of broadband technology for education and digital capabilities for artistic expression. New World Fellows are exploring the establishment of an online music education community, integration of music and video, and engagement of new audiences through alternate performance formats. Dynamic partnerships with professional orchestras and distinguished music schools have been formed around these experiments.

New World Symphony

The New World Symphony, America’s Orchestral Academy (NWS), prepares graduates of music programs for leadership roles in professional orchestras and ensembles. In the 32 years since its co-founding by Artistic Director Michael Tilson Thomas and Lin and Ted Arison, NWS has helped launch the careers of more than 1,100 alumni worldwide.

A laboratory for the way music is taught, presented and experienced, the New World Symphony consists of 87 young musicians who are granted fellowships lasting up to three years. The fellowship program offers in-depth exposure to traditional and modern repertoire, professional development training and personalized experiences working with leading guest conductors, soloists and visiting faculty. Relationships with these artists are extended through NWS’s extensive distance learning via the internet.

MISSION

The mission of the New World Symphony is to prepare highly-gifted graduates of music programs for leadership roles in orchestras and ensembles around the world.

VISION

The New World Symphony envisions a strong and secure future for classical music and will redefine, reaffirm, express and share its traditions with as many people as possible.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The New World Symphony is dedicated to the artistic, personal and professional development of outstanding instrumentalists. The NWS fellowship program provides graduates of music programs the opportunity to enhance their musical education with the finest professional training. A laboratory for musical education and expression, the New World Symphony, through a wide range of performance and instructional activities, seeks to develop in its participants the full complement of skills and qualifications required of 21st-century first-class musicians. Under the artistic direction of Michael Tilson Thomas, the program offers in-depth exposure to traditional and modern repertoire, with the active involvement of leading guest conductors, soloists and visiting faculty. The relationships with these artists are extended through NWS's pioneering experimentation with distance learning and performance.

CULTURE

The New World Symphony is committed to maintaining an educational, working, and living environment founded on civility and mutual respect. We have a philosophy of continuous improvement and are committed to strengthening this environment for the benefit of our Fellows, employees, and entire community.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

TURN THE METRONOME ON AND START PRACTICING BETTER AND LEARNING FASTER RIGHT NOW! GET YOUR FREE METRONOME GUIDE TODAY AT www.mindoverfinger.com!!!!

061 Violaine Melançon: Becoming a Well-Rounded Artist

21 februari 2020 | 43 min

I’m really honored to have violinist Violaine Melançon on the show this week to discuss her views on the skills young musicians need to develop to become well-rounded artists.

As you’ll get to hear, Violaine is an artist of great depth and a dedicated pedagogue with wonderful wisdom and empathy. I’m certain that you will resonate with her message and walk away inspired and motivated

In our conversation, Violaine expands on:

The importance of choosing a teacher that will be a good fit
The wonderful teaching philosophies of Isadore Tinkleman, which created “searching musicians” and fostered thinking and creativity in his students
The importance of learning to listen and trust your ear
Becoming a “Searching Musician”
The importance of being versatile
How and how long we should practice
What summer festivals can bring to a young musician’s development
How much we learn when we teach
The importance of having a good balance between routine, consistency, and variety
Listening to yourself as if you were your own best student (which will help you listen better and assess what is objectively)
Her main “engines:” curiosity, creativity in problem-solving, and yoga
Her wise advice to students
Her beautiful actionable tip: find a way to be inspired every day

Don’t forget to visit the Mind Over Finger Resources’ page to check out amazing books recommended by my podcast guests, as well as my favorite websites, cds, the podcasts I like to listen to, and the practice and podcasting tools I use every day! Find it here: www.mindoverfinger.com/resources!

And join the Mind Over Finger Book Club in the Tribe! We meet HERE, and we’ll begin 2020 with The Inner Game of Golf by Tim Gallwey!

Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to a super productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights!

MORE ABOUT VIOLAINE MELANÇON:

Website: https://www.violaineMelançon.com/

An artist deeply dedicated to the range of violin and chamber music repertoire, violinist Violaine Melançon is Associate Professor of Violin at the Schulich School of Music at McGill University, and serves on the violin and chamber music faculties of the Peabody Conservatory. She was for thirty years the founding violinist of the Peabody Trio which was ensemble-in-residence at the Peabody Conservatory from 1987 to 2016. After winning the prestigious Naumburg Chamber Music Award in 1989, the Peabody Trio established itself as an important presence in the chamber music world as vivid interpreters of the classics of the repertoire, advocates for new music, and dedicated teachers and mentors to a generation of young musicians. As a member of the Peabody Trio, Ms. Melançon gave a New York debut in 1990 at Alice Tully Hall and has performed in the most important chamber music series in North America, including New York, Washington, DC, Chicago, Denver, Vancouver, Montreal, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Indianapolis, Dallas, Honolulu, Memphis, Minneapolis, New Orleans, Portland, St. Louis, Boston and Philadelphia. With them, Ms. Melançon toured internationally, frequently performing in England, making repeat appearances at London’s Wigmore Hall, and in Japan and Israel.

She has a special affection for the music of today and is a serious interpreter of works of Gyorgy Kurtag, Mauricio Kagel and Zhou Long. The Israeli composer Shulamit Ran wrote a violin concerto for her and she has premiered several works by other leading composers. Among the artists with whom she enjoys collaborating are pianists Leon Fleisher, Gilbert Kalish and Peter Frankl, soprano Phyllis Bryn-Julson, and violist Roger Tapping.

During the spring of 2012, she presented the complete works for solo violin by J.S. Bach. She performs recitals annually, exploring unusual gems of the solo and violin-piano duo repertoire. Ms. Melançon is from Québec, Canada. After receiving First Prize in violin at the Conservatoire de Musique, she continued her studies with Ivan Galamian at the Curtis Institute of Music, with Isadore Tinkleman at the San Francisco Conservatory and with Arthur Grumiaux in Belgium. While at Curtis, she was a member of the Nisaika Quartet, prize winner of the 8th International String Quartet competition in Evian, France. Ms. Melançon is also the recipient of many awards for solo performance including the 1984 Prix d’Europe. In 1983, she formed the Knopp-Melançon Duo, an artistic collaboration which would eventually expand to become the Peabody Trio. In 1987, as a result of having been appointed USIA Artistic Ambassadors, the duo toured abroad extensively and made their Washington, DC debut at the Kennedy Center. Since then, her activities as a chamber musician, soloist with orchestras, and teacher have taken her to major music centers in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, and Japan.

She has participated in many summer festivals as violinist, teacher and guest artists, including those of Tanglewood, Ravinia, Skaneateles, Rockport, Orford, and Domaine Forget. She gives yearly masterclasses at the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, and teaches regularly at NOI, the National Orchestral Institute and Festival. For many years, she has served on the faculty of Yellow Barn

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

TURN THE METRONOME ON AND START PRACTICING BETTER AND LEARNING FASTER RIGHT NOW! GET YOUR FREE METRONOME GUIDE TODAY AT www.mindoverfinger.com!!!!

060 Marc-André Hamelin: Musical Offering

14 februari 2020 | 44 min

060 Marc-André Hamelin: Musical Offering

In this episode, I discuss with international piano soloist and composer Marc-André Hamelin!

Among many other topics, we discuss his philosophy about performing, how he approaches solving problems, the wonderful reason he prefers to play by memory, how important curiosity has been in his career, and the importance of living a full life and be exposed to culture.

Marc-André also elaborates on:

The practicing habits he had at a young age
The importance of developing the aptitude to solve problems of becoming your own teacher
His advice on memorization
Score or no score, that is the question
His simple practice “priming”
His current interest in Faure’s music and how he dives in the topic
His favorite tool in the practice room: the score!
His idea of the ideal concert: you will all agree with him!
Why he strongly believes in practicing slowly

Marc-Andre is an incredible artist and human being and I am so very happy and honored to have him on the podcast today!

I know that you’ll be inspired by his insight and wisdom!

Don’t forget to visit the Mind Over Finger Resources’ page to check out amazing books recommended by my podcast guests, as well as my favorite websites, cds, the podcasts I like to listen to, and the practice and podcasting tools I use everyday! Find it here: www.mindoverfinger.com/resources!

And join the Mind Over Finger Book Club in the Tribe! We meet HERE, and we’ll begin 2020 with The Inner Game of Golf by Tim Gallwey!

Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to a super productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights!

MORE ABOUT MARC-ANDRÉ:

Website: https://www.marcandrehamelin.com/

YouTube: Click here to catch amazing performances and interviews with Marc-André

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marcandrehamelinpiano/

“A performer of near-superhuman technical prowess” (The New York Times), pianist Marc André Hamelin is known worldwide for his unrivaled blend of consummate musicianship and brilliant technique in the great works of the established repertoire, as well as for his intrepid exploration of the rarities of the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries – in concert and on disc – earning him legendary status as a true icon of the piano.

Mr. Hamelin begins the 19/20 season performing the Brahms Piano concerti with the Orchestre Métropolitain and Yannick Nézet-Séguin at Le Festival de Lanaudière, and the world premiere of Ryan Wigglesworth’s piano concerto at the BBC Proms, led by the composer. Other summer appearances include recitals at the Schubertiade, Helsingborg Piano Festival, Mänttä Music Festival, Domaine Forget, Orford Music Festival, the Newport Music Festival, and at the Rosendal Chamber Music Festival with friend and regular collaborator, Leif Ove Andsnes.

Recital appearances this season include a return to Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage on the Great Artists Series. He also performs at Wigmore Hall, the George Enescu Festival, Ascona (Switzerland), Prague, Munich, Alte Oper Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Moscow State Philharmonic, at the Elbphilharmonie for the Husum Rarities of Piano Music Festival, Monte Carlo, and the Heidelberg Festival, among other dates.

Mr. Hamelin is the inaugural guest curator for Portland Piano International, where he opens the season with two solo recitals. He returns to San Francisco Performances – a series with whom he has a long and deeply supportive artistic relationship – as a Perspectives Artist for their 40th Anniversary Season, performing a solo recital; Die Winterreise with tenor Mark Padmore; and the world premiere of his own Piano Quintet, commissioned by SFP and performed by himself and the Alexander String Quartet.

An exclusive recording artist for Hyperion Records, in 19/20, Hyperion releases two albums by Mr. Hamelin – one a solo disc and the other with the Takács Quartet. He recently released a disc of Schubert’s Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major and Four Impromptus; a landmark disc of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring and Concerto for Two Pianos with Leif Ove Andsnes; Morton Feldman’s For Bunita Marcus; and Medtner’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Vladimir Jurowski. His impressive Hyperion discography of more than 60 recordings includes concertos and works for solo piano by such composers as Alkan, Godowsky, and Medtner, as well as brilliantly received performances of Brahms, Chopin, Liszt, Schumann, and Shostakovich.

He was honored with the 2014 ECHO Klassik Instrumentalist of Year (Piano) and Disc of the Year by Diapason Magazine and Classica Magazine for his three-disc set of Busoni: Late Piano Music and an album of his own compositions, Hamelin: Études, which received a 2010 Grammy nomination and a first prize from the German Record Critics’ Association.

Mr. Hamelin was a distinguished member of the jury of the 15 th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2017 where each of the 30 competitors in the preliminary round performed Hamelin’s Toccata on L’Homme armé; this was the first time the composer of the commissioned work was also a member of the jury. Mr. Hamelin has composed music throughout his career, with nearly 30 compositions to his name. The majority of those works – including the Études and Toccata on L’Homme armé – are published by Edition Peters.

Mr. Hamelin makes his home in the Boston area with his wife, Cathy Fuller. Born in Montreal, Marc-André Hamelin is the recipient of a lifetime achievement award from the German Record Critics’ Association and has received seven Juno Awards and eleven GRAMMY nominations. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada, a Chevalier de l’Ordre du Québec, and a member of the Royal Society of Canada.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

059 James Gaffigan: Creating Magic

7 februari 2020 | 28 min

Today I’m really excited to speak with internationally recognized conductor James Gaffigan.

I think you will resonate with James’ message and I hope that you walk away as inspired as I did after speaking with him!

In this episode, James discusses:

How he learns a score, from first glance to performance
How he likes to approach rehearsing with musicians and how their perspective on a work influences his own interpretation
His advice to young musicians on how to succeed as an orchestra member (and why he always looks at the back of the section!)
What he means by “Trust creates magic” and how important it is for him to create trusting relationships with all artists

NEW ON THE WEBSITE: A Resources page!

You can find my favorite websites, cds, as well as the other podcasts I like to listen to and the amazing books recommended by my podcast guests!

TURN THE METRONOME ON AND START PRACTICING BETTER AND LEARNING FASTER RIGHT NOW! GET YOUR FREE METRONOME GUIDE TODAY AT www.mindoverfinger.com!!!!

Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to a super productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights!

More about JAMES GAFFIGAN:

Website: https://jamesgaffigan.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/james.gaffigan/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCljnsdbDEHbGLjTA1I1VkVg

Hailed for the natural ease of his conducting and the compelling insight of his musicianship, James Gaffigan continues to attract international attention and is one of the most outstanding American conductors working today.

James Gaffigan is currently the Chief Conductor of the Luzerner Sinfonieorchester and Principal Guest Conductor of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, recently extended for the third time. Since becoming Chief Conductor of the Luzerner Sinfonieorchester James has made a very significant impact on the orchestra’s profile, both nationally and internationally, with a number of highly successful tours and recordings. In recognition of this success his contract has been further extended until 2021.

James is in high demand working with leading orchestras and opera houses throughout Europe, the United States and Asia. The 2019/20 season features re-invitations to the Chicago, San Francisco and Detroit Symphony Orchestras, Orchestre National de France and Czech Philharmonic, as well as debuts with Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, Melbourne Symphony and the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra.

He undertakes four major opera productions in the United States including La Cenerentola at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Ernani at San Francisco Opera, Don Giovanni at Lyric Opera Chicago and Tristan and Isolde at Santa Fe Opera.

The 2018/19 season saw James make his debut with the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks and return to the Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra, WDR Sinfonieorchester and BBC Symphony Orchestra. In the US he made house debuts at Metropolitan Opera for La bohème and San Francisco Opera for Carmen while European productions included a new production of La Fanciulla del West and Don Giovanni at Bayerische Staatsoper and Porgy and Bess at Dutch National Opera. Regularly conducting at major opera houses around the world, James’ recent appearances include La bohème, Don Giovanni, La Traviata and Le nozze di Figaro at the Wiener Staatsoper; Così fan Tutte, La Cenerentola and Falstaff at the Glyndebourne Festival; Salome for Hamburg Opera; La bohème for the Opernhaus Zurich and Così fan tutte for Chicago Lyric Opera.

James also works internationally with many leading orchestras and recent guest appearances include the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, London Philharmonic, Münchner Philharmoniker, Orchestre de Paris, Orchestre National de France, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Deutsches Symphonie-orchester Berlin, Dresden Staatskapelle, Wiener Symphoniker, Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra, Zurich Tonhalle, Seoul Philharmonic and Tokyo Metropolitan.

In North America he has worked with New York Philharmonic and the symphony orchestras of Philadelphia, Cleveland, St. Louis, Baltimore and Toronto, among others. Born in New York, James was named first prize winner of the 2004 Sir Georg Solti International Conducting Competition.

In 2009, he completed a three-year tenure as Associate Conductor of the San Francisco Symphony, in a position specially created for him by Michael Tilson Thomas. Prior to that appointment James was Assistant Conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra, where he worked for Music Director Franz Welser Möst.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

TURN THE METRONOME ON AND START PRACTICING BETTER AND LEARNING FASTER RIGHT NOW! GET YOUR FREE METRONOME GUIDE TODAY AT www.mindoverfinger.com!!!!

058 Stefan Jackiw: Overcoming Injury

31 januari 2020 | 59 min

In this episode, international soloist Stefan Jackiw talks to us about his journey overcoming a serious injury. He tells us how he got injured, the steps he took to heal, the mental impact it had on him, and how he stays injury free.

He also elaborates on:

What his musicology studies brought to his playing
What collaborating with other musicians mean to him
Establishing strong fundamentals on the instrument
How he maximizes his practice time
His injury story:
- How it happened
- Facing the stigma attached to being an injured musician
- The mental impact it had on him and the new mindsets he developed as a result
- The reflection he did, the changes he implemented and how he overcame it
- How he modified his setup and technique as a result
- How he remains injury free
The very important concept of surrendering in practicing
How our level of stress and the amount of pressure we tolerate affects our playing
How to plan practice

Don’t forget to visit the Mind Over Finger Resources’ page to check out amazing books recommended by my podcast guests, as well as my favorite websites, cds, the podcasts I like to listen to, and the practice and podcasting tools I use every day! Find it here: www.mindoverfinger.com/resources!

And join the Mind Over Finger Book Club in the Tribe! We meet HERE, and we’re currently discussing The Inner Game of Golf by Tim Gallwey!

Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to a super productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights!

MORE ABOUT STEFAN JACKIW:

Website: https://stefanjackiw.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=stefan+jackiw

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stefanjackiwviolin/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StefanJackiw/

Stefan Jackiw is one of America’s foremost violinists, captivating audiences with playing that combines poetry and purity with an impeccable technique. Hailed for playing of "uncommon musical substance" that is “striking for its intelligence and sensitivity” (Boston Globe), Jackiw has appeared as soloist with the Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco symphony orchestras, among others.

This season, he will re-unite with Juraj Valcuha to make his debut with the Konzerthaus Orchestra Berlin performing Korngold’s Violin Concerto. He also returns performing Stravinsky to the Bournemouth Symphony with Kirill Karabits, the Helsinki Philharmonic with Hans Graf, and the RTÉ National Symphony in Dublin with Leonard Slatkin. Other highlights include performances with the San Diego Symphony and Rafael Payare, the Indianapolis and Baltimore Symphonies with David Danzmayr, and the Omaha Symphony. In recital, Stefan continues touring the complete Ives Sonatas with Jeremy Denk, with whom he has recorded the sonatas for future release on Nonesuch Records. He also appears on tour with harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani, exploring works for violin and harpsichord and featuring a new commission by Lester St. Louis, and continues to perform alongside pianist Conrad Tao and cellist Jay Campbell as part of the Junction Trio, with stops this season in Massachusetts, Washington D.C., Ohio, California, Texas, New Mexico, Florida, and more.

Highlights of recent seasons include his debut with the Cleveland Orchestra and Juraj Valcuha, with whom he also re-united for performances in Dallas, Detroit, and Luxembourg; performances of Prokofiev's Second Violin Concerto at Carnegie Hall with Mikhail Pletnev, as part of a multi-city tour with the Russian National Orchestra; as well as performances with the St. Louis Symphony under Nicholas McGegan, the Minnesota Orchestra under Ilyich Rivas, the Rotterdam Philharmonic under Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the Indianapolis Symphony under Krzysztof Urbanski, and the Pittsburgh Symphony under Valčuha. Other highlights in Europe included his performances with the Netherlands Radio Symphony and Ludovic Morlot at the Concertgebouw. In Asia, Stefan has appeared with the Tokyo Symphony at Suntory Hall under the direction of Krzysztof Urbanski, and the Seoul Philharmonic under Venzago. He has also toured Korea, playing chamber music with Gidon Kremer and Kremerata Baltica. In Australia, Stefan toured with the Australian Chamber Orchestra play-directing Mendelssohn. He also gave the world premiere of American composer David Fulmer’s Violin Concerto No 2 “Jubilant Arcs”, written for him and commissioned by the Heidelberg Festival with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie under Matthias Pintscher. Recital highlights have included his performances of the complete Ives violin Sonatas with Jeremy Denk at Tanglewood and Boston’s Jordan Hall, and performance of the complete Brahms violin sonatas, which he has recorded for Sony. He also recently recorded the Beethoven Triple with Inon Barnatan, Alisa Weilerstein, Alan Gilbert and Academy St. Martin in the Fields.

Jackiw has performed in numerous important festivals and concert series, including the Aspen Music Festival, Ravinia Festival, Caramoor International Music Festival, Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, New York’s Mostly Mozart Festival, the Philharmonie de Paris, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, the Celebrity Series of Boston, and the Washington Performing Arts Society. As a chamber musician, he has collaborated with such artists as Jeremy Denk, Steven Isserlis, Yo-Yo Ma, and Gil Shaham, and forms a trio with Jay Campbell and Conrad Tao. At the opening night of Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall in New York, Jackiw was the only young artist invited to perform, playing alongside such artists as Emanuel Ax, Renée Fleming, Evgeny Kissin, and James Levine.

Born to physicist parents of Korean and German descent, Stefan Jackiw began playing the violin at the age of four. His teachers have included Zinaida Gilels, Michèle Auclair, and Donald Weilerstein. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University, as well as an Artist Diploma from the New England Conservatory, and is the recipient of a prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant. He lives in New York City.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

TURN THE METRONOME ON AND START PRACTICING BETTER AND LEARNING FASTER RIGHT NOW! GET YOUR FREE METRONOME GUIDE TODAY AT www.mindoverfinger.com!!!!

057 Robert deMaine: On Practicing

24 januari 2020 | 53 min

Robert deMaine, principal cellist with the LA philharmonic, talks to us about his view on the various facets of practicing. He elaborates on:

The importance of courage, presence, and joy in practice
How to improve your playing at any time, in any circumstances
Practicing for auditions
Incorporating two aspects of preparation
- Polishing all the nitty gritty
- Letting go
How he gets himself in “Olympian” shape for auditions
The importance of “seeing the forest”
His view on devices – recorders, tuners, metronome, etc.
The cumulative effect of preparing for audition
The mental preparation
A strategy to “find” the motivation to start practicing (Read my own blog post on the topic , Commit to Ten, here: https://www.mindoverfinger.com/post/commit-to-ten)
His technique routine
How to make practicing excerpts personal and enjoyable

Don’t forget to visit the Mind Over Finger Resources’ page to check out amazing books recommended by my podcast guests, as well as my favorite websites, cds, the podcasts I like to listen to, and the practice and podcasting tools I use everyday! Find it here: www.mindoverfinger.com/resources!

And join the Mind Over Finger Book Club in the Tribe! We meet HERE, and we’ll begin 2020 with The Inner Game of Golf by Tim Gallwey!

Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to a super productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights!

MORE ABOUT ROBERT DEMAINE:

Website: http://www.robertdemaine.com/index.php

Los Angeles Philarmonic: https://www.laphil.com/musicdb/artists/1440/robert-demaine

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=robert+demaine+cello

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertdemainecellist/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robertdemainecellist/

Robert deMaine is an American virtuoso cellist who has been hailed by The New York Times as “an artist who makes one hang on every note.” He has distinguished himself as one of the finest and most versatile instrumentalists of his generation, performing to critical acclaim as soloist, recitalist, orchestra principal, recording artist, chamber musician, and composer / arranger. In 2010, deMaine was a founding member of the highly acclaimed Ehnes String Quartet and completed several world tours and recordings with the ensemble. In 2012 he was invited to join the Los Angeles Philharmonic as Principal Cello. He collaborates often in a piano trio with violinist Hilary Hahn and pianist Natalie Zhu.

A first-prize winner in many national and international competitions, deMaine was the first cellist ever to win the grand prize at San Francisco’s Irving M. Klein International Competition for Strings. As soloist, he has collaborated with many distinguished conductors, including Neeme Järvi, Peter Oundjian, Joseph Silverstein, and Leonard Slatkin, and has performed nearly all the major cello concertos with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, where he served as principal cello for over a decade.

His recording of the John Williams Cello Concerto (Detroit Symphony, Leonard Slatkin conducting) is available on Naxos. His forthcoming recordings include the complete works of Beethoven for piano and cello with pianist Peter Takács, the Haydn Cello Concertos with the Moravian Philharmonic of the Czech Republic, and a recital CD of Grieg and Rachmaninoff sonatas with pianist Andrew Armstrong.

DeMaine studied at the Juilliard School, the Eastman School of Music, the University of Southern California, Yale University, and the Kronberg Academy in Germany.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

TURN THE METRONOME ON AND START PRACTICING BETTER AND LEARNING FASTER RIGHT NOW! GET YOUR FREE METRONOME GUIDE TODAY AT www.mindoverfinger.com!!!!

056 Hans Jørgen Jensen: Musical Mind

17 januari 2020 | 39 min

I’m beyond excited to begin 2020 with a brilliant pedagogical mind and someone that I respect tremendously, cellist and pedagogue Hans Jørgen Jensen!

Professor Jensen shares incredible insight on how to approach practicing and performing! Among several topics, he talks to us about:

His journey from growing up in Denmark to today
Why he quit his solo and chamber music career to dedicate himself to teaching
How being a performer made him a better teacher and what being a teacher taught him about performing
The habits that help his students be successful
Why we must develop great discipline and practicing habits in order to maximize our progress
How we can expand our musicianship
His wonderful books: CelloMind and ViolinMind
Focus in the practice room
The new book he’s working on, which is about practicing (I know I’ll be buying that!)
The importance of setting short goals and the mindset to adopt when practicing
The power of focusing on the *result* of a movement (the sound/the music you hear in your mind) rather than the movement itself
Why he likes “block practice”

Don’t forget to visit the Mind Over Finger Resources’ page to check out amazing books recommended by my podcast guests, as well as my favorite websites, cds, the podcasts I like to listen to, and the practice and podcasting tools I use everyday! Find it here: www.mindoverfinger.com/resources!

And join the Mind Over Finger Book Club in the Tribe! We meet HERE, and we’ll begin 2020 with The Inner Game of Golf by Tim Gallwey!

Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to a super productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights!

MORE ABOUT PROFESSOR JENSEN:

CelloMind: Have you ever doubted your intonation? Have you experienced the need to place pitches differently from one piece to another, or even from one measure to another? If so, you are not alone. Trying to decipher intonation is often frustrating and undermines the confidence of some of the most accomplished and talented musicians.

CelloMind is a two-part, pedagogical method book that has been written to help musicians understand HOW intonation works and, more importantly, WHY it works the way it does. Purchase of the book includes exclusive access to an online resource portal with supplemental videos and audio.

ViolinMind: ViolinMind is a pedagogical method book that has been written to help musicians understand HOW intonation works and, more importantly, WHY it works the way it does. It is an adaptation of the acclaimed book CelloMind.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CelloMindBook

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cellomindbook/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=cellomind

Hans Jørgen Jensen is professor of cello at the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University. From 1979 to 1987 he was professor of cello at the Moore’s School of Music at the University of Houston. During the summer, he is a faculty member at The Meadowmount School of Music and The Young Artist Program at the National Arts Center in Ottawa Canada under the direction of Pinchas Zukerman. He has been a guest professor at the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, The Oberlin College Conservatory, The Eastman School of Music, The Academy of Music in Sydney, The Royal Academy of Music in Copenhagen, the Tokyo College of Music and the Musashino Academy of Music in Japan, the Festival de Musica de Santa Catarina in Brazil, The Jerusalem Music Center, and the PyeongChang International festival and School in Korea.

Mr. Jensen has performed as a soloist in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan including solo appearances with the Danish Radio Orchestra, the Basel Symphony Orchestra, the Copenhagen Symphony, and the Irish Radio Orchestra under the baton of conductors such as: Simon Rattle, Mistislav Rostropovich and Carlo Zecchi. He has given numerous workshops and master classes across the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, Brazil, Korea, Australia, and Israel.

His former students have been and are members of major orchestras including The New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony, the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, the Cincinnati Symphony, the Detroit Symphony, the Kansas City Symphony, the Colorado Symphony, the Gulbenkian Orchestra in Portugal, the Graz Philharmonic in Austria and the Montreal Symphony. Mr. Jensen’s former students are currently the principal cellists in the Toronto Symphony, the Detroit Symphony, the Kansas City Symphony, the Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Symphony Nova Scotia. His former students hold teaching positions at Northwestern University, the University of California at Berkeley, the Cleveland Institute of Music, the San Francisco Conservatory, the Cincinnati College Conservatory, the Royal Academy of Music in Copenhagen, the Desautels Faculty of Music at the university of Manitoba and numerous other music schools.

Hans Jørgen Jensen’s students have been first prize winners in competitions such as the 2017 Klein Competition, the 2017 Sphinx Competition, the Casado International Competition in Japan, the Johansen International Competition, the MTNA National Competition, the ASTA National Competition, the Stulberg International Competition, the Chicago Symphony Young Performers Competition, the WAMSO Young Artist Competition, and numerous other competitions. His students have also been prizewinners in the 2017 Queen Elisabeth Inaugural Cello Competition, the Naumburg International Competition, the Lutoslawski Cello Competition, and the Klein Competition.

Mr. Jensen was awarded the prestigious 2010 Artist Teacher Award from the American String Teachers Association (ASTA), as well as the Copenhagen Music Critics Prize, the Jacob Gades Prize, the Danish Ministry of Cultural Affairs Grant for Musicians, the Northwestern Charles Deering McCormick Professor of Teaching Excellence award, and the U.S. Presidential Scholar Teacher Recognition Award by the U.S. Department of Education. He was named the outstanding studio teacher of the year by Illinois ASTA. He was also the winner of the Artist International Competition that resulted in three New York Recitals. E.C. Shirmer, Boston, published his transcription of the Galamian Scale System for Cello Volume I and II and Shar Products Company published his cello method book, Fun in Thumb Position. A new pedagogy book “CelloMind” was published in November 2017 by OvationPress.

Jensen studied at the royal Academy of Music in Denmark with Asger Lund Christiansen at the Juilliard School with Leonard Rose and Channing Robbins and pursued private studies with Pierre Fournier, also appearing in his master classes.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

055 Elizabeth Faidley: Vibrant, Meaningful, & Effective Pedagogy

13 december 2019 | 56 min

Today, I’m so excited to bring you violinist Elizabeth Faidley!

Elizabeth is a highly sought-after pedagogue, who’s been hailed as an “amazing and inspiring teacher” by the New York Times and is the recipient of a multitude of pedagogy awards. Get ready for a massive dose of inspiration and great applicable tips!

Elizabeth talks about:

How she felt and answered the call to teach
How she cares deeply for her students and how that creates a profound studio culture of dedication and support
Why she believes that the initial set up is so important
Her approach to being a supportive and caring “24/7 teacher”
How she listened carefully to the needs of the string community and created the upcoming Violin Pedagogy Symposium to address those needs
The topics and guests of the symposium (CHECK OUT THIS AWESOME EVENT HERE!!! I’M GOING FOR SURE!)
Why grit is so so so important!
The habit that contributed to her success (you’ll see: it’s really inspiring)
The awesome concept of “Musical Triage”

More about Elizabeth Faidley and the Violin Pedagogy Symposium below

NEW ON THE WEBSITE: A RESOURCES PAGE!

You can find my favorite websites, cds, as well as the other podcasts I like to listen to and the amazing books recommended by my podcast guests!

TURN THE METRONOME ON AND START PRACTICING BETTER AND LEARNING FASTER RIGHT NOW! GET YOUR FREE METRONOME GUIDE TODAY AT www.mindoverfinger.com!!!!

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe Book Club!

This January we read, study, and apply The Inner Game of Golf by Timothy Gallwey in our practice!

Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to a super productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights!

MORE ABOUT ELIZABETH:

Website: https://www.elizabethfaidley.com/

The Violin Pedagogy Symposium: https://www.pedagogysymposium.com/

Her Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/faidleystudio

Her books on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2EdOtb2

The Strings Virtual Summit: https://stringsvirtualsummit.com/order-30774504-1

The Inner Game of Tennis by Tim Gallwey

Mindset by Carol Dweck

A highly sought-after pedagogue, violinist Elizabeth Faidley has been hailed as an “amazing and inspiring teacher” by the New York Times. She is the recipient of the American String Teachers’ Association 2011 “Studio Teacher of the Year” award for the state of New Jersey. She has also been honored with multiple teaching awards, including ones from the Union City Symphony and the Korean Radio Broadcast Network. In addition to being on the faculty of the Pre-College Division of the Manhattan School of Music, she has a large private studio in the New York City metropolitan area where she teaches violin performance to aspiring players from ages 3 to 23. Her students have won national and international competitions and have performed in such great halls as Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, and the White House. They are routinely accepted, with scholarships, to the world’s premier music conservatories including The Manhattan School of Music, New England Conservatory, the Juilliard School, Peabody Conservatory, Rice University, the Royal College of Music, and The Cleveland Institute. Her students routinely perform with orchestras around the NYC area. The NY Times described Ms. Faidley as “…fiercely yet compassionately committed to her students, to her colleagues, and to the art of music.”

Ms. Faidley became adjunct faculty at the Hartt School before the age of 30, reflecting her devotion to the art of violin pedagogy. She has also served on the college conservatory faculties of Montclair State University's Cali School of Music and Hunter College's School of Music. She holds a Master of Music degree in violin performance and pedagogy from the Peabody Conservatory of Music and was inducted into the professional music fraternity, Pi Kappa Lambda, which honors integrity, superior music performance, and academic success.

Ms. Faidley routinely brings in major concert artists and teachers to give private masterclasses to her studio . The last four years have included Ray Chen, Stefan Jackiw, Charlie Siem, Dmitri Berlinsky, Ronald Copes, Lisa Batiashvili, Sarah Chang, and Katie Lansdale.

She won the prestigious Melissa Tiller Memorial Prize for graduate performance and while still a student at Peabody, joined the faculty of both the preparatory and conservatory divisions after serving as a teaching assistant to Shirley Givens. Besides Givens, her major pedagogical influences include Ivan Galamian, Joseph Gingold, Paul Rolland, and Shinichi Suzuki, and Rebecca Henry. She also studied with such masters as Daniel Heifetz, Yuri Masurkevich, Christian Teal, and Qing Li.

Ms. Faidley has served on the faculty of the Summit Music Festival, New York’s premier summer chamber music institute. She has been invited to teach and give master classes in Italy, Germany, Spain, Russia, Norway, and Africa, and has provided private lessons in pedagogy to major violin performers and teachers throughout the United States. In the summers, Ms. Faidley has specialized camps for her students. Ms. Faidley is a frequent presenter and master class clinician, and she has recently spoken at two national conferences for the American String Teachers’ Association. The first lecture focused on balance in violin technique and pedagogy. The second presented a series of unique technical etudes for every stage of violin playing. Ms. Faidley has been invited to be the keynote speaker, along with Nobel Laureates at the 2018 World Education Day in Jinan, China.

Ms. Faidley currently employs fourteen violin and musicianship faculty members as part of her school, The Elizabeth Faidley Studio. All students of any faculty member have access to recitals, masterclasses, private camps, and other performance opportunities. Ms. Faidley works directly with each teacher in weekly consultations to ensure a balanced musical education for each student.

Ms. Faidley also shares her passion for teaching through her writing. She has completed work on the second edition of a book for children titled “Pre-Twinkling to the Stars: Your Joyful Journey Begins” which focuses on a strong technical foundation for beginning violinists. Her second book, a beginning theory workbook for beginning and intermediate violinists, is also available. She has also published several essays in the American Suzuki Journal and is currently writing a third book on the art of pedagogy entitled, “What Happened to the Nurture?” The book reflects her teaching philosophy, which seeks to empower the entire, unique person as the foundation of the musician. She generously makes time to mentor her students through auditions, competitions, and performances and stays in touch with them between and beyond studio lessons.

Ms. Faidley’s violin, a generous gift from several patrons, was crafted by Lorenzo Ventapane in 1835 and is pictured in Four Centuries of Violin Making by Cozio Publishing.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

054 Jerome Lowenthal: Developing Your Authentic Artistic Voice

6 december 2019 | 39 min

Pianist Jerome Lowenthal’s active solo and teaching career has shaped the pianistic landscape of today! It is such a pleasure to welcome this legendary musician to the show!

Through his incredible story, Jerome talks to us about how the varied sources of influence he was exposed to as a young musician lead him to search within himself and find his own artistic voice, how he helps students do the same today, and he gives out wonderful wisdom and advice for young musicians.

There’s so much to learn and so much inspiration to be found through his story and I hope you love this conversation with Jerome Lowenthal!

NEW ON THE WEBSITE: A Resources page!

You can find my favorite websites, cds, as well as the other podcasts I like to listen to and the amazing books recommended by my podcast guests!

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Click HERE or visit www.mindoverfinger.com!

MORE ABOUT JEROME:

Websites:

YouTube videos: CLICK HERE

Jerome Lowenthal is an American classical pianist. He is chair of the piano department at the Juilliard School in New York. Additionally, Lowenthal is on the faculty at Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California.

Lowenthal was born in Philadelphia. He made his debut as a solo pianist at the age of 13 with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Returning to the United States from Jerusalem in 1963, he made his debut with the New York Philharmonic, playing Bartók's Piano Concerto No. 2. Since then, he has performed with famous conductors such as Daniel Barenboim, Seiji Ozawa, Michael Tilson Thomas, Yuri Temirkanov, Leonard Slatkin, Leonard Bernstein, Eugene Ormandy, Pierre Monteux, Josef Krips,[3] and Leopold Stokowski. He has played sonatas with Itzhak Perlman, piano duos with Ronit Amir, and with Ursula Oppens,[4] as well as quintets with the Lark Quartet, Avalon Quartet, and Shanghai Quartet.

His studies included lessons with Olga Samaroff in Philadelphia, William Kapell and Eduard Steuermann at the Juilliard School in New York, and Alfred Cortot at the École Normale de Musique de Paris in Paris, France. A prizewinner at Queen Elisabeth Music Competition in Brussels (1960) and Busoni Competition, he is a frequent judge in international piano competitions.

He is recognized as a specialist of Franz Liszt, Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Béla Bartók, and more generally of virtuoso and late romantic music. His recordings include piano concertos by Liszt with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and the complete Tchaikovsky concerto cycle with the London Symphony Orchestra. He has an extensive repertoire, including 59 performed piano concerti. He is the dedicatee of many new works, such as Ned Rorem's Piano Concerto (No. 3) in Six Movements, and has unearthed some rare romantic piano works, such as the Liszt Third Piano Concerto edited by his former student Jay Rosenblatt.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

TURN THE METRONOME ON AND START PRACTICING BETTER AND LEARNING FASTER RIGHT NOW! GET YOUR FREE METRONOME GUIDE TODAY!

053 Ursula Oppens: Wisdom from a Trailblazer

29 november 2019 | 36 min

This week, I have the incredible honor of welcoming renowned pianist Ursula Oppens to the show.

A legend among American pianists, Ursula is widely admired for both her original and perceptive readings of new music, and for her knowing interpretations of the standard repertoire.

As you’ll hear in the episode, she’s an incredibly passionate and wise musician! Her and I covered several topics, from the reality of a career in music today, to how she approaches learning repertoire, and how she’s stays focused in the practice room!

In this episode, Ursula expands on:

Her love of new music and how it developed early on in her life
How she approaches bringing new music to life
Why she doesn’t think musicians should have a niche but should, instead, be interested in learning
Her view of the musical landscape of today
What improvisation can bring to our playing
How she loves practicing (and I love that she said that so much!)
How mental and muscle memory develop together
Why she thinks it’s important to memorize music in order to learn it better
Her strategies to find energy, motivation, and focus to practice
Why flexibility is a crucial skill to develop
How a well-rounded education is also very helpful
Her very wise piece of advice for young musicians
Ursula is a force of nature and very generous with her insight. I know you’ll love this discussion!

The Mind Over Finger Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtQSB1IVNJ4a2afT1iUtSfA/videos

Sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to a super productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights!

Click HERE or visit www.mindoverfinger.com!

MORE ABOUT URSULA:

Website: https://colbertartists.com/artists/ursula-oppens/

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqj7e-6dIIBw2OkKmHxYItw

Ursula Oppens, a legend among American pianists, is widely admired particularly for her original and perceptive readings of new music, but also for her knowing interpretations of the standard repertoire. No other artist alive today has commissioned and premiered more new works for the piano.

A prolific and critically acclaimed recording artist with five Grammy nominations, Ms. Oppens most recently released a new recording of Frederic Rzewski’s The People United Will Never Be Defeated, nominated for a Grammy in 2016, and Piano Songs, a collaboration with Meredith Monk. Earlier Grammy nominations were for Winging It: Piano Music of John Corigliano; Oppens Plays Carter; a recording of the complete piano works of Elliott Carter for Cedille Records (also was named a “Best of the Year” selection by The New York Times long-time music critic Allan Kozinn); Piano Music of Our Time featuring compositions by John Adams, Elliott Carter, Julius Hemphill, and Conlon Nancarrow for the Music and Arts label, and her cult classic The People United Will Never Be Defeated by Frederic Rzewski on Vanguard. Ms. Oppens recently added to her extensive discography by releasing a two-piano CD for Cedille Records devoted to Visions de l’Amenof Oliver Messiaen and Debussy’s En blanc et noir performed with pianist Jerome Lowenthal.

Over the years, Ms. Oppens has premiered works by such leading composers as John Adams, Luciano Berio, William Bolcom, Anthony Braxton, Elliott Carter, John Corigliano, Anthony Davis, John Harbison, Julius Hemphill, Laura Kaminsky, Tania Leon, György Ligeti, Witold Lutoslawski, Harold Meltzer, Meredith Monk, Conlon Nancarrow, Tobias Picker, Bernard Rands, Frederic Rzewski, Allen Shawn, Alvin Singleton, Joan Tower, Lois V Vierk, Amy Williams, Christian Wolff, Amnon Wolman, and Charles Wuorinen.

As an orchestral guest soloist, Ms. Oppens has performed with virtually all of the world’s major orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the American Composers Orchestra, the Boston Modern Orchestra Project (BMOP), and the orchestras of Chicago, Cleveland, San Francisco, and Milwaukee. Abroad, she has appeared with such ensembles as the Berlin Symphony, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the

Deutsche Symphonie, the Scottish BBC, and the London Philharmonic Orchestras. Ms. Oppens is also an avid chamber musician and has performed with the Arditti, Cassatt, JACK, Juilliard, and Pacifica quartets, among other chamber ensembles.

Ursula Oppens joined the faculty of the Mannes College of Music in the fall of 2017, and is a Distinguished Professor of Music at Brooklyn College and the CUNY Graduate Center in New York City. From 1994 through the end of the 2007-08 academic year she served as John Evans Distinguished Professor of Music at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. In addition, Ms. Oppens has served as a juror for many international competitions, such as the Concert Artists Guild, Young Concert Artists, Young Pianists Foundation (Amsterdam), and Cincinnati Piano World Competition.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

TURN THE METRONOME ON AND START PRACTICING BETTER AND LEARNING FASTER RIGHT NOW! GET YOUR FREE METRONOME GUIDE TODAY AT www.mindoverfinger.com!!!!

052 Demarre McGill: The Master Keys - Discipline, Spirit, Energy, Beauty & Patience

22 november 2019 | 47 min

In this week’s episode, Demarre McGill, principal flute with the Seattle Symphony, discusses the building blocks of efficient and mental practice: having discipline, nurturing energy, focusing on beauty, and applying patience in our approach.

Demarre also elaborates on the importance of:

The “starter teachers” and the diverse support system a young musician needs to blossom
Combining discipline, spirit, and energy
Being an excellent colleague
Patience in slow practice, and how it helps us learn faster
Finding the soul of the music & focusing on beauty
Providing musical context to fix technical issues
Focusing on the music to get in the right headspace for a performance
Confronting the things we are not comfortable with in preparation for performances
Contributing to your community
Not giving up in the face of rejection
Staying hungry in order to grow

The Mind Over Finger Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtQSB1IVNJ4a2afT1iUtSfA/videos

Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to a super productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights!

MORE ABOUT DEMARRE:

Website: https://www.demarremcgill.com/

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVTwhPRg3lnSTSWxTROWz2w

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/demarremcgillflute/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/demarremcgill/

The Chamber Music Society of Fort Worth - Learning with the Masters featuring DSO flutist Demarre McGill: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK_dsbJsw0o

Demarre McGill has gained international recognition as a soloist, recitalist, chamber and orchestral musician. Winner of an Avery Fisher Career Grant and the Sphinx Medal of Excellence, he has appeared as soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Seattle, Pittsburgh, Dallas, Grant Park, San Diego and Baltimore symphony orchestras and, at age 15, the Chicago Symphony.

Now principal flute of the Seattle Symphony, he previously served as principal flute of the Dallas Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Florida Orchestra, and Santa Fe Opera Orchestra. He recently served as acting principal flute of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and earlier with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

As an educator, Demarre has performed, coached and presented master classes in South Africa, Korea, Japan, Quebec and throughout the United States. With his brother Anthony, he was a speaker and performer at the 2018 League of American Orchestras Conference. He has also served on the faculties of the National Youth Orchestra of the United States, the National Orchestral Institute (NOI) at the University of Maryland, the Orford Music Festival, and participated in Summerfests at the Curtis Institute of Music. In August of 2019, he was named Associate Professor of Flute at Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and is an artist-faculty member of the Aspen Music Festival and School.

A founding member of The Myriad Trio, and former member of Chamber Music Society Two, Demarre has participated in the Santa Fe, Marlboro, Seattle and Stellenbosch chamber music festivals, to name a few. He is the co-founder of The Art of Élan and, along with clarinetist Anthony McGill and pianist Michael McHale, founded the McGill/McHale Trio in 2014. Their first CD, "Portraits," released in August 2017, has received rave reviews, as has "Winged Creatures," his recording with Anthony McGill and the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. In 2019-20 the McGill/McHale Trio performs at New York City's 92nd Street Y, as well as in Washington D.C. and on chamber music series throughout the Midwest.

Media credits include appearances on PBS's Live from Lincoln Center, A & E Network's The Gifted Ones, NBC's Today Show, NBC Nightly News, and, with his brother Anthony when they were teenagers, on Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.

A native of Chicago, Demarre McGill began studying the flute at age 7 and attended the Merit School of Music. In the years that followed, until he left Chicago, he studied with Susan Levitin. Demarre received his bachelor’s degree from The Curtis Institute of Music and a Master's degree at The Juilliard School.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

TURN THE METRONOME ON AND START PRACTICING BETTER AND LEARNING FASTER RIGHT NOW! GET YOUR FREE METRONOME GUIDE TODAY AT www.mindoverfinger.com!!!!

051 Nicholas Pallesen: Transformative Approach to Performance Anxiety

15 november 2019 | 71 min

Nicholas Pallesen: Transformative Approach to Performance Anxiety

If you have any questions about performance anxiety, how to tackle it, master it, and how to perform at your best, this is the episode for you! Today, I speak with Nicholas Pallesen.

In today’s show, Transformative Coach and Mental Performance Consultant Nicholas Pallesen invites us to take a different look at performance anxiety! In his own words, Nicholas doesn’t fix people: he helps them see they were never broken. Our conversation will have you look at the root cause of your anxiety and stress, and will help you get out of your head and get into your life!

You’ll hear Nicholas talk about:

How the meaning we attach to the outcome of a performance and the need for outside validation – is at the root of performance anxiety
Why it’s important to “play to play” and why it’s helps us perform better
Why we don’t need to “feel a certain way” to perform our best
What headspace we should aim to be in for a performance
How to better get in the zone
Why we must trust our intuition, and much more!
Why he started to question a lot of the basic premises that we operate from when it comes to performance anxiety
How he decided to tackle the issue of performance anxiety at the root
Why performance anxiety is the feeling we get when we forgot that we’re going to be okay
Why “thinking” that there are stakes – the meaning we attach to the outcome of a performance and the need for outside validation – is at the root of performance anxiety
Why it’s important to “play to play” and why it’s helps us perform better
Why we don’t need to “feel a certain way” to perform our best
What headspace we should aim to for a performance and what “the zone” is
How to better get in the zone
Why we must trust our intuition

The Mind Over Finger Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtQSB1IVNJ4a2afT1iUtSfA/videos

Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to a super productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it’s filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights!

MORE ABOUT NICHOLAS:

Website: https://www.nicholaspallesen.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicholaspallesen/

How to make stress your friend – Ted Talk by Kelly McGonigal: https://www.ted.com/talks/kelly_mcgonigal_how_to_make_stress_your_friend?language=en

Nicholas Pallesen is a Transformative Coach, Mental Performance Consultant, and Speaker. For over a decade, he has helped people from all walks of life reconnect with their innate potential and bring that potential into the world.

Nicholas has garnered respect within the performing arts community as the "Coach for the Soul", helping artists thrive both on the biggest performance stages and in their everyday lives offstage. A former opera singer himself, Nicholas performed at the Metropolitan Opera, the English National Opera, and many other companies throughout the US and Europe. He is a graduate of the renowned Juilliard School and winner of many of the most prestigious opera competitions in the US.

As a coach, Nicholas is honored to work with an international spectrum of clients from high school students to Hollywood and TV actors, Broadway performers, and artists at the top orchestral and opera institutions in the world. He is regularly invited to speak and mentor artists at conservatories and training programs in the US and UK. He currently serves as a faculty member for the New World Symphony and the Wolf Trap Opera Company.

Though many of his clients come from the performing arts, Nicholas enjoys helping teachers, nurses, lawyers, athletes, executives, writers, therapists, and others fall more deeply in love with their life and bring their full potential into the world with much less struggle and effort.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtQSB1IVNJ4a2afT1iUtSfA/videos

050 Barry Green: The Inner Game of Music

8 november 2019 | 69 min

In today’s episode, I wanted to celebrate 50 episodes in style by bringing someone who’s work has had a profound impact on generations of musicians: bass player and author of The Inner Game of Music, Barry Green. I’m very happy and honored that Barry accepted to be on the show to have this very, very important conversation with me because his authentic approach to music-making has inspired and influenced thousands of musicians and redefined careers throughout the years.

In today’s conversation, Barry talks about some principles of the Inner Game, including what we should focus on, why we need to “Turn Up the Music” and how this simple act can transform our playing and change our life, how we can reach a state of relaxed concentration, how effective experience-lead learning is, and how to set effective goals.

He expands further on:

How “When you are playing the inner game, the quality of your experience becomes just as important as your actual success.”
How the only game we have control over is doing what we do best
How putting our focus on the things that we can control means that we can experience what we’re doing fully
How we can reach the state of relaxed concentration using:
- Awareness techniques (what we see, hear, feel, etc.)
- Commitment techniques (how well we prepare)
- Trust skills (physical memory and advanced preparation)
Experience-lead learning: “Do” instructions VS “Awareness” instructions
Having more fun and accomplishing more while practicing
Setting productive and effective goals

It was a true honor to have Barry on the show and I hope you enjoy his wisdom as much as I did and walk away inspired and motivated!

TURN THE METRONOME ON AND START PRACTICING BETTER AND LEARNING FASTER RIGHT NOW!!!

GET YOUR FREE METRONOME GUIDE TODAY AT www.mindoverfinger.com

MORE ABOUT BARRY:

Website: https://www.innergameofmusic.com/

YouTube videos featuring Barry and Inner Game principles: HERE

Barry Green, a native Californian, served as Principal Bassist of the Cincinnati Symphony for 28 years, and more recently Principal Bassist of the California Symphony and ‘Sun Valley, Idaho Summer Symphony. As former Executive Director of the International Society of Bassists, he is currently living in San Diego while teaching at the U. of Calif. Santa Cruz and active as a bass soloist, clinician and motivational speaker. Examples of his lectures can be found on his website at: www.innergameofmusic.com.

Green was the first bass soloist ever to solo with the Cincinnati Symphony in 1970 when he commissioned Frank Proto to write the Concerto for Bass and Orchestra conducted by Erich Kunzel. He has since twice appeared with the Cincinnati Symphony under the late Maestro Thomas Schippers who personally commissioned the Frank Proto Violin and Double Bass Concerto (with Ruggiero Ricci). In 1993 Green performed Jon Deak’s concerto Jack and the Beanstalk conducted by Jesus Lopez-Cobos. He most recently performed the Deak concerto in February 2005 with the US Air Force Band in Washington DC, Constitution Hall and Duluth Symphony. Barry is known for his creative and eclectic ‘Green Machine’ and “Green Man” concerts including the bass in jazz, folk, rock, funk, hip-hop contemporary and world music in combination with, dance, voice, art and theater.

Green has written three books on the ‘mind-body and spirit’ of performing musicians. He is author of the Doubleday book The Inner Game of Music, with W. Timothy Gallwey, and DVD (1986) which deals with musicians reaching their potential in performance and learning which has sold over 250,000 copies worldwide. He has written seven Inner Game of Music Workbooks published by GIA Music for keyboard, voice, instruments and ensembles. Green’s 2nd book, The Mastery of Music, Ten Pathways to True Artistry was published by Broadway/Doubleday in May 2003. The Mastery of Music is based on interviews with over 120 world famous musicians on topics of courage, passion, creativity, discipline, humility etc. It deals with qualities of greatness from the human spirit that transcend all professions. Jazz and classical artists interviewed include Dave Brubeck, Bobby McFerrin, Joshua Bell, Frederica von Stade, Christopher Parkening, Evelyn Glennie, Gary Karr, Jeffrey Kahane and many more.

Green’s most recent book (and DVD) is called Bringing Music to Life and was published by GIA Music. The book is exploring three techniques of breath, pulse and movement that allow the musician to channel expression through their bodies. This work is based on exploring creativity and inspiration through collaboration with the great improvisation cellist David Darling and his organization called Music for People.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

GET YOUR FREE METRONOME GUIDE TODAY AT www.mindoverfinger.com!!!! TURN THE METRONOME ON AND START PRACTICING BETTER AND LEARNING FASTER RIGHT NOW!

049 Marc Damoulakis: Thoughtful Learning Through Strong Fundamentals & Sound Conception

1 november 2019 | 46 min

In this episode, Marc Damoulakis, principal percussionist with the Cleveland Orchestra, discusses the importance of mindful exploration, flexibility, and patience in the learning process, time management, how to create a connection between our concept of sound and the motions necessary to execute that vision successfully, and he sends us off with very wise parting words!

He elaborates on:

How being competitive with himself helped him get to the next level in his career and how a healthy competitive mindset can be helpful to grow as a musician
The learning process behind mastering so many instruments
How learning other instruments can help us make new neural connections and expand our skills on our main instrument
The Importance of not skipping over fundamentals and developing the patience to go through the necessary process
Time management skills for students
Incorporating a solid routine for daily practice
Physical connection that learning entails: understanding “when it feels like this, it sounds like this”
Why students need to take responsibility for their own learning
The holistic approach to playing his teachers taught him
What a typical daily regimen looks like for him today
Handling a lot of repertoire
Focus – timeline = create timeline of your own – prioritization
The importance of knowing how quickly you can learn and push yourself to learn faster than you think
His favorite tools in the practice room
How the Feldenkrais Method helped him
Why he believes that there’s always room at the top

MORE ABOUT MARC:

The Cleveland Orchestra: https://www.clevelandorchestra.com/About/Musicians-and-Conductors/Meet-the-Musicians/A-L-Musicians/Damoulakis-Marc/

The Cleveland Institute: https://www.cim.edu/faculty/marc-damoulakis

Marc Damoulakis joined The Cleveland Orchestra in August 2006 and was appointed to the principal percussion chair in 2013. He currently also teaches as a faculty member at the Cleveland Institute of Music. He also presents clinics, masterclasses, and workshops at institutions and festivals worldwide, and performs as a soloist in a wide variety of performance settings.

Throughout his career, he has performed and recorded as a guest artist, including engagements with the New York Philharmonic, Atlanta Symphony, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony, Sarasota Orchestra, and the Hong Kong Philharmonic. He performed and recorded with the National Brass Ensemble at Skywalker Ranch and Orchestra Hall in Chicago in 2015. An active chamber musician, Mr. Damoulakis plays regularly with the Strings Music Festival, ChamberFest Cleveland, and the Sun Valley Summer Symphony “In Focus” Series, where he is also the principal percussionist. He has performed with Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Gilmore Festival, New Music Consort, and the Pulse Percussion Ensemble. In addition, Mr. Damoulakis is a founding member of the Time Table Percussion Quartet.

As a teacher, Marc Damoulakis has students holding positions in major symphony orchestras throughout the world and has led masterclasses and clinics throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. He is committed to a biannual week-long teaching residency at the University of Colorado at Boulder, and is a regular participant in the North Western Percussion Symposium, and the National Youth Orchestra. In addition, he serves as a judge of the annual Modern Snare Drum Competition. In addition to his current work at CIM, he taught for seven years as a faculty member at DePaul University. As a collaborative three-year project, he developed the K symphonic line of cymbals with the Zildjian Cymbal Company, instruments that are an important part of his sound collection with The Cleveland orchestra.

Prior to coming to Cleveland, Mr. Damoulakis lived and worked in New York, where he performed and recorded with the New York Philharmonic (2003-2006), served as principal timpani of the Long Island Philharmonic (1998-2006), and held the position of assistant principal percussion of the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra (2003-2006). He also performed as an active freelancer in New York, including playing in the orchestra for Phantom of the Opera on Broadway.

A native of Boston, Massachusetts, Mr. Damoulakis was exposed to music at a young age by his parents, who were both educators and musicians, in piano and tuba respectively. He later spent four summers at Tanglewood, in addition attending the Spoleto Festival and Pacific Music Festival. Marc Damoulakis holds a bachelor’s degree in percussion performance from the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied under Chris Lamb (New York Philharmonic), Duncan Patton (Metropolitan Opera Orchestra), and James Preiss (Steve Reich ensemble). He continued his studies for four years with the New World Symphony under Michael Tilson Thomas (1999-2003).

Marc and his wife, Samantha, currently reside in Cleveland Heights with their son George, daughter Helen, and their dog Rocky.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

048 Julian Rachlin: The Path to Mastery

25 oktober 2019 | 36 min

Today, I’m very excited to have the brilliant violinist, violist, and conductor Julian Rachlin on the show!

At the end of this very busy week, playing with and conducting the Chicago Symphony, Julian graciously took the time to sit with me and discuss meticulous practicing, mindful music-making, and his deep love of the art form!

He covers many topics, including studying with Boris Kuschnir and Mr. Kuschnir’s thorough approach to mastering the instrument, his views on the lifelong path that is growing as an artist, his daily practice regimen, and how playing the viola and conducting have allowed him to explore music from different angles.

Julian elaborates on:

How he believes we are never done learning
How the fact that his parents never made him practiced helped foster his deep love of music
His daily practice regimen
Why the responsibility to grow as an artist lies with the student
How musicians are a community
How playing the viola and conducting allow him to explore music from different angles
Why we should brush our taste as often as we brush our teeth
Finding the right balance between being completely open-minded and fully convinced (and when to be which)

MORE ABOUT JULIAN RACHLIN:

Website: http://www.julianrachlin.com/

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm_Eyb3YAt3m7_ic4VTA84A

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julianrachlin/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julianrachlin/

Elisabeth Gilels: Daily Exercises for the Violinist

Boris Kuschnir: http://www.boriskuschnir.com/

Violinist, violist and conductor Julian Rachlin is one of the most exciting and respected musicians of our time. In the first thirty years of his career, he has performed as soloist with the world's leading conductors and orchestras. Mr. Rachlin is Principal Guest Conductor of the Royal Northern Sinfonia, Turku Philharmonic Orchestra and Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra. He also leads the "Julian Rachlin & Friends Festival" in Palma de Mallorca.

Highlights of Mr. Rachlin's 2018/19 season include performances with the St. Petersburg Philharmonic and Mariss Jansons, Montreal Symphony Orchestra and Christoph Eschenbach, Boston Symphony Orchestra and Juanjo Mena, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Manfred Honeck, as well as the KBS Symphony Orchestra and Myung-Whun Chung. Alongside soloist Sarah McElravy and the Royal Northern Sinfonia, he will perform the UK premiere of Penderecki's Double Concerto for Violin and Viola, which is dedicated to him. Additionally, Mr. Rachlin will conduct among others the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Berlin Konzerthaus Orchestra, Naples Philharmonic, Moscow Philharmonic, St. Petersburg Symphony, Essen Philharmonic, Strasbourg Philharmonic, Slovenian Philharmonic, Zagreb Philharmonic and Trondheim Symphony Orchestra.

Julian Rachlin's recent highlights include a residency at the Prague Spring Festival and his own cycle at the Vienna Musikverein. He also performed with the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra and Yuri Temirkanov, Filarmonica della Scala and Riccardo Chailly, Munich Philharmonic and Zubin Mehta, Philharmonia Orchestra and Jakub Hrůša, Orchestra del Maggio Musicale and Vladimir Ashkenazy, as well as the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and Lahav Shani. As conductor, he toured Europe with the English Chamber Orchestra, and led the Royal Northern Sinfonia across South America and Japan. Additionally, he conducted the State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia, Hungarian National Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, Prague Philharmonia, and made his USA conducting debut at the Grand Teton Music Festival.

In recital and chamber music, Mr. Rachlin performs regularly with Itamar Golan, Denis Kozhukhin, Denis Matsuev, Mischa Maisky, Sarah McElravy, Vilde Frang and Janine Jansen.

Born in Lithuania, Mr. Rachlin immigrated to Vienna in 1978. He studied violin with Boris Kuschnir at the Vienna Conservatory and with Pinchas Zukerman. After winning the "Young Musician of the Year" Award at the Eurovision Competition in 1988, he became the youngest soloist ever to play with the Vienna Philharmonic, debuting under Riccardo Muti. At the recommendation of Mariss Jansons, Mr. Rachlin studied conducting with Sophie Rachlin. Since September 1999, he is on the violin faculty at the Music and Arts University of Vienna. His recordings for Sony Classical, Warner Classics and Deutsche Grammophon have been met with great acclaim. Mr. Rachlin, a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, is committed to educational outreach and charity work.

Julian Rachlin plays the 1704 "ex Liebig" Stradivari and a 1785 Lorenzo Storioni viola, on loan to him courtesy of the Dkfm. Angelika Prokopp Privatstiftung. His strings are kindly sponsored by Thomastik-Infeld.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

047 James VanDemark: Technical Discipline & Interpretive Magic

18 oktober 2019 | 55 min

047 James VanDemark: Technical Discipline & Interpretive Magic

This episode is full of inspiration and extremely useful information! Eastman School of Music Bass Professor, James VanDemark, offers us tip after great tip to bring our practice and performance to the next level!

Among many topics, James talks to us about creating a technical discipline that leads to interpretive magic, and about on how crucial it is to have clear goals and setting the intention to build up our entire identity as an artist whenever we enter the practice room.

He elaborates on the importance of:

using the bow in an imaginative way (having the bow be an extension of our imagination) while having a left hand that is as immaculate as can be
acutely playing in the present moment
establishing a great basic posture
slow practice
using the mirror
having interpretation be at the center of the technical work
create the concert experience in the practice room
ear training - through listening to recording actively and with imagination, and through exercises
having a schedule, have a clear intent, and be kind to others

MORE ABOUT JAMES:

Eastman School of Music: https://www.esm.rochester.edu/faculty/james-vandemark/

YouTube Videos: Here

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bassfilm1/

"Some people seemed destined to lead unconventional lives, and James VanDemark is certainly

one of them," said the New York Times in the first of its three profiles on VanDemark. Performer,

academic, boxer, producer, and entrepreneur - these are the principal roles VanDemark has

successfully played in a highly diverse career spanning nearly four decades.

VanDemark's arts and culture projects have been featured in the New York Times, Connoisseur

Magazine, on the MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour, the BBC, CBC, NPR, and in many other media

outlets around the world. In considerable demand as a speaker on entrepreneurial skills at

colleges across the United States and Canada, VanDemark has also received great acclaim for

his frequent role as narrator with many prominent symphony orchestras, including more than 40

performances with the Rochester Philharmonic and 15 with the Texas Festival Orchestra.

Appointed to the Eastman School of Music at the age of 23, VanDemark was the youngest faculty

member ever appointed to a professorial position at a major American music school. His students

perform in many of the world’s great orchestras – the New York Philharmonic, Cleveland

Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra,

Philadelphia Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic, Buffalo Philharmonic, Vienna Chamber

Orchestra, Tokyo Chamber Orchestra, Singapore Symphony, Hong Kong Philharmonic – and

many more. His students have also been nominated for—and won—numerous Grammy awards

in various categories, including classical, contemporary, jazz, and bluegrass.

VanDemark’s students have also held positions at major music schools, including Indiana

University, Oberlin Conservatory, Eastman School of Music, Louisiana State University,

Carnegie-Mellon, Peabody Conservatory, University of Delaware, NYU’s Steinhardt School of

Music, Michigan State University, University of Colorado, University of Alabama, University of

Tennessee, and many others.

VanDemark’s performing career has included solo appearances with the New York Philharmonic,

St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic, National Symphony of Mexico, Netherlands

Radio Symphony, Symphony Nova Scotia, Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestre Symphonique de

Quebec, Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra, and many more. Chamber music appearances have

included the Cleveland, Guarneri, Muir, Colorado and Ying Quartets, the Gryphon Trio, violinist

Yehudi Menuhin, as well as legendary pianists Andre Watts, Alfred Brendel, and Gary Graffman.

VanDemark has also been featured on Lincoln Center’s “Great Performers Series” on three

occasions, including in recital with Andre Watts.

VanDemark is also the recipient of commissioned works by many composers, including three

Pulitzer Prize winners: Gian-Carlo Menotti, Joseph Schwantner, and Christopher Rouse.

As a founding member of Square Peg Entertainment, VanDemark developed and represented

screenplays and properties of Oscar winners Ernest Thompson, Horton Foote, Eiko Ishioka, Ron

Harwood, Oscar nominee Hesper Anderson, Stu Silver, Paul Theroux, and many others.

VanDemark also developed the World War I story CODE BROTHERS for CTV (Toronto), THE

WAYNE AND SUE SHOW for Tribune Entertainment, produced the album and music video THE

GIFT with singer Linda Eder for Atlantic Records, and with television legend Sir David Frost,

developed the Frederick Forsyth novella THE SHEPHERD in conjunction with Shaftesbury Films

(Toronto). VanDemark also co-produced and cast SPEAK LOW, the highly successful Brooklyn

Academy of Music (BAM) Gala featuring Jerry Orbach, Donna Murphy, Duncan Sheik, and other

stars of Broadway and the Metropolitan Opera in the music of Kurt Weill. VanDemark has also

served as Music Supervisor for John Cougar Mellencamp's film, AFTER IMAGE.

Acclaimed for his extensive work in the Native American community, VanDemark commissioned

and developed the Native collaborative musical work CIRCLE OF FAITH, profiled in The New

York Times, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Detroit Free Press, Minneapolis Star and Tribune, Denver

Post, Lakota Times, and on NPR's Morning Edition. VanDemark has helped produce more than

40 performances of the work in the United States and Canada.

As an accomplished amateur boxer, VanDemark was recently profiled on the front page of The

Wall Street Journal, The Strad, on CBC's "Q," WNYC's "Soundcheck," and was featured at length

on ESPN's E-60. VanDemark’s conditioning and boxing program for students, musicians, and the

general public has also brought him considerable worldwide acclaim. His recent boxing/

conditioning presentations include the University of Tennessee, the University of Alabama,

Louisiana State University, Loyola University New Orleans, and the University of Santiago (Chile).

VanDemark attributes the longevity and diversity of his career not only to his own athletic training,

but also to his work in the the health care field in the 1970’s, when he worked extensively under

the renowned neurologist Dr. Howard S. Barrows at the McMaster University School of Medicine

in Canada in developing the groundbreaking Simulated/Standardized Patient Program (SPP). As

a result of these achievements, VanDemark was named to the Industry Board of the American

Health Council in October 2017.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

http://www.metorchestramusicians.org/billy-r-hunter-jr

046 Billy Hunter: The Power of Intention

11 oktober 2019 | 39 min

In this episode, Billy Hunter, Principal Trumpet with the Metropolitan Opera, talks about how meditation transformed his approach to music-making – from practicing to preparing for audition, and performing.

Billy elaborates on:

How he used and still uses meditation and mindfulness to center himself before a performance
How he focuses his mind on “Intending to play well” when performing
How he believes in the importance of a regular meditation practice – in the cumulative effect of practicing meditation daily
Why he wants to feel like he’s practicing when he’s performing
How Bikram Yoga brought him a lot of focus
How mindfulness helps him learn faster

ALL ABOUT BILLY:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billyhunter1812/

A native of Austin, Texas, Billy Hunter is currently Principal Trumpet with the Metropolitan Opera in New York and Assistant Principal Trumpet with the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra in Chicago. Before this, he was Principal with the New World Symphony and Spoleto Festival Italy orchestras, and has performed as Guest Principal with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony in Germany, Malaysian Philharmonic in Kuala Lumpur, and the Charleston Symphony Orchestra. Other orchestras he has performed with are the New York Philharmonic, Boston, Baltimore, and Dallas Symphonies. As a chamber musician and soloist Mr. Hunter has performed with several ensembles and music festivals including Grant Park Orchestra, New World Symphony, University of Texas Symphony and Wind Ensemble, Prometheus Chamber Orchestra, Eastern Music Festival Orchestra, American Brass Quintet, the Martha's Vineyard Chamber Music Festival and the MET Chamber Ensemble. His honors and awards include first prize in the Kingsville International Solo Competition Brass and Non-string divisions, second prize in the National Trumpet Competition, recipient of the Roger Voisin Trumpet award as a fellow of the prestigious Tanglewood Music Center in the Berkshires, and most recently, the University of Texas at Austin Outstanding Young Alumnus Award. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and the Juilliard School, his teachers have included Mark Gould (former Principal Trumpet of the Met), Raymond Mase (Principal Trumpet of the NYC Ballet and ABQ), Raymond Crisara (former trumpet of the Met and NBC Symphony), and Harry Shapiro (former horn player of the Boston Symphony).

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

045 Milan Milisavljevic: Life Changing & Career Defining Mindsets

4 oktober 2019 | 60 min

Today’s show brings you a powerful and honest conversation on very important topics, including how changing your mindset can change your life, how focusing on your musical voice instead of perfection in execution and external validation can transform your relationship with practicing, enrich your playing, and affect the trajectory of your career.

Milan Milisavljevic, Principal Viola with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, elaborates on:

the major impact a mentor had in his life
the importance of knowing where you’re coming from as a musician
the importance of having a clear intention of what you want to sound like and listen intently to yourself and monitor your body when playing
why shame has no business in the practice room
his scale routine
how he feels sound production in his arm
the importance of “reducing the distance between thought and sound (I love that one!!!)
how the fear transmitted from a teacher made him dread practicing, and how that has since changed
how he uses the Pomodoro technique
why it’s important to be calm when we’re facing things that make us feel uncomfortable
how changes in our lives come from us making the effort to go through the reflection and do the work
the important of courage in approaching music
why serving others and serving music IS THE POINT of music-making!
why it’s about “saying something meaningful rather than being perfect”

MORE ABOUT MILAN:

Website: http://milanmilisavljevic.com/
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsqbMHG_aOg5dgnTX_jYApw
The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra: http://www.metorchestramusicians.org/milan-milisavljevi
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/milimusique/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quincejuice/

Widely considered one of the leading violists of his generation, Milan Milisavljević is Principal Viola with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and is on the viola faculty at Mannes School of Music in New York. His performances combine intense expression with an immediate and profound link to his listeners and have won much critical acclaim.

The Strad magazine has described his playing as “very imaginative, with a fine, cultured tone.” Milan’s solo album Sonata-Song, released by Delos Music, has received glowing reviews, with the recording of A. Khachaturian’s solo sonata on the album hailed as “definitive”. He has won prizes at competitions such as Lionel Tertis and Aspen Lower Strings and has performed at Marlboro, Cascade Head, Classical Tahoe, Agassiz and Grand Teton music festivals.

Milan has appeared as soloist throughout the world, with orchestras such as the Munich Chamber Orchestra, the Belgrade Philharmonic, Aspen Sinfonia, Classical Tahoe, Orquesta Filarmónica de Boca del Río and many others. As a chamber musician, he has collaborated with members of the Guarneri and Mendelssohn String Quartets, as well as Joseph Kalichstein, Sergiu Luca, Cho-Liang Lin and many others.

Milan has been heard worldwide on countless recordings and broadcasts of the MET. He previously served as its Assistant Principal Viola for twelve seasons. He is a former member of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and has served as guest Principal Viola of many orchestras, such as the Toronto Symphony.

In addition to his teaching activities at Mannes, Milan has coached violists in masterclasses at universities and conservatories worldwide, as well as at Verbier Music Festival, Aspen Music Festival, and as a volunteer at Ecole de musique St-Trinite in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He is also increasingly in demand as a conductor.

Milan’s teachers include Jutta Puchhammer, Atar Arad, James Dunham, Nobuko Imai and Samuel Rhodes. He plays a viola made by Joseph Curtin of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and is a Larsen Strings Artist.

Milan is also active as a conductor and founder of Music for the People, a New York-based ensemble dedicated to a new perspective and concert experience of classical music. In addition to his musical interests, he is also an avid runner, an occasional triathlete and a huge fan of modern architecture and design, especially the Mid Century Modern style.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

044 Sarah Whitney: Thriving Through Injury

27 september 2019 | 56 min

Sarah Whitney: Thriving Through Injury

Today on the show, I’m really happy to bring you violinist Sarah Whitney to cover a VERY important topic: dealing with injuries as a musician!

In this episode, Sarah talks to us about how you can not only prevent and treat injury, but also thrive in the aftermath – how to handle recovery, the ways she warms up to prevent injury, and how important the mental aspect of recovery is. She also talks about how she helps musicians achieve their career goals and why life and career coaching can be a real game changer.

And don't forget to share your injury story with us, and let us know what resonated with you in the episode!

ALL ABOUT SARAH:

Website: https://www.sarahwhitney.com

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/theproductivemusician/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahwhitneyistall/

Sybaryte5:

Trifecta String Trio

The violinist Sarah Whitney is celebrated as a performer, teacher, entrepreneur, career coach, and musical maverick. Praised by The Washington Post for her “marvelous violin acrobatics,” Sarah has appeared on stages worldwide as a soloist and collaborative artist throughout North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Comfortable in a wide range of settings and musical styles, she is fiercely dedicated to bringing fresh new ideas to classical music and empowering musicians to find their own voice.

Sarah is a founding member of the acclaimed string quintet SYBARITE5, which won the Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition in 2011 and continues to perform extensively around North America. Sarah has also performed with SYBARITE5 at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Alice Tully Hall, the Library of Congress, the Aspen, Caramoor, Chautauqua, Grand Teton, and Ravinia Festivals, and on the CBS Early Show. Their latest album entitled Outliers reached No. 1 on the Billboard Charts, and they recently premiered Dan Visconti’s Beatbox: Concerto for String Quintet & Orchestra with the South Carolina Philharmonic, Midland Symphony Orchestra, and Duluth-Superior Orchestra.

Recognized as a pioneer in changing the perception of classical music and committing to building new audiences, in 2015, Sarah founded Beyond the Notes, an innovative concert series dedicated to breaking down the barriers between performers and the audience. The series is rooted in the Boston-area but has expanded in recent years to present performances throughout North America. She is also currently the Music Director for Lincoln Center Stage — an innovative partnership between Lincoln Center and the Holland-American Cruise Lines. This initiative organizes highly-coveted residencies for top young chamber musicians on board cruise ships elevating the performance level to that heard in leading concert halls.

Sarah’s writing is featured regularly in for Strings Magazine and 21CM.org. Her widely-read blog The Productive Musician focuses on health and wellness, productivity, and strategies for developing and maintaining an effective mindset. She has served on the New York State Presenters Network Panel in discussions about progressive programming and innovation.

Defying categorization and welcoming diverse collaborations, Sarah has collaborated with the Alvin Ailey and Jose Limon dance companies and has been featured on-stage with Adele, Ellie Goulding, the Transiberian Orchestra, Jeff Beck, Anne Murray, Andrew Wyatt, Tommy Lee, and with Father John Misty. Active as a recording artist, Sarah has performed on albums with Darlene Love, Josh Ritter, Stephen Kellogg, Mark Geary and Etienne Charles and can be heard on William Bolcom's Grammy-winning album ‘The Songs of Innocence and Experience’. She has also collaborated with DJ Doug E. Fresh and opened for Jennifer Hudson and Diana Ross. She recently recorded together with the legendary clarinetist Richard Stoltzman.

Sarah also performs regularly in the Seeing Double Duo with violinist Julia Salerno, and the Trifecta Trio together with violist Angela Pickett and cellist Laura Metcalf. Sarah is co-founder of the Jingle Punks Hipster Orchestra that has been featured on Mashable, Perez Hilton, Revolt TV, as well as with the rapper NAS in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Guiding students with an especially collaborative teaching approach, Sarah works nationally with students of all levels. She has given guest master classes and entrepreneurial workshops at the Curtis Institute, New England Conservatory, DePauw University, University of Oklahoma, University of Arizona, Grinnell College, Ohio University, University of North Florida, the Walnut Hill School, the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, among others, and has been guest artist-in-residence at Eastern Washington University. She has served on faculty at Music in Chappaqua, The Music School of New York City and the Walla Walla Suzuki Institute. She previously served as co-director of the Sato Center Outreach Group at the Sato Center for Suzuki Studies in Cleveland, and received Suzuki teacher training from the renowned pedagogue Kimberly Meier-Sims.

Currently based in New York City, Sarah holds degrees from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre, and Dance and the Cleveland Institute of Music. Additional studies include at the Aspen Music Festival and School, the Music Academy of the West, and the Meadowmount School of Music. Her teachers included Paul Kantor, William Preucil, Kathleen Winkler, Aaron Berofsky, Cyrus Forough, Stephen Shipps and Irina Muresanu.

Sarah performs on violin made by J.B. Vuillaume in 1850.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

YouTube videos: https://www.google.com/search?q=frank+rosenwein&newwindow=1&sxsrf=ACYBGNRqML7ag5XPsKlpQNJ0oNqu2arXKw:1568685892756&source=lnms&tbm=vid&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjf8pqr4tbkAhVHX60KHQ1YBDIQ_AUIFSgE&biw=1920&bih=937

043 Frank Rosenwein: Vision & Consistency

20 september 2019 | 35 min

This week I’m really excited to bring you Frank Rosenwein, Principal Oboe with the Cleveland Orchestra and oboe teacher at the Cleveland Institute of Music. In this episode, we discuss stepping into the role of a principal wind player in a major orchestra, transitioning from student to professional life, how to keep playing at the highest level consistently, the importance of having a strong vision and cultivating an ever inquisitive mind, what teaching brings to one’s playing, and much more!

More about Frank Rosenwein:

The Cleveland Orchestra: http://www.clevelandorchestra.com/

The Cleveland Institute of Music: https://www.cim.edu/faculty/frank-rosenwein

Frank Rosenwein joined The Cleveland Orchestra as principal oboe at the beginning of the 2005–06 season. He made his solo debut with the Orchestra in February 2007, in Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 2. Since then he has performed many times as soloist, including playing the Richard Strauss Oboe Concerto in 2012 and the first Cleveland Orchestra performances of the Vaughan Williams Oboe Concerto in 2017.

Since 2006, Mr. Rosenwein has served as head of the oboe department at the Cleveland Institute of Music, where in 2015 he was given the Alumni Achievement award. He also teaches at the Kent Blossom Music Festival, and is in demand as a guest artist and masterclass clinician in schools all over the world. An avid chamber musician, he has spent many summers at the Marlboro Festival and has performed with the Mainly Mozart Festival in San Diego, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, and the Seattle Chamber Music Society.

Born in Evanston, Illinois, Mr. Rosenwein holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied with John Mack (Cleveland Orchestra principal oboe, 1965–2001), and a Master of Music degree from the Juilliard School. Prior to coming to Cleveland, he served as principal oboe (2002–05) of the San Diego Symphony and San Diego Opera.

Mr. Rosenwein is married to Cleveland Orchestra associate concertmaster Jung-Min Amy Lee. They live in Cleveland Heights with their twin boys, Joshua and Julian, and their dog, Sofie.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

042 Arnaud Sussman: Fluency & Music Making

13 september 2019 | 45 min

In this episode, I discuss with solo violinist Arnaud Sussmann. He elaborates on the mindsets and strategies to adopt when working on sound quality, the importance of having a strong concept of phrasing and of bow distribution in musicality, the importance of creating fluency in his playing and how he achieves it, the importance of purpose in our practice, warming up during busy periods, the value of recording ourselves when we practice, and why he believes it’s important to work hard.

Nous avons aussi une discussion en francais! Nous vous offrons un retour sur certains point abordés en anglais en ce qui a trait à la production du son et du phrasé, et une conversation sur l’importance de la curiosité dans la pratique et sur comment il aborde une œuvre nouvelle.

MORE ABOUT ARNAUD SUSSMAN:

Website: http://arnaudsussmann.com/

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/violinice

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arnaudsussmannviolin/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arnaudsussmann/

Boris Garlitsky: http://www.talentmusicmasters.it/boris-garlitsky

Winner of a 2009 Avery Fisher Career Grant, Arnaud Sussmann has distinguished himself with his unique sound, bravura and profound musicianship. Minnesota’s Pioneer Press writes, “Sussmann has an old-school sound reminiscent of what you'll hear on vintage recordings by Jascha Heifetz or Fritz Kreisler, a rare combination of sweet and smooth that can hypnotize a listener. His clear tone [is] a thing of awe-inspiring beauty, his phrasing spellbinding.”

A thrilling young musician capturing the attention of classical critics and audiences around the world, Arnaud Sussmann has appeared with the American Symphony Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic, New World Symphony, Pacific Symphony, Paris Chamber Orchestra, Jerusalem Symphony and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Further solo appearances have included a tour of Israel and concerts at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, Dresden Music Festival in Germany and at the Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C. Mr. Sussmann has been presented in recital in Omaha on the Tuesday Musical Club series, New Orleans by the Friends of Music, Tel Aviv at the Museum of Art and at the Louvre Museum in Paris. He has also given concerts at the OK Mozart, Chamber Music Northwest and Moritzburg festivals and appears regularly at the Caramoor, Music@Menlo, La Jolla SummerFest, Seattle Chamber Music, Moab Music and Saratoga Springs Chamber Music festivals.

Recent concerto appearances include performances with Maestro Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Orchestra at the White Nights Festival in St Petersburg, the Santa Rosa Symphony, the Albany Symphony, the Jacksonville Symphony and the Grand Rapids Symphony. This past season, chamber music performances included tours with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center to Korea’s LG Arts Center, Shanghai’s Oriental Center and Hong Kong’s Music Academy.

Arnaud Sussmann has performed with many of today’s leading artists including Itzhak Perlman, Menahem Pressler, Gary Hoffman, Shmuel Ashkenazi, Wu Han, David Finckel, Jan Vogler and members of the Emerson String Quartet. He has worked with conductors such as Cristian Macelaru, Marcelo Lehninger, Rune Bergmann and Leon Botstein. A dedicated chamber musician, he has been a member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center since 2006 and has regularly appeared with them in New York and on tour, including a recent concert at London’s Wigmore Hall.

A frequent recording artist, Arnaud Sussmann has released albums on Deutsche Grammophon’s DG Concert Series, Naxos, Albany Records and CMS Studio Recordings labels. His solo debut disc, featuring three Brahms Violin Sonatas with pianist Orion Weiss, was released in December 2014 on the Telos Music Label. He has been featured on multiple PBS’ Live from Lincoln Center broadcasts alongside Itzhak Perlman and the Perlman Music Program and with musicians of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.

Born in Strasbourg, France and based now in New York City, Arnaud Sussmann trained at the Conservatoire de Paris and the Juilliard School with Boris Garlitsky and Itzhak Perlman. Winner of several international competitions, including the Andrea Postacchini of Italy and Vatelot/Rampal of France, he was named a Starling Fellow in 2006, an honor which allowed him to be Mr. Perlman’s teaching assistant for two years. Mr. Sussmann now teaches at Stony Brook University on Long Island and was recently named Co-Artistic Director of Music@Menlo’s International Music Program.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

041 Marin Alsop: Forging Your Own Path

6 september 2019 | 30 min

To start Season 2, I’m really honored to bring you a conversation with the incredible Marin Alsop, who’s someone I’ve admired so much for so many years!

In this episode, we discuss Making things happen for yourself, finding balance between pushing yourself to grow and not becoming overly self-critical, bringing a score to life, how she nurtures focus in her work by planning carefully, and the importance of becoming our own best teacher!

ALL ABOUT MARIN ALSOP:

Website: https://www.marinalsop.com/

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra: https://www.bsomusic.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marinalsop.conductor/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marin.alsop.conductor/

Marin Alsop is one of the world’s great orchestral conductors. She’s described as an inspiring and powerful voice in the international music scene, and a Music Director of vision and distinction who passionately believes that “music has the power to change lives”. She is recognized across the world for her innovative approach to programming and for her deep commitment to education and to the development of audiences of all ages.

Upon her appointment as Music Director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in 2007, Maestro Alsop became the first woman to head a major American orchestra, and was the first woman to conduct last night of the Prom in its 100 year history.

Among her many awards and academic positions, Marin Alsop is the only conductor to receive the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship, she’s an Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Music and Royal Philharmonic Society, and was recently appointed Director of Graduate Conducting at the Johns Hopkins Peabody Institute. She attended the Juilliard School and Yale University, who awarded her an Honorary Doctorate in 2017. Her conducting career was launched in 1989, when she was the first woman to be awarded the Koussevitzky Conducting Prize from the Tanglewood Music Center.

As part of her artistic leadership in Baltimore, Mastro Alsop has created several bold initiatives: including ‘OrchKids’, for the city’s most deprived young people, and the BSO Academy and Rusty Musicians for adult amateur musicians.

Maestro Alsop conducts all of the world’s major orchestras, and in addition to her position with the Baltimore Symphony, she is Principal Conductor and Music Director of the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra, Chief Conductor of the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, and Music Director of California’s Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music.

Her extensive discography has led to multiple Gramophone awards and includes highly praised recordings with all of the major labels, including Naxos, Decca Classics, Harmonia Mundi and Sony Classical.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

040 The Fischoff Experience: In Conclusion

24 maj 2019 | 26 min

The conclusion of this series covering the Fischoff Competition, including a summary of some of my favorite takeaways, tips, and advice, and with a conversation with my fellow podcaster friend, Nathan Cole, on what it was like for us there!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS OF THE 46TH FISCHOFF NATIONAL CHAMBER MUSIC COMPETITION

Grand Prize

Aruna Quartet – Texas Tech University

Senior Division Strings/Piano

Gold Medal Winner: Merz Trio – New York City
Silver Medal Winner: Abeo Quartet – Juilliard School
Bronze Medal Winner: Dior Quartet – Indiana University ; Jacobs School

Senior Division Winds/Brass

Gold Medal Winner: Aruna Quartet – Texas Tech University
Silver Medal Winner: Khroma Quartet – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Bronze Medal Winner: Catharsis Winds – Cleveland Institute

Junior Division Strings/Piano

Gold Medal Winner: Fervida Trio – Young Chamber Musicians, Burlingame CA
Silver Medal Winner: Éclatante String Quartet – Starling Preparatory String Project, Cincinnati OH
Bronze Medal Winner: Meraki Quartet – Crowden Music Center, Berkeley CA

Junior Division Winds/Brass

Gold Medal Winner: Golden Melody Saxophone Quartet – Middle School of the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, China
Silver Medal Winner: Quantum Quartet – Hebron High School, Carrollton Texas
Bronze Medal Winner: The Bone Rangers – Merit School of Music

Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition: https://www.fischoff.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fischoffchambermusic/

Nathan Cole: https://www.natesviolin.com/

Stand Partners for Life: https://www.natesviolin.com/the-stand-partners-for-life-podcast/

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a huge thank you to my producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

039 The Fischoff Experience: Winning Fischoff

23 maj 2019 | 31 min

038 The Fischoff Experience: The Judges

22 maj 2019 | 72 min

Experience the 2019 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition from the perspective of the judges who listened to the participants. They talk about their experience at Fischoff, give us insight as to what they’re looking for in a group when they’re judging, and they’ll answer the questions that my listeners sent me before I left!

Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition: https://www.fischoff.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fischoffchambermusic/

Marc Reese – Trumpet – Winds/Brass Junior Division - https://www.lynn.edu/campus-directory/marc-reese

Marc Reese is the Assistant Dean and Brass Department Head for Lynn University's Conservatory of Music and he’s well known for his near two-decade tenure in the world-famous Empire Brass Quintet.

Toyin Spellman-Diaz – Oboe – Winds/Brass Junior Division - http://www.imaniwinds.com/artist-bios/toyin

Toyin Spellman-Diaz has built a reputation as a world-class oboist, both as an orchestral musician, and as a member of the renowned Imani Winds. She is on faculty at Brooklyn College.

Jeffrey Zeigler – Cello – Strings/Piano Junior Division - http://www.jzcello.com/

Jeffrey Ziegler was the cellist of the internationally renowned Kronos Quartet for eight seasons and is acclaimed as one the most versatile cellist of our time. He is on the Cello Faculty at Mannes College’s New School For Music.

Rebecca Fischer – Violin – Strings/Piano Junior Division - http://www.rebeccafischerviolin.com/

Rebecca Fischer was the first-violinist of the Chiara Quartet for eighteen years and is praised for her “beautiful tone and nuanced phrasing.” She is currently teaching violin and chamber music at the Mannes School of Music and at the Greenwood Music Camp, and writes about artistry and creativity for publications such as Strings Magazine and the SHAR Music blog.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a huge thank you to my producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

037 The Fischoff Experience: The Team

21 maj 2019 | 70 min

Experience the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition from the perspective of the team of incredibly supportive, loving, and dedicated people that are essential in making all of this magic happen: the coaches, the parents, the many organizations involved and, of course, the Fischoff team itself.

Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition: https://www.fischoff.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fischoffchambermusic/

Rodolpho Vieira – Music Institute of Chicago Academy - https://www.musicinst.org/rodolfo-vieira

Coach of the Xena & Fiero string quartets

Scott Tegge – Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra - https://cyso.org/

Screening Committee member for the Senior Winds/Brass Division & coach of the Fab Five brass quintet

Joseph Maile – San Francisco Conservatory pre-college - https://sfcm.edu/pre-college

Coach of the Bach Trio & member of the Telegraph Quartet http://www.telegraphquartet.com/

Tom Snidacker – Merit School of Music - https://meritmusic.org/

Coach of the Precipice Saxophone Quartet

Brayer Teague

Parent and Fine Arts Department Chair at Downers Grove North High School & Past State President of the Illinois Music Education Association

Parents of the Fiero String Quartet from the Music Institute of Chicago https://www.musicinst.org

Isabella Brown & Kaylin Liu, violin; Elena Galentas, viola; Alon Hayut, cello

Scott Linder

Father of Anna Linder from the Dajj Quartet from Chamber Music Connection https://cmconnection.org/

Allan Dennis – Midwest Young Artist Conservatory - https://mya.org/

President & Founder

Deborah Price - Chamber Music Connection - https://cmconnection.org/

Founder & Artistic Director

Si-Yan Darren Li - Cleveland Institute of Music - https://www.cim.edu/

String chamber music coordinator & Chamber music faculty

Tom Rosenberg – Artistic Director of Fischoff & Director of the Chamber Music Academy at the St-Paul Conservatory of Music https://thespcm.org/faculty-tom-rosenberg

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a huge thank you to my producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

036 The Fischoff Experience: The Performers

20 maj 2019 | 52 min

Experience the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition from the perspective of the musicians participating. Hear conversations about their experience at Fischoff, their preparation process, and the dedication and many sacrifices that go along with entering a national chamber music competition.

Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition: https://www.fischoff.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fischoffchambermusic/

Featuring:

Dajj String Quartet - Chamber Music Connection , Worthington, OH - https://cmconnection.org/

Anna Linder & Mathias Koo, violin; Julian Tugaoen, viola; Jackson Tomsic, cello

Catharsis Winds – Cleveland Institute of Music, OH - https://www.cim.edu/

Jessica Chancey, flute; Isaac Ripple, oboe; Shihao Hugh Zhu, clarinet; Willem Crone, horn; Corbin Krebs, bassoon

Chiave Trio – Music Institute of Chicago Academy, IL - https://www.musicinst.org/academy

Esme Arias-Kim, Kelly Kim, violin & viola; Yerin Yang, piano

Fab Five Brass Quintet – Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra - https://cyso.org/

Nick Szoblik & Louis Vacha, trumpet; Miles Teague, horn; Megan Martin, trombone; Christjovan Massao, tuba

Fiero String Quartet – Music Institute of Chicago Academy, IL - https://www.musicinst.org/academy

Isabella Brown & Kaylin Liu, violin; Elena Galentas, viola; Alon Hayut, cello

Galvin Trio – Northwestern University, Evanston IL - https://www.music.northwestern.edu/

Nanao Yamada, violin; Jasmine Pai, cello; Nansong Huang, piano

Lafontaine Quartet – McGill University, Montréal QC - https://www.mcgill.ca/music/

Aaron Chan & Astrid Nakamura, violin; Emily Rekrut-Pressey, viola; Fiona Robson, cello

Precipice Saxophone Quartet- Merit School of Music, Chicago IL - https://meritmusic.org/

Emmett Connolly, Cole Moorhead, Christopher Li, Taki Salameh, saxophone

Éclatante String Quartet – Starling Preparatory Project, Cincinatti OH - http://www.starling.org/

Christina Nam & Skye Park, violin; Jennifer Armor, viola; Meagan Hipsky, cello

Avanzare String Quartet – Cleveland Institute of Music, OH - https://www.cim.edu/

Rebecca Benjamin & Yu-Ming Ma, violin; Serena Hsu, viola; Wei-An Hung, cello

The Bone Rangers – Merit School of Music, Chicago IL - https://meritmusic.org/

Liam Coyne, Jonah Blake, Christopher Tam, Rafael Noriega, trombone

Merz Trio, New York NY - https://www.merztrio.com/

Brigid Coleridge, violin; Julia Yang, cello; Eric (Lee) Dionne, piano

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a huge thank you to my producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

035 The Fischoff Effect: Lydia Rhea – former Kairos String Quartet

3 maj 2019 | 44 min

Today’s guest in the fifth and final episode of the Fischoff Effect series is Lydia Rhea from the former Kairos String Quartet. In this series, I bring you five former winners of the Fischoff competition to talk about their experience preparing for and competing at Fischoff, and about the wonderful adventures and opportunities that have followed their win: Blaise Magniere from the Avalon String Quartet, Dorival Puccini from Axiom Brass, Matt Landry from the Akropolis Reed Quintet , Christopher Whitley from the Thalea String Quartet, and Lydia Reah from the former Kairos String Quartet!

Whether you are a musician about to compete at the competition, or a music lover looking for a fresh approach to practicing and preparing for a concert, make sure to subscribe and tune in everyday, because those conversations are bursting with inspiration and EXTREMELY useful information! Each group has a unique and motivating story and my guests are so generous with their insightful tips and advice!

About Fischoff

Founded in 1973 in South Bend, Indiana, the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition has grown to become the largest chamber music competition in the world, attracting the finest and most talented young musicians from around the globe. and is one of the most prestigious classical music prizes attainable today. Since its founding, more than 6,000 musicians have participated, many of whom have gone on to distinguished careers in music performance and education. Fischoff is also deeply committed to music education and partners with competition alumni to bring free, innovative Arts-in-Education programs directly to children in their own schools and community centers. Since 1995, nearly 50,000 children, youth and adults have received free educational programming of the highest order.

http://www.lydia-rhea.com/about/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fischoffchambermusic/

Meet the former Kairos String Quartet – 2018 Junior Division Gold Medal

Joshua Brown & Julian Rhee, violin/viola | Thompson Wang, violin | Lydia Rhea, cello

The Kairos String Quartet, coached by Rodolfo Vieira, is comprised of Joshua Brown (violin/viola), Julian Rhee (violin/viola), Thompson Wang (violin), and Lydia Rhea (cello).

“Kairos”, the decisive time for opportunity and action, captures the essence of ambition and boldness found in these four young artists. Kairos was formed in September of 2017 when all four students were scholarship recipient Fellows at the Music Institute of Chicago Academy, a pre-college training program for gifted musicians. Kairos Quartet won the Gold Medal in the Junior Division of the 2018 Fischoff National Chamber Competition and First Prize in the Junior String Division of the 2018 M-Prize International Chamber Arts Competition, making Kairos the first chamber group to win the top prizes at both Fischoff and M-Prize in the same year.

They were also awarded the Grand Prize at the A.N. and Pearl G. Barnett Chamber Music Competition, First Place at the Rembrandt Chamber Players Competition, and the Silver Medal at the St. Paul String Quartet Competition. Named the Rembrandt Young Artists for 2018, Kairos was featured on a live broadcast of WFMT’s Introductions. All four members are currently pursuing music performance in college; Joshua, Julian, and Thompson are students at the New England Conservatory while Lydia is studying at the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Lydia Rhea, cello

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lydia_cello/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN-KjdWREr9lehnLNf8wekg

Cellist Lydia Rhea is quickly garnering international recognition as a skilled soloist and chamber musician while currently pursuing a BM in Cello Performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music with Dr. Melissa Kraut. Formerly a scholarship recipient Fellow at the Music Institute of Chicago Academy, a training center for gifted pre-college musicians, Lydia studied with artist faculty member Hans Jørgen Jensen for four years. As a soloist, Lydia has performed with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, the Muncie Symphony Orchestra, the Carmel Symphony Orchestra, and the New World Youth Symphony Orchestra, among others, and appeared on NPR’s From the Top with world-renowned jazz pianist Fred Hersch and guest host Yuga Cohler.

An accomplished chamber musician, Lydia earned numerous honors as the cellist of the Kairos String Quartet in the 2017-2018 season. Kairos won the Gold Medal in the Junior Division of the 2018 Fischoff National Chamber Competition and First Prize in the Junior String Division of the 2018 M-Prize International Chamber Arts Competition, making Kairos the first chamber group to win the top prizes at both Fischoff and M-Prize in the same year. They were also awarded the Grand Prize at the A.N. and Pearl G. Barnett Chamber Music Competition, First Place at the Rembrandt Chamber Players Competition, and the Silver Medal at the St. Paul String Quartet Competition. Named the Rembrandt Young Artists for 2018, Kairos was featured on a live broadcast of WFMT’s Introductions and NPR’s From the Top.

Lydia made her debut at the age of nine with the New World Youth Philharmonic Orchestra and the Fishers Chamber Players, and she has twice served as principal cellist in the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s Side-by-Side program. Most recently, in the summer of 2018, she was invited to be a Professional Performance Artist at the Boston Music Institute’s 12-Hour Masterclasses with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and she attended the Festival de Écoles d’Art Americaines de Fountainebleau in France on a full scholarship as the festival’s youngest participant. While there, her string quartet was awarded the Premier Prix and the Prix du Château de Fontainebleau for the best interpretation of Ravel’s String Quartet in the Prix Ravel, sponsored by the Maurice Ravel Foundation. In the summers of 2016 and 2017, Lydia attended the Heifetz International Music Institute, while previous summers were spent at the Meadowmount School of Music, Sewanee Summer Music Festival, and the Indiana University String Academy. Lydia has had the privilege of taking lessons and master classes with Gary Hoffman, Philippe Muller, Pinchas Zukerman, Robert Levin, Blaise Déjardin, Sharon Robinson, Amir Eldan, Merry Peckham, Jonathan Koh, Richard Hirschl, and Richard Aaron, among others.

Lydia plays on a cello made by Lawrence Wilke in 2008.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a huge thank you to my producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

034 The Fischoff Effect: Christopher Whitley – Thalea String Quartet

2 maj 2019 | 32 min

Today’s guest in this fourth episode of the Fischoff Effect series is Christopher Whitley from the Thalea String Quartet. In this series, I bring you five former winners of the Fischoff competition to talk about their experience preparing for and competing at Fischoff, and about the wonderful adventures and opportunities that have followed their win!

My guests this week are Blaise Magniere from the Avalon String Quartet, Dorival Puccini from Axiom Brass, Matt Landry from the Akropolis Reed Quintet, Christopher Whitley from the Thalea String Quartet, and Lydia Reah from the former Kairos String Quartet!

Whether you are a musician about to compete at the competition, or a music lover looking for a fresh approach to practicing and preparing for a concert, make sure to subscribe and tune in everyday, because those conversations are bursting with inspiration and EXTREMELY useful information! Each group has a unique and motivating story and my guests are so generous with their insightful tips and advice!

About Fischoff

Founded in 1973 in South Bend, Indiana, the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition has grown to become the largest chamber music competition in the world, attracting the finest and most talented young musicians from around the globe. and is one of the most prestigious classical music prizes attainable today. Since its founding, more than 6,000 musicians have participated, many of whom have gone on to distinguished careers in music performance and education. Fischoff is also deeply committed to music education and partners with competition alumni to bring free, innovative Arts-in-Education programs directly to children in their own schools and community centers. Since 1995, nearly 50,000 children, youth and adults have received free educational programming of the highest order.

https://www.thaleastringquartet.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fischoffchambermusic/

Meet the Thalea String Quartet – 2018 Senior String Division Bronze Medal

Christopher Whitley & Kumiko Sakamoto, violin | Luis Bellorín, viola | Titilayo Ayangade, cello

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thaleastringquartet/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thaleasq/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfTPRC93tPtKd1zb2OAKnSg

“Thalea never failed to deliver a stirring performance” - Calgary Herald

The Thalea String Quartet is dedicated to bringing timeless music to audiences from all walks of life. From living rooms to concert stages around the world, the Thalea String Quartet aims to connect with audiences on a musical, emotional and personal level, from first time listeners to string quartet aficionados. They are devoted to building a new and diverse audience for chamber music through innovative programming and community engagement.

Formed in 2014 at the Zephyr International Chamber Music Festival in Courmayeur, Italy, the Thalea String Quartet has been praised for their “vibrant performance” and “sincere expressivity” (SF Classical Voice). The quartet has performed recitals across Europe, the United States, and Canada, and has appeared at the Kennedy Center, Massey Hall, and Weill Hall. They were the first quartet-in-residence at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music from 2015-17. They were recently named the Young Professional String Quartet at the Butler School of Music, where they are mentored by the highly acclaimed Miró Quartet. They also serve as Associated Artists at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Waterloo, Belgium, where they are mentored by the Artemis Quartet. The Thalea String Quartet were top prize winners at both the 2018 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and the 2018 Chamber Music Yellow Springs Competition. They were appointed as the Sphinx Ensemble at the 2018 Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, and will return this coming summer as a Shouse Ensemble. They were ensemble-in-residence at the Bear Valley Music Festival for the summers of 2018 and 2019.

The Thalea String Quartet prides itself on the diversity of its collaborations. They have performed Mendelssohn’s Octet in its original manuscript form with the award-winning Borromeo Quartet and shared the stage with Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw in performances of works for voice and string quartet. They have performed alongside Geoff Nuttall of the St. Lawrence String Quartet, violist Jodi Levitz and composer Mason Bates. They were invited to participate in the 2017 KRONOS Festival, where they performed works from the Kronos Quartet’s “50 for the Future” Project. Committed to collaborating with artists of all backgrounds, the Thalea String Quartet has collaborated with San Francisco-based dance theatre company the Joe Goode Performance Group at the Yerba Buena Center, appeared with acclaimed Canadian band BADBADNOTGOOD at the iconic Massey Hall.

The members of the Thalea String Quartet are dedicated educators and bring their commitment to teaching and community engagement to their frequent educational and community performances. They have performed educational concerts to students of all ages and regularly perform at care facilities and schools across the United States.

Christopher Whitley (violin) is originally from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Kumiko Sakamoto (violin) is from Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada; Luis Bellorín (viola) is from Naperville, Illinois, and Titilayo Ayangade (cello) is from Cincinnati, Ohio. Christopher performs on the 1700 “Taft” Stradivari, generously on loan by the Canada Council for the Arts Musical Instrument Bank.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a huge thank you to my producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

033 The Fischoff Effect: Matt Landry – Akropolis Reed Quintet

1 maj 2019 | 29 min

Today’s guest in this third episode of the Fischoff Effect series is Matt Landry from the Akropolis Reed Quintet. In this series, I bring you five former winners of the Fischoff competition to talk about their experience preparing for and competing at Fischoff, and about the wonderful adventures and opportunities that have followed their win!

My guests this week are Blaise Magniere from the Avalon String Quartet, Dorival Puccini from Axiom Brass, Matt Landry from the Akropolis Reed Quintet , Christopher Whitley from the Thalea String Quartet, and Lydia Reah from the former Kairos String Quartet!

Whether you are a musician about to compete at the competition, or a music lover looking for a fresh approach to practicing and preparing for a concert, make sure to subscribe and tune in everyday, because those conversations are bursting with inspiration and EXTREMELY useful information! Each group has a unique and motivating story and my guests are so generous with their insightful tips and advice!

About Fischoff

Founded in 1973 in South Bend, Indiana, the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition has grown to become the largest chamber music competition in the world, attracting the finest and most talented young musicians from around the globe. and is one of the most prestigious classical music prizes attainable today. Since its founding, more than 6,000 musicians have participated, many of whom have gone on to distinguished careers in music performance and education. Fischoff is also deeply committed to music education and partners with competition alumni to bring free, innovative Arts-in-Education programs directly to children in their own schools and community centers. Since 1995, nearly 50,000 children, youth and adults have received free educational programming of the highest order.

https://akropolisquintet.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fischoffchambermusic/

Meet the Akropolis Reed Quintet – 2012 Senior Wind Division Silver Medal, 2014 Senior Wind Division Gold Medal, & 2015 Fischoff Educator Award

Kari Landry, clarinet | Andrew Koeppe, bass clarinet | Ryan Reynolds, bassoon | Matt Landry, saxophone | Tim Gocklin, oboe

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akropolisquintet/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/akropolis5tet/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGAiaA8x7b3W_OpBKgg7eXg

Hailed for their “imagination, infallible musicality, and huge vitality” (Fanfare Magazine), Akropolis was founded in 2009 at the University of Michigan and has won seven national chamber music prizes since 2011, including the 2014 Fischoff Gold Medal and the 2015 Fischoff Educator Award. Akropolis is an alumnus of APAP’s prestigious Young Performer’s Career Advancement Program and is generously supported by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, CultureSource, Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Chamber Music America, Alice M. Ditson Fund, Amphion Foundation, High Wire Lab, and Quicken Loans.

Celebrating their 10th anniversary, Akropolis’ 19/20 season features 10 commissions for the ensemble including the first concerto for reed quintet and wind band by Roshanne Etezady, a chamber concerto by Jenni Brandon with guest bassoonist Monica Ellis of Imani Winds, a work for reed quintet and rideable percussion bicycle by Steven Snowden, and more. The season also features a 10-show, choreographed and staged production with BodyVox Dance in Portland, OR and Akropolis’ 3rd annual Together We Sound festival in Detroit featuring a multimedia collaboration with Detroit projection artist, L05 (Carlos Garcia).

Akropolis’ recent and upcoming appearances includes stops at Caramoor, Chamber Music Northwest, the Oneppo Series at Yale University, the Chautauqua Institution, Artist Series of Sarasota, Chamber Music Abu Dhabi, Chamber Music Columbus, and more. Akropolis has been awarded a juried showcase at APAP (YPCA), Chamber Music America twice, Performing Arts Exchange, Western Arts Alliance, and the Mid-Atlantic Performing Arts Market. With three studio albums, including its March 2017 release of The Space Between Us, called “pure gold” by the San Francisco Chronicle, Akropolis has recorded 17 original reed quintet works.

Akropolis’ 2018 Together We Sound festival featured an improvisatory new work with YAK and a concert with acclaimed soprano Shara Nova. Akropolis premiered the first work for reed quintet and string quartet by David Schiff with the Dover Quartet in 2015 and has performed with artists like the Miró Quartet and renowned clarinetist David Shifrin. Akropolis has even performed with HarperCollins published author and scientist, Vic Strecher. In April 2017, Akropolis’ residency in Abu Dhabi featured a performance of Marc Mellits’ Splinter with original Arabic poetry performed by Khalifa University students, written around Mellits’ music.

Establishing Akropolis WORKS in 2016, Akropolis’ members teach an annual 7-week music business mini-course at the University of Michigan as well as two semester-long courses at Michigan State University. They have delivered WORKS lectures to university musicians around the United States on marketing, financial planning, brand identity, and more. Equally committed to students K-12, Akropolis reached over 10,000 K-12 students in 2018. They conduct an annual school year long residency with students at three Detroit high schools including chamber music and music composition.

Winner of a coveted Chamber Music America Classical Commissioning Grant, Akropolis has premiered more than 50 works from composers in 7 countries and was selected to adjudicate and premiere the 2018 Barlow Prize funded by the Barlow Endowment, the first time the prize was given for a reed quintet work. Akropolis’ members are the first of any reed quintet to judge major chamber music competitions including the Fischoff (2018) and Chamber Music Yellow Springs (2019) competitions. Akropolis produces a YouTube Web Premiere Series with more than 50,000 views, showcasing new works, arrangements, and composer interviews for a live Internet audience. In 2012 Akropolis created Akropolis Collection and has now sold over 400 original and arranged sheet music works to more than 100 new and established reed quintets.

Akropolis regularly appears in unconventional settings, including performances in office spaces in Detroit as part of its Corporate-to-Corner Tour in January 2017. In May 2016 Akropolis conducted a live recording session featuring audience participation for John Steinmetz’s Sorrow and Celebration for reed quintet and audience, which Akropolis commissioned in 2014. Akropolis presents its annual Together We Sound festival in Detroit each June, bringing together multidisciplinary collaborators, new works, and educational outreach to increase arts access throughout the city.

Akropolis is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization generously supported by individuals around the world. All Akropolis events include informative musical introductions and a chance to greet the artists. Originating at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Akropolis remains its founding members: Tim Gocklin (oboe), Kari Landry (clarinet), Matt Landry (saxophone), Andrew Koeppe (bass clarinet), and Ryan Reynolds (bassoon).

Akropolis is represented exclusively by Ariel Artists. Contact Matthew Kulas at [email protected] for booking.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a huge thank you to my producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

032 The Fischoff Effect: Dorival Puccini – Axiom Brass

30 april 2019 | 31 min

Today’s guest in this second episode of the Fischoff Effect series is Dorival Puccini, trumpet player and founding member of Axiom Brass.

In this series, I bring you five former winners of the competition to talk about their experience preparing for and competing at Fischoff, and about the wonderful adventures and opportunities that have followed their win!

My guests this week are Blaise Magniere from the Avalon String Quartet, Dorival Puccini from Axiom Brass, Matt Landry from the Akropolis Reed Quintet , Christopher Whitley from the Thalea String Quartet, and Lydia Reah from the former Kairos String Quartet!

Whether you are a musician about to compete at the competition, or a music lover looking for a fresh approach to practicing and preparing for a concert, make sure to subscribe and tune in everyday, because those conversations are bursting with inspiration and EXTREMELY useful information! Each group has a unique and motivating story and my guests are so generous with their insightful tips and advice!

About Fischoff

Founded in 1973 in South Bend, Indiana, the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition has grown to become the largest chamber music competition in the world, attracting the finest and most talented young musicians from around the globe. and is one of the most prestigious classical music prizes attainable today. Since its founding, more than 6,000 musicians have participated, many of whom have gone on to distinguished careers in music performance and education. The Fischoff is also deeply committed to music education and partners with competition alumni to bring free, innovative Arts-in-Education programs directly to children in their own schools and community centers. Since 1995, nearly 50,000 children, youth and adults have received free educational programming of the highest order.

http://www.axiombrass.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fischoffchambermusic/

Meet Axiom Brass – 2010 Senior Wind Division Bronze Medal & 2011 Fischoff Educator Award

Dorival Puccini, Jr. , Michael Hawes | Matthew Bronstein, horn | Corey Sansolo, trombone | Kevin Harrison, tuba

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/axiombrass/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/axiom_brass/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/AxiomBrass5

Praised for their “high level of musicality and technical ability” and for their “clean, clear and precise sound,” the award-winning Axiom Brass Quintet has quickly established itself as “one of the major art music groups in brass chamber music.” As the only Brass Quintet in 27 years to ever win the prestigious Chamber Music Yellow Springs Competition (2012), and the only American ensemble to ever win the Preis der Europa-Stadt Passau in Germany (2012), Axiom has also been named winners of the 2008 International Chamber Brass Competition and prize-winners of the 2016 M-Prize, 2010 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, the Plowman Chamber Music Competition, and the Jeju City International Brass Quintet Competition in South Korea. Axiom Brass is dedicated to enhancing the musical life of communities across the globe and educating the next generation of musicians.

Axiom’s commitment to education and their blend of virtuosic performances and dynamic teaching have inspired young audiences around the nation, earning the ensemble the 2011 Fischoff Educator Award. Their educational concert “Let’s Make Music” has captivated thousands of elementary and middle school students in the U.S. Since 2011 the ensemble has been featured as brass quintet-in-residence for the National Brass Symposium, sharing the stage with principal brass players from the Chicago Symphony, Boston Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic and Atlanta Symphony.

Internationally recognized for their groundbreaking programming, their repertoire ranges from jazz and Latin music to string quartet transcriptions, as well as original compositions for brass quintet. Axiom Brass’ performances have captured the hearts and imaginations of their audiences, leading the ensemble to national radio and television appearances as well as concerts in Asia, Europe and across the U.S. Axiom’s dedication to brass repertoire has led the ensemble to commission and premiere several new works, including Avian Capriccio by Augusta Read Thomas, Axiom by Liduino Pitombeira, A Martyred Village by David Faleris, Celestial Suite by James Stephenson and For Then and Now by Laurence Bitensky. For Celestial Suite, Axiom Brass partnered with the New York Philharmonic Brass Quintet, the Chicago Symphony Brass Quintet, the Chicago Chamber Musicians and the Fischoff Chamber Music Society, as well as with the Digital Visualization Theater of the University of Notre Dame and Professor Keith Davis.

Highlights of Axiom’s past seasons have included concerts in the Dominican Republic, Germany, Portugal, Spain, China, South Korea and Japan; a four-week residency at the Grand Tetons Music Festival; the release of their début album New Standards, clinics and performances at the 2010, 2012 and 2015 Midwest Clinic, their New York debuts at Symphony Space and Merkin Hall, masterclasses at The Juilliard School and Manhattan School of Music, as well as recitals, masterclasses and solo appearances with orchestras and bands around the U.S. In October of 2013, Axiom gave the American premiere of Fantasia Flamenca and the world premiere of Raimundo Penaforte’s Concertice for brass quintet and orchestra under the baton of David Lockington and the Modesto Symphony, followed by the 2015 midwest premieres of Bernard Rands’ Adieu for quintet and strings, and the Midwest premiere of Fantasia Flamenca with the Grand Rapids Symphony. During the 2016/17 season Axiom commissioned and premiered ten new works as a celebration of the ensemble's 10th anniversary.

Axiom Brass performs exclusively with the Blackbinder automatic scroll app for iPads.

Axiom Brass performs exclusively on Mutec Mutes.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a huge thank you to my producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

031 The Fischoff Effect: Blaise Magnière – Avalon String Quartet

29 april 2019 | 34 min

Today’s guest in this first episode of the Fischoff Effect series is Blaise Magnière, first violin of the Avalon String Quartet. I could not be more excited to be on site at the University of Notre-Dame as one of the official podcasters covering the 46th Annual Fischoff Competition from May 10 to 12, And, I thought it would be really fun to bring you guys 5 former winners of the competition to talk about their experience preparing for and competing at Fischoff, and about the wonderful adventures and opportunities that have followed their win!

So, this week, you will hear all about the Fischoff Effect with my guests - Blaise Magniere from the Avalon String Quartet, Dorival Puccini from Axiom Brass, Matt Landry from the Akropolis Reed Quintet , Christopher Whitley from the Thalea String Quartet, and Lydia Reah from the former Kairos String Quartet!

Whether you are a musician about to compete at the competition, or a music lover looking for a fresh approach to practicing and preparing for a concert, make sure to subscribe and tune in everyday, because those conversations are bursting with inspiration and EXTREMELY useful information! Each group has a unique and motivating story and my guests are so generous with their insightful tips and advice!

About Fischoff

Founded in 1973 in South Bend, Indiana, the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition has grown to become the largest chamber music competition in the world, attracting the finest and most talented young musicians from around the globe. and is one of the most prestigious classical music prizes attainable today. Since its founding, more than 6,000 musicians have participated, many of whom have gone on to distinguished careers in music performance and education. Fischoff is also deeply committed to music education and partners with competition alumni to bring free, innovative Arts-in-Education programs directly to children in their own schools and community centers. Since 1995, nearly 50,000 children, youth and adults have received free educational programming of the highest order.

https://avalonquartet.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fischoffchambermusic/

Meet the Avalon String Quartet - Grand Prize 1998

Blaise Magnière & Mary Wang, violin | Tony Devroye, viola | Chen-Hou Lee, cello

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/avalonqt/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/avalonstringquartet/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=avalon+string+quartet

Described by the Chicago Tribune as “an ensemble that invites you — ears, mind, and spirit — into its music”

The Avalon has performed in major venues including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, the 92nd St Y, Merkin Hall, and Bargemusic in New York; the Library of Congress and National Gallery of Art in Washington DC; Wigmore Hall in London; and Herculessaal in Munich. Other performances include appearances at the Bath International Music Festival, Aldeburgh Festival, Caramoor, La Jolla Chamber Music Society, NPR’s St. Paul Sunday, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Dame Myra Hess Concerts, Los Angeles Music Guild, and the Ravinia Festival. The quartet is performing an annual concert series at historic Ganz Hall at Roosevelt University. In recent seasons, the Avalon presented the complete quartet cycles of Beethoven, Bartok, and Brahms at Fullerton Hall at the Art Institute of Chicago.

The Avalon is quartet-in-residence at the Northern Illinois University School of Music, a position formerly held by the Vermeer Quartet. Additional teaching activities have included the Icicle Creek Chamber Music Institute, Interlochen Advanced Quartet Program, Madeline Island Music Camp, and the Britten-Pears School in England, as well as masterclasses at universities and conservatories throughout the United States. Additionally, they have given numerous performances and presentations to young audiences in under-resourced schools and communities.

030 Kerson Leong: Musical Eloquence Through Heightened Awareness & Directed Thought

26 april 2019 | 51 min

In this episode, we’re ending Season 1 of The Mind Over Finger Podcast with a truly spectacular artist! I speak with violin sensation Kerson Leong about his terrific YouTube series The Art of the Etude, his wise and meaningful practicing methods, and how he approaches violin mastery, and musical expression.

Kerson has an amazingly authentic and profound approach to music making and I KNOW you will love this episode!

SEASON 2 COMING YOUR WAY ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2019! STAY TUNED!

In the show, Kerson elaborates on:

His journey from starting at the age of four and a half to winning the Menuhin Competition at the age of 13
How winning Menuhin was the start of a very long process that lead to him exploring and finding his independence in terms of how to think about music, devise his own solutions to technical problems, and develop his instinct
The importance of knowing about the tradition and thinking for ourselves
His incredible YouTube series “The Art of the Etude”
How etudes allow us to develop our technique and musicality, and teach us so much about how to learn and how to practice
How etudes were a real grounding force in his development
How we can use etudes to develop musicality
How etudes are our “playground” to work on all aspect of performing – technical and musical alike
His practicing processes
- Knowing exactly what his goal is when he enters the practice room
- Having a clear idea in his head of what he wants to execute on the instrument
- Keeping the transitions between notes executed as if they were at full speed when practicing slowly
- Never neglect the right hand when working on difficult left-hand passages
How important it is for him to focus on how relaxed and efficient his body is at all times when he practices – analyzing motions and figuring out what works best
How letting go of the shoulder rest lead him to a depth of analysis in his physical approach to playing the violin
His approach to mental practice

More about Kerson:

Website: http://kersonleong.com/

YouTube channels: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8nlRLl9jFBGaPGWMbJ5bvQ

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/kersonleong/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kersonleong/

Violin Channel Young Artist page: https://theviolinchannel.com/vc-young-artist-kerson-leong-violin/

Violin Channel Facebook artist page: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2129174167156547

Biography

Kerson Leong first took the music world by storm in 2010 by winning the coveted Junior First Prize at the prestigious Menuhin Competition. Ever since, the young Canadian violinist has astonished and won over both fellow musicians and audiences alike the world over with his rare and innovative mastery of his instrument, his natural ability to convey the subtlest of emotions, and the colossal scope of his live performances. Having been called “Canada’s next great violinist” (Ludwig van Toronto), he has distinguished himself with his unique approach as one of the most brilliant musicians of his generation.

In the 2018/2019 season, Kerson is Artist-in-Residence with the Orchestre Métropolitain de Montreal under Yannick Nezet-Seguin. Other highlights to look forward to this season include his debuts with the Sinfonieorchester Wuppertal, Liège Royal Philharmonic, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and London Symphonia.

Kerson has played in some of the most prestigious concert venues around the world from Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium and the Auditorium du Louvre to Wigmore Hall and the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing. He is in regular demand as a soloist, having performed with such ensembles as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Oslo Philharmonic, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestre National de Lorraine, the Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestra Gulbenkian, the Stockton Symphony Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestre Metropolitain de Montreal, the Quebec Symphony Orchestra, and the National Arts Centre Orchestra of Canada, as well as numerous other orchestras in his home country.

Kerson is also an avid and passionate chamber musician. Since his debut at the Gstaad Menuhin Festival in Switzerland in 2011, he has been featured at many renowned international festivals and concert series, including the Verbier Festival, Rheingau Musik Festival, Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Fraenkische Musiktage, Flâneries musicales de Reims, Bergen International Festival, Trasimeno Music Festival, Schiermonnikoog Chamber Music Festival, Toronto Summer Music Festival, Ottawa International Chamberfest, Music and Beyond, Montreal Symphony Orchestra’s Virée classique, and Domaine Forget International Music Festival among others.

Kerson released Bis, his first album for Analekta showcasing a collection of encore pieces, to critical acclaim. He recorded John Rutter’s Visions with the composer himself and the Aurora Chamber Orchestra for Collegium Records, after giving its world premiere in London, UK. He has also been invited by Canadian composer Francois Dompierre to record his piece, Les Diableries. Kerson can also be heard on CBC Television, CBC/Radio Canada, the BBC Radio 3, Radio France, Radio Television Suisse, American Public Media’s SymphonyCast, NRK, RAI, Deutschlandradio Kultur, and Czech Radio. He has been a recipient of many awards such as the Sylva Gelber Music Foundation Award (2015-2017) and the Young Soloist Prize 2015 by the Radios Francophone Publiques, as well as having received a Mentorship Award from the Lin Yao Ji Music Foundation of China for inspiring younger generations. He was named Revelation Radio-Canada 2014-2015 for classical music.

Since 2015, Kerson has been an Artist-in-Residence at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Belgium, mentored by Augustin Dumay. Teaching is becoming a growing passion for Kerson, having given masterclasses and taught at various festivals and universities including the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, the University of Ottawa, and Memorial University in St. John’s, Newfoundland. He has always been keen on making connections between music and other fields. Ever since his dad started introducing him to physics concepts about string resonance, they have strongly influenced his playing and philosophy on sound production. Together with his dad, he has given lectures about this subject in places such as the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, the Barratt-Due Music Institute in Oslo, and various universities in California.

Kerson performs on a 1741 Guarneri del Gesu courtesy of Canimex Inc, Drummondville (Quebec), Canada

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

029 Jamie Parker: Listening Right Here, Right Now

19 april 2019 | 73 min

Today, I speak with renowned pianist Jamie Parker and, I need to warn you in advance: this one is filled with wonderful information and really applicable tips, so get ready to take some notes!

Among many of the topics we cover, you’ll hear about Jamie’s favorite practice tips - from how to mark your part clearly, to his special crazy fast technique - why it’s crucial to know yourself and know how to prioritize in instrumental practice, and the importance of listening right here, right now!

As I said, there’s so much wonderful information ahead and I hope you enjoy this discussion with Jamie Parker!

Jamie elaborates on:

His experience growing up in a musical family
His trajectory from Juilliard to the Gryphon Trio and the University of Toronto
The early days of a chamber music group and how instrumental the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation was during those times
His favorite practice tips
- How he marks his part and works the difficult passages
- How he likes to make things more difficult
- His “crazy fast” practicing technique
The importance of prioritization: to know what your strengths and weaknesses are so you know what and how to practice, and how often
How crucial a strong sense of rhythm is
Why he never wants to be “the slowest person in the room”
How you’ll never know if you’ve over practiced, but you’ll know if you haven’t practiced enough!
Things that help him learning repertoire rapidly
- Get a good sense of the overall “lay of the land” and do formal and harmonic analyses
- Marking his score carefully
- Using a basic pencil
- A highlighter to mark important info
- Marking the passages that are important to rehearse with the group
Why it’s important for us to learn to mark the info that we will need in ways that will be clear for future performances
Why he likes to practice in the dark
Why we must work on the skill of public speaking
What are the three musicians that live within each of us
The importance of listening right here, right now
His life as a performer and teacher
Aspects to consider when thinking of leading a career in a serious chamber ensemble

ALL ABOUT JAMIE:

Website – The Gryphon Trio: http://www.gryphontrio.com/james-parker/

The Gryphon Trio on YouTube: https://www.google.com/search?q=gryphon+trio+youtube&oq=gryphon+trio+yo&aqs=chrome.0.0j69i57.7943j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGryphonTrio/

Instagram Hashtag: https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/gryphontrio/

Biography

Accomplished, versatile, brilliant, are descriptors frequently linked to Canadian pianist, James Parker. To put it simply, he is among the most sought-after artists. Mr. Parker's achievements are both lengthy and impressive. His musical roots can be traced to the Vancouver Academy of Music and the University of British Columbia where he studied with Kum Sing Lee. He then went on and received his Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts at The Juilliard School with Adele Marcus. Dr. Parker continues the teaching tradition as the Rupert E. Edwards Chair in Piano Performance on the music faculty at the University of Toronto.

Awards came early and often. Beginning in 1984 with a first prize at the Eckhardt-Gramatté Competition, James served notice that he was a rising star. The CBC competition concurred, selecting him winner of the 25th National Competition for Young Performers. The Virginia Parker Award as the most promising young classical artist soon followed, further solidifying Parker's place as one of Canada's best. He is often invited to the international juries of such competitions as the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and the Honens International Piano Competition.

Concerts given by Dr. Parker consistently garner artistic acclaim. His style has earned him praise as “one of the most searching musical intellects and 10 of the nimblest fingers in the business” according to The Globe and Mail. James has enthralled audiences in North America and Europe, counting diplomats and dignitaries among his receptive audiences. He has made frequent appearances on CBC, and has performed on Bravo!, the CanWest Global Network, MuchMusic and a myriad of stations across the globe.

A consummate professional, James is recognized as a soloist, a chamber musician and as the pianist for Canada's foremost ensemble, the Gryphon Trio. Add to this his critically acclaimed performances with major Canadian symphonies like Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria, Quebec City, Edmonton, National Arts Centre, Symphony Nova Scotia and many in between, one is reminded of the scope of his contributions to the national classical music scene. With three JUNO recording awards and many other nominations from his vast discography, James Parker continues to graciously strive to do it all.

James Parker is a Steinway Artist.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

028 Joshua Roman: Working Purposefully & Building a Meaningful Career

12 april 2019 | 50 min

Today, I’m so happy to bring you the incredible cellist Joshua Roman! Joshua is a multifaceted artist with a remarkably vibrant career as a soloist, chamber musician, composer, curator, artistic director, and philanthropist! In this episode, we discuss practicing purposefully and building a meaningful career, and he tells about the impact and mission of his popular Popper Etude Project and Challenge.

As you’ll see Joshua’s journey and approach to music-making are rooted in authenticity and a sense of purpose and are highly inspiring! I know you’ll find value and a source for a deeper reflection in this conversation!

In our discussion, Joshua elaborates on:

How he feels that the multiple facets of his career are all parts of being a complete musician
His beginnings in Oklahoma and his studies at the Cleveland Institute
How it’s we should follow our heart and use our skills to explore what we love - pushing passed the bounds of what we were “taught” and explore further
What he thinks about building a meaningful career – how we get the career that we build
Why it’s important to figure out what we want and focus on that
The importance of questioning ourselves, getting to know ourselves, exploring our passions, and see if and how we can incorporate them into our career
“Find your voice and build your career around your voice”
Why there is no luck: “it’s a series of things that you build on”
Why we need both to be prepared and get opportunities
Some of the challenges he faced on the way to his dream career
How important it was for him to feel like what he did mattered
The Popper Project and the Popper Challenge – what and why
How it turned into a way for cellists to come together and created a supportive and inspiring community
“Why do we need to practice etudes at all”
How he maximizes practice

MORE ABOUT JOSHUA:

Website: https://www.joshuaroman.com/

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFT1OzgeBtU69e5v6sIwSag

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/joshuaroman

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshuaromancello/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuaromancello/

Biography

Cellist / Composer / Curator

Joshua Roman has earned an international reputation for his wide-ranging repertoire, a commitment to communicating the essence of music in visionary ways, artistic leadership and versatility. As well as being a celebrated performer, he is recognized as an accomplished composer and curator, and was named a TED Senior Fellow in 2015.

Recent seasons have seen Roman perform recitals and concert with orchestras around the US and the world, including performances of Mason Bates’s Cello Concerto (which was written for him) and his very own concerto. Roman is also a very active chamber musician and shares the stage with today’s finest musicians.

Roman has demonstrated inspirational artistic leadership throughout his career. As Artistic Director of TownMusic in Seattle he has showcased his own eclectic musical influences and chamber music favorites, while also promoting newly commissioned works. Under his direction, the series has offered world premieres of compositions by some of today’s brightest young composers and performances by cutting-edge ensembles. In the 2015-16 season at TownMusic he presented his own song cycle, … we do it to one another, based on Tracy K. Smith’s book of poems Life on Mars, with soprano Jessica Rivera. He has also recently been appointed the inaugural Artistic Advisor of award-winning contemporary streaming channel Second Inversion, launched by Seattle’s KING-FM to cultivate the next generation of classical audiences. The cellist additionally took on a new curatorial role last summer, as Creative Partner of the Colorado Music Festival & Center for Musical Arts. The same organization sponsored him in April 2016 at the 68th Annual Conference on World Affairs on the University of Colorado campus, where he contributed his innovative ideas about how classical music is conceived and presented. Roman performed at the Kennedy Center Arts Summit that same month and is a member of the 2016 Kennedy Center Honors artists committee.

Roman’s cultural leadership includes using digital platforms to harness new audiences. In 2009 he developed “The Popper Project,” performing, recording and uploading the complete etudes from David Popper’s High School of Cello Playing to his dedicated YouTube channel. In his latest YouTube project, “Everyday Bach,” Roman performs Bach’s cello suites in beautiful settings around the world. He has collaborated with photographer Chase Jarvis on Nikon video projects, and Paste magazine singled out Roman and DJ Spooky for their cello and iPad cover of Radiohead’s “Everything in Its Right Place,” created for the Voice Project. For his creative initiatives on behalf of classical music, Roman was named a TED Fellow in 2011, joining a select group of next-generation innovators who show potential to positively affect the world. He acted as curator for an outdoor amphitheater performance at the TED Summit in Banff in the Canadian Rockies this past summer.

Beyond these initiatives, Roman’s adventurous spirit has led to collaborations with artists outside the music community, including his co-creation of “On Grace” with Tony Award-nominated actress Anna Deavere Smith, a work for actor and cello which premiered in February 2012 at San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral. His outreach endeavors have taken him to Uganda with his violin-playing siblings, where they played chamber music in schools, HIV/AIDS centers and displacement camps, communicating a message of hope through music.

Before embarking on a solo career, Roman spent two seasons as principal cellist of the Seattle Symphony, a position he won in 2006 at the age of 22. Since that time, he has appeared as a soloist with the San Francisco Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Mariinsky Orchestra, New World Symphony, Alabama Symphony, and Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional del Ecuador, among many others. An active chamber musician, Roman has collaborated with established artists such as Andrius Zlabys, Cho-Liang Lin, Assad Brothers, Earl Carlyss, Christian Zacharias and Yo-Yo Ma, as well as other dynamic young soloists and performers from New York’s vibrant music scene, including the JACK Quartet, Talea Ensemble, Derek Bermel and the Enso String Quartet.

A native of Oklahoma City, Roman began playing the cello at the age of three on a quarter-size instrument, and gave his first public recital at age ten. Home-schooled until he was 16, he then pursued his musical studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music with Richard Aaron. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Cello Performance in 2004, and his Master’s in 2005, as a student of Desmond Hoebig, former principal cellist of the Cleveland Orchestra. Roman is grateful for the loan of an 1899 cello by Giulio Degani of Venice.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

027 Gerardo Ribeiro: The Art of Listening

5 april 2019 | 71 min

In this week’s episode, I wrap up this series on the main teachers in my journey as a violinist with an interview with Northwestern University professor Gerardo Ribeiro, with whom I studied during my doctoral years.

Professor Ribeiro talks to us about his experience studying with Ivan Galamian and Felix Galamir, how he uses mental practice, why we must develop the awareness to truly hear our own playing and assess critically what we are doing, and about the importance of taking ownership of our learning experience!

I learned so much with Professor Ribeiro and I’m so happy to have him on the show! He is full of insight and useful tips, and also has great anecdotes for us! I hope you enjoy our discussion!

In this episode, Professor Ribeiro elaborates on:

His experience studying with Ivan Galamian
The importance of listening to ourselves
Why moving can be detrimental to our playing
Mental practice
Why we must develop the awareness to truly hear our own playing and assess critically what we are doing
The importance of aural skills

Gerardo Ribeiro

Gerardo Ribeiro, Portugal's premier violinist, is recognized on four continents as one of the truly important violinists of his generation. With acclaimed recitals at New York City's most prestigious concert venues - Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall and the Metropolitan Museum - Mr. Ribeiro has also appeared at Washington, D.C.'s Kennedy Center, and is well known in major European, South American and Far Eastern concert halls.

As a concerto soloist, Mr. Ribeiro has appeared with the Philadelphia and Gulbenkian Orchestras, the Montreal, Dallas, Lucerne, Lisbon, Porto, Barcelona and Cali Symphony Orchestras, the Zagreb, Antwerp and Lisbon Philharmonics, the Taiwan, Beijing, Belgian and Portuguese National Orchestras, the Radio Orchestras of Paris (O.R.T.F.), Lisbon, Berlin, Hilversum (Holland) and North Germany (Hannover) and other leading ensembles.

Beginning violin studies at an early age, Ribeiro went on to earn Soloist Diplomas, with honors, at both the Porto and Lucerne Conservatories, later attending the Juilliard School, where he studied with Ivan Galamian, Paul Makanowitzky and Felix Galimir. Numerous awards in distinguished international competitions such as the Montreal and Paganini followed. First Prizes were received at the Vianna de Motta contest in Lisbon and the Maria Canals competition in Barcelona.

After serving on the violin faculty of the Eastman School of Music, Mr. Ribeiro joined Northwestern University as professor of violin. He is a member of the Meadowmount Trio, ensemble-in-residence at the Meadowmount School of Music. Ribeiro has been awarded the Presidential Scholars Teacher Recognition Award from the White House's Commission on Presidential Scholars. Mr. Ribeiro is also on the string faculty at the Music Institute of Chicago where he teaches and coaches advanced students and chamber groups in the Academy program.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

026 Michael Klotz: Wisdom & Legacy

29 mars 2019 | 57 min

I’m really happy to continue this series on the pedagogues that shaped me as a violinist with a discussion about another giant in musical journey, Zvi Zeitlin. Unfortunately, Professor Zeitlin passed away in 2012, but I had a wonderful time talking about him with Michael Klotz, violist with the Amernet Quartet and Senior Instructor at Florida International University in Miami. Michael and I were colleagues in the Zeitlin studio at both Eastman and at the Music Academy of the West and, in this episode. we discuss our experience studying with Mr. Zeitlin and his lasting influence on our lives.

It was a true pleasure for me to talk with Michael and I think you’ll enjoy our chat!

More about Michael Klotz

Website: http://michaelklotzmusic.com/

Amernet String Quartet: http://amernetquartet.com/

Florida International University: http://carta.fiu.edu/music/

Heifetz International Music Institute: https://www.heifetzinstitute.org/

Biography

Born in 1978 in Rochester, NY, Michael Klotz made his solo debut with the Rochester Philharmonic at the age of 17 and has since then appeared as soloist with orchestra, recitalist, and chamber musician, and orchestra principal worldwide. After a performance of the Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 with violist Roberto Diaz, the Portland Press-Herald proclaimed, “this concert squelched all viola jokes, now and forever, due to the talents of Diaz and Klotz”. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram recently proclaimed Michael Klotz to be “a superb violist, impressive, with an exceptionally attractive sound,” and the Miami Herald has consistently lauded his “burnished, glowing tone and nuanced presence.”

Michael Klotz joined the Amernet String Quartet in 2002 and has toured and recorded commercially with the ensemble throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Romania, Colombia, Belgium, and Spain. Klotz has performed at some of New York’s most important venues, such as Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Weill Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, MoMA, Bargemusic, and the Kosciuzsko Foundation. His festival appearances have included Seattle, Newport, Caramoor, ChamberFest Cleveland, Festival Mozaic, Great Lakes, Cervantino, Festival Baltimore, Piccolo Spoleto, Sunflower, Martha’s Vineyard, Skaneateles, Virginia Tech Vocal Arts and Music Festival, San Miguel de Allende, Beverly Hills, Music Mountain, Bowdoin, Madeline Island, Sarasota, Music Academy of the West, and Miami Mainly Mozart.

Passionately dedicated to chamber music, Klotz regularly performs with many of today’s most esteemed artists, having appeared as guest violist with the Shanghai, Ying, and Borromeo String Quartets, the Manhattan Piano Trio, and collaborated with artists such as Shmuel Ashkenasi, Arnold Steinhardt, James Ehnes, Augustin Hadelich, Vadim Gluzman, Gary Hoffman, Carter Brey, Michael Tree, Robert DeMaine, Andres Diaz, Roberto Diaz, Joseph Kalichstein, Franklin Cohen, and Alexander Fiterstein, as well as with many principal players from major U.S. and European orchestras. In 2015 he was named a Charter Member of the Ensemble with the Chamber Music Society of Fort Worth and regularly appears on this series. In 2002 and 2009, he was was invited by Maestro Jaime Laredo to perform with distinguished alumni at anniversary concerts of the New York String Orchestra Seminar in Carnegie Hall.

Michael Klotz is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music, where he was awarded the Performer’s Certificate. In 2002 he became one of the few individuals to be awarded a double Master’s Degree in violin and viola from the Juilliard School. At Juilliard, he was the recipient of the Tokyo Foundation and Gluck Fellowships. His principle teachers and influences include Zvi Zeitlin, Lynn Blakeslee, Lewis Kaplan, Toby Appel, Peter Kamnitzer, and Shmuel Ashkenasi.

Michael Klotz is a dedicated teacher and serves as Senior Instructor and Artist-in-Residence at Florida International University in Miami, where he teaches viola and chamber music. Klotz has recently presented highly acclaimed master classes at the New World Symphony, Cincinnati Conservatory, Cleveland Institute of Music, University of Michigan, Penn State University, University of Nevada – Las Vegas, Ithaca College, Texas Christian University, and West Virginia University. He is currently a member of the faculty of The Heifetz Institute and a viola coach at the New World Symphony. His former students currently attend and are graduates of prestigious conservatories, including the Curtis Institute of Music, the Juilliard School, Indiana University, and the Cleveland Institute of Music and are already achieving leading roles in the music world. Michael was featured in the November 2013 issue of the “Alumni Spotlight” in the Juilliard Journal and as the subject of Strad Magazine’s “Ask the Teacher” column in the November 2013 issue. Michael Klotz resides in Hallandale Beach, FL with his wife Kelly and sons Jacob and Natan, as well as two dogs and a cat.

ZVI ZEITLIN (1922-2012)

A faculty member at Eastman from 1967 to 2012, Zvi Zeitlin (1922-2012) was revered for decades as a violinist, pedagogue, chamber musician, and champion of contemporary music.

Born in Dubrovna, Belarus, Zvi Zeitlin was raised and educated in Israel. At age 11, he became the youngest scholarship student in the history of the Juilliard School, studying with Sascha Jacobsen, Louis Persinger, and Ivan Galamian. He served in the RAF (1943-46) and concertized for troops throughout the Middle East and Greece.

He made concerto appearances with such great conductors as Leonard Bernstein, Pierre Boulez, Zubin Mehta, Antal Dorati, Jascha Horenstein, and Christoph von Dohnanyi, and gave frequent tours of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Central and South America.

One of Zeitlin’s signature pieces was Arnold Schoenberg’s fiendishly difficult, seldom performed Violin Concerto; his 1971 Deutsche Grammophon recording of this work with conductor Rafael Kubelik set the standard, and is still available. Zeitlin also premiered concertos by Gunther Schuller, Carlos Surinach, and Paul Ben-Haim, besides performing and recording a wealth of other repertoire in his long career; the Toronto Star called him “one of the violin world’s grand old men, a true musical Methuselah.” Along with his solo appearances, he was a founding member of the Eastman Trio (1976-1982).

Zeitlin taught annual master classes at the Royal Academy of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and Yehudi Menuhin School. He was a faculty member at the Music Academy of the West since 1973, and a visiting professor at Chetham’s School of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music (Manchester, England) since 1992.

Zeitlin was named Eastman’s first Kilbourn Professor in 1976 and Distinguished Professor in 1998. In 2004, he received the University of Rochester’s Edward Curtis Peck Award for Excellence in Teaching Undergraduates. Zeitlin’s students occupy leading positions in major orchestras in the United States and throughout the world; hold important positions in universities and music schools worldwide; and are major prizewinners in international and regional competitions.

Zvi Zeitlin died on May 2, 2012 in Rochester, at the age of 90.

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

025 Jean-François Rivest: The Incredible Artistic Powers of Passion & Imagination

22 mars 2019 | 88 min

I’m really excited about today’s episode and I think it’s a particularly inspiring one! As a performer and a teacher, I constantly feel the presence and the influence of the musicians that have helped shape me as an artist – with their knowledge, wisdom, skills, and with their examples! There are too many to interview them all, but there are three that I consider as the main pedagogical influences in my life, and you will get to meet them in the coming weeks!

I begin today with Canadian violinist, teacher, and conductor, Jean-François Rivest who was my teacher from the age of 9, when I began Conservatory, all the way to the age of 20, when I graduated from the University of Montreal!

Jean-François and I have an amazing conversation about learning to listen to ourselves, paying attention, nurturing our imagination, live passionately, and broadening our horizons as humans and musicians!

We elaborate on:

His artistic journey, from gifted violinist to passionate teacher, conductor, and artistic administrator
Why we need to grow and enrich parts of ourselves who are not specifically related to music in order to become a better musician
Why we must pursue, at least, some of our dreams and how that requires action and difficult decisions
How he taught me to PAY ATTENTION and nurture curiosity in my life
The extreme importance of imagination
Ways we can tune our radar to learn to listen and hear better
- Opening our “musical eyes” to how the music is constructed – theory, harmony, etc.
- Develop our inner ear through “ear training”
How we can develop more awareness with the help of mentors, guides, and teachers who will teach us where to “look,” and introduce us to the tools and skills we should acquire
How he thinks that music is an exchange of imagination between the composer, artist, and listener and, therefore, why we must develop our imagination in order to fully grow as a musician
How growth is a lifelong pursuit and becoming a “better” artist involves growing as a person
Why EVERY GESTURE COUNTS
Why practice is “management”

More about Jean-François

Biography

‘Rivest is a magician: with a touch of his magic wand he always transforms any concert into an extraordinary and unique event’ (Le Soleil, Québec, 2010)

Québec conductor Jean-François Rivest is renowned for his energy, his extremely precise technique, his style, which is passionate, moving and deeply involved, and his great communication skills. His discography serves as proof to the ease with which he masters a large variety of musical genres ranging from the baroque era up to today.

He has been Artistic Director of the Orchestre Symphonique de Laval, (10 years) and of Ottawa's Thirteen Strings Ensemble, (5 years), as well as Conductor in Residence of the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, (OSM) from 2006 to 2009, where his tenure has been particularly significant.

Jean-François Rivest firmly believes that the next generation of musicians must rely on performers that are also active as pedagogues. He has worked for several institutions and has been teaching orchestral conducting as well as a variety of advanced performance classes at Université de Montréal since 1993. He is the founder, Artistic Director and principal conductor of the Orchestre de l'Université de Montréal (OUM).

From 2009 to 2015, he has been Artistic Director of the Orford Arts Centre, (now Orford Music), nearby Montréal where he presided over the destiny of Orford’s prestigious International Academy and Festival. His period at the head of the Arts Center is unanimously seen as a time of tremendous artistic renewal and growth. In the 2012 Opus Prizes Awards ceremony, he was given the Opus Prize for the Artistic Director of the year (2011).

Mr. Rivest, who trained at the Conservatoire de Montréal and at the Juilliard School in New York, quickly established himself as one of the foremost Quebec violinists of his generation. His main teachers were Sonia Jelinkova, Ivan Galamian and Dorothy DeLay.

Being the father of four children, family is at the center of his life. He is passionate about nature and outdoor activities, such as scuba diving, kayak, climbing, trekking and photography. He has even participated in several expeditions of a challenging level. Jean-François Rivest believes that the many facets of nature are a vital source of artistic inspiration!

Biographie

Le chef d'orchestre québécois Jean-François Rivest est réputé pour son énergie, sa technique d’une extrême précision et son style passionné, émouvant et profondément engagé. Il maîtrise naturellement une très grande variété de langages musicaux (du baroque au répertoire d’aujourd’hui). Invité régulier de nombreux grands orchestres, au Canada comme à l’étranger, il a été chef en résidence à l’Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM), de 2006 à 2009, où son passage a été particulièrement significatif, ainsi que directeur artistique de l’Orchestre symphonique de Laval, (10 ans), et du Thirteen Strings Ensemble d’Ottawa, (5 ans).

Jean-François Rivest croit fermement que la carrière d’interprète doit se doubler d’une action pédagogique afin de former les prochaines générations de musiciens. Il a œuvré au sein de plusieurs institutions et, tout particulièrement depuis 1993, à la Faculté de musique de l’Université de Montréal où il enseigne la direction d’orchestre et divers cours d’interprétation avancés. Il est le fondateur, directeur artistique et chef principal de l'Orchestre de l'Université de Montréal (OUM).

À titre de directeur artistique du Centre d’arts Orford, (maintenant Orford Musique), de 2009 à 2105, il a présidé à la destinée de son Académie prestigieuse et de son Festival international. Ses années à la tête du Centre d’arts ont été un franc succès et considérées par tous comme des années de grand renouveau artistique. Il s’est d’ailleurs vu décerner le Prix Opus du Directeur artistique de l’année 2011, lors du gala 2012 du Conseil québécois de la musique. Formé au Conservatoire de Montréal et à la Juilliard School de New York, il a étudié principalement avec Sonia Jelinkova, Ivan Galamian et Dorothy DeLay, et s'est imposé rapidement comme l'un des meilleurs violonistes québécois de sa génération.

Il est père de quatre enfants et la famille est au cœur de sa vie. Il est passionné de plein air et de nature (plongée sous-marine, kayak de mer, escalade, trekking, photographie) et a de nombreuses expéditions importantes à son actif. Jean-François Rivest croit que la nature, dans toutes ses manifestations, constitue une inspiration vitale dans la profession artistique !

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

024 Cameron Leach: Communicating Through Intentional & Empathetic Performing

15 mars 2019 | 57 min

Percussionist Cameron Leach and I have a great show for you today! In addition to some great practice tips, Cameron elaborates on some very important topics, including how to clearly communicate to our audience through intentional and empathetic performing, why students must take ownership of their own learning experience, and why musicians need to be great friends to each other!

I love Cameron’s perspective on those topics, and I hope you enjoy our discussion!

Cameron elaborates on:

His journey to a solo career – starting in drumcor, doing a music education degree, and transitioning to performance after a chance encounter
How he organizes his practice – having to handle so many instruments
Why he likes to practice hungry
What it is like to have to learn a wide variety of percussion instruments
Ho he transfers the sound concepts from one instrument to the next
Different practice modes in practice:
- Learning mode
- “Emoting” mode
Why he thinks it’s important to consider how you are sending your musical message and how it is received by your listeners
Clear emotional communication
How documenting his practice on video helped him release stress and was a creative outlet
Why it’s important to keep the sound of the hall in mind when we practice
How recording ourselves helps us narrow our focus on specific elements in our practice
His 3 key words – inquisitive, intentional, empathetic
How students must take ownership of their learning experience (SCHOOLS CAN’T TECH YOU EVERYTHING!) during their degree and remain inquisitive AFTER they’ve graduated (Pssst! We’re all lifelong learners!!!!)

More about Cameron:

Website: www.cleachmusic.com

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVIL-V9LiebwHS_XbuRbTsw

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/cleachmusic/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cleachmusic/

Beyond Talent: Creating a Successful Career in Music by Angela Myles Beeching

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield

BIOGRAPHY

American percussionist Cameron Leach is a bold, high-energy performer acclaimed for his expressive virtuosity, musical athleticism, and daring interpretations. An engaging and thoughtful soloist, Leach has concertized across the United States, Canada, and Europe. He frequently appears as a guest artist at some of the world’s finest institutions, including the Royal Danish Academy of Music, Royal Northern College of Music, Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, and Norwegian Academy of Music. Leach recently won both the Percussive Arts Society International Solo Artist Competition and Yamaha Young Performing Artist Competition, in addition to receiving the prestigious Performer’s Certificate from the Eastman School of Music. Along with his active touring schedule, he regularly performs with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, and serves on the faculty of Kent State University. Leach is endorsed by Black Swamp Percussion, Beetle Percussion, Sabian Cymbals, and Malletech.

Highlights from the 2017-2018 season include the debut of his new electroacoustic solo show ELISION, a European Tour as Co-Principal of the World Percussion Group, the world premiere of Paul Lansky’s Metal Light for the Percussive Arts Society, and a performance of Jennifer Higdon’s Percussion Concerto with the Eastman Wind Ensemble. Additionally, he performed Peter Maxwell Davies’ seminal Eight Songs for a Mad King with Ensemble id, a Rochester, NY-based chamber collective. His latest project, the Leach | Peters Percussion Duo, debuted on the Eastman Summer Concert Series in July 2018.

Leach’s 2018-2019 season is marked by a diverse array of solo appearances, guest artist engagements, and world premieres. Kicking off with a performance at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing, China, Leach then embarks on recital and clinic tours of California, Florida, and the Midwest, featuring newly commissioned solo works by David Skidmore and Matt Curlee. In March 2019, Leach will give the world premiere of Dave Maric’s Percussion Concerto, commissioned for him by the Capital University Conservatory of Music. To close out the season, Leach will serve on faculty at the MalletLab Summer Intensive in West Palm Beach, FL, and will spend a week in residence as the featured artist for the Space City New Music Festival in Houston, TX.

Devoted to the creation and performance of new music, Leach continues to commission diverse works for solo percussion, with a focus on the inclusion of electronics. During his time at the Eastman School of Music, the institution supported his vision through the Eastman/ArtistShare Partnership, allowing Leach to organize a commissioning consortium for Decay No. 2, a massive electroacoustic solo work by Matt Curlee. Other premieres include pieces by composers Michael Burritt, Paul Lansky, Jeff Tyzik, Alejandro Viñao, Annie Gosfield, Tim Feeney, Jon Lin Chua, and Frédéric Chiasson.

Leach makes regular appearances at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, having performed with the Eastman Percussion Ensemble and on the Competition Winner’s Showcase Concert in 2017, on the Focus Day Series and as a member of the All-Star International Percussion Ensemble in 2015, and with the Rhythm X Indoor Percussion Ensemble in 2011. In addition to his work as a concert artist, Leach also has a strong background in marching percussion, having won world titles with the Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps and Rhythm X.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

023 Tessa Lark: Getting Into a Joyful Headspace for Enhanced Practice & Performance

8 mars 2019 | 65 min

I’m very excited to have the talented, brilliant, funny, and (as you’ll see) engaging Tessa Lark to the show to talk to us about joy in practice and music-making!

In this episode, we discuss her views about tackling work with the right mindset, the ways she sparks joy in her practice, and how getting in that joyful headspace not only makes it more gratifying for her, but also helps increase her productivity!

I’ve been thinking a lot about Joy, self-compassion, and using positive self-talk in practicing and performing for the past few years and I ended up researching that topic in the context of my doctoral studies: the idea that high quality work can flow more easily when we are in the right mindset, the right disposition. High-level results stem out of high-level thinking and solutions to problems come more easily when we’re in a positive and open state of mind. It is absolutely possible to have rigor without rigidity in the practice room!

I had a wonderful time talking with Tessa about this topic that’s really close to my heart! I feel like it’s a way to approach practicing that can be very impactful and I hope this episode affects your next practice session in a positive way!

We elaborate on:

Her childhood in the foothills of Kentucky, starting with the Suzuki Method and enjoying attending Marc O’Connor’s fiddle camps
How she was introduced to fiddle music and blue grass and how it stays with her to this day
Her experience with the The Cincinnati Starling Project in Cincinnati, studying with Kurt Sassmannshaus
How she met and went on to study with Miriam Fried in Boston, and how Ms Fried helped her develop artistic integrity
How the Naumburg Competition helped launch her career
Practicing in ways that spark joy – searching for “things in your practice that bring you joy, as opposed to looking for all the things you’re doing “horribly” wrong”
The “talent” misunderstanding
The misconception that “hard work” should feel “hard”
Why we need to aim for “focused” and “efficient” work and, YES, that can feel good!
Getting into the “joyful headspace”
How struggle can be part of the process but its’ not “necessary”
How emotional depth can also be reached from a positive headspace and mindset
Increased productivity
How while joy is not a neutral feeling, the process to get there can be neutral
The importance of knowing yourself and knowing what can get you to this joyful headspace
The importance of setting goals, a positive mindset, reduce distractions, and find a physical space that feels inspiring and is conducive to efficient work
How the language we use with ourselves is so important
How mental discipline is important and can help us negotiate the variables that can affect performance
How she uses a timer in her practice to improve her productivity

More about Tessa:

Website: https://www.tessalark.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tessalark/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tessa.lark/

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/HBOfosho

YouTube videos featuring Tessa: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=tessa+lark

022 David Eby: How Meditation & Consciousness Can Lead to Greater Performance

1 mars 2019 | 54 min

In this episode, I’m really excited to speak with cellist David Eby and to dive deeper with him in a topic that we’ve only mentioned a few times on the show so far and that I feel is so important and can be extremely powerful in our experience as musicians! I’m talking about pure mindfulness!

We discuss the positive effects meditation and consciousness tools can have on our practice and performance. Among many things, you will hear about the importance of adopting unprejudiced mindsets, how you can bring more flow and joy in your playing, develop and effective automatic response mode when facing challenges in performance, and create inspired connection in your playing by accessing a higher consciousness using David’s 4-step process.

We expand on:

Mindfulness and consciousness in our practice - how to use these powerful tools
How he got to experience that state of oneness with music in his youth
The transition to college and how difficult it was to keep that magic state of being while negotiating the demands and pressures of university
How harsh judgment of self and others influenced him and eventually led him to a crisis
The pivotal moment that led him to pursue meditation and how it changed his life and brought him back to experience pure joy and love of music again
How he studied and explored different consciousness techniques and started incorporating them in concerts, reaching a state of flow in his performance
How meditation and consciousness can help us reconnect with the joy and bliss in performance (and, as a result, improve our results)
Different methods of meditation
How training the mind to return to the breath in meditation is training our brain to focus
The automatic response mode that can help us overcome challenges in performance
Hush/Heart/Lift/Flow Technique for more inspired connection in performance:

o Hush: create dynamic stillness (inner and outer silence) to better hear and feel subtleties of music

o Heart: deepen intuitive perception - open chest and heart

o Lift: engage energy - creating upward moving energy

o Flow: focus with effortless pleasure

More about David:

Website: http://www.davidebymusic.com/

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/davidceby

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheInspiredMusician/

Biography

Cellist, Director, Teacher and Author

“Inspiration and music came into my life at age 6 when I announced to my parents that I was going to play the cello. By 16, I was drinking up inspiration from the Tanglewood and Aspen Music Festivals and sharing inspiration onstage as soloist with the Pittsburgh Symphony.

I attuned my skills at the Eastman School of Music where I received the Performer’s Certificate and BM under the tutelage of Paul Katz of the Cleveland Quartet. By the time I received my MM at Indiana University under the esteemed Janos Starker, my life was resonating unconditionally with the joy of music.

My first position as Principal Cellist of the Evansville Philharmonic and the Owensboro Symphony Orchestras taught me about how to share this joy in the context of leadership. As the founding cellist for the musical storytelling troupe Tales & Scales, I helped inspire the imaginations of young audiences across the nation.

An introduction to the West Coast awakened within me a profound yearning for the ocean and the mountains, and I arrived in Portland in 1996 to become the founding cellist for the internationally acclaimed band Pink Martini, as well as a cellist for the Portland Opera.

By 2001 an inward calling had grown so strong within me that I left everything to become Music Director at the Ananda Village in Northern California, with the singular opportunity to teach and direct a remarkable group of meditators. Each week we explored more deeply the realms of music, consciousness, inspiration, discovering the steps for achieving a consistently inspired performance. We were able to duplicate extraordinary experiences of flow in performance—where time stands still and all that exists is the joy of the music.

Hollywood made a dramatic entrance into my life in 2012 when I was asked to musically direct and produce the soundtrack for the film Finding Happiness featuring Elisabeth Rohm (LA Law, American Hustle). Soon thereafter, I arrived back in Portland, where I am currently teaching Workshops for the Inspired Musician, sharing what I have learned through this 18-year journey into music and inspiration.

I’ve sought to capture my experiences of inspiration on recordings, and my discography includes Sympathique with Pink Martini, Mystic Harp 2, Secrets of Love, Relax: Meditations for Flute and Cello, and Song of the Nightingale for Crystal Clarity Publishers, and the Finding Happiness soundtrack for Hansa Productions.

I currently perform with The Bodhi Trio, the Oregon Symphony, and Portland Cello Project, teach at Lewis and Clark College, direct the Advanced Strings at Oregon Episcopal School and am a Teaching Artist for the BRAVO Youth Orchestra. I live in Southwest Portland with my wife Madhavi, daughter Caitlin and our Manx cat, Maggie.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a huge thank you to my producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

021 Dr. Immanuel Abraham: How Determination & Dedicated Work Lead to Success

22 februari 2019 | 86 min

In this episode, I have a wonderful conversation with Dr. Immanuel Abraham. Immanuel talks to us about his path to a professional career, all things mindful and efficient practice, and the importance of learning to compose in enhancing your performance on your instrument!

Immanuel has a wonderful approach to practicing and music-making and I hope you enjoy his story and find yourself inspired by his dedication and determination!

ALL ABOUT guest:

Website: https://www.immanuelabraham.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theviolindoctor/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheViolinDoctor/

The Violin Guild: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheViolinGuild/

YouTube channels: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCddZDSbY6_Y4cIa-nMsY2oA

Biography

American violinist and composer, Dr. Immanuel Abraham, graduated Summa Cum Laude from both the University of Michigan (MM, 2015) and University of Arizona (DMA, 2018) with degrees in Violin Performance. He has earned numerous awards, recognitions, and is a sought-after composer. His most recent commissions have included complete scores for theatrical works, string quartets, and "The Abraham 24 Caprices for Solo Violin", which have premiered in 3 countries.

Dr. Abraham has performed in 7 countries, been featured on CBS Detroit, Buzzfeed, and Fiddlerman's exclusive blog series "Music Is For Everyone." His Instagram @TheViolinDoctor engages 20K followers.

Dr. Abraham began music studies at in 2004 under Chicago Civic Orchestra Concertmaster, Guillaume Combet. Only months later, he auditioned into the Merit School of Music Conservatory. In the next three years he placed 2nd in the institution's Annual Concerto Competition and became Concertmaster of the Merit Symphony Orchestra.

Simultaneously, he served as asst. concertmaster in the Chicago Youth Symphony (including the 2008 CYMI under Maestro Gustavo Dudamel) and was Concertmaster of the Blue Lake International Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Graduating with highest honors, he continued violin studies at the University of Michigan under Naumberg Award-Winner, Andrew Jennings. There he began to compose and explore the Electric Violin as well.

In 2013, he won the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp Concerto Competition, soloing the Conus Violin Concerto for a live audience of over 1,500 and airing live on FM Radio. In 2014, he placed 2nd in the Stamp.FM Online Music Awards, and opened for world-class bands We The Kings and HelloGoodbye at the Michigan Theater.

His first year in Arizona, he won the University of Arizona 2015 Concerto Competition with the Brahms Violin Concerto. He premiered his own cadenza, replacing the 1867 standard by Joseph Joachim. Dr. Abraham also served as the Arizona Symphony Orchestra concertmaster for two years under Maestro Thomas Cockrell, and the Arizona Contemporary Ensemble ("ACE") under Maestro Daniel Asia. He also is a recipient of the Fred Fox School of Music Graduate Fellowship.

Dr. Abraham has enjoyed work as the concertmaster of the Michigan Pops Orchestra, sub-anchor for Blue Lake Public Radio, Violin Specialist for the Sphinx Organization, Violin; Viola; Cello; faculty at the Chicago Music Store, Allegro School of Music, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, and as the United States Consultant for the 1st Oskar Rieding International Competition for Young Violinists. He also served two years as an assistant teacher for the University of Arizona, giving weekly lectures in music history.

Today, Dr. Abraham directs his own private studio of two-dozen local Arizonan students (sign up here!) He plays on a modern violin by renown Japanese luthier, Tetsuo Matsuda. He is also the creator of Facebook’s most popular bowed-string forum, The Violin Guild™, comprising over 30,000 members worldwide!

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also, a huge thank you to my producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

020 David Jalbert: Learning, Memorizing, & Finding Your Authentic Artistic Voice

15 februari 2019 | 83 min

Today, I’m really excited to have Canadian pianist David Jalbert on the show! David is an extraordinary person, a brilliant artist, and a very dear friend! We have a great conversation and cover many topics, from finding yourself as an artist, to the importance of confidence in our progress, and how to learn and memorize music.

David is incredible (and hilarious!) and I know you will really enjoy his approach to all things music and find tons of value in this episode!

In this episode, David talks about:

His musical journey, from a small town in the province of Quebec studying at the Conservatoire, the University of Montreal, the Toronto Royal Conservatory in Toronto, and Juilliard, leading to his professional career
The wonderful musical program he took part in at the Conservatoire de Musique du Quebec
The Canadian Music Competition and how competitions were a source of motivation for him
How his curiosity and the fact that he “thrived on the forbidden” really helped him develop his technical skills
How having many teachers taught him so much, but left him somewhat confused
How he found himself back
His learning process and how he realized that he could learn faster
The importance of confidence in the learning process
Memorizing music
The importance of being organized
How being interested in expanding our cultural horizon can positively affect our growth as an artist and give us “a leg up”

En français, nous discutons de :

Son parcours musical, des débuts à aujourd’hui, en touchant à ses moments au Conservatoire de Musique de Rimouski, ses expériences au Concours de Musique du Canada, et ses études à l’Université de Montréal, la Glenn Gould School, et à Juilliard
La motivation et l’inspiration qu’il a retiré de sa participation au Concours de Musique du Canada
L’approche de la technique de Marc Durand qui a eu une grande influence dans sa vie
Sa période à la Glenn Gould School et l’impact d’étudier avec plusieurs professeurs
Son expérience avec Jérome Lowenthal et comment il a développé sa voix authentique
À quoi sa pratique ressemble

o L’importance de la précondition – de se mettre dans le bon « espace mental »

o L’importance d’avoir un plan

Son processus d’apprentissage et de mémorisation du répertoire

More Information about David Jalbert:

Website: http://davidjalbert.com/

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/davidjalbertpiano/videos

Johannes Brahms: A Biography by Jan Swafford

Biography

A virtuoso with a warm and elegant style and a wide-ranging repertoire, pianist David Jalbert has established himself among the elite of a new generation of classical musicians, and was named by the CBC among the 15 best Canadian pianists of all time. With his personal style, incomparable stage presence, and refined ear, he has wowed audiences and critics everywhere: “a deeply musical pianist” (Cleveland Plain Dealer), “a virtuoso in the best sense of the word” (La Presse), “…wide-ranging musical imagination, phenomenal technique, and an unerring lightness of being” (The Toronto Star). His first solo disc, dedicated to the works of Corigliano and Rzewski (in preparation for which he worked with both composers), was launched to great applause on Endeavor in 2004 and was followed in 2006 by a recording of Fauré’s complete Nocturnes (a winning selection on La Tribune des Critiques de Disques, France-Culture). His 2008 release on the ATMA label, Shostakovich: 24 Preludes and Fugues opus 87, drew rave reviews, won an Opus Award, and was nominated for a Juno Award. He followed it up with an album dedicated to works by minimalist greats John Adams and Philip Glass (2010), and his 2012 recording of Bach’s Goldberg Variations was met with unanimous praise. He recorded works by Poulenc and Satie on “Le Comble de la Distinction” (2015) and virtuosic transcriptions of Russian ballets by Stravinsky and Prokofiev in 2017, which earned him another Juno nomination.

An accomplished chamber musician in both the hall and the studio, his releases include Poulenc’s music for winds and piano (with the woodwind quintet Pentaèdre) as well as the Rachmaninov and Chopin Cello Sonatas with his long-standing musical partner Denise Djokic. With violinist Jasper Wood and cellist Denise Djokic, he is also a member of Triple Forte, a piano trio whose first recording was awarded a 2014 Prix Opus (Album of the Year). Jalbert has also collaborated with violinist Rachel Barton Pine, the Cecilia and Alcan string quartets, double-bassist Joel Quarrington (on another Opus-winning collaboration, the album Brothers in Brahms as well as a Schubert album) and with pianists Anton Kuerti, Wonny Song and Jean-Philippe Collard.

As guest soloist, Jalbert has appeared with many orchestras, including the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Calgary Philharmonic, Orchestre Métropolitain, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra, CBC Radio Orchestra, Bielefelder Philharmoniker, Gauteng Philarmonic and National Symphony of Ireland and others. He has collaborated with conductors Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Christoph Campestrini, Skitch Henderson, Jacques Lacombe, Bramwell Tovey, Mario Bernardi, Peter Kuhn, David Currie, Marc David, Dinuk Wijeratne and others and has performed in Canada, the United States, Mexico, South Africa and Europe. Jalbert’s repertoire is expansive, and he plays Bach, Brahms, Stravinsky or Ligeti with equal pleasure. David Jalbert can be heard regularly on CBC Radio and Radio-Canada broadcasts, not only as a pianist, but also as a guest commentator.

A national and international prize-winner, David Jalbert was the 2007 winner of the prestigious Virginia Parker Prize of the Canada Council for the Arts, has been awarded five Prix Opus by the Conseil Québécois de la Musique, was nominated for four Juno Awards, and is now an Associate Professor of piano at the University of Ottawa. He holds two Artist Diplomas: one from the Juilliard School in New York, the other from the Glenn Gould Professional School (Toronto). He received his Master’s Degree from the Université de Montréal at age 21, winning the Governor General’s Gold Medal (awarded yearly to the top graduate student of the University). His main teachers have been Jerome Lowenthal, Marc Durand, André Laplante, and Pauline Charron. He has also worked with Leon Fleisher, John Perry, Claude Frank, Gilbert Kalish, and Marylin Engle.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a huge thank you to my producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

019 Amy Beth Horman: Success Mindsets & Practicing Habits

8 februari 2019 | 70 min

In this episode, Amy Beth Horman discusses guiding young musicians toward a professional career and, more specifically, the mindsets and practicing habits she thinks they should acquire in order to reach their goals. Amy Beth has wonderful wisdom on the dispositions that can make a huge impact on the progress of young (and less young!) musicians and you will find this chat highly valuable!

Amy Beth elaborates on:

Her journey from a budding violinist to an accomplished violinist and teacher and how it comes full circle with her nurturing her own daughter through her own musical endeavors
Beyond the Triangle – why she created the podcast and how she hopes it can help parents negotiate the demands and struggles of raising a young artist
The mindsets and habits that help rapid progress:

o The importance of growth mindset

o Healthy commitment to the fundamental work

o How to efficiently spread work over time and keep track to make sure we cover everything

o How using etudes as exercises can help fix specific issues in repertoire

How important our disposition is in our development and how prioritizing this can really positively affect progress and enjoyment of music making
Spaced repetition technique and how extremely effective it can be when established
What she noticed about Ava’s development and how we can apply it to our own practice
The importance of performing a lot, seek out opportunities, in order to learn and get comfortable with performing
How to use a timer in our practice
The importance of grit

ALL ABOUT guest:

On Instagram (avaluwho): https://www.instagram.com/avaluwho/

Articles on violinist.com: https://www.violinist.com/directory/bio.cfm?member=hormanviolinstudio

Beyond the Triangle:

On iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-triangle-podcast/id1435435674?mt=2
On Podbean: https://beyondthetriangle.podbean.com/

A few YouTube performances:

Her book recommendation: Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance Angela Duckworth

Biography

Amy Beth Horman’s appearances are always eagerly anticipated. The Washington Post has described her as being both a "winter tonic" and “having the stuff of greatness.”

A graduate of the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique in Paris, Ms. Horman won the highly coveted Premier Prix. A winner of both the high school and college divisions of the National Symphony Orchestra’s Young Soloists Competition, she debuted with the NSO at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall at the age of sixteen, performing the third movement of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto. Among many other awards, Ms. Horman received the Deane Sherman Award (2000) as one of Maryland’s most promising young artists and the Amadeus Career Grant (2001) from the Amadeus Orchestra.

She has appeared as a soloist with numerous orchestras including The Fairfax Symphony, Piedmont Symphony, Bay Atlantic Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, Orchestre de Meudon, Washington Sinfonietta, Symphony of the Potomac, McLean Symphony, Northwest Indiana Symphony, Amadeus Orchestra, Loudoun Symphony, Ars Nova Chamber Orchestra, and The New Mexico Symphony among others. Amy Beth served as resident soloist in The PanAmerican Symphony for four years. Other engagements in the Metropolitan area include those at the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater and on its Millennium Stage, Constitution Hall and at the Strathmore Hall for the Performing Arts. She has been featured on French-Swiss television and on American cable television and radio broadcasts.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a huge thank you to my awesome producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

018 Anthony McGill: Focus & Efficiency in Practice & Performance

1 februari 2019 | 53 min

In this episode, I chat with with Anthony McGill, principal clarinetist with the NY Philharmonic.

We have a great conversation about attention and presence, in both practice and performance. Among other things, we discuss his journey to the NY Phil, the importance of absolutely loving music in choosing it as a career, how to nurture focus and make practice more efficient, and how to work towards having more flow in performance.

Anthony elaborates on:

His musical path, from the Southside of Chicago to the NY Phil
The various institutions he attended – the Merit School, the Interlochen Academy, and the Curtis Institute
How important the community that surrounds us is as we develop as musicians/artists/people
How to nurture focus:
- The importance of how loving what you do is in fostering focus
- The quote that really articulated that concept for him
- How focus starts from figuring out if you truly love what you do
- Cultivating quality presence, awareness, and curiosity in the practice room are the keys to solid focus
How to make practice efficient
- How he primes and prepares for a practice session
- How wanting to practice, having a plan, being aware, and being methodical are at the core of a good practice session
How he “tricks” himself to practice (which is similar to the trick I talk about in this blog entry: https://www.mindoverfinger.com/blog/commit-to-ten)
How listening to music is important
Focus in performance:
- How to work towards flow and overcome mistakes
How important it is to develop our public speaking and self-marketing skills
Why we should develop an interest in a hobby outside of music

MORE ABOUT ANTHONY:

Website: http://www.anthonymcgill.com/

Find some YouTube videos about Anthony HERE

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcgillclarinet/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mcgillab/

Biography

Clarinetist Anthony McGill is one of classical music’s most recognizable and brilliantly multifaceted figures. He serves as the principal clarinet of the New York Philharmonic — that orchestra’s first African-American principal player — and maintains a dynamic international solo and chamber music career. Hailed for his “trademark brilliance, penetrating sound and rich character” (The New York Times), as well as for his “exquisite combination of technical refinement and expressive radiance” (The Baltimore Sun), McGill also serves as an ardent advocate for helping music education reach underserved communities and for addressing issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in classical music. McGill was honored to take part in the inauguration of President Barack Obama, premiering a piece written for the occasion by John Williams and performing alongside violinist Itzhak Perlman, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and pianist Gabriela Montero.

McGill’s 2018-19 season includes performances of concertos by Bolcom, Copland, Mozart, and Strauss with the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Tallahassee Symphony, Vermont Symphony, and Austin Symphonic Band. He will also collaborate together with soprano Miah Persson in a performance of Schubert’s “The Shepherd on the Rock” together with Iván Fischer and the New York Philharmonic. Additional performances include a collaboration with the Dover Quartet for the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society and a recital with soprano Julia Bullock for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, along with collaborations with the Brentano Quartet for Princeton University and a tour of Asia with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.

McGill appears regularly as a soloist with top orchestras around North America including the New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera, Baltimore Symphony, San Diego Symphony, and Kansas City Symphony. As a chamber musician, McGill is a favorite collaborator of the Brentano, Daedalus, Guarneri, JACK, Miró, Pacifica, Shanghai, Takacs, and Tokyo Quartets, as well as Emanuel Ax, Inon Barnatan, Gloria Chien, Yefim Bronfman, Gil Shaham, Midori, Mitsuko Uchida, and Lang Lang. He has led tours with Musicians from Marlboro and regularly performs for the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society. Festival appearances include Tanglewood, Marlboro, Mainly Mozart, Music@Menlo, and the Santa Fe, Seattle, and Skaneateles Chamber Music Festivals.

In January 2015, McGill recorded the Nielsen Clarinet Concerto together with Alan Gilbert and the New York Philharmonic, which was released on DaCapo Records. He also recorded an album together with his brother Demarre McGill, principal flute of the Seattle Symphony, and pianist Michael McHale; and one featuring the Mozart and Brahms Clarinet Quintet with the Pacifica Quartet that were both released by Cedille Records.

A dedicated champion of new music, in 2014, McGill premiered a new piece written for him by Richard Danielpour entitled “From the Mountaintop” that was commissioned by the New Jersey Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, and Orchestra 2001. McGill served as the 2015-16 Artist-in-Residence for WQXR and has appeared on Performance Today, MPR’s St. Paul Sunday Morning, and Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. In 2013, McGill appeared on the NBC Nightly News and on MSNBC, in stories highlighting the McGill brothers’ inspirational story.

A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, McGill previously served as the principal clarinet of the Metropolitan Opera and associate principal clarinet of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. In-demand as a teacher, he serves on the faculty of the Juilliard School, the Curtis Institute of Music, Bard College’s Conservatory of Music, and the Manhattan School of Music. He also serves as the Artistic Advisor for the Music Advancement Program at the Juilliard School, on the Board of Directors for both the League of American Orchestra and the Harmony Program, and the advisory council for the InterSchool Orchestras of New York.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a huge thank you to my producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

017 Nick Platoff: Winning the Audition - Before, During, & After

25 januari 2019 | 82 min

In this episode, I speak to Nick Plattoff, Associate Principal Trombone of the San Francisco Symphony since 2016. He and I talk about the audition process and how he went about to prepare for his SFS audition, how audition day was like, and how he prepared to step in to his new life as a professional musician in one of America’s top orchestras.

We cover:

His path, growing up with parents that fostered a culturally rich environment for their children
Why he says music is a form of love
How he came to choose the trombone and what was his motivation to keep playing
The influence on summer camp in his decision to become a musician
How he decided to put his multiple musical interests on hold while working on his trombone skills, and how that paid off
What New World Symphony brought him, outside of the practice room and stage
How deciding to focus solely on the audition process was crucial
His audition plan and how he prepared for the audition

ALL ABOUT NICK PLATOFF:

Nick’s website: https://www.platoffmusic.com/

San Francisco Symphony – about Nick: https://www.sfsymphony.org/About-Us/Musicians-Conductors/Members-Of-Orchestra/Trombones#artist-30720

San Francisco Symphony – Profile of Nick Platoff: www.sfsymphony.org/nickplatoff

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT5z0tsqrLxgMFfyVuwaz8w

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sfsymphony/videos/308411646590076/

Instragram: https://www.instagram.com/nickplatoff/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nickplatoff

Biography

In April 2016, Nicholas Platoff was appointed the Associate Principal Trombone of the San Francisco Symphony by Michael Tilson Thomas.

He has been recognized in both national and international competitions, as winner of the Aspen Music Festival and School Brass and Percussion Concerto Competition, National Brass Symposium Trombone Excerpt Competition and United States Coast Guard Band Young Artist Competition. In September 2015, he was the only American to advance to the second round of the ARD competition in Munich.

Prior to joining the SFS, Platoff spent two years as a fellow with the New World Symphony in Miami. He earned his Bachelors of Music degree with Brass Department Honors, majoring in Trombone Performance and Music Theory from Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music. He is also a proud alumnus of New Haven’s Neighborhood Music School. His teachers include Michael Mulcahy, Per Brevig, Christopher Davis, Peter Ellefson, Terrence Fay, Randall Hawes, Timothy Higgins, and Douglas Wright.

Platoff's experience in artistic planning dates back to high school, when he co-produced a day-long music festival in his backyard to benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina. In college, he founded the Players’ Operation Chamber Orchestra and served as its conductor and artistic director, presenting concerts that featured student soloists and premiered student compositions. During his time with the New World Symphony, he produced and curated “MIXTAPE,” the first-ever concert of the New Audience Fellow Initiative, which offered a multi-genre program to a standing room audience.

He is also a committed educator and works weekly as the low brass section coach for the award-winning SFS Youth Orchestra. He was a co-founder of the Miami Brass Festival, a day-long clinic for young brass players. His trombone students have been accepted to many of the top music programs in the country, including the Manhattan School of Music and San Francisco Conservatory, as well as the Interlochen Arts Academy and Boston University Tanglewood Institute.

During the summers, Platoff has performed at the Verbier Festival, Spoleto Festival USA, Britten-Pears Programme, the National Orchestral Institute, and the Aspen Music Festival and School, where he was the Per Brevig Trombone Fellow. In the summer of 2017, he performed at Festival Mozaic, the Lakes Area Music Festival, and Burning Man.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

016 Chloé Trevor: Practicing Efficiently & Enjoying Performing

18 januari 2019 | 69 min

I’m so excited to start 2019 with a wonderful guest, violinist Chloe Trevor!

Chloe and I discuss practicing and performing from several perspectives. We talk about dealing with injuries, practicing mindfully, how making practice videos can really help us progress faster, how to prepare for performances, and many other things!

She has many wonderful tips and tricks in store for you, and I know you will enjoy this episode!

We elaborate on:

Her musical journey, from childhood to professional life
Dealing with debilitating injuries and why having open discussions on this topic is important
The Chloé Trevor Music Academy
What mindful practice is to her
Her ideal practice session vs a more realistic one
Getting reacquainted with performing comfortably
How recording videos and posting them on social media can really help us progress faster (because it’s another form of performing and it helps us get more focused)
How to practice efficiently
- Have a plan – know what you want to accomplish
- Keep a journal
- Warm up properly
How she finds fun in practicing
Performance preparation
Why it’s important to be a good person/colleague

ALL ABOUT CHLOÉ:

Website: http://www.chloetrevor.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV331I5OiYv6n4W72k1C9fQ

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/chloetrevorviolin/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chloetrevor_violin/

Chloé Trevor Music Academy:

Website: http://www.chloetrevormusicacademy.org/

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/chloetrevormusicacademy/

Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/chloetrevor_musicacademy/

Favorite books:

The Talent Code: Greatness Isn't Born. It's Grown. Here's How. by Daniel Coyle

Talent is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else by Geoff Colvin

Biography

Quickly becoming one of the most talked about and sought after musical ambassadors to Generation Z, violinist Chloé Trevor has combined her technical brilliance, spirit for classical music and her passion for mentoring the youth of today to connect with audiences in exciting and innovative ways. Silver medalist of the Ima Hogg Competition, critics have acclaimed Chloé for her “dazzling technique”, “excellent musicianship”, “huge tone”, “poise and professional grace”, and “bold personality unafraid to exult in music and ability”. She has appeared as a soloist with orchestras worldwide, including the Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Latvian Chamber Orchestra, Slovak State Philharmonic, Plano Symphony, and the Knoxville Symphony. She made her New York concerto debut in 2013 and Avery Fisher Hall debut in 2014.

Chloé was the Grand Prize winner at the 2006 Lynn Harrell Competition and the 2005 Lennox Competition. She has been a featured soloist with the Dallas Symphony at the Meyerson Symphony Center, and with the Missouri Symphony on tour throughout the state. At age thirteen she appeared on the nationally syndicated radio program From the Top.

More recent performances included Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto with the Dallas Symphony and Prokofiev's 2nd Concerto both at Sala São Paulo in Brazil and with the Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra as a result of winning the Cleveland Institute of Music's Concerto Competition.

Having recently concluded her first tours of Australia, Singapore, Spain, and Mexico, Chloé’s upcoming engagements include multiple recitals in North America and appearances with Filarmonia Xalapa, the Bangor Symphony Orchestra, the Midland Symphony Orchestra, the Boulder Chamber Orchestra, and the El Paso Symphony Orchestra.

Dedicated to music education and outreach, Chloé regularly connects with students and teachers through interactive performances, masterclasses, and lectures, both in person and online. With an extensive and ever-growing following via social media, Chloé enjoys spreading her message of positivity and encouragement to hundreds of thousands of people on a daily basis in order to influence present and future generations of classical musicians. Summer 2018 marks the inaugural year of the Chloé Trevor Music Academy, an intensive two-week program for string players and pianists offering one-on-one instruction, chamber music coaching, masterclasses, orchestral training, and career guidance by the world's premier soloists, teachers, and conductors.

Chloé was introduced to the violin at age 2 by her mother, Heidi Trevor Itashiki, Dallas Symphony violinist. She later studied with Arkady Fomin, Dallas Symphony violinist and Artistic Director of the New Conservatory of Dallas. Chloé has made numerous appearances on the concert stage with her father, internationally recognized conductor and teacher, Kirk Trevor. She completed her undergraduate degree at the Cleveland Institute of Music studying with David and Linda Cerone, and her graduate degree as a scholarship student at Rice University studying with Kenneth Goldsmith. Chloé plays on a Carlo Landolfi violin made in Italy in 1771 and bows by Etienne Pajeot and Émile-Auguste Ouchard.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a huge thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

015 Don Greene: Winning on Stage with Peak Performance Tools

14 december 2018 | 56 min

In this episode, I’m very excited to be talking to someone who’s had a tremendous impact on my performance abilities: none other than Dr. Don Greene. If you don’t know who Dr. Greene is (or you do but you’ve never checked out his work), this episode might just change everything about the way you prepare for concerts and auditions! He is THE authority on performance success for musicians! This is a value packed episode from the best of the best, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it!

In this episode, we discuss about:

The performance preparation process
Why it’s important to mentally center before a performance
Recovery strategies in performance

ALL ABOUT DR. DON GREENE:

Dr. Greene’s website: Winning on Stage

The MUST HAVE book by Dr. Don Greene (my personal favorite book EVER about audition and performance preparation!): Performance Success: Performing Your Best Under Pressure

Other books by Dr. Greene:

His viral TED Ed talk: How to practice effectively...for just about anything - Annie Bosler and Dr. Don Greene

Contrabass Conversations #340: Dr. Don Greene on peak performance

Sarah’s Horn Hangouts : Mastering Performance Skills with Dr. Greene

About Dr. Greene.

Dr. Don Greene, a peak performance psychologist, has taught his comprehensive approach to peak performance mastery at The Juilliard School, Colburn School, New World Symphony, Los Angeles Opera Young Artists Program, Vail Ski School, Perlman Music Program, and US Olympic Training Center. During his thirty-two year career, he has coached more than 1,000 performers to win professional auditions and has guided countless solo performers to successful careers.

Some of the performing artists with whom Dr. Greene has worked have won jobs with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, San Francisco Opera, Montreal Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, National Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and the Dance Theatre of Harlem, to name just a few. Of the Olympic track and field athletes he worked with up until and through the 2016 Games in Rio, 14 won medals, including 5 gold.

Dr. Greene has authored eight books including Audition Success, Fight Your Fear & Win, and Performance Success. In 2017, Dr. Greene was named a TED Educator and collaborated with musician Dr. Annie Bosler to produce the TED-Ed How to practice effectively…for just about anything. The video went viral receiving over 25 million views across Facebook and YouTube.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a huge thank you to my producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, which helps cover some of the costs associated with the production of the podcast. Thank you for your support.)

014 Kaveh Rastegar: Hands-on Creative Practice & Music-Making

7 december 2018 | 56 min

This episode shows a different type of musical journey and approach to music-making outside of the classical world! I speak with bass player Kaveh Rastegar about his journey building a successful and varied international career, and his hands-on approach to creating music and to practicing.

Kaveh is highly on-demand in the LA scene and collaborates with some of today's most popular artists like CeeLo Green and Bruno mars. Kaveh has a fascinating background, playing a wide range of genres, from classical to reggae and punk rock. He is a member of the Grammy nominated band Kneebody and is currently on tour with singer John Legend.

His story is a great reminder, especially for those at the starting stages, that a musical career is not just about big gestures and big decisions. It’s built with the succession of little events that might seem inconspicuous at first, but end up adding up and can lead us to so many great opportunities and accomplishments. Whether it’s a chance meeting, a conversation, or being exposed to something new - all of this can open a world of new possibilities.

Later in the episode, Kaveh delivers inspiring insight on how to continue growing after college, going after your dreams, and keeping your enthusiasm and spark for music alive.

Get ready to be inspired by Kaveh’s story!

He elaborates on:

His story, from growing up in Colorado and learning to play by ear, to attending Eastman, and playing in the biggest stages in the world
How he was exposed to an incredibly wide range of music growing up and how that shaped him
How he came to choose the bass
The different things he learned from the many genres and experiences he had as a young musician
How he started playing gigs around his hometown and how that created the basis for the many strong connections and friendships that deeply influenced his career
His experience at Eastman
How practice becomes different after school – how we need to seek out teachers and seek our own answers
How his practice today involves a mix of methodical exercises and creative experimenting
His creation process, involving collaboration with friends and artists he admires, improvisation, and experimentation
How easy it is to start comparing ourselves and how it is important to celebrate all the small victories
How important it is to set goals

ALL ABOUT KAVEH:

Website: http://kavehrastegar.com/home.html

His discography: https://www.discogs.com/artist/538980-Kaveh-Rastegar

YouTube Light of Love: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIgWIgmC_t8

Facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/kavehrastegarmusician/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kavehrastegar/?hl=en

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kavehrastegar

Kaveh Rastegar is a Grammy nominated Electric and Upright bassist. In the years since moving to Los Angeles, California from Rochester New York where he graduated from the Eastman School of Music, Kaveh has enjoyed success playing, writing and recording music for a wide array of artists, projects and films.

Kaveh is a founding member of the Grammy Nominated Jazz quintet Kneebody. Kneebody has toured the world and recorded a number of albums. Most recently they have signed to Concord records and have toured Australia, Japan, Europe and the States in support of their new album “The Line”. Kaveh is also bassist for acclaimed singer songwriter John Legend and has accompanied him on tours worldwide since the summer of 2014. Kaveh is also bassist and musical director for singer and smash songwriter Sia.

As a writer, in addition to his own songs and music for Kneebody, Kaveh has written songs with other artists such as Bruno Mars, Cee Lo Green, Kimbra, Meshell Ndegeocello, De La Soul and others. His song “Conviction” co written with Meshell Ndegeocello was chosen as the lead single from her latest release “Comet Come To Me”.

Kaveh was recognized in the 2010, 2011 , and 2012 Downbeat Magazine Readers Polls and the 2015 Critics Poll for Electric Bass.

Kaveh is also a member of the Seattle based power trio THRUSTER! featuring guitarist Timothy Young and drummer Matt Chamberlain. A founding member of 70 piece hip hop orchestra Dakah, Kaveh has also recorded and played with Cee Lo Green, Bruno Mars, Sia, John Legend, Kimbra, De La Soul, Luciano Ligabue, Laura Pausini, The Ditty Bops, Colin Hay, Beck, Jesca Hoop, Nels Cline, Sam Sparro, Esthero, Noemi, Giusy Ferreri, Antibalas Afro Beat Orchestra, Joshua Radin, Melissa Ferrick, guitarist Arik Marshall, Keaton Simons, Greg Kurstin's Action Figure Party, The Calling, Dave Fiuczynski, Carla Bozulich and Wayne Horvitz.

Kaveh is also endorsed by Aguilar Amplification, GHS Strings, Tonecraft Audio and Roland/Boss Pedals.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a huge thank you to my producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, which helps cover some of the costs associated with the production of the podcast. Thank you for your support.)

013 Jim Stephenson: How He Followed His Calling & Created His Dream Career

30 november 2018 | 68 min

Today, I speak with composer Jim Stephenson. Among many other topics, we discuss his transition from performer to full-time composer, why it’s important to look inside and listen to our instinct, why we need to have the right mindset in building a career we love, and how to harness focus in our work.

Jim’s story is a testament to the incredible things that can happen when one follows a calling and takes a leap of faith forward. His approach to following a path is highly inspirational and I know you’ll love this discussion!

(Not only that, but Jim graciously agreed to let me use his Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra as the Mind Over Finger Podcast’s musical theme! So his music has been greeting you at the beginning and end of each episode of the podcast!)

We elaborate on:

His journey, from trumpet player to composer
How and why he got started composing
How he moved forward with his new career
Why it’s important to look inside and listen to our instinct
Why we need to have the right mindset in regards to building a career we love
How we are in charge of defining our lives and creating the passionate story that we want to tell
Why it’s important to be genuine
His compositional process
How he has the audience and musicians in mind when he writes
How he learns his best lessons from performances of his works
How he harnesses focus in the work studio
The importance of figuring out when you do your best work and how to organize your day in a way that suits you
Why good stage presence is important

ABOUT JIM:

Website: https://composerjim.com

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC18hLfX0xDhRkaUaRcKyiUA

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Stephenson-Music-95151931586/

Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/composerjim/

Twitter : https://twitter.com/ComposerJim

Leading American orchestras, instrumentalists, and wind ensembles around the world have performed the music of Chicago based composer James M. Stephenson, both to critical acclaim and the delight of audiences. The Boston Herald raved about “straightforward, unabashedly beautiful sounds,” suggesting “Stephenson deserves to be heard again and again!” A formal sense of melody and tonality characterize his music, each embedded in a contemporary soundscape. These qualities, coupled with the composer’s keen ability to write to each occasion, have led to a steady stream of commissions and ongoing projects.

Other upcoming premieres also include his 3rd symphony in April at the Frost School at University of Music, a piece based on model trains for the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra in February, and a multi-media tone poem for the Quad City Symphony also in April.

Additionally, Compose Yourself!, Stephenson’s landmark young-audience work has now been performed over 300 times since its creation in 2002, engaging children in New Zealand and Canada and across the U.S. Additional premieres include Carnegie Hall in May, 2017 (Chamber Music Charleston) and in the summer, 2017, a Music Academy of the West premiere of “Martha Uncaged” – with the composer conducting – and a west-coast premiere of his violin concerto at the famed Cabrillo Music Festival. The 2017-18 season will see a new “Low brass concerto” with the Minnesota Orchestra and Osmo Vänskä.

The Devil’s Tale (2013), a sequel to Stravinsky’s famous “Soldier’s Tale” has become a highlight of Stephenson’s extensive chamber music output, having already garnered much critical praise for its recent recording (“a most remarkable work” – Fanfare Magazine) and numerous performances, including at noteworthy venues such as Ravinia and Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center.

James M. Stephenson came late to his full-time composing career, having first earned a degree from the New England Conservatory in trumpet performance, and then going on to perform 17 seasons in the Naples Philharmonic in Florida. As such, the composer is largely self-taught, making his voice truly individual and his life’s work all the more remarkable. Colleagues and friends encouraged his earliest efforts and enthusiasm followed from all directions. As his catalog grew, so did his reputation. That catalog now boasts concertos and sonatas for nearly every instrument, earning him the moniker “The Concerto King” from Chicago Symphony clarinetist John Yeh.

The vast majority of those compositions came through commissions by and for major symphony principal players, in Chicago, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Minnesota, Washington DC, St. Louis, Oregon, Milwaukee, and Dallas, among others. A major break came from the Minnesota Commissioning Club, which led to two works (violin concertos) receiving premieres in 2012—by Jennifer Frautschi with the Minnesota Orchestra under Osmo Vänskä and by Alex Kerr with the Rhode Island Philharmonic under Larry Rachleff. Other international soloists for whom Stephenson has composed include saxophonist Branford Marsalis and trumpeter Rex Richardson, whose concerto has been performed on five continents. With such prolific output, Stephenson’s music is well represented in recordings. Nearly all of his solo brass works (over 50) have been professionally recorded, and in total, his extensive catalog for all instruments can be heard on over 30 CDs.

James Stephenson is also a highly sought-after arranger and conductor, rounding out his constantly busy schedule. His arrangements have been performed/recorded/broadcast by virtually every major orchestra in the country, including the Boston Pops, Cincinnati Pops, New York Pops and more. On the podium, Stephenson has led orchestras in Chattanooga, Bozeman, Charleston, Ft. Myers, Modesto, and Wyoming, in addition to numerous concert bands. With the Lake Forest Symphony, near his Illinois home, he has not only conducted but also has served for seven years as Composer-in-Residence.

Jim originally hails from the Greater Chicago area, as does his wife Sally. In 2007 the couple, along with their four children, returned to the region to pursue the life they now share.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson (our guest today!) who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a huge thank you to my producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, which helps cover some of the costs associated with the production of the podcast. Thank you for your support.)

012 Jason Haaheim: The Science, Power, and Joys of Deliberate Practice

23 november 2018 | 71 min

In this episode, I speak with Jason Haaheim, principal timpanist with NY’s Metropolitan Opera since 2013. We discuss his fascinating journey, going from working full-time as an engineer to holding one of the most coveted position in the world. He applied the principles of deliberate practice in his life in a way that will amaze and inspire you!

Jason’s experience and insight on deliberate practice and music-making are eye opening!

We elaborate on:

His unorthodox path – securing a position at the MET
How he was exposed to deliberate practice
What is “talent?” (Pssst! It’s not what you think!)
How his playing soared once he figured out what type of practice works for him
How deliberate practice is, in essence, applying the scientific method to instrumental learning
How refining the technique in a scientific, methodical way, leads us to musicality and expression
Why feedback is so crucial in learning and growing as an artist
Why essential to be process-focused and how it impacts the end result
Why it’s up to you and the decision you make over the years
Why it pays to be a tenacious loser
What the things you can control are
How the process never ends (and that’s a good thing!)
Why we should keep asking questions and how they make us better
How his process continues in his career
How results are a by-product of the process
His audition preparation process – how he organized it and what it involved (have specific goals, a solid plan, record yourself, play mock auditions, get lots of feedback, etc.)
How he uses Anders Ericsson’s Mental Representation concept
How recording ourselves transforms how we pay attention to our playing in real time
How he prepares for the opera repertoire

ALL ABOUT JASON:

Website: https://jasonhaaheim.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonhaaheim/

Metropolitan Opera: https://www.metopera.org/

Artful Timpani Auditioning Seminar: https://steinhardt.nyu.edu/music/summer/percussionworkshops/artful_timpani_auditioning

Talent is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else by Geoff Colvin

Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise by Anders Ericsson

Jason Haaheim (pronounced HAW-heim) was appointed a Principal Timpanist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in 2013. In addition to performances at New York’s Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, Mr. Haaheim can be seen and heard performing with the MET Orchestra on television, international radio, and Live in HD movie theater broadcasts. Mr. Haaheim is on faculty at the NYU Steinhardt School of Music and the Bard Conservatory of Music. A sought-after clinician, Mr. Haaheim gives masterclasses both nationally and internationally, and is the founder of the Northland Timpani Summit. He is also a frequent coach for The Orchestra Now (TON), the Carnegie Hall National Youth Orchestra (NYO), and the New York Youth Symphony (NYYS).

Mr. Haaheim’s guest principal timpanist engagements have included the Seoul Philharmonic, the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra, and the Milwaukee Symphony. He has also been principal timpanist of the Lakes Area Music Festival, and a resident artist of the Twickenham Festival. Prior to the Met, Mr. Haaheim was principal timpanist of the Southwest Michigan Symphony and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and he performed regularly as timpanist with the Madison Symphony, Illinois Symphony, Peoria Symphony, and the Illinois Philharmonic. Mr. Haaheim has also been invited to perform as guest principal timpanist with the Chicago Symphony, the Detroit Symphony, the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), the Glimmerglass Festival, the Auckland Philharmonia, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, and the Hong Kong Philharmonic.

Mr. Haaheim began studying piano in 4th grade, adding percussion studies in 5th grade. He holds a bachelor of arts degree with a double major in honors-music-performance and physics from Gustavus Adolphus College (St. Peter, MN); he also holds a master’s degree in electrical engineering from UC-Santa Barbara. Influential teachers have included John Tafoya (Indiana University, National Symphony), Dean Borghesani (Milwaukee Symphony), Jonathan Haas (Aspen Music Festival, NYU), and Robert Adney (Gustavus Adolphus College, MacPhail Music School). While auditioning and freelancing, Mr. Haaheim worked as “Senior Research and Development Engineer” at NanoInk, a Chicago-area tech company. In this capacity, he gave invited talks on nanotechnology, authored multiple peer-reviewed publications, and was granted numerous patents. In 2017, this dual-career path was highlighted in an interview with Melissa Block on NPR’s Weekend Edition.

Active in all musical areas, Mr. Haaheim has also performed extensively as a chamber musician and jazz drummer. He collaborated with Yo-Yo Ma in a Civic Orchestra / Silk Road Ensemble performance, and recorded the premiere of Augusta Read Thomas’s “Terpsichore’s Dream” with members of the Chicago Symphony. Mr. Haaheim has performed with Chicago’s ensemble dal niente, and premiered Ryosuke Yagi’s “Mirrors…for timpani” with the UCSB Ensemble of Contemporary Music. Other projects have included drumming for the jazz-fusion quartet “The J3 Intent” and the alt-country band “The Lost Cartographers.” At Gustavus, Mr. Haaheim was selected for the honors recital and won first place in the orchestra’s concerto competition. Extra-musical interests include backpacking and hiking, rock climbing, and both downhill and cross-country skiing.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a huge thank you to my producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe

(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, which helps cover some of the costs associated with the production of the podcast. Thank you for your support.)

011 Marina Thibeault: Musicality & Mission in Music-Making

16 november 2018 | 64 min

In this episode, I chat with Marina Thibeault, solo violist and chamber musician. We discuss mindfulness, presence, and efficiency in the practice room, the importance of letting the music sing when we play, and her upcoming new recording featuring works by women composers. Her and I also have a little surprise for our French speaking listeners: we will continue the discussion in French following the English!

Marina’s approach to music making is authentic and fresh, and her insight on musicality is spot on! I’m sure you will enjoy her point of view and get a lot of value from this episode!

Marina elaborates on:

Her beginnings on the violin, deeply rooted in French Canadian folk music
How yoga was an integral part of her violin routine from the very beginning
Her studies, from the Quebec Conservatory to the Curtis Institute, studying with Michael Tree
When and why she switched to viola
Her work with a sport psychologist
How she plans her practice
How knowing yourself is important in planning your work
How planning helps her being more present in her practice and keeps her focused
What being present in the practice room means to her: listening and singing
Her advice on how to start listening to ourselves
How working on musicality is more like “option adventure” rather than “problem-solving”
How it was to work with Michael Tree – how he trusted and nurtured all of his students, and how he was teaching “a lifestyle”
How she picked the pieces for her upcoming album: all written by female composers
How she feels there’s a need for more room for female composers
How she practiced creativity and feeling free in the practice room in preparation for her first album
How being a good human is good! 😉
How finding balance between pursuing artistry and self-marketing is important, and how crucial it is to keep playing music for the right reasons
How her son is her secret weapon
How important it is to be selective with the advice we CHOOSE to listen to

ALL ABOUT MARINA:

Marina’s Website / site web

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

The video when her son joins her and Wallis Giunta on stage for a performance: adorable!

The Art of Practicing: A Guide to Making Music from the Heart by Madeline Bruser

Jiro Dreams of Sushi

Marina Thibeault holds numerous honours and distinctions, including prizes from the Père-Lindsay Foundation (2017), "Révélation Radio-Canada" (2016-2017), CBC’s “30 hot classical musicians under 30” (2016), and the Sylva Gelber Foundation (2016). She won first prize in the string category of Prix d’Europe (2015), the McGill Concerto Competition (2015), the Radio-Canada “Young Artist” prize (2007) as well a special prize at the Beethoven Hradec International Viola Competition (2008).

During the 2018-2019 season, Marina will make her debuts in Toronto, Los Angeles, Cleveland, Seoul, East Europe, and Costa Rica, travelling with her partner and her two children.

Marina's first album, Toquade, was released in April 2017 on the ATMA label, and was nominated by the ADISQ and Prix Opus for “album of the year”.

Marina has appeared internationally as a soloist with the North Czech Philharmonic, the Mariánské Lázně Symphony Orchestra, the Santiago Chamber Orchestra, as well as in recital at the Verbier festival and in Québec with the Orchestre Métropolitain, the Appassionata Chamber Orchestra, and the Drummondville Symphony, to mention a few.

An avid chamber musician, Marina has collaborated with members of the Guarneri Quartet, the Cleveland Quartet, the London Haydn Quartet, Marie-Nicole Lemieux, amongst other renowned chamber musicians. Her interest in new music has led her to work with composers such as John Corigliano, Joan Tower, and Krzysztof Penderecki.

At 9 years old, she was the youngest violin student to enter the Conservatoire de Musique de Québec where she studied with Claude Létourneau, Catherine Dallaire, and François Paradis. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the Curtis Institute of Music, where she studied with professors Michael Tree and Roberto Diaz. In order to deepen her studies, she attended the Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana under the tutelage of Bruno Giuranna, with the help of the Canada Council of the Arts and the Eskas Scholarship. Marina holds a Master’s degree from McGill University, where she studied with André Roy. Also at McGill, she is currently a doctoral candidate, as well as viola and chamber music instructor. Since the summer of 2018, Marina has coordinated the chamber music program at Domaine Forget, QC, where she will also begin teaching viola in the summer of 2019.

Marina plays on an 1767 Carlo Ferdinand Landolfi, with a W.E Hill Sons bow, generously loaned by Canimex.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a huge thank you to my producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER – Dr. Renée-Paule Gauthier:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

010 Paul Merkelo: Developing Artistry & Creating Opportunities

9 november 2018 | 39 min

In this episode, Paul Merkelo, principal trumpet with the Montreal Symphony, active soloist, pedagogue, and philanthropist, talks about how, as musicians, we need to take ownership of our careers, nurture opportunities, focus on developing out artistry and our voice, and have a “quality over quantity” approach to practicing.

Paul offers amazing insight, great practicing tips, and extremely valuable advice on how to take your playing and career to the next level.

He elaborates on:

His experience as principal trumpet of the New Orleans Symphony
How the orchestra’s bankruptcy prompted his first ventures in the self-marketing world and opened the door for his entrepreneurial spirit
How social media can help promote artists, if done the right way and if one is offering high value
How, as musicians, we need to take ownership of our careers, nurture opportunies, and put together our own projects
The way he sees himself as an artist and why the different projects he pursues keep him energized and inspired
How he advises young artists to not just focus on their careers, but to focus on their artistry, their personality, and their voice
How we need to be proactive for our dream ideas to come to life – his own example of how he made a solo recording with the Montreal Symphony happen
How a “quality over quantity” approach to practicing is crucial
How he uses a timer to stay focused and organized in the practice room
How he selects his fundamental work to fit the needs of the repertoire he is working on
How he shapes a practice session/day
How he uses “PSP” when doing isolation work: 1) Precision 2) Speed 3) Power
How we need to “practice our nerves”

ALL ABOUT PAUL:

Paul Merkelo’s website

Paul’s YouTube channel

Facebook page

Instagram profile

Montreal Symphony Orchestra

Paul’s recordings

Tunable app

The Talent Code: Greatness Isn't Born. It's Grown. Here's How. by Daniel Coyle

Renowned as one of the finest trumpet players of his generation, Paul Merkelo is recognized for his ’pure technical prowess’’ (Rochester Democrat & Chronicle) as well as his ‘’unusual lyrical gifts’’ (Gramophone). Principal trumpet with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal since 1995, Mr. Merkelo is regularly praised by the Montreal press as ‘’a spectacular soloist… a most impressive master of his instrument’’ (Montreal Gazette), a “great virtuoso… dazzling’’ (La Presse). He has been featured frequently with the OSM, including tours to South America and Lincoln Center in New York.

He has been featured with orchestras, and in recital, throughout the United States, Canada, Russia, China, Japan, Portugal, Brazil, Venezuela, Peru, France and Thailand.

In 1999, he was appointed Canadian musical ambassador to China for the inauguration of the Montreal Park in Shanghai, and as soloist with the Shanghai Broadcast Orchestra in a national telecast. Mr. Merkelo made his New York debut at Lincoln Center with the New World Symphony Orchestra and Michael Tilson Thomas in 1998. He has also worked with conductors Leonard Bernstein, Charles Dutoit, Lorin Maazel, Sir Georg Solti and Valery Gergiev.

Mr. Merkelo’s first solo recording, A Simple Song was ranked #1 in Quebec’s classical recording chart in 2000. In 2004, Analekta released a highly praised second CD, Baroque Transcriptions, which was nominated by ADISQ for Best Classical Album of the Year.

Previously, he was Principal Trumpet with the Rochester Philharmonic and New Orleans Symphony and gained early orchestral experience as an extra with the New York Philharmonic and Pittsburgh Symphony.

Paul Merkelo attended the University of Illinois and Eastman School of music, where he was awarded the Speth Scholarship for outstanding orchestral musician. Mr. Merkelo is on the faculty at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, and McGill University. He is on the board of directors for the Youth Orchestra of the Americas (Canada), and is the founder of the Paul Merkelo scholarship.

Paul Merkelo is a Yamaha artist.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a huge thank you to my producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, which helps cover some of the costs associated with the production of the podcast. Thank you for your support.)

009 Wallis Giunta: The Mindful Voice

2 november 2018 | 58 min

Mezzo-soprano Wallis Giunta is a multi-faceted artist with a variety of interests, a great take on mindful practice, and a truly wonderful personality. In our conversation, we discuss, among other things, the importance of making choices that will allow you to thrive, how she prepares for a role, and how she uses mental practice to learn and memorize music at a deeper level.

We elaborate on:

Her journey from Ottawa, Ontario (Canada) to Toronto, New York, and, more recently Leipzig as a member of Oper Leipzig
Her experience as a young girl in the Ottawa Youth Choir, and the importance it had in her becoming a professional singer
Her experience at the Glenn Gould School and the Canadian Opera Company and the various opportunities she found there
How making choices that fit her well were very important in her development and allowed her to thrive
Her life as a member of Oper Leipzig
Her fun, mindful way of curating a recital program that is meaningful to her
How she prepares for a role
How she went from a more repetitive form of working on songs to a more mindful and mental approach to practicing as she evolved as an artist

o Translate the text and understand the meaning

o Listen to various recordings and interpretations

o Break it down

o Memorize it

How practicing mentally first thing in the morning and last thing before bed is tremendously effective for her and helps her cement the repertoire to memory
How she has developed the skill to learn repertoire mentally, now that that is in a place where she feels confident about her technique
How singers practice difficult passages
How she brings operatic characters to life

ALL ABOUT WALLIS:

Wallis Giunta’s website

Wallis’ YouTube channel

Wallis’ Facebook page

Wallis on Instagram

The Complete Sherlock Holmes (Knickerbocker Classics)

The Complete Sherlock Holmes (2 Volumes)

Irish-Canadian mezzo, Wallis Giunta, has been named “Young Singer of the Year” in the 2018 International Opera Awards, and was named both “Young Artist of the Year” by The Arts Desk and “Breakthrough Artist in UK Opera” in the What’s On Stage Opera Awards for her work in 2017. She has been praised by OPERA NEWS for her “delectably rich, silver-toned mezzo-soprano, with a beautiful sense of line and effortless, rapid runs”, with her performance as Mozart’s Sesto for the Canadian Opera Company celebrated as “a triumph…remarkable in its combination of intelligence and beauty”. Her 2018/19 season includes debuts with the BBC Proms Festival in a program celebrating Leonard Bernstein, with the Grange Festival as Cherubino at The Barbican, London, with the MDR Sinfonieorchester as Haydn’s Berenice, and with the Royal Opera House Muscat in La Traviata. She also debuts the title roles in Carmen and Der Rosenkavalier, along with Rossini’s Rosina for Oper Leipzig, and Idamante for Toronto’s Opera Atelier. She began the 2017/18 season with two role debuts for Opera North, the title role in Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortiléges, and Dinah in Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti, both to great critical acclaim. She returned to Oper Leipzig, where she has been an ensemble member since 2015/16, for her house roles of Angelina, Cherubino, Rossweise & Wellgunde, and debuted Prince Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus and Der Gymnasiast in a new production of Berg’s Lulu. She also returned to the Munich Radio Orchestra, Toronto’s Koerner Hall and the Music & Beyond Festival in concert, and debuted at the Oregon Music Festival as Anna I in Weill’s The Seven Deadly Sins.

The 2016/17 season saw her debuts with Opera North, performing the title role in Rossini’s La Cenerentola, with Teatro Communale di Bolzano as Cherubino, and with the Munich Radio Orchestra, Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, and Symphony Nova Scotia in concert. Wallis returned to Opera Atelier to debut the title role in Purcell’s Dido & Aeneas, and to both the Toronto Symphony and the Real Orquesta Sinfónica de Sevilla for new productions of Weill’s The Seven Deadly Sins. The 2015/16 season saw her make several major European debuts, including for Teatro dell’Opera di Roma (Adams’ I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky), Oper Frankfurt (Carmen), Oper Leipzig (La Cenerentola, Le Nozze di Figaro, Faust, Der Ring des Nibelungen), the Hamburg Symphony (Candide), and the Deutsche Oper am Rhein in concert. She also returned to the Edmonton Symphony for Messiah and had her first experience teaching, with a series of masterclasses for Toronto’s Tapestry New Opera.

Early in 2015, she returned to The Metropolitan Opera as Olga in their new production of The Merry Widow, directed by Susan Stroman. Other recent highlights include returns to the Canadian Opera Company as Dorabella in Atom Egoyan’s new production of Cosí fan tutte (2014), to Opera Lyra Ottawa as Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro (2015), and to Opera Atelier as Bradamante in a new period-production of Alcina (2014), along with debuts at Madison Opera (2014) and the Taipei Symphony Orchestra as Annio in La Clemenza di Tito (2013). In June 2014, she recorded her first album with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra in Dublin (NAXOS), of a new work by American composer, William Perry. Wallis also debuted in 2014 with Toronto’s 21C Music Festival in Louis Andriessen’s one-woman-opera, Anaïs Nin, and brought her acclaimed recital program of Kurt Weill’s The Seven Deadly Sins to Miami, New York, Toronto and Ottawa. She had a whirlwind 2012/13 season, making her Metropolitan Opera debut in Rigoletto, debuting the roles of Sesto & Annio in La Clemenza di Tito with the Canadian Opera Company, making her Paris debut with Le Théâtre du Châtelet as Tiffany in John Adams’s I Was Looking at the Ceiling…, and singing Dorabella in the Met + Juilliard production of Cosí fan tutte at Lincoln Center. She also made debuts with Fort Worth Opera, L’Opéra de Montréal, the Edmonton, Seville and Nuremberg Symphonies, the Stuttgart Festivalorchester, and the National Arts Centre Orchestra.

Wallis is a passionate recitalist, and has recently performed for the Aspen, Caramoor, Banff, Luminato, Music & Beyond, and Ottawa Chamber Music festivals. She is the grateful recipient of the 2016 Bernard Diamant Prize from the Canada Council for the Arts, the 2013 Novick Career Advancement Grant, the 2013 Sylva Gelber Music Foundation Career Development Award, and multiple prizes from the George London Foundation. Wallis is a 2013 graduate of both the Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Development Program & the Juilliard School’s Artist Diploma in Opera Studies, and a 2011 graduate of the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio. She has also studied at The Glenn Gould School, the Ravinia Festival’s Steans Music Institute, and the International Meistersinger Akademie in Germany, and continues her private studies with Edith Wiens.

Wallis is also devoted to animal rights, particularly the rescue and rehabilitation of abandoned domestic rabbits. She is an active rabbit foster parent and finds opportunities to foster and volunteer at shelters as she is performing around the world. She is a volunteer and supporter at Rabbit’s Rest Sanctuary & WildRescue in Denton, Texas, and works to draw attention to our societal responsibility towards domesticated animals. Please get in touch if you are interested and would also like to help!

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

For added fun, join the Mind Over Finger Tribe on Facebook where you will find a community of mindful musicians!

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a huge thank you to my producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

Why You Should Use Modacity to Practice Music

(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, which helps cover some of the costs associated with the production of the podcast. Thank you for your support.)

008 Marc Gelfo: Peak Performance & Peak Practice: Science, Tech, & Mindfulness (There's an app for this!)

26 oktober 2018 | 45 min

This week on the podcast, I talk with neuro-symphonic hornist and creator of the practice app, Modacity. Marc brings an incredible versatility to music making and has an inspiring holistic approach to practicing and living music.

We discuss:

Hi versatile background, developing skills and acquiring knowledge in many areas – music, neuroscience, coding, meditation, wisdom traditions
What being a neuro-symphonic hornist means
What do we define “success” as
What is positive focus
How he came up with Modacity
The features of Modacity
The importance of priming

Join Marc and I for a month of mindful practice during the month of November!

DETAILS INCLUDED AT THE END OF THE EPISODE AND BELOW HERE!

ALL ABOUT MARC:

Marc’s webiste: http://marcgelfo.com/

Modacity: https://www.modacity.co/

Challenge Participants: Download the Modacity app and visit https://www.modacity.co/mindful-music-upgrade/ for access to all the app’s premium features for FREE for the whole month of November!

Marc’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/practicelivingmusic/

Marc on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcgelfo/

Modacity’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ModacityApp/

Modacity on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modacityapp/

How To: Deliberate Practice for Musicians & How to Use Modacity's Improvement Feature

The art of breathing: http://www.jessicawolfartofbreathing.com/for-purchase/

Research on the advantages of recording practice - "When audience members were played recordings of both types of performance, a significant majority expressed a preference for the performances that were created in a mindful state." http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0305735607086053

Contrabass Conversation episode #515: Practice better with Modacity – Jason Heath interviews Marc

Jason Heath’s blog: How I’m practicing music better using Modacity and forScore

Jason Heath’s video Modacity: my favorite new tool for better practicing

Dynamic Alignment Through Imagery Second Edition by Eric N. Franklin

The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful by Eric Ries

MARC GELFO

Marc Gelfo has been combining music and technology since he was 5 years old. After applying cognitive science & computer science degrees to French horn, Marc became an internationally touring symphony musician. His experience includes teaching and performing with thousands of musicians around the world, including San Francisco Symphony and Philadelphia Orchestra.

Marc is Co-Founder & CEO at Modacity, building software to help create a world where everyone makes music. Visit https://modacity.co or email [email protected] for more on this rapidly growing music learning platform.

MINDFUL PRACTICE MONTH

Now, if you’re interested in taking your practice to the next level, join me for a month of Mindful Practice!

Here’s how it works!

Hop on Facebook, and join The Mind Over Finger Tribe at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/
Think of 1-3 practice goals you have for the month of November, put that in writing, and share it with us on the group. It could be anything from learning a piece, to working on a specific thing you want to fix in your technique. I would be specific, like don’t say I want to improve my left hand, but rather say something along the lines of I want to improve my shifts.
Download the Modacity app and visit https://www.modacity.co/mindful-music-upgrade/ for access to all the app’s premium features for FREE for the whole month of November!
Starting November 1st, practice every day using Modacity and share a daily practice insight or "win" with us and on social media with the hashtag #mindfulpracticechallenge! I’m going share mine in the group and on Instagram using the hashtag #mindfulpracticechallenge

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a huge thank you to recording engineer extraordinaire, Bella Kelly!

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

MIND OVER FINGER:

007 Nathan Cole: Mindful and Efficient Practice Tips from the LA Phil's First Associate Concertmaster

19 oktober 2018 | 51 min

First Associate Concertmaster with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the creative mind behind Natesviolin, Nathan Cole has incredible insight on practice and performance preparation! In this episode, he discusses:

His path, from Suzuki beginner, to Curtis student, to the LA Phil, via the St-Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Chicago Symphony
How he organizes his time for productivity
- The importance of scheduling
- Utilize small pockets of time
- Know when you are the most productive
How he prepares for practice – the importance of
- having the right environment
- Not separating the warm up from “playing”
- Not separating practicing from performing
The importance of paying attention every time you are about to start a note
The importance of choosing repertoire suited to our level
How he takes a piece from start to ready
The importance of practicing etudes and to understand what the point of each etude is so we can focus on the proper skill to be worked on
How he problem-solves difficult passages
The importance of paying close attention to how things sound and feel – being present
Why it’s important to develop good communication skills with colleagues

ALL ABOUT guest:

Website: https://www.natesviolin.com/

Podcast Stand Partners for Life: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/stand-partners-for-life/id1328799919?mt=2

Nathan on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/natesviolin/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natesviolin/

The Inner Game of Golf by W. Timothy Gallwey

The Inner Game of Tennis, also by Gallwey

The Inner Game of Music by Barry Green

Nathan Cole, First Associate Concertmaster of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, has appeared as guest concertmaster with the orchestras of Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Houston, Ottawa, Seattle, and Oregon. He was previously a member of the Chicago Symphony and Principal Second Violin of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. A native of Lexington, KY, he made his debut with the Louisville Orchestra at the age of ten while studying with Donna Wiehe. After eight years working with Daniel Mason, Cole enrolled at the Curtis Institute of Music. In addition to his studies there with Pamela Frank, Felix Galimir, Ida Kavafian, and Jaime Laredo, Cole formed the Grancino String Quartet, debuting in New York’s Weill Hall. Several summers at Marlboro enriched his love of chamber music.

While in Chicago, Nathan taught at Roosevelt University and coached the Chicago Civic Orchestra. He is currently on the faculty at the Colburn School for the Performing Arts, with classes at the Colburn Conservatory and USC. His articles and photographs have appeared in Strings, Symphony, and Chamber Music magazines.

Nathan’s articles and videos on practicing, performing, teaching, and auditioning have helped thousands of violinists worldwide. In addition to his online teaching, Nathan is currently on faculty at the Colburn School for the Performing Arts, with classes at the Colburn Conservatory and USC. His articles and photographs have also appeared in Strings, Symphony, and Chamber Music magazines.

Nathan is married to Akiko Tarumoto, the LA Phil’s Assistant Concertmaster. Together they host the weekly podcast Stand Partners for Life, an inside look at orchestra life, which can be heard at standpartnersforlife.com. Nathan and Akiko live in Pasadena with their three children.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a huge thank you to my producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, which helps cover some of the costs associated with the production of the podcast. Thank you for your support.)

006 Matthew Lipman: How Learning to Listen Well Lead Him to Great Heights & How he Prepares for Competitions and Performances

12 oktober 2018 | 47 min

International viola soloist Matthew Lipman can be heard on the best stages around the world! In this episode he discusses his road to success, how to practice and get ready for a competition, and the importance of mental preparation before a performance.

He elaborates on:

The importance of music education in the schools and the important of funding for music an arts programs in our public schools
Studying with Roland Vamos and how he directed his attention got directed in the right way early on in his training
Studying with Heidi Castelman and how she got him to focus on tone production
Studying with Tabea Zimmermann and how she got him to listen ever more to himself
How learning to listen to ourselves is so important and why feeling like we sound bad can be good: “when you are experiencing growth, you think that you sound horrible, and it helps you reach a new level”
How being consistent is key in progressing
How listening to the sound and tone can completely lead the way to huge progress
How you have to take a step back and understand how our body works and how the instrument responds instead of trying to push the sound
How preparing for competition can be hard, but focusing on the process and adopting the right mindset can really lead you to new heights
The process of preparing for an international competition

o Choosing repertoire that “lets you shine”

o Practice performing your repertoire a lot before the competition

o Be organized – using chart and planning properly

o Have clear and specific goals

How to efficiently work with metronome: how you can reach freedom through working with one
How preparing mentally for a performance is a long but important process
How you have to be able to zoom in on the details, and also zoom out and see the big picture

ABOUT MATTHEW:

Website: http://www.matthew-lipman.com/index.php

Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center: https://www.chambermusicsociety.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melodiousmatt1/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melodiousmatt/

His recording of Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante with Rachel Barton Pine and the Academy of St-Martin in the Fields conducted by Sir Neville Marriner

Carl Fischer Foundation Studies for the Viola - Book 2 (from Opp. 45 and 74) performed by Matthew

Playing the Viola: Conversations with William Primrose, by David Dalton

Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra - featuring Erin Keefe and Matthew Lipman with the Minnesota Orchestra.

The recipient of a prestigious 2015 Avery Fisher Career Grant, 25-year-old American violist Matthew Lipman has been hailed by the New York Times for his "rich tone and elegant phrasing" and by the Chicago Tribune for his "splendid technique and musical sensitivity.” In demand as a soloist, he has recently performed concertos with the Minnesota, Illinois Philharmonic, Grand Rapids Symphony, Wisconsin Chamber, Juilliard, Ars Viva Symphony, Montgomery Symphony, Innsbrook and Eggenfelden Festival orchestras and recitals at the WQXR Greene Space in New York City and the Phillips Collection in Washington, DC.

Highlights this season include a debut solo album on Cedille Records, which will include his own transcription of Waxman’s Carmen Fantasy and a world premiere by Brazilian composer Clarice Assad, and several performances of the Telemann Viola Concerto in Alice Tully Hall. The Telegraph praised Mr. Lipman as “gifted with poise and a warmth of timbre” on his Avie recording of Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante with violinist Rachel Barton Pine and the Academy of St Martin in the

Fields with Sir Neville Marriner, which reached No. 2 on the Billboard classical charts. He was the only violist featured on WFMT Chicago’s list of "30 Under 30" top classical musicians and has been profiled by The Strad and BBC Music magazines. Mr. Lipman performs internationally as a chamber musician with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center as a member of CMS Two, at the Music@Menlo, Marlboro, Bad Kissingen, Malaga, and Ravinia Festivals, and regularly with distinguished artists like Itzhak Perlman, Mitsuko Uchida, and Pinchas Zukerman.

A top prizewinner of the Primrose, Tertis, Washington, Johansen, and Stulberg International Viola Competitions, he received his bachelor's and master's degrees as an inaugural Kovner fellow from The Juilliard School, where he continues to serve as teaching assistant to Heidi Castleman, and is currently mentored by Tabea Zimmermann in Kronberg, Germany. A native of Chicago, Mr. Lipman performs on a fine 1700 Matteo Goffriller viola loaned through the generous efforts of the RBP Foundation and an 1845 Dominque Peccatte viola bow.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a huge thank you to my producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, which helps cover some of the costs associated with the production of the podcast. Thank you for your support.)

005 Denise Tryon: How She Created Her Meaningful Career and Combines Technique and Artistry in Music-Making

5 oktober 2018 | 61 min

Denise Tryon, Associate Professor of Horn at the College Conservatory of Music of the University of Cincinatti and former Fourth Horn with the Philadelphia Orchestra, has built a wonderful career which combines teaching, performing, and expanding the repertoire of her instrument through active commissions. Denise is a trail blazer in our field! She has asked herself the hard questions and has not been afraid to step off the beaten path and shape her unique, meaningful, and impactful career.

In this episode, we discuss:

Her journey from student, to top-five orchestra member, soloist, and pedagogue
The distinction between warmup and daily routine (hint: a warmup is a small part of a daily routine)
What a good routine covers – the various fundamentals of your instrument as well as extended techniques
How to set up your own routine – something that works really well for you
What mindful, efficient, practice is to her:

o Be demanding but kind with yourself

o How to organize it (I’m loving the “55 and out” technique!)

o How to problem solve

o What “swear” words she will not allow in her studio (and they are not what you’re thinking!)

o How we need to let go and go with the flow

o The four elements we need to address in the practice room – technical, physical, musical, and mental

Audition Mode and audition preparation
How musicians need to figure out how to find our own voice and market themselves
How we must strive for excellence, not perfection
“Change your mind and your body will follow”
“Be demanding and caring” when you practice
“Give to yourself first”

ALL ABOUT guest:

Website: http://denisetryon.com/

Low Horns Unite: http://denise-tryon.thinkific.com/courses/low-horns-unite

Audition Mode: http://auditionmode.com/

YouTube channels: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-NXdXmBOZ08O4ijSX6wTzg

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dt_lowhorn/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeniseTryonHorn/

Her album, So Low

Doctor Beat Metronome by Boss

Mechanical Metronome (not the one she mentions)

Horn Berp – Buzz Extension Resistance Piece

The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music by Victor L. Wooten

Biography:

A native of Roseville, MN, Denise Tryon is currently Associate Professor of Horn at the College Conservatory of Music of the University of Cincinatti. Previously, Tryon was fourth horn of The Philadelphia Orchestra (2009-2017) and served as the Horn Professor of the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore starting in 2007. She has also held positions with the Detroit Symphony (2003-2009), Baltimore (2000-2003), Columbus (1998-2000), and New World (1995-1998) Symphonies as well as participated in the Colorado Music Festival and the Pacific Music Festival. An accomplished solo performer, Tryon has performed recitals in Sweden, Norway, Poland, Japan, Canada and the United States.

“Denise Tryon’s command of the lower register provides the strongest foundation of sound for a horn section, and yet, her sound is supple and flexible.”

—Yannick Nezet-Sequin, music director of the Philadelphia Orchestra

In 1989 Tryon graduated from the famed Interlochen Arts Academy and in 1993 received her Bachelor of Music degree from the New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) in Boston. She received the Presidential Scholarship while in the Artist Diploma Program at NEC with the Taiyo Wind Quintet, which won the Coleman Chamber Competition and worked with great composers such as John Harbison, Luciano Berio, György Ligeti, and Elliott Carter.

An active and accomplished educator, Tryon is sought after for her masterclasses. She has taught extensively in the United States, Scandinavia, Europe, Asia and South America. Beth Graham of the Warsaw Philharmonic and founder of the Warsaw Horn Workshops raves, “In just a few seconds of listening to a student she can diagnose deep-seated problems and give

immediate fixes, often with a healthy dose of humor as well. The transformations she can accomplish in just a short time are truly remarkable.”

Tryon released her debut solo album, SO•LOW in 2015. As a part of this album, she commissioned 4 new pieces for low horn and piano. Said in a review by Gramophone Magazine “Tryon plays these works with sonorous fluidity and dexterity, ending with a bit of captivating acrobatics.”

In 2009, Tryon founded Audition Mode, a yearly horn seminar, with Karl Pituch. In 2010 she was an International Horn Society (IHS) Northeast Workshop Featured Artist. She was a contributing artist at the IHS Symposium in San Francisco in 2011, as well as one of the Solo Artists at the Nordic Hornfest in Norway in 2012. Tryon was on the horn faculty at BIBA (Blekinge International Brass Academy) in Sweden in 2013.

She has been the Featured Artist at the Warsaw Horn Workshops in 2013, 2015, and 2016. In 2014 and 2016, Tryon was a Featured Artist at the IHS MidNorth Horn Workshop, and in 2015, she was a Featured Artist at the IHS Symposium in LA. In 2016, Tryon was on faculty during the brass weeks at Domaine Forget. Tryon was the Featured Artist at the IHS NorthWest Horn Workshop in 2017.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a huge thank you to my producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, which helps cover some of the costs associated with the production of the podcast. Thank you for your support.)

004 Holly Mulcahy: How She is Transforming the Music Business by Pursuing Authentic Connection with the Audience and Championing Modern Composers

28 september 2018 | 44 min

Concertmaster of the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera and new music champion, Holly Mulcahy redefines the profile of the 21st century musician. Through her purposeful approach of music-making, she is able to genuinely connect and bring people together, and have powerful and positive impact in the music world and the community at large.

In this episode, we discuss:

How going with the flow and being adaptable shaped her career
How her parents helped her establish a strong base that has stayed with her throughout the years
How she defined and found her own success and what made her happy
How being honest with oneself is key
How letting go of a full-time job and challenging the traditional route lead her to a fulfilling life
How she reaches out and engages with her audience in a meaningful way
How understanding our audience and getting them curious can help us “find a way in” and help us create authentic connections with concert goers
How a concert in a prison turned into a powerful project that positively affects prisoners’ lives
How she prepares and practices for an orchestra season as a concertmaster
How being unprepared takes away the joy from the job
How studying a score is important when preparing for a concert
How spreading the work over several days is key in helping the brain absorbing the material and is important to solidify the preparation
How she learns music by contemporary composers
How she is mindful in her practice
How adaptability is an important skill in a music career
How keeping a notebook nearby helps her stay focus during a practice session

Holly Mulcahy: https://www.hollymulcahy.com/

Holly’s blog, Neo Classical: https://www.insidethearts.com/neoclassical/

Chattanooga Symphony & Opera: http://chattanoogasymphony.org/

Drew McManus: “There is a difference in creating a musical market and a musical community” https://adaptistration.com/2018/04/20/there-is-a-difference-in-creating-a-musical-market-and-a-musical-community/

Arts Capacity: https://artscapacity.org/about/

Violin Concerto in Five Scenes “The Rose of Sonora” by George S. Clinton: “Inspired by true stories about the lives of legendary women in the Old West, The Rose of Sonora is a compelling and dramatic musical narrative that takes the listener on an epic western adventure of love, loss, and revenge.” https://www.facebook.com/theroseofsonora/

Yes, And: How Improvisation Reverses "No, But" Thinking and Improves Creativity and Collaboration--Lessons from The Second City by Kelly Leonard and Tom Yorton. Executives from The Second City—the world’s premier comedy theater and school of improvisation—reveal improvisational techniques that can help any organization develop innovators, encourage adaptable leaders, and build transformational businesses.

Biography

After hearing Scheherazade at an early age, Holly Mulcahy fell in love with the violin and knew it would be her future. Since then, she has won multiple positions in symphonic orchestras from Richmond to Phoenix and is currently serving as concertmaster of the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra.

Holly began developing her leadership skills at the renowned Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University with former Baltimore Symphony concertmaster Herbert Greenberg. In recent seasons she has enjoyed serving as traveling concertmaster for Emmy Award winner George Daugherty’s Bugs Bunny at the Symphony, and as guest concertmaster for the Columbus Symphony (OH), Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, and a one-year appointment as interim concertmaster for Orchestra Iowa.

As an in-demand performer, Holly balances her orchestral duties with numerous concerto performances around the country. Passionate about performing living American composers’ works, Holly has been featured as soloist for concertos by Jennifer Higdon, Jim Stephenson, Philip Glass, and now a concerto being written for her by Hollywood film composer, George S. Clinton. This new concerto, The Rose of Sonora: a violin concerto in five scenes, is inspired by true stories about the lives of legendary women in the Old West and will take the listener on an epic western adventure of love and revenge. The world premiere performance will be in April 2019.

Believing in music as a healing and coping source, Holly founded Arts Capacity, a charitable 501(c)3 which focuses on bringing live chamber music, art, artists, and composers to prisons. Arts Capacity addresses many emotional and character-building issues people face as they prepare for release into society.

In addition to an active performing career, Holly is the author of Neo Classical, a monthly column on the future of classical music. On days off, Holly maintains a reputation for planning and hosting exquisite gourmet parties in her Chicago home.

Holly performs on a 1917 Giovanni Cavani violin, previously owned by the late renowned soloist Eugene Fodor, and a bespoke bow made by award winning master bow maker, Douglas Raguse.

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also, a huge thank you to my producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

www.youtube.com/mimistillman

(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, which helps cover some of the costs associated with the production of the podcast. Thank you for your support.)

003 Mimi Stillman: How a Child Prodigy Grew Combining Artistry and Scholarship in a Brilliant Career as Solo and Chamber Flutist

21 september 2018 | 50 min

International flute soloist, Mimi Stillman has a gift to make classical music current, relevant, and exciting. In this episode, we discuss different ways to make practice more fun, efficient, and effective.

We elaborate on:

Why learning how to practice is so important
How important it is for parents to reinforce what is said in the lessons at home
Key elements of efficient practice:
- Practicing slowly
- Using a metronome
- Monitoring the basics
- Good posture
- Monitoring the breath and body tension
Practicing with challenging modifications such as different rhythm, accents, etc.
A healthy balance of technique exercices vs repertoire in the practicing
How playing in chamber music helps elevating awareness in our playing
How being creative in our practice keeps in more engaging, more, and efficient
How legendary flutist Julius Baker taught
How we are our own best teacher and we need to take ownership of our practice and learning experience
How being interested in other art forms and history complements our musical approach

Websites:

Mimi www.mimistillman.com

Dolce Suono Ensemble www.dolcesuono.com

YouTube channels:

www.youtube.com/dolcesuonoensemble

Facebook pages:

www.facebook.com/MimiStillmanFlute/

www.facebook.com/dolcesuonoensemble/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/mimistillmanflute

Twitter: @mimistillman @dolcesuonoe

Music in the Castle of Heaven by John Eliot Gardiner

A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver by E. L. Konigsburg

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg

Biography

Flutist Mimi Stillman, acclaimed by The New York Times as “not only a consummate and charismatic performer, but also a scholar whose programs tend to activate ear, heart, and brain”, is renowned for her virtuosity, insightful interpretation, and adventurous programming. As soloist, she has appeared with orchestras including The Philadelphia Orchestra, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, Bach Collegium Stuttgart, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Orquesta Sinfónica de Yucatán, Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle, and Orchestra 2001, and as recitalist and chamber musician at venues including Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, Smithsonian American Art Museum, National Sawdust, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Symphony Space, La Jolla Chamber Music Society, The Kimmel Center, The Verbier Festival, and Kol HaMusica. Ms. Stillman is the founding Artistic Director of the popular Dolce Suono Ensemble, “one of the most dynamic groups in the US” (The Huffington Post), performing Baroque to new music with 53 world premieres in 13 seasons in Philadelphia and on tour. At the invitation of Plácido Domingo, Ms. Stillman and Dolce Suono Ensemble enjoy a partnership with the Washington National Opera’s Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program

A wide-ranging and innovative artist, Ms. Stillman celebrates the canon while deeply exploring new music and Latin genres. She is highly regarded for expanding the repertoire through her commissions, arrangements, and compositions. She can be heard on several recordings including Odyssey: 11 American Premieres for Flute and Piano and Freedom, both with her longstanding duo pianist Charles Abramovic, and American Canvas performed by her Dolce Suono Trio (Innova). Her Syrinx Journey project, a tribute to Claude Debussy on his 150th anniversary, garnered an international following.

Mimi Stillman made the leap from child prodigy to inimitable artist. At age 12, she was the youngest wind player ever admitted to the Curtis Institute of Music, where she studied with the legendary Julius Baker and Jeffrey Khaner and earned her Bachelor of Music degree. She received a MA and PhD (abd) in History at the University of Pennsylvania, and is a published author on music and history.

Mimi Stillman has won numerous competitions and awards including Young Concert Artists International Auditions, the Bärenreiter Prize for Best Historical Performance for Winds, Astral Artists Auditions, and the Philadelphia Women in the Arts Award. A Yamaha Performing Artist and Clinician, strongly committed to excellence in education, she has taught masterclasses at institutions including the National Flute Association, Eastman School of Music, Cornell University, Southern Methodist University, Indiana University, the universities of Texas, California, Virginia, Florida, and Arizona, and at conservatories worldwide. A Spanish-speaker, Ms. Stillman won the Knight Foundation grant for her Música en tus Manos (Music in Your Hands) project to introduce chamber music to the Latino community of Philadelphia. She is on faculty at Temple University, Curtis Summerfest, and Music for All National Festival. www.mimistillman.com

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a huge thank you to my producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, which helps cover some of the costs associated with the production of the podcast. Thank you for your support.)

002 Jason Heath: How he Built a Vibrant Port-Folio Career and Became a Podcasting Icon by Asking the Hard Questions and Listening to Himself

14 september 2018 | 80 min

Bass player Jason Heath has built a vibrant career as a performer, educator, entrepreneur, and host of one of the most important classical music podcasts. Through this experience, he has accumulated a vast knowledge on how to practice and grow a career into something that is authentic and rewarding.

In this episode, Jason discusses:

How Contrabass Conversations goes beyond the bass community is a show which brings value to all instrumentalists
His book, Winning the Audition: Turbocharge Your Orchestral Audition: Advice from Leaders in the Field
His story building a truly unique portfolio career, from growing up in North Dakota, to going to school in Chicago, joining several orchestras, teaching full-time in high-school, starting a blog, creating the podcast, and creating a vibrant career in San Francisco, CA
Not being afraid to ask yourself the hard questions about where you want to be in your career and listen to the answers
Practicing mindfully –

o how there are no shortcuts

o how audition winners come to develop the skills to win by finding the answers for themselves, believing in the themselves, and playing authentically

o the importance of falling in love with practicing

The Modacity App – a tool to practice more mindfully
The relevance of music in today’s world
An ideal practice session for him
Problem solving: Macro. Micro. Macro – “Think big, and go to the smallest possible chunk.”
How he uses ForScore
His strategy to stay enthusiastic about performances

Jason’s Doublebass blog: https://doublebassblog.org/

Contrabass Conversations: https://contrabassconversations.com/

Jason’s Double Bass Community Online Music Library: https://doublebassblog.org/music

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/contrabassconversations/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason__heath/

Contrabass Conversations on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/contrabassconversations/

Jason’s book: Winning the Audition: Turbocharge Your Orchestral Audition: Advice from Leaders in the Field

Leon Bosch on Contrabass Conversations, episode 213: https://contrabassconversations.com/2016/05/16/cbc-213-leon-bosch-the-sherlock-holmes-of-the-double-bass/

Modacity app: https://www.modacity.co/

Dr. Don Greene, sport psychologist : https://www.winningonstage.com/

forScore app: https://forscore.co/

Biography

Jason Heath is the host of Contrabass Conversations, a podcast devoted to exploring music and ideas associated with the double bass.

His blog and podcast are highly regarded in the music world and have been featured as top offerings in the world of arts and culture for the past decade. He is the author of Winning the Audition and Road Warrior Without an Expense Account and his work has been featured in International Musician, TimeOut Chicago, Adaptistration, ArtsHacker, The Scroll, Bass World, Double Bassist, and Bass Musician Magazine.

Jason serves on the Board of Directors for the International Society of Bassists and is the Double Bass Product Manager for Eastman Strings. He also serves on the advisory boards of Musician’s Toolkit and Be Part of the Music, and he is internationally active as a clinician and consultant. Jason is past president of the Illinois chapter of the American String Teachers Association and past orchestra representative for District VII of the Illinois Music Educators Association.

A highly decorated veteran teacher, Jason is a past faculty member at DePaul University, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and Trinity International University. He currently works with the San Francisco Symphony’s Music and Mentors program and teaches internationally at various bass events, clinics, and master classes.

Jason’s former students hold positions in the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Grant Park Symphony, and Philharmonie Sudwestfalen. As a high school orchestra director, Jason’s orchestras had many notable performances, including the Midwest Clinic in Chicago and tours in Peru, Spain, and Cuba.

A graduate of Northwestern University, Jason performs with the IRIS Orchestra in Memphis Tennessee and ensembles in the San Francisco Bay Area. He was a member of the Elgin Symphony for 16 seasons and has also performed with the San Francisco Symphony, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Grant Park Symphony, and numerous other professional ensembles.

THANK YOU:

Huge thank you to my producer, Bella Kelly!

Also, most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

MIND OVER FINGER:

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, which helps cover some of the costs associated with the production of the podcast. Thank you for your support!)

001 James Ehnes: The Essence of Mindful Practice

7 september 2018 | 62 min

In this episode, international violin soloist James Ehnes talks about what the essence of mindful instrumental practice is: having a clear goal, work efficiently, listen intently, and connect with others.

He elaborates on:

His artistic journey – growing up in Brandon Manitoba, the practicing habits he developed as a child that helped him succeed, and the mentors that helped shape his career
Practicing efficiently – how practicing should be goal oriented, how we should practice practicing, the importance of identifying and analyzing problems
Competitions – how they can be beneficial for one’s career
How we should have a performance mindset while practicing
Figuring out how to find balance in our life and career
His process to learn a work and to prepare for a performance
The importance of developing the skill to truly listen to ourselves objectively while we play
How music really addresses our humanity and brings us together

Website: http://www.jamesehnes.com/james/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamesehnes/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesehnes/

James’ discography: http://www.jamesehnes.com/james/index.php?id=62

His recording of the Aaron Jay Kernis Concerto

Beethoven Celebrations – Recital with Andrew Armstrong at Northwestern University on January 13, 2019

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

Biography

James Ehnes has established himself as one of the foremost violinists of his generation. Gifted with a rare combination of stunning virtuosity, serene lyricism and an unfaltering musicality, Ehnes is a favourite guest of many of the world’s most respected conductors including Ashkenazy, Alsop, Sir Andrew Davis, Denève, Dutoit, Elder, Ivan Fischer, Gardner, Paavo Järvi, Noseda, Robertson and Runnicles. Ehnes’s long list of orchestras includes, amongst others, the Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, New York, London Symphony, Philharmonia, BBC Philharmonic, Czech Philharmonic, DSO Berlin and the NHK Symphony orchestras.

Ehnes has an extensive discography and has won many awards for his recordings including a Gramophone Award for his live recording of the Elgar Concerto with Sir Andrew Davis and the Philharmonia Orchestra. His recording of the Korngold, Barber and Walton violin concertos won a Grammy Award for ‘Best Instrumental Soloist Performance’ and a JUNO award for ‘Best Classical Album of the Year’. His recording of the Paganini Caprices earned him universal praise, with Diapason writing of the disc, “Ehnes confirms the predictions of Erick Friedman, eminent student of Heifetz: ‘there is only one like him born every hundred years’.” Ehnes’s recent recording of the Bartók Concerti was nominated for a Gramophone Award in the Concerto category. Recent releases include concertos by Britten, Shostakovich, Prokofiev and Khachaturian and sonatas by Debussy, Elgar and Respighi, and his recording of the Beethoven Violin Concerto with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Andrew Manze will be released in October 2017 (Onyx Classics).

Ehnes began violin studies at the age of four, became a protégé of the noted Canadian violinist Francis Chaplin aged nine, made his orchestral debut with Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal aged 13 and graduated from The Juilliard School in 1997, winning the Peter Mennin Prize for Outstanding Achievement and Leadership in Music.

He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and in 2010 was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada and the Artistic Director of the Seattle Chamber Music Society.

James Ehnes plays the "Marsick" Stradivarius of 1715. He currently lives in Bradenton, Florida with his family.

THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a huge thank you to producer, Bella Kelly!

If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!

Visit the website and the facebook page for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.

MIND OVER FINGER: