031: The Power of Music with Robin Spielberg

In today's exciting episode, we dive into the power of music with one of America’s most beloved pianist/composers, Robin Spielberg. With an illustrious career spanning decades, Robin has captured the hearts of listeners worldwide with her enchanting melodies and profound piano techniques. Join us as we explore her unique journey from childhood passion to becoming a Steinway Artist, her experiences in the ever-evolving music industry, and her advocacy for the transformative power of music in wellness and therapy. We delve into her live-streamed performances that provided comfort during the pandemic and her insightful TEDx talk on the transformative power of music. Robin also offers valuable advice on overcoming performance anxiety and maintaining discipline in practice. Whether you're a music lover or just curious about the power of melody, this conversation with Robin Spielberg is sure to resonate.

• Robin shared a brief overview of her background and how she has been passionate about the piano since childhood.
• How she was introduced to arranging songs using chords and numbers at a young age.
• Her successful career in New York City’s piano rooms and hotel lobbies.
• An overview of diverse career, from recording her music, touring as a solo pianist, performing with orchestras, and engaging in various musical projects.
• Her music and memory workshops for seniors.
• Robin’s TEDx talk, "The Transformative Power of Music."
• Her advocacy for music therapy.
• Importance of incorportating arts into wellness for emotional and mental well-being.
• How she started live streaming piano performances during COVID-19 to cope with the lack of live performances and for her mental health.
• The growth and expansion of her live streams, leading her to apply for and receive a grant.
• Developing a system for creating themed performances, such as songs about transportation or celestial events.
• Importance of discipline and habit in maintaining musical practice.
• Some performance anxiety tips and practice routine advice from Robin.
• Robin gave a sneak peak to her upcoming projects.

Guest Links Mentioned

• Robin Spielberg's Website
• Robin Spielberg's Ted Talk

Today’s Guest

Robin Spielberg is one of America’s most beloved pianist/composers. With an impressive tour schedule and hundreds of thousands of recordings sold, this Steinway Artist has been winning the hearts of listeners around the world with her compelling melodies and sensitive piano techniques since debuting her first recording of original solos for piano, Heal of the Hand.

A prolific composer, Spielberg has 24 recordings to her credit and appears on over 40 compilations around the world. Her discography includes albums of original piano solos, arrangements of American standards, original pieces for piano/ensemble, recordings for the holidays, a CD of American melodies, and a CD of lullabies. Robin Spielberg is represented on tour by Kosson Talent.

About Rachel Ehring

Dr. Rachel Ehring is a pianist, teacher, music administrator, and lover of piano teaching gadgets. She holds a DMA in Collaborative Piano from the University of Colorado Boulder and a MM in Accompanying from the University of Kansas. She currently serves as Director at St. John’s Conservatory of the Arts in Orange County, CA. Previously, she held positions at Concordia University Irvine and Henderson State University. Rachel is passionate about empowering music teachers to create engaging and exciting lessons for students of all ages. When she isn’t playing the piano, you might find Rachel reading books with her son or walking her beagle Frieda.

• Visit her website at https://rachelehring.com/
• Visit her Instagram page: @rachelehring
• Visit her Etsy shop at Dream Lavender Music

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