Brave Musician

In this episode, Monica reconnects with Kayoko Dan, the music director of the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera. They are old friends from their days at Arizona State University who both now live in TN now. Kayoko talks about being an orchestra conductor, how she always wanted to be a music teacher growing up, and how she landed first professional gig. She shares her method of studying scores, progra...

In this episode, Monica has a thought-provoking conversation with Matt Jefferson, who is a trombonist, studio musician, educator, and videographer in Nashville, TN. They talk about getting by in the pandemic and the need to pivot and adjust when life throws you curveballs. Matt shares what a typical gig in the recording studio looks like as well as the formation and growth of the Maniacal 4 Trombo...

In this episode, Monica reflects on all of the new information she consumed at the Jazz Education Network virtual conference in January 2021. She considers how we can process and then do something with "what" we learn, how this idea is applicable to aspects of life and learning outside of music, and offers her 4 steps on processing and applying new information. This episode includes thought-provok...

In this episode, Monica sits down with Jazmine Rampas, director of the Terrible Adult Chamber Orchestra - LA, known as TACO. They talk about the goals and mission of TACO, feelings of apprehension and worry that many of the participants have at first, the word "terrible" as a reminder, and how important and wonderful it is to have a community of people coming together to play music and have fun. J...

In this episode, Monica talks with musician, saxophonist, and composer, Armando Salas. They have a conversation about the challenges of playing woodwind instruments with other people during Covid, teaching virtual music lessons, and his transition to opening his own teaching studio. They talk about technology and how this is both an informal and yet extremely vulnerable time. They share candidly a...

In this episode, Monica sits down with Matt Storto - musician, percussionist, composer, and member of the band Harrison Fjord - to talk all about the creative process both in terms of his own composing and how the members of the band compose together. Matt shares how he creates drum parts, self-awareness as a composer and player, how the band's composition process varies depending on the circumsta...

In this episode, Monica shares the processes she used and the stories behind three of her original compositions: "Knom", "I'm Sorry About Your Face", and "Keep it on the DL". She goes over how each one was created, the inspiration for the piece, and a provides a recording to reference. Monica offers 6 lessons that can help anyone start creating and talks about her workshop, Dive Into Composition,...

In this episode, Monica sits down with Kathleen Hollingsworth, a teacher, performer and writer from near Portland, OR. Kathleen shares her journey from choral music roots to a doctorate in jazz, and how that journey positively and negatively affected her as a performer and educator. Together, they discuss the composition process, lyric writing, and the biggest struggles and lessons from the last 8...

In this episode, Monica sits down with storyteller Paisha Thomas - singer, songwriter, and pottery artist, from Columbus, OH. They share how they first met (on a gig!) and some thoughts they had about each other before and after. They discuss how they find color inspiration from looking around the world, their common thread of Stan Smith and his support, and how there's always something to do next...

In this episode, Monica talks about the return of the podcast, getting settled in Nashville, life during the pandemic, and how vital music is to the world right now. She offers some ideas on different things to work on, and thoughts that have helped her - including redefining "success" and finding a practice buddy. She also talks a little about Brave Musician's latest program, Sponsor a Musician (...

In this episode Monica speaks with poet, hip hop artist, advocate and educator, Myrlin Hepworth about the creation process, ego and its potential to sabotage us, expression and being present when you create. Myrlin shares his experience with teaching writing to inmates in prison and how art can help humans connect, as well as a discussion on vulnerability, risk, and daring to be authentic. They ta...

In this episode, Monica talks with trumpeter, educator, and producer, Jeremy Pelt. They discuss his experience as a producer, and the importance of having a clear vision and looking at a project as a whole. They talk in depth about his composition process, and some behind the scenes details about some of his pieces, how he's always listening to music, and what inspires him. He shares some of the "...

In this episode Monica talks with the educator and musician, Jarritt Sheel, who is a Doctoral Candidate at Teachers College Columbia University, Professor of Music Education at Berklee College of Music, Father, Husband, Musician and DJ. They discuss the creative process from a variety of angles and perspectives, including ones outside of music. They dive into some of the challenges with the human...

Welcome to season 4 of the Brave Musician podcast. In this episode, Monica introduces the first episode of the new season which will focus on one of her favorite subjects - the creation process. She includes some questions to get us thinking about why and how we create, some of the struggles (especially under the current circumstances) and joys, how we have found ourselves in a space where we are...

On Friday 4/3/2020 co-founder of Brave Musician, Monica Shriver , sat down with saxophonist Rahsaan Barber , bassist Natalie Boeynik, and trumpeter Del Lyren for a candid discussion on progress and uncertainty during these unprecedented times. Coming from varied perspectives and experiences as freelance musicians, educators, students and business owners, they share how they are feeling, processing...

In this episode, which is part 2 of a 2-part series, Monica sits down with technology executive and musician, Dean Barker. Dean has two careers, one where he runs a group of designers for a fortune 100 company and the other as a gigging musician. In part 2 he talks in depth about his visiting lecture advocating for a double life and about exploring different possibilities and paths. He talks about...

In this episode, which is part 1 of a 2-part series, Monica sits down with technology executive and musician, Dean Barker. Dean has two careers, one where he runs a group of designers for a fortune 100 company and the other as a gigging musician. In part 1, he talks about his experiences as a full time musician as a young adult, his mix of influences growing up, and his musical upbringing. We talk...

In this episode, Monica talks about one of the core values of Brave Musician, which is community and addresses that as we head into this uncharted, confusing, unpredictable, and frightening territory right now with quarantines, the reality that performing and seeing live shows is temporarily no longer possible, the challenges of moving work and education online, and isolation, we need community mo...

In this episode, Monica has an insightful and thought-provoking conversation with freelance trombonist Lisa Lizanec, who regularly performs in both Phoenix, AZ and Japan. They talk about how the paths that they both forged were different from the ones that they were told about and how it's so important to find the music that speaks to you the most. Lisa shares her passion for pop music, how she st...

In this episode, which is the second of a 2-part series with trumpeter Bill Dowling, Monica continues her conversation with Bill about his trumpet journey. From relentlessly practicing in a coat closet, to applying to one music school for college, to moving across the country to study with legendary players living in LA, Bill has always known exactly what to do in order to find specific answers to...

In this episode, which is part 1 of a 2-part series, Monica sits down with trumpeter Bill Dowling and talks about what life was like on tour as the lead trumpet player with the Ringling Bros' and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Bill shares how he got the gig, the extreme requirements for that particular position, the rehearsal process, how the show gets created from the musician point of view, and living...

In this episode, Monica sits down with jazz violinist, Sara Caswell during the Jazz Education Network Conference in New Orleans last month. They talk about her early experiences with different styles of music and how she made the decision to focus more on jazz and what drew her to it. Sara shares how she reached the conclusion that she wanted to move to NYC and they explore the feelings around tha...

In this episode, Monica talks a little bit about her separate journeys as a visual artist and music composer. She shares the stories behind this path including how they came together, the creation of the "Monica Shriver's Abstract Art Creative Music Experience" which involves original compositions, artwork, and improvisations. She shares some of her creation processes for both. Monica also reflect...

In this episode, Monica sits down with Shreyas Iyer, a tabla player originally from India, who performs, teaches and studies tabla in Phoenix, AZ.  Insightful and inspirational, they discuss how the process of learning new things never stops, how feedback and signs can help you know where you are supposed to go, trusting your gut as a musician, uncomfort vs discomfort, looking at boundaries and ho...

Disclaimer: in this episode, you will hear Eris introduced by the name and pronouns they were working under at the time. They are now listed professionally as Eris DeJarnett on all platforms.  In this episode, Monica sits down with interdisciplinary narrative artist, Eris DeJarnett. Whether it's music, dance, writing, or anything else they can imagine, Eris's work is always centered around a story...