Breaking Strings

This is a solo episode where I talk about four essential components that are often overlooked by musicians when they put all of their attention on practicing their repertoire. I go into detail about the differences between warm-ups and technical exercises. I also mention the importance of being a great sight-reader and using comparative listening to develop your most important asset, your ears!

In this solo episode, I talk about the importance of playing very lightly with minimal tension for musicians. This is what will ultimately make you a virtuoso performer. I also share a my converse learning method for getting rid of recurring bad habits in your technique.

Breaking Strings is back this week and we're talking about the benefits and drawbacks of being a self-taught musician. It's such a stigma in the classical arts realm to avoid the formal training route. I thought I would chime in with my thoughts since I come from both the background of being self-taught and formal classical training.

The Grammy Award-winning folk duo Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer are on the show this week talking about their new musical, "All Wigged Out." The musical tells the story of Marcy's 7-year battle with cancer and the neuropathy from her cancer treatments. You can find it world-wide at Broadway on Demand. Visit Cathy and Marcy's website: www.cathymarcy.com Support Breaking Strings Podc...

In this episode, I have a another chat with Berlin-based American guitarist and yoga practitioner Ben Beirs. We talk about mindfulness and other yoga-derived skills that can help musicians avoid certain common pitfalls and frustrations.  www.instagram.com/benbeirs   www.instagram.com/emaho.yoga Support Breaking Strings Podcast here: https://ko-fi.com/breakingstrings

Matt Bacon is an American classical guitarist, composer, and head of guitar faculty at KM Music Conservatory in Chennai, India. You can hear his composition "Homage to Jimmy Page" here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mmfjwBdwjw Support Breaking Strings Podcast here: https://ko-fi.com/breakingstrings

Breaking Strings welcomes back New York-based Armenian classical guitar virtuoso Gohar Vardanyan. We talk about our maestro Manuel Barrueco, the importance of enjoying your work, and Gohar gives me insight into how she learned the guitar at 5-years-old. www.goharvardanyan.com www.instagram.com/goharguitar Support Breaking Strings Podcast here: https://ko-fi.com/breakingstrings

In this solo episode I talk about Michael Phelps, changing your musical approach with age, and the damage of perfectionism. I also tell a joke that might only be funny to musicians and I answer a listener letter about moving on from a sub-par musical performance. Support Breaking Strings Podcast here: https://ko-fi.com/breakingstrings

Today's guest is Grace Elmer, an associate classical guitar professor at Jacobs School in Indiana, member of the guitar duo G20, and public speaker. In the episode we on chat about recovering recovering from a serious hand injury, flamenco guitar, and playing guitar in operas. Support Breaking Strings Podcast here: https://ko-fi.com/breakingstrings

Today I sat down with the Berlin-based American classical guitarist and yoga practitioner, Ben Beirs. We talk about his time studying in Paris with Roland Dyens and Judicael Perroy. We also discuss how yoga methodology has influenced his thought process with high-pressure performance situations. You can follow Ben's Instagram account @BenBeirs or visit him at http://benbeirs.com Support Breaki...

In this episode, I talk about using exercise and deliberate cold exposure for staying alert and productive in an exhausted state. I also dive into some of the details of visualization technique.

In this solo episode, I talk about the benefits of recording your pieces in your practice sessions.

In this solo episode, I give some of my favorite strategies to guarantee improvement every time you sit down with the instrument.

Doug Walters is an Associate Sound Designer for the videogame audio company Hexany Audio, two-time Billboard top-10 songwriter and owner of Make More Records. In this episode, we discuss his path from being the lead singer of one of my favorite melodic rock bands Red Wire Black Wire to working in the gaming industry.

In this episode, I talk about stage-fright with violinist, performance coach, clinician, and host of Mind Over Finger, Dr. Renée-Paule Gauthier. She works with clients from all over the world and serves musicians of all backgrounds and levels. An accomplished concert artist, she was mentioned as “one of the best violinists of her generation" in the book Violin Virtuosos, from Paganini to the...

This week I had a conversation with two-time Grammy nominated Slovenian classical guitarist, professor and entrepreneur Dr. Mak Grgic. We chatted about how he goes about choosing large recording projects, the recording studio mindset, how to keep your head in the game during difficult life moments. www.makgrgic.com www.noteysworld.co Please support our podcast by visiting our trusted affiliates: P...

In this episode, I sit down with classical guitarist and professor at Concordia University, Dr. Tariq Harb. We discuss classical music in his birthplace, Jordan, his inspiration to begin composing recently, and bond over our affinity for rock icons Nirvana.  Visit Tariq Harb at www.tariqharb.com or https://www.youtube.com/@TeeHarb

This week I chatted with Armenian classical guitar virtuoso Gohar Vardanyan about practice motivation, performance nerves, and her lifetime dedication to music.  www.goharvardanyan.com www.instagram.com/goharguitar Please support our podcast by visiting our trusted affiliates: Payhip: The Easiest Way to Sell Digital Products https://payhip.com/?fp_ref=peter26 Riverside.fm: High-quality Remote...

In this episode, I sat down with Chicago-based multi-instrumentalist Brandon Acker to discuss his path to becoming an ambassador of early music instruments like the lute, baroque guitar and theorbo. Brandon also responds to a listener letter about stage-fright.  Brandon Acker's Online School and Guitar Course www.arpeggiato.com www.classicalguitar-pro.com These are some affiliate products tha...

This is part 1 of a conversation with multi-instrumentalist Brandon Acker about finding success on Youtube and forming a dialogue with your audience. For more information on my guest, visit his online school: www.arpeggiato.com Take Brandon Acker's beginner guitar course: www.classicalguitar-pro.com

In this episode, I recall my surprise run-in with pianist Leon Fleisher and how he inspired my development of the Deliberate Interference Technique to build unbreakable focus on stage during a difficult performance. Music by the Dover Quartet (Licensed by Artlist.io)

The first episode of Breaking Strings deals with my first disastrous experience with stage-fright during a performance. After going into some detail about the performance, I talk about how I started to shift thinking and reprogram myself to continue with my dream of being a classical performer. Music by the Dover Quartet (Vivaldi's Summer) and Michael Nobler (Bach Chorale), licensed by Artlist...