Musicians vs the World

Sherri Chung has been recognized internationally as a trailblazing composer for film and television. From her beginnings as a classical pianist to award-winning composer, she has been recognized internationally as a trailblazer throughout her career. In 2022, she created history by being elected as the first female governor of the Television Academy’s music branch. In this latest episode, Sherri t...

“This is a moment to cherish…not everybody gets to do these kind of things.” Mark Evitts is an accomplished American composer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist whose career spans multiple genres and has led him from Nashville to The Grand Ole Opry and Carnegie Hall. Following his early career work as a road musician playing with country music artists, Mark has established himself as a versati...

“Embrace the chaos. Breathe. Choose what you like about it. Repeat.” Today Christine talks with Latin Grammy and Grammy Award-winning producer, mixer, and engineer Vago Galindo. Together they discuss the production side of music, specifically about engineering, mixing, and producing, and how all of those things are critical to conveying the emotions of recorded music. Vago has worked with an impre...

What makes a great performance? Yes, the quality of the music is a part of it, as is the skill of the musician. But the really successful musicians have all of that plus a thing called “stage presence.” They have the ability to connect with their audience on a personal level, and create truly meaningful performances. But why do some musicians have great stage presence, and others don’t? Are people...

The word "audiation" means “to think music.” For music teachers who incorporate audiation and its accompanied Music Learning Theory in their teaching, it is a way to help students deepen their musical understanding from the very beginning of training. Music Learning Theory is a comprehensive approach for musical learning, based on an extensive body of research and practical field testing by Edwin...

After losing her hearing to Ménièr’s disease, Gaelen McCormick pivoted from her position in the double bass section in the Rochester Philharmonic to become Director of Eastman Performing Arts Medicine. EPAM’s four pillars are to Heal, Inspire, Care, and Learn. Through these four pillars, EPAM combines music with healthcare by promoting music therapy, conducting research into music’s effects on can...

Raptor Violin? Hadro Cello? Triserachord? Fat Rex? These are real instruments crafted out of fossils, bones, and traditional string instruments. How better to bring the sound of dinosaurs into the 21st century? In this episode we continue our look into innovative composition in our conversation with composers Kara Talve and Anže Rozman. They, working alongside Hans Zimmer at the Bleeding Fingers M...

“Let’s figure out where the boundary is by crossing it, and then walking back.” Award-winning composer, Tom Third, is known for his experimental leanings, using unconventional instrumentation to create novel textures and palettes. In this episode, Tom takes some time out of his busy schedule to chat with Christine about discovering the music hidden in ordinary objects, making a collage of sound us...

Today we continue our series of episodes on building your music career. What do you know about publicists? When do you need one? What can they do for you? Here to teach us about this topic is Kate Twilley, Publicity Coordinator at Impact24 Public Relations. Hopefully, this episode can give you some clarity on what publicists do, and can help you in your decision on whether or not you need a public...

In this episode we are continuing our look into taking charge of our music careers. We’re focusing on website design with Taylor Rossi. Taylor is a Boston-based flutist and the website designer for Nicole Riccardo Media which offers conversion-based web design for classical musicians. As you listen to Taylor discuss this topic, you will be amazed at how many mistakes we as musicians are making on...

In this first episode in our series of “How You Can Take Control of Your Music Career,” we are exploring the idea of the Portfolio Career, and how musicians can make choices to take control of their lives artistically and financially. Here to guide us on this first crucial step is Musician/Entrepreneur/Teacher/Writer/Coach Jennet Ingle, who is an expert in the field of “being your own CEO” in orde...

"Work towards discovering what makes you unique...what makes you, you. That's what's going to set you apart from the rest." Award-winning Venezuelan composer Sandro Morales-Santoro joins us today to talk about his career in Los Angeles, where he composes music for film and television, as well as interactive and new media. We also discuss the importance of collaboration and experimentation in his w...

What is licensing? How can it be a source of income for musicians? In this episode we're talking to Composer Eric Copeland from "Make Music Income" as he gives us an introduction into the world of music licensing and how it can be a part of a musician's income stream. Specifically, we’re going to look into sync licensing and stock music licensing. Both of these options can be a source of income th...

Music has long been known as a method of communication and bonding. It has the ability to synchronize our bodies and stimulate neuro-chemicals in the brain that help us feel connected to each other. But can this creation of unity and good happen on a large scale, maybe even an international scale? Can music actually be used to decrease tensions between nations and bring in diplomacy? This question...

Female composer representation in music world has come a long way since our first chat with Jenny Boster three years ago. Jenny Boster, NCTM, is the owner of The Playful Piano, and author of the Shades of Sound Music History series. To celebrate Women's History Month, Jenny has returned to teach us about 10 more female composers we need to listen to in 2023....okay, there's a chance we talk about...

Adrian Dunn is a prolific composer, conductor, and performer, who has paved a new path in 21st century concert music by honoring and preserving the legacy of Black music in America. After a long weekend of performing, Adrian sat down with Christine to discuss his career, his music, and his passion for promoting and supporting Black music and musicians, and acknowledging their important role in the...

We’ve all heard the advice (even in this very podcast!): take care of yourself and you can prevent injuries! But what happens when a sudden medical issue arises and threatens to derail your musical career? It’s the stuff of nightmares, so we musicians try not to talk about it. But not talking about it can cause feelings of isolation and hopelessness for musicians dealing with these challenges. For...

When should a learning difference prevent a person from being successful in music lessons? Short answer? Never. Many times, small adjustments and accommodations can be made by music teachers to make lessons accessible for their neurodivergent students. Dr. Shannon McDonald is an educator, advocate, and avid researcher in the field of clarinet pedagogy. In today's episode, she shares her pedagogica...

Forget what the stories say, there is nothing romantic about being a starving artist! As the vast majority of professional musicians are self-employed or free-lancers, being able to make enough income to survive is always on the mind. This is especially true at the beginning of a new year, when many people take stock of their lives and make goals for the future. In today’s episode, Nicole Riccardo...

As we at the Musicians vs the World Podcast say goodbye to 2022, Christine takes a moment to look back to the amazing guests and conversations we’ve hosted over the past 12 months. She also takes a few minutes to give some interesting updates to a few of our previous conversations! Guests Featured in this episode: Dr. Renee-Paule Gauthier https://www.mindoverfinger.com/about Dr. Kensley Behel http...

Patrick Derivaz is a Producer, Engineer, Composer, and Musician who has worked with artists such as Philip Glass, Erika Badu, A Tribe Called Quest, Jeff Buckley, Charles Mingus Band among many others. Most recently, he collaborated with our previous guest, Pat Irwin, on the creation of the score for the hit series, Dexter: New Blood. In part 2 of our “Behind the Score” series, Christine and Patric...

It is no secret that the score to "Dexter: New Blood" was essential to the world-building and emotional arc of the popular Showtime series. How did it get that way? What makes composing for film and television such a collaborative process? Does that collaboration help or hinder a composer’s creativity? Award-winning composer and musician, Pat Irwin, has much to say about this. And we should listen...

"Music is a language, and we all express ourselves through it. Their struggles are being told through their music. And as we listen to their music, we become...more connected and more human." Flutist Guilherme Andreas celebrates underrepresented Brazilian composers in his new album, "Beyond Bossa Nova." In today's episode, he shares not only his own story, but the fascinating stories of many overl...

Are you an over-reader, or an over-skimmer? Is there something that is getting in the way of improving your sight-reading skills? Our guest today is Dr. Malena McLaren, and in today’s episode, she and Christine talk about different types of note-readers, and some very specific strategies for sequencing and scaffolding to improve music reading. This is a great episode for teachers, students, or pro...

“Remember that ADHD is a superpower!” Christine is joined by Dr. Kensley Behel, Dr. Joy Hoffman, and Ms. Sarah Dotterweich in a round-table discussion about being a musician with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Drawing on their research and own personal experiences, the panelists offer a candid and honest picture of how ADHD affects them personally and professionally. From performance an...