Musicians vs the World

Composer Bela Bartok famously said “Competitions are for horses, not for artists.” And yet, competition can be a fierce and constant presence for those pursuing a life in music. Why do we have competition in music? Is it a necessary evil? Does it create exciting opportunities and open professional doors? Or is it something toxic we should just get rid of altogether? That's the topic of conversatio...

Sometimes there are just too many great stories to fit into one episode! Today is part 2 of our look into Choral Education and its impact that reaches much farther than learning music. In our last episode, we learned a bit about Bill’s background, and how he worked with school administration to create incredible opportunities for his choral students. In today’s episode, we take a minute to talk ab...

Today, as students across the US prepare to go back to school, we at Musicians vs the World want to take a couple of episodes to dive into the career of a school educator. These unsung heroes often give students their first taste of music making or ensemble work, and help to create memorable experiences that can shape the trajectory of a child’s life. In the next two episodes we’ll take a look int...

As the world becomes more and more digital, musicians need to adapt in order to survive. This fact is perhaps most evident in the world of composing and publishing. In today's episode, our host Christine Smith chats with Jennifer Eklund, composer, arranger, and founder of Piano Pronto Publishing. Through innovation, flexibility, and determination, Jennifer Eklund has established herself as a leade...

As of 2017, an estimated 194,000 musicians are in the US labor force. Approximately one-third of those musicians identify themselves as self-employed. How do these “lone wolf” musicians find the support and resources they need to survive their careers? In today’s episode, Amy VanderLugt, NCTM, President of the North Fulton Music Teachers Association, joins Christine to talk about the importance of...

What do professional musicians and professional athletes have in common? What can musicians learn from Olympic Gymnasts, or from the developments in American Football safety equipment? Dr. Kensley Behel is on a mission to raise a health aware mindset to reduce injuries in musicians. Learning from her own experiences with injury, experiences as a journalist covering professional gymnastics, and res...

To celebrate their 50th episode of Musicians vs the World, the team wanted to make this special episode focusing on their listeners! After gathering questions from aspiring musicians and fans of the show, host Christine and producer Russ sought out answers from experts and fellow musicians. From college courses and career opportunities to preparing for competitions and dealing with performance anx...

Dr. Nkeiru Okoye is committed to creating music that engages communities and affects social change. In part two of their conversation, Christine and Dr. Okoye explore what it takes to engage communities through new music, and the impact that music makes on people and society at large. It's a genuine inside look into the mind, heart, and compositional process of a modern composer.

Composer Dr. Nkeiru Okoye's music defies categorization. She is an expert at fuzing different musical styles and genres into her music, and injecting humanity into difficult subjects. Her mission is to create music that engages communities and affects social change. In part 1 of this 2-part episode, Dr. Okoye takes time out of her busy schedule to talk with Christine about her inspiring life story...

"Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent." What happens to our bodies when we are deeply moved by music? Why do some people weep at a beautiful melody? Perhaps most concerning to the host of this show, why doesn't Christine, a life-long music lover and musician, shed tears over music? Is she a heartless robot? It turns out the answer to that question is...

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 effected musicians on the stage, in the practice room, and in life balance. In today’s episode, Christine speaks with Dr. Renée-Paule Gauthier, from “Mind Over Finger,” on how practicing mindfulness can increas...

Is Russian music “canceled?” What sort of responsibility do musicians have to make their political and moral views known? What relationship do music and politics have with one another? Can they truly be separated? In this episode, Christine speaks about this timely topic with Jonathan Rosenberg, Julliard-trained musician and Harvard-trained historian. Using lessons learned while researching his bo...

Teacher and clinician Jenny Boster, NCTM, is back with more resources and information about female composers! In the year since Jenny’s last visit, much has changed in the music world. From music publishers and symphony schedules to awards shows such as the Grammys and the Oscars, female composers are beginning to receive well-deserved attention. In this episode, Jenny and Christine talk about the...

How does a young boy from a working class family practicing on a cardboard piano in Memphis grow up to compose a smash-hit stage musical, collaborate with Academy Award-winning sound engineers, discuss domestic arguments with Pulitzer-prize winning composers, and help a police force deal with grief? Concert pianist, composer, and arranger David Troy Francis grew up thinking of himself as “the othe...

On the eve of their new adventure in Washington DC, Flutist Christina Hughes and Trombonist Tanner Antonetti spare a moment to speak with Christine about their careers, mental preparation for auditions, and balancing career and marriage between two successful musicians.

Mental Health is a difficult topic to discuss for musicians. However, Sam Rothstein, acting principal clarinetist with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and host of "The Candid Clarinetist," has made a name for himself by tackling difficult topics through honest conversations. In this episode, Christine and Sam discuss mental health, perfectionism, supporting fellow musicians, and how the concep...

Music streaming services have found themselves back in the news lately, as famous musicians are again bemoaning the music industry (and streaming services in particular), trying to show everyone how predatory the system is, and how it’s impossible for musicians to earn a living in the current digital streaming climate. So how does streaming revenue actually work? How do musicians actually get paid...

As a member of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Joel Dallow is living the dream of many aspiring cellists. As host of “The Cello Sherpa Podcast,” he shares his expertise with those aspiring musicians to help them along their way. As Christine’s guest today, he shares an insiders’ look into winning an orchestral audition, and knowing your instrument’s role once you get the job. Along the way he shar...

Why are so many American Conservatories and University Music programs recruiting students and musicians from China? What is happening in Chinese pre-collegiate music schools that produces such successful musicians? Dr. Beibei Lin from Valdosta State University set out to research that question, and came back with a completely unexpected answer that goes far beyond the practice room. Join Christine...

"It's a weird confluence of musical worlds....which happens to be me." Composer Christopher Norton has had a prolific career spanning three decades. His music, where Classical meets Popular music, has sold over 1 million copies, and continues to be loved by musicians, students, and music teachers around the world. In this episode of Musicians vs the World, Christine sits down with Christopher as h...

2021 was a year full of change for the world of Classical Music. In this episode, Christine reviews the inspirational interviews and guests from the past 12 months. As she looks back, she finds a surprising theme that weaves itself through many of the interviews. Christine discusses what she's learned from her guests, and how music teachers will "save" Classical Music in the years to come.

Why do musicians look down on well-paying gigs? Why do some musicians have difficulties with self-promotion? What does small-talk have to do with being a successful classical musician? The Classical Musical world is working diligently to make Classical Music more inclusive and diverse. But any working musician will tell you that the real world of musicians, based on working gigs and networking, do...

This episode is part 2 of Christine's conversation with William Chapman Nyaho, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Music Teachers National Association. Together, they discuss traits and characteristics of African pianism, as well as the future of Classical Music. Along the way, Dr. Chapman Nyaho shares tips and resources for teachers on helping students to connect with unfam...

As the newly-appointed Music Teachers National Association's Vice-President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Dr. William Chapman Nyaho has a firm belief that classical music is meant for all. In his new position, he has the objective of helping music teachers create a positive and inclusive atmosphere for students of all nationalities and backgrounds, as well as bringing classical music to und...

As musicians' livelihoods depend on audiences hearing their music, and as media continues to be a major gateway to reaching those audiences, it’s important that we understand how to navigate the relationship between musicians and the media. Executive Editor Doug Wilks from Deseret News, one of the strongest multi-platform newsrooms in the country, guides us through the complex world of media. He g...