Musicians vs the World

In 2021, a group of researchers at Dartmouth College set out to study "The Mozart Effect," and why listening to Mozart seems to help patients with Epilepsy. In the same year in Dublin, researchers tried to figure out what happens to our brains when the music goes....silent. But why talk about them in the same episode? Today, Christine discusses the surprising findings, how they're related, and the...

Colin Williams, Associate Principal Trombonist for the New York Philharmonic, is a passionate performer, engaging educator, and advocate for musician wellness. In this important episode for all musicians, he shares his experience with a potentially career-ending injury. He discusses the physical, mental, and emotional hurdles in his journey back to the orchestra, bringing awareness to a serious is...

In music school, we're sold on the dream of traveling the world, performing in elite ensembles, and "making it big." In reality, musicians often have to forge their own path, bypassing the auditions and "gatekeepers" to a fulfilling and lucrative career. In this episode, Christine has a candid conversation with Jared Judge, host of The Gigging Musicians Podcast, founder of BookLive, and author of...

A small town. A young college professor. A non-existent music program. Join Christine as she talks with Dr. Keith Bradshaw on how he built a legacy and influenced lives through his development of the music program at Southern Virginia University.

What is it with NFTs that is making musicians so excited? It seems like every week there's a news story about a musician jumping on the NFT bandwagon in some way. They're either minting and selling NFTs, or investing in companies involved with them. But what are NFTs anyway? Is it just a side-hustle famous musicians are doing while they wait for concerts to start up again? Or is it a long-term, su...

In 2020, the Video Gaming Industry was estimated to be worth $159.3 Billion. Video Games are a huge part of our global culture, and music and sound design are a huge part of the gaming experience. In this episode, Christine talks with Matt Kenyon, composer, arranger, and host of Composer Code Podcast. Matt and Christine wade into the world of Video Game Music, and discuss how composers and musicia...

How do performers balance creativity with the need to follow the composer's intentions? Why can it so difficult to compose original music? And what does Albert Einstein have to do with it? In part 2 of Christine's interview with composer Bruce Adolphe, Bruce shares his wisdom on all of these topics, as well as offering advice for new musicians. For background information on Bruce Adolphe and his c...

What is a Musical Imagination? Do musicians really need it? Composer and scholar Bruce Adolphe thinks so. And he believes that even the most reluctant musician can learn to improvise and express themselves more deeply. And he should know; he wrote the book on it! Join Christine and Bruce on part 1 of their interview as they discuss the wonders of music, and the keys to unlocking improvisation and...

In honor of our newest National Holiday, "Juneteenth National Independence Day," Christine discusses three classical pieces to listen to and study. These pieces are only a jumping off point into a deep dive into African American musical heritage, and how it has shaped music of all genres, but specifically classical music in American Culture.

Hailed as "a true heir of the mainstream of Russian pianism, like Horowitz," Armenian concert pianist Raffi Besalyan has lived an exciting life. In this episode, Raffi shares lessons learned along the way, from his start in Armenia to his current home in Atlanta. This episode is perfect for pianists, or anyone who loves piano music. He and Christine talk about the difference between Armenian and A...

"Music allows a voice to things we can't otherwise express." What is spirituality, and what does it have to do with music? How are spirituality and music connected? In this episode, Christine talks with Dr. Keith Bradshaw about his career, his philosophy on composing and performing classical music, and the vital role spirituality plays in connection and musical experiences.

Part 2 of the Choose the Best Music For Your Project series is here! In this episode we take a deeper look into the emotions of music. Why do certain songs make us sad? Or happy? How do we use that knowledge to increase the impact of the music we choose? And along with that, how can this understanding of music and emotion help us to become better story tellers, content creators, or musicians?

How do professionals choose music to fit their projects? How does a composer get started scoring a film? How can music help enhance the effectiveness of visual presentations? In this episode, Christine gives a step-by-step tutorial on how she approaches music in video and audio projects. She covers important initial steps that ensure that the music composing (or licensing) portion of any project e...

How many composers from music history can you name? Probably a good number. How many of those composers were female? Jenny Boster from The Playful Piano is on a mission to help solve that discrepancy and re-introduce some fantastic female composers back into the classical repertoire. In this episode Christine and Jenny share their reflections on Jenny's Female Composer Challenge, discuss a few fav...

Who would have thought there was so much business strategy and bookkeeping in music! So you want to make a living as a musician or an independent music teacher. Where to start? In this episode, Christine talks with Sara Verheyen, CPA and owner of Mareish books. Sara's passion is helping small, artistic business owners start off on the right foot. Today she gives helpful advice on everything from s...

In this episode, Christine continues her deep dive look into collaboration and music by discussing a musician's role in film production. Join her as she has a round-table conversation with the the Producer and Director of the award-winning short film, "Broken Lilies." They discuss workflow, communication, how to find work in the industry, as well as the importance of good music and sound in film p...

In this first installment of the "Student Sectional" Series, Christine explores different types of motivation, and how they relate to a musician's world. What happens when a musician loses their motivation? Is it time to quit? Or can the magic be found again?

Musicians vs the World returns with a Valentine's Day love letter to the unsung heroes of music: accompanists! In this episode Christine speaks with the president of the Collaborative Pianists Guild of Utah, Jayne Galloway, about the art and craft of accompanying. As the music world prepares for in-person concerts to start up again, let's take a few minutes to learn from Jayne's expertise on build...

For many musicians, the act of composing their own original music is the ultimate expression of creativity and connection to music and other people. In these uncertain times, many have turned to composing as an emotional outlet. But how does a musician take that creativity and turn it into a living? In this episode, Christine speaks with award-winning composer, Bradley Ellingboe. Together they dis...

In today's world, the only constant is change! In this episode, Christine speaks with the wonderful coloratura soprano, Amber Brooke. They discuss Amber's inspiring life story, and how she seized every unexpected opportunity to live her life to the fullest and to share her music with audiences around the world. We hope you enjoy this uplifting and inspiring interview!

IMPORTANT!!! The US government has made money available to citizens who are self-employed, sole proprietors, or contract workers, along with small business owners! This money can help many musicians who are struggling financially due to the COVID-19 shut downs. In this episode, Christine goes over some of the basic information to get you started on your way for financial help during this difficult...

In this episode, Christine has a conversation with the wonderful Grant Gershon, Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Master Chorale. Together they discuss the human aspect of music making, and how music can connect people from all different aspects of life in powerful ways. Grant shares his expertise on how, as musicians, we can garner that sense of connectedness through our performance, and how w...

In this episode, we continue our fascinating conversation with Lori Finlay Hamilton (and a few special guests!), about how music effects our bodies on the cellular level. This time, we dive into the science behind music's effect on the minds and bodies of children. What is the Mozart effect? Does it really exist? Does music make children better students? Better people? Should every child study mus...

We all know that music can help lift us out of a bad mood and reduce stress. But have you ever wondered how or why? Join Christine's conversation with Lori Finlay Hamilton, as they discuss the fascinating way music effects the body on a cellular level. They will discuss the ever-growing body of research on music and how it can be used to compliment western medicine in improving people's lives.

Most musicians feel some sort of pre-performance jitters. But what happens when it goes beyond nervousness and becomes Performance Anxiety? Is there any way to save a performing career when it strikes? Join musician and teacher, Christine Smith, as she shares 5 principles she's learned over the years to help manage the symptoms of performance anxiety. 57Vy18orx9SMbOFfgg5x