Musicianship Mastery with David Lane

This is the 2nd of a 5-part series going over all the concepts every musician should know about music theory.  This episode is for beginners or those who want a true refresher.  It's a lot crammed into just under 40 minutes, but take some notes and check out all the things you should know about theory before you can get into more intermediate and advanced understanding of how music works. FOR MOND...

What actually is music theory, and why should you learn it? This episode explores the branches of music theory, and is a prelude to the next 4 episodes where we'll explore what you can study and how to improve level by level. Register for Music Theory Basics online workshop for Monday, January 12 - 7pm Eastern Let me know your thoughts on this episode as a voice message to possibly share on a futu...

My students often ask: How do I organize my practice in a way to cover everything each week? This is a great question, and an important one to answer.  If you don't organize your practice and just leave everything up to your mood, you're going to be neglecting something important.  In this episode, you can hear about the 7 components of practice (including the 3 core components) and how to plan th...

Every musician knows that daily practice is essential to progress. But what if you're not practicing often enough because you've never developed the habit of practicing daily? This episode will help you develop this most important habit for any musician! Musicianship Mastery is formerly known as The Musician Toolkit. Let me know your thoughts on this episode as a voice message to possibly share on...

Showing up regularly and putting in the work is important, but your "reps" aren't enough on their own. Listen to this episode to help you evaluate and improve the quality of your practice. Musicianship Mastery is formerly known as The Musician Toolkit. Let me know your thoughts on this episode as a voice message to possibly share on a future episode at  https://www.speakpipe.com/MusicianToolkit If...

Igor Stravinsky regularly gets mentioned among the 20th century's greatest composers.  Anatoly Lyadov requires some digging to find much of his music.  The story that links the composers Lyadov and Stravinsky is one of several great examples of opportunity, and how you can either be ready for it or not.  This episode explores their story along with a few others to learn how to be prepared for when...

This episode focuses on pianists but applies to all instrumentalists.  We explore what technique actually is and isn't, and a practical way to get better at it.  My guest, Dr. Christopher Madden, is co-author along with Jani Parsons of "Technique Through Repertoire" vol. 1 and 2 for intermediate pianists. Musicianship Mastery is formerly known as The Musician Toolkit. Let me know your thoughts on...

A very handy skill for any musician to develop is the ability to look at written sheet music and "hear" what it sounds like in your head.  It's a skill that takes time, but this episode will outline all the steps you can take to develop this ability. Musicianship Mastery is formerly known as The Musician Toolkit. Let me know your thoughts on this episode as a voice message to possibly share on a f...

One of the biggest things that musicians do in all levels, but especially professionals, is say "yes" way too much.  There's a time to say "yes" a lot, and I describe that in this episode.  However, being strategic and limited with your "yes" while saying "no" to everything else is what allows for growth and focus.  In this episode, you can learn of 8 things that happen when you say "no". Musician...

If you're a professional musician, it can be hard to separate the idea that there's this part of your schedule where you make music just for YOU.  It might be music you're composing, or an ambitious piece you're learning to play.  You might make your income as a musician and you might have a career that has nothing to do with music.  Regardless, you can and should take time to explore music withou...

Analytical Listening is one of the most important skills for any musician. Take it to the next level by implementing any 1 of these 5 advanced projects while listening to just one piece of music. Other Episodes mentioned: 20 Questions to Help You Get More Out of Listening Scales, Modes, and How to Use Them Musicianship Mastery is formerly known as The Musician Toolkit. Let me know your thoughts on...

If you think you're practicing well but still not making progress in your musical skill, here are 10 possible reasons and their solutions. Musicianship Mastery is formerly known as The Musician Toolkit. Let me know your thoughts on this episode as a voice message to possibly share on a future episode at  https://www.speakpipe.com/MusicianToolkit If you enjoyed this, please give it a rating and rev...

This episode is a broad conversation between friends, but centers around the topics of finding joy in your growth as a musician, time management, practice and mindset, as well as what it means to be a human artist in the digital age.  We also have some talk for those getting started with teaching. Eric Branner is the CEO of Fons, a platform for music teachers I regularly have listed at the bottom...

What is musicianship? Specifically, what does it mean when we say someone has "good musicianship"? This episode explores the question while reviewing all of the musicianship tools that inspired this podcast in the first place. Musicianship Mastery is formerly known as The Musician Toolkit. Let me know your thoughts on this episode as a voice message to possibly share on a future episode at  https:...

With so many ways to express yourself as a musician, it can be hard to know how to get started.  If you'd like to become a working musician, either part-time or full-time, this episode goes over some of your options and presents a strategy for how to build your musical life. Musicianship Mastery is formerly known as The Musician Toolkit. Let me know your thoughts on this episode as a voice message...

Practicing well is hard to do every day just because of the mental focus and discipline it requires.  How much more difficult is it when you add a physical challenge like chronic pain or other illness?  Jastin Artis was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2019, and had to learn how to function before he could eventually thrive.  He shares here his tactics and mindset for moving forward despite not havi...

4 episodes prior to this episode, I talked about creating a 5-year plan as a musician.  Although we touched on how to take that backwards into shorter-term goals, this is a follow-up to focus on exactly how to think backwards so that you can build your staircase of musical goals that starts with the very first step: today! Featured episode mentioned: https://www.davidlanemusic.com/toolkit/episode/...

This is a topic that many of my piano teacher colleagues might disagree.  Some teachers believe that mastering technique is a prerequisite for playing any level of repertoire.  I have a different opinion about the importance or at least the prioritization of technique, and explain why in this episode. Musicianship Mastery is formerly known as The Musician Toolkit. Let me know your thoughts on this...

Composing music is something that you can practice and improve in the same way you can with your instrument.  In this episode, Dr. Tony Steve and I chat about music composition as a craft, the idea of compositional templates, the importance of limitations, mastering idioms, counterpoint, and how you can use exercises to improve. Follow Tony at https://www.facebook.com/tonystevepercussionist Musici...

Good practice isn't aimless, but involves a plan.  This episode talks about how you can analyze your music before you begin practicing so that you can be most efficient in your learning. Musicianship Mastery is formerly known as The Musician Toolkit. Let me know your thoughts on this episode as a voice message to possibly share on a future episode at  https://www.speakpipe.com/MusicianToolkit If y...

We've recently discussed the importance of quarterly goals, but are those goals feeding into a longer term vision? How do you see yourself as a musician in 5 years, and how do you get there from here?  This episode offers some prompts to help build your long term musical goals, and how this connects to your shorter term goals. Episode mentioned: https://www.davidlanemusic.com/toolkit/episode/73000...

For more than 30 years, Doug Minerd has found a place to use and further develop his skills in composing and arranging, lead rehearsals, and unlike a lot of similar musicians...engage with a wide variety of people in collaboration.  He's done this while working up to the executive office at places like Cedar Point, Busch Gardens, Sesame Place, and Sea World.  He also has had his compositions perfo...

As one of many thousands of users of Finale, I was floored by the news last year that they were no longer continuing their legendary notation software.  I've chosen to begin learning Dorico.  It's slow going, but I wanted to share my experiences so far as a beginner, and what I'd recommend to get the most out of the program. Also check out the previous episode on music notation programs: Music Not...

After nearly a year, this podcast returns to the four core performance skills.  These are the skills that will equip you as a performer for absolutely any situation.  This episode shares how you can combine 2 or 3 at once into your practice time. If you missed it, check out the previous episodes in this series: The Four Core Skills Part 1: An Overview of the Skills The Four Core Skills Part 2: Sig...

Whether you find the thought of playing in front of people to be paralyzing or if you just get nervous when someone else is listening and don't play as well as you think you should, this episode is for you!  Dr. Michelle Wachter, a piano teacher and executive director of the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra, shares her 3 stage strategy for how to understand your natural performance energy and turn it...