The Mind Over Finger Podcast

To start Season 2, I'm really honored to bring you a conversation with the incredible Marin Alsop, who's someone I've admired so much for so many years! In this episode, we discuss Making things happen for yourself, finding balance between pushing yourself to grow and not becoming overly self-critical, bringing a score to life, how she nurtures focus in her work by planning carefully, and the impo...

The conclusion of this series covering the Fischoff Competition, including a summary of some of my favorite takeaways, tips, and advice, and with a conversation with my fellow podcaster friend, Nathan Cole, on what it was like for us there!   CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS OF THE 46TH FISCHOFF NATIONAL CHAMBER MUSIC COMPETITION   Grand Prize Aruna Quartet – Texas Tech University Senior Division St...

Experience the 2019 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition from the perspective of the Grand Prize-winning group of the competition – the Aruna Saxophone Quartet .  Member Will Pyle talks about how they prepared for Fischoff and what it's been like for them!   Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition : https://www.fischoff.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fischoffchambermusic/ Fac...

Experience the 2019 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition from the perspective of the judges who listened to the participants.  They talk about their experience at Fischoff, give us insight as to what they're looking for in a group when they're judging, and they'll answer the questions that my listeners sent me before I left!   Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition : https://www.fischo...

Experience the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition from the perspective of the team of incredibly supportive, loving, and dedicated people that are essential in making all of this magic happen: the coaches, the parents, the many organizations involved and, of course, the Fischoff team itself.   Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition : https://www.fischoff.org/ Instagram: https://www.i...

  Experience the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition from the perspective of the musicians participating.  Hear conversations about their experience at Fischoff, their preparation process, and the dedication and many sacrifices that go along with entering a national chamber music competition.   Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition : https://www.fischoff.org/ Instagram: https://www.i...

Today's guest in the fifth and final episode of the Fischoff Effect series is Lydia Rhea from the former Kairos String Quartet.  In this series, I bring you five former winners of the Fischoff competition to talk about their experience preparing for and competing at Fischoff, and about the wonderful adventures and opportunities that have followed their win: Blaise Magniere from the Avalon String Q...

Today's guest in this fourth episode of the Fischoff Effect series is Christopher Whitley from the Thalea String Quartet.  In this series, I bring you five former winners of the Fischoff competition to talk about their experience preparing for and competing at Fischoff, and about the wonderful adventures and opportunities that have followed their win! My guests this week are Blaise Magniere from t...

Today's guest in this third episode of the Fischoff Effect series is Matt Landry from the Akropolis Reed Quintet.  In this series, I bring you five former winners of the Fischoff competition to talk about their experience preparing for and competing at Fischoff, and about the wonderful adventures and opportunities that have followed their win! My guests this week are Blaise Magniere from the Avalo...

Today's guest in this second episode of the Fischoff Effect series is Dorival Puccini, trumpet player and founding member of Axiom Brass. In this series, I bring you five former winners of the competition to talk about their experience preparing for and competing at Fischoff, and about the wonderful adventures and opportunities that have followed their win! My guests this week are Blaise Magniere...

Today's guest in this first episode of the Fischoff Effect series is Blaise Magnière, first violin of the Avalon String Quartet.  I could not be more excited to be on site at the University of Notre-Dame as one of the official podcasters covering the 46th Annual Fischoff Competition from May 10 to 12, And, I thought it would be really fun to bring you guys 5 former winners of the competition to ta...

In this episode, we're ending Season 1 of The Mind Over Finger Podcast with a truly spectacular artist!  I speak with violin sensation Kerson Leong about his terrific YouTube series The Art of the Etude, his wise and meaningful practicing methods, and how he approaches violin mastery, and musical expression. Kerson has an amazingly authentic and profound approach to music making and I KNOW you wil...

Today, I speak with renowned pianist Jamie Parker and, I need to warn you in advance: this one is filled with wonderful information and really applicable tips, so get ready to take some notes! Among many of the topics we cover, you'll hear about Jamie's favorite practice tips - from how to mark your part clearly, to his special crazy fast technique - why it's crucial to know yourself and know how...

  Today, I'm so happy to bring you the incredible cellist Joshua Roman!  Joshua is a multifaceted artist with a remarkably vibrant career as a soloist, chamber musician, composer, curator, artistic director, and philanthropist!  In this episode, we discuss practicing purposefully and building a meaningful career, and he tells about the impact and mission of his popular Popper Etude Project and Cha...

In this week's episode, I wrap up this series on the main teachers in my journey as a violinist with an interview with Northwestern University professor Gerardo Ribeiro, with whom I studied during my doctoral years. Professor Ribeiro talks to us about his experience studying with Ivan Galamian and Felix Galamir, how he uses mental practice, why we must develop the awareness to truly hear our own p...

I'm really happy to continue this series on the pedagogues that shaped me as a violinist with a discussion about another giant in musical journey, Zvi Zeitlin. Unfortunately, Professor Zeitlin passed away in 2012, but I had a wonderful time talking about him with Michael Klotz, violist with the Amernet Quartet and Senior Instructor at Florida International University in Miami. Michael and I were c...

I'm really excited about today's episode and I think it's a particularly inspiring one! As a performer and a teacher, I constantly feel the presence and the influence of the musicians that have helped shape me as an artist – with their knowledge, wisdom, skills, and with their examples! There are too many to interview them all, but there are three that I consider as the main pedagogical influences...

Percussionist Cameron Leach and I have a great show for you today!  In addition to some great practice tips, Cameron elaborates on some very important topics, including how to clearly communicate to our audience through intentional and empathetic performing, why students must take ownership of their own learning experience, and why musicians need to be great friends to each other! I love Cameron's...

I'm very excited to have the talented, brilliant, funny, and (as you'll see) engaging Tessa Lark to the show to talk to us about joy in practice and music-making!  In this episode, we discuss her views about tackling work with the right mindset, the ways she sparks joy in her practice, and how getting in that joyful headspace not only makes it more gratifying for her, but also helps increase her p...

In this episode, I'm really excited to speak with cellist David Eby and to dive deeper with him in a topic that we've only mentioned a few times on the show so far and that I feel is so important and can be extremely powerful in our experience as musicians!  I'm talking about pure mindfulness! We discuss the positive effects meditation and consciousness tools can have on our practice and performan...

In this episode, I have a wonderful conversation with Dr. Immanuel Abraham.  Immanuel talks to us about his path to a professional career, all things mindful and efficient practice, and the importance of learning to compose in enhancing your performance on your instrument! Immanuel has a wonderful approach to practicing and music-making and I hope you enjoy his story and find yourself inspired by...

  Today, I'm really excited to have Canadian pianist David Jalbert on the show!  David is an extraordinary person, a brilliant artist, and a very dear friend!   We have a great conversation and cover many topics, from finding yourself as an artist, to the importance of confidence in our progress, and how to learn and memorize music.  David is incredible (and hilarious!) and I know you will really...

In this episode, Amy Beth Horman discusses guiding young musicians toward a professional career and, more specifically, the mindsets and practicing habits she thinks they should acquire in order to reach their goals. Amy Beth has wonderful wisdom on the dispositions that can make a huge impact on the progress of young (and less young!) musicians and you will find this chat highly valuable! Amy Bet...

In this episode, I chat with with Anthony McGill, principal clarinetist with the NY Philharmonic.  We have a great conversation about attention and presence, in both practice and performance. Among other things, we discuss his journey to the NY Phil, the importance of absolutely loving music in choosing it as a career, how to nurture focus and make practice more efficient, and how to work towards...

In this episode, I speak to Nick Plattoff, Associate Principal Trombone of the San Francisco Symphony since 2016.  He and I talk about the audition process and how he went about to prepare for his SFS audition, how audition day was like, and how he prepared to step in to his new life as a professional musician in one of America's top orchestras.  We cover: His path, growing up with parents that fo...