The Mind Over Finger Podcast

Today on the show, I'm so excited to speak with the incredible and globally celebrated soprano Sondra Radvanovsky! In our conversation, Sondra covers a variety of topics, including how she prepares for a role, the importance of understanding how we learn, how to perform at our best, and the importance of kindness in our field. She also expands on: The importance of understanding how and how quickl...

065 Kimberlee Dray: Adaptability & Mission in Music Making I'm incredibly happy that my guest today is violinist and composer Kimberlee Dray!  Kimberlee is an incredible example of adaptability, resourcefulness, and courage in the face of adversity, and I can't think of a better message to share today than her story! In this episode, Kimberlee talks about her return to music – how she answered the...

064 Karen Bulmer: Music, Mind, & Movement I'm really happy to welcome Karen Bulmer, Associate Professor of Trombone, Euphonium and Tuba, at memorial University, and host of the Music, Mind, and Movement Podcast to the show! In our conversation, with cover many topics, including: How our feelings towards practice affects our attitude about performance Attention, intention, playfulness, and explorat...

In this episode, we discuss many important topics, including curiosity and exploration in practicing, the importance of maintaining a strong technical regimen, strategies to learn and handle a lot of repertoire in the context of an orchestra job, and tactics to foster focus in the practice room.  Robert also elaborates on: How his career evolved into what it is today The different elements he got...

I'm incredibly happy to welcome someone I admire and respect profoundly to the show this week: Howard Herring, President and CEO of the New world Symphony! In our conversation, Howard talks about the many aspects of NWS, including the first rate musical training , the incredible programs and initiatives that they have, the support they offer to their musicians, the richness they bring to their com...

I'm really honored to have violinist Violaine Melançon on the show this week to discuss her views on the skills young musicians need to develop to become well-rounded artists. As you'll get to hear, Violaine is an artist of great depth and a dedicated pedagogue with wonderful wisdom and empathy.  I'm certain that you will resonate with her message and walk away inspired and motivated In our conver...

060 Marc-André Hamelin: Musical Offering In this episode, I discuss with international piano soloist and composer Marc-André Hamelin! Among many other topics, we discuss his philosophy about performing, how he approaches solving problems, the wonderful reason he prefers to play by memory, how important curiosity has been in his career, and the importance of living a full life and be exposed to cul...

Today I'm really excited to speak with internationally recognized conductor James Gaffigan.  I think you will resonate with James' message and I hope that you walk away as inspired as I did after speaking with him! In this episode, James discusses: How he learns a score, from first glance to performance How he likes to approach rehearsing with musicians and how their perspective on a work influenc...

In this episode, international soloist Stefan Jackiw talks to us about his journey overcoming a serious injury.  He tells us how he got injured, the steps he took to heal, the mental impact it had on him, and how he stays injury free. He also elaborates on: What his musicology studies brought to his playing What collaborating with other musicians mean to him Establishing strong fundamentals on the...

Robert deMaine, principal cellist with the LA philharmonic, talks to us about his view on the various facets of practicing. He elaborates on: The importance of courage, presence, and joy in practice How to improve your playing at any time, in any circumstances Practicing for auditions Incorporating two aspects of preparation Polishing all the nitty gritty Letting go How he gets himself in "Olympia...

I'm beyond excited to begin 2020 with a brilliant pedagogical mind and someone that I respect tremendously, cellist and pedagogue Hans Jørgen Jensen!  Professor Jensen shares incredible insight on how to approach practicing and performing!  Among several topics, he talks to us about: His journey from growing up in Denmark to today Why he quit his solo and chamber music career to dedicate himself t...

Today, I'm so excited to bring you violinist Elizabeth Faidley! Elizabeth is a highly sought-after pedagogue, who's been hailed as an "amazing and inspiring teacher" by the New York Times and is the recipient of a multitude of pedagogy awards.  Get ready for a massive dose of inspiration and great applicable tips! Elizabeth talks about: How she felt and answered the call to teach How she cares dee...

Pianist Jerome Lowenthal's active solo and teaching career has shaped the pianistic landscape of today!  It is such a pleasure to welcome this legendary musician to the show!  Through his incredible story, Jerome talks to us about how the varied sources of influence he was exposed to as a young musician lead him to search within himself and find his own artistic voice, how he helps students do the...

This week, I have the incredible honor of welcoming renowned pianist Ursula Oppens to the show. A legend among American pianists, Ursula is widely admired for both her original and perceptive readings of new music, and for her knowing interpretations of the standard repertoire. As you'll hear in the episode, she's an incredibly passionate and wise musician!  Her and I covered several topics, from...

In this week's episode, Demarre McGill, principal flute with the Seattle Symphony, discusses the building blocks of efficient and mental practice: having discipline, nurturing energy, focusing on beauty, and applying patience in our approach. Demarre also elaborates on the importance of: The "starter teachers" and the diverse support system a young musician needs to blossom Combining discipline, s...

Nicholas Pallesen: Transformative Approach to Performance Anxiety If you have any questions about performance anxiety, how to tackle it, master it, and how to perform at your best, this is the episode for you!  Today, I speak with Nicholas Pallesen.  In today's show, Transformative Coach and Mental Performance Consultant Nicholas Pallesen invites us to take a different look at performance anxiety!...

In today's episode, I wanted to celebrate 50 episodes in style by bringing someone who's work has had a profound impact on generations of musicians: bass player and author of The Inner Game of Music , Barry Green.  I'm very happy and honored that Barry accepted to be on the show to have this very, very important conversation with me because his authentic approach to music-making has inspired and i...

In this episode, Marc Damoulakis, principal percussionist with the Cleveland Orchestra, discusses the importance of mindful exploration, flexibility, and patience in the learning process, time management, how to create a connection between our concept of sound and the motions necessary to execute that vision successfully, and he sends us off with very wise parting words! He elaborates on: How bein...

Today, I'm very excited to have the brilliant violinist, violist, and conductor Julian Rachlin on the show! At the end of this very busy week, playing with and conducting the Chicago Symphony, Julian graciously took the time to sit with me and discuss meticulous practicing, mindful music-making, and his deep love of the art form! He covers many topics, including studying with Boris Kuschnir and Mr...

047 James VanDemark: Technical Discipline & Interpretive Magic This episode is full of inspiration and extremely useful information!  Eastman School of Music Bass Professor, James VanDemark, offers us tip after great tip to bring our practice and performance to the next level! Among many topics, James talks to us about creating a technical discipline that leads to interpretive magic, and about on...

In this episode, Billy Hunter, Principal Trumpet with the Metropolitan Opera, talks about how meditation transformed his approach to music-making – from practicing to preparing for audition, and performing. Billy elaborates on: How he used and still uses meditation and mindfulness to center himself before a performance How he focuses his mind on "Intending to play well" when performing How he beli...

Today's show brings you a powerful and honest conversation on very important topics, including how changing your mindset can change your life, how focusing on your musical voice instead of perfection in execution and external validation can transform your relationship with practicing, enrich your playing, and affect the trajectory of your career.  Milan Milisavljevic, Principal Viola with the Metr...

Sarah Whitney: Thriving Through Injury Today on the show, I'm really happy to bring you violinist Sarah Whitney to cover a VERY important topic: dealing with injuries as a musician! In this episode, Sarah talks to us about how you can not only prevent and treat injury, but also thrive in the aftermath – how to handle recovery, the ways she warms up to prevent injury, and how important the mental a...

This week I'm really excited to bring you Frank Rosenwein, Principal Oboe with the Cleveland Orchestra and oboe teacher at the Cleveland Institute of Music. In this episode, we discuss stepping into the role of a principal wind player in a major orchestra, transitioning from student to professional life, how to keep playing at the highest level consistently, the importance of having a strong visio...

In this episode, I discuss with solo violinist Arnaud Sussmann.  He elaborates on the mindsets and strategies to adopt when working on sound quality, the importance of having a strong concept of phrasing and of bow distribution in musicality, the importance of creating fluency in his playing and how he achieves it, the importance of purpose in our practice, warming up during busy periods, the valu...