Musicianship Mastery with David Lane

Robonzo, a talented drummer and creator of The Unstarving Musician podcast, shares his experiences moving between music scenes in Fort Worth/Dallas, San Francisco, Panama, and Mexico. He discusses effective strategies for networking in unfamiliar places and leveraging social media to build connections. Listeners learn about the joys and challenges of adapting to new environments as musicians while tapping into personal support systems. Robonzo's insights inspire those looking to thrive in the competitive world of music.

Whether it's setting big goals for your life or even what you want to accomplish the next time you sit down to practice your instrument, one of the most powerful mindset tools you can employ is to be as specific as possible in what you expect to accomplish.  It helps to be realistic about what you can accomplish with your current skills and the time available, but avoiding generic goals and becoming super-specific is an effective first step in accomplishing a lot! Let me know your thoughts on this episode at https://www.speakpipe.com/MusicianToolkit or you can send me a written message at https://www.davidlanemusic.com/contact  You can find this episode and links to this show on all podcast apps from https://musiciantoolkit.podbean.com/ . If you enjoyed this, please give it a rating and review on the podcast app of your choice.  You can also now find the podcast at https://www.davidlanemusic.com/toolkit You can follow David Lane AND the Musician Toolkit podcast on Facebook @DavidMLaneMusic, on Instagram and TikTok @DavidLaneMusic, and on YouTube @davidlanemusic1 This episode is sponsored by Fons, an online platform that helps private teachers of all types (music, yoga, martial arts, academic tutoring, coaches, etc) with smooth, automated assistance such as securing timely automatic payments and scheduling.  Click here for more information or to begin your free trial.

Every musician should know a little about conducting.  But what does a conductor really do, especially when working with professional musicians?  How do they prepare for rehearsal and for a performance?  Our guest this episode is Michelle Merrill, a conductor who previously served as Associate/Assistant Conductor of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra under the supervision of esteemed maestro Leonard Slatkin.  She is the music director of the Coastal Symphony of Georgia, and just recently was appointed as the new music director of the Winston-Salem Symphony Orchestra.  She talks about the importance of networking, the craft of score and rehearsal preparation, the importance of making sure your physical style suits you individually, as well as her short and long term plans with the Winston-Salem Symphony. For single tickets to the WSSO 2023-24: https://wssymphony.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/ For more on Michelle Merrill, visit: https://www.michelle-merrill.com/ Let me know your thoughts on this episode at https://www.speakpipe.com/MusicianToolkit or you can send me a written message at https://www.davidlanemusic.com/contact  You can find this episode and links to this show on all podcast apps from https://musiciantoolkit.podbean.com/ . If you enjoyed this, please give it a rating and review on the podcast app of your choice.  You can also now find the podcast at https://www.davidlanemusic.com/toolkit You can follow David Lane AND the Musician Toolkit podcast on Facebook @DavidMLaneMusic, on Instagram and TikTok @DavidLaneMusic, and on YouTube @davidlanemusic1 This episode is sponsored by Fons, an online platform that helps private teachers of all types (music, yoga, martial arts, academic tutoring, coaches, etc) with smooth, automated assistance such as securing timely automatic payments and scheduling.  Click here for more information or to begin your free trial.  

In the corporate world, it's customary to receive a performance review from your supervisor.  A good review is objective, noting what you're doing well already and what needs improvement.  When you're a solo musician or private teacher, a performance review is an important step that often gets ignored because...well, you're by yourself.  However, by simply recording video and audio of yourself at work and making observations during playback, you can separate your roles of the the employee and the supervisor.  In this episode, you can hear how a performance review can greatly improve your practice, your progress on a piece, your effectiveness as a teacher, your goals, your finances, and so much more! Let me know your thoughts on this episode at https://www.speakpipe.com/MusicianToolkit or you can send me a written message at https://www.davidlanemusic.com/contact  You can find this episode and links to this show on all podcast apps from https://musiciantoolkit.podbean.com/ . If you enjoyed this, please give it a rating and review on the podcast app of your choice.  You can also now find the podcast at https://www.davidlanemusic.com/toolkit You can follow David Lane AND the Musician Toolkit podcast on Facebook @DavidMLaneMusic, on Instagram and TikTok @DavidLaneMusic, and on YouTube @davidlanemusic1 This episode is sponsored by Fons, an online platform that helps private teachers of all types (music, yoga, martial arts, academic tutoring, coaches, etc) with smooth, automated assistance such as securing timely automatic payments and scheduling.  Click here for more information or to begin your free trial.

Eric Perrotti is primarily a guitarist, but with a passion for learning as many instruments as possible, enough so that he has collected over 200!  However, he has done so with a very modest budget.  He talks about the approaches he has taken to learn all of these instruments in a self-taught way, as well as his strategies for finding great deals and building his instrument library without breaking the bank! Follow Eric at https://www.instagram.com/ericperrotti/ What are your tips for finding or learning new instruments? Let me know your thoughts on this episode at https://www.speakpipe.com/MusicianToolkit or you can send me a written message at https://www.davidlanemusic.com/contact  You can find this episode and links to this show on all podcast apps from https://musiciantoolkit.podbean.com/ . If you enjoyed this, please give it a rating and review on the podcast app of your choice.  You can also now find the podcast at https://www.davidlanemusic.com/toolkit You can follow David Lane AND the Musician Toolkit podcast on Facebook @DavidMLaneMusic, on Instagram and TikTok @DavidLaneMusic, and on YouTube @davidlanemusic1 This episode is sponsored by Fons, an online platform that helps private teachers of all types (music, yoga, martial arts, academic tutoring, coaches, etc) with smooth, automated assistance such as securing timely automatic payments and scheduling.  Click here for more information or to begin your free trial.

Dive into the essentials of music theory with a detailed checklist to assess your skills. Explore foundational concepts like rhythmic notation, scales, and chords. Discover the importance of tailoring your learning experience while fostering curiosity in music. Plus, learn about practical tools to streamline studio management and enhance your teaching efficiency. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your knowledge, this discussion has something for every musician.

Andrew Synowiec is a session musician, primarily as a guitarist, who has appeared on recordings of a variety of artists and bands, including The Who, Barbara Streisand, Megan Trainor, and M83.  He's also performed on the soundtracks of several films and television series, including Cobra Kai, Frozen, Coco, A Good Day to Die Hard, Little Fockers, and more!  Andrew talks about moving to LA from Miami, becoming a session guitarist, the process of working with a variety of composers, and...of course, the tools to be successful in this line of work.  He also talks about some of his other projects as a performer.  This is a great conversation that you won't want to miss! Find out more about Andrew Synowiec at https://andrewsynowiec.com/ Musical excerpts in order of appearance: "The Final Countdown" arr. Pinar Toprak (from The Lost City soundtrack) "Sam and Robby" and "Quiver" by Leo Birenberg and Zach Robinson (from Cobra Kai soundtrack) "Let It Go" by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez (from Frozen soundtrack) "Triple Vodka Rhapsody" by Marco Beltrami (from A Good Day to Die Hard) "Dia de Los Muertos" by Michael Giacchino (from Coco) "Triad Days" and "Late to the Party" by Andrew Synowiec Let me know your thoughts on this episode at https://www.speakpipe.com/MusicianToolkit or you can send me a written message at https://www.davidlanemusic.com/contact  You can find this episode and links to this show on all podcast apps from https://musiciantoolkit.podbean.com/ . If you enjoyed this, please give it a rating and review on the podcast app of your choice.  You can also now find the podcast at https://www.davidlanemusic.com/toolkit You can follow David Lane AND the Musician Toolkit podcast on Facebook @DavidMLaneMusic, on Instagram and TikTok @DavidLaneMusic, and on YouTube @davidlanemusic1 This episode is sponsored by Fons, an online platform that helps private teachers of all types (music, yoga, martial arts, academic tutoring, coaches, etc) with smooth, automated assistance such as securing timely automatic payments and scheduling.  Click here for more information or to begin your free trial.

Discover a treasure trove of apps every musician can benefit from! Explore essential tools like metronomes and tuners that elevate practice sessions. Uncover budget-friendly options alongside advanced software for composition and recording. The episode also dives into the impact of technology on productivity and offers advice for skeptics looking to integrate apps into their music-making process. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, there's something valuable to enhance your musical journey!

If you're not a harpist and wanting to compose, the harp can be a mysterious instrument.  It can play all of the notes of a chromatic scale, but only 7 in a time across all octaves.  It has a similar range to the piano with a similar 2-staff system, but the harpist uses fewer fingers and approaches the notes from a different angles.  There are pedal diagrams, pedal change instructions, special effects in tones, and so many other things to consider.  If you've ever thought about composing or arranging for the harp, it's very helpful to have someone like Danielle Kuntz to help!  Danielle is a harpist with a passion for new music, and her business is to help composers balance creativity with practicality to write great harp music with clarity. You can get in touch with Danielle at https://www.daniellekuntz.com/ The resource for notation programs and harp notation is here: https://mola-inc.org/resources/20141 Let me know your thoughts on this episode at https://www.speakpipe.com/MusicianToolkit or you can send me a written message at https://www.davidlanemusic.com/contact  You can find this episode and links to this show on all podcast apps from https://musiciantoolkit.podbean.com/ . If you enjoyed this, please give it a rating and review on the podcast app of your choice.  You can also now find the podcast at https://www.davidlanemusic.com/toolkit You can follow David Lane AND the Musician Toolkit podcast on Facebook @DavidMLaneMusic, on Instagram and TikTok @DavidLaneMusic, and on YouTube @davidlanemusic1 This episode is sponsored by Fons, an online platform that helps private teachers of all types (music, yoga, martial arts, academic tutoring, coaches, etc) with smooth, automated assistance such as securing timely automatic payments and scheduling.  Click here for more information or to begin your free trial.

David Lane, an advocate for quarterly goals, delves into the art of effective planning. He highlights the pitfalls of ignoring long-term goals, which can lead to a cycle of daily tasks without progress. Lane passionately argues that quarterly planning helps maintain productivity while nurturing grand ambitions. He emphasizes the importance of quarterly reviews for continuous improvement, offering valuable insights for musicians on how to break down large objectives into manageable steps. Get ready to transform your goal-setting approach!