The Mind Over Finger Podcast

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 community, how they train future leaders in our industry, and how we can all be powerful agents of artistic innovation in our communities. He also elaborates on: Their formula for audience building How they create programs tailored for their audience The importance of creating an experience for the audience and getting feedback from the public NEW ON THE WEBSITE: A Resources page! You can find my favorite websites, cds, as well as the other podcasts I like to listen to and the amazing books recommended by my podcast guests! Visit www.mindoverfinger.com/resources! Don't forget to sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to a super productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it's filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights! TURN THE METRONOME ON AND START PRACTICING BETTER AND LEARNING FASTER RIGHT NOW! GET YOUR FREE METRONOME GUIDE TODAY AT www.mindoverfinger.com!!!! MORE ABOUT HOWARD AND ABOUT THE NEW WORLD SYMPHONY: Website: https://www.nws.edu/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewWorldSymphony Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nwsymphony/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/nwsymphony YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN0U8vgodeDz9pL16A_eBTA Howard Herring Howard Herring is a native of Oklahoma, a pianist by training, and now President and CEO of the New World Symphony. After his academic work at Southern Methodist University and Manhattan School of Music, he was pianist of the Claremont Trio, a winner of the Artists International Competition, and an active musician and teacher in New York City. In 1986, he became Executive Director of the Caramoor Music Festival. Mr. Herring led that institution's development of the Rising Stars program for young instrumentalists, Bel Canto at Caramoor for young singers, and a curriculum-based arts program integrating music and visual art into K-12 studies. During his fifteen-year tenure, Caramoor celebrated its 50th anniversary and established its first endowment. In 2001, Mr. Herring assumed leadership of the New World Symphony – America's Orchestral Academy, a three-year post-graduate fellowship program for aspiring classical musicians and leaders. He was given the charge of energizing the institution's national and international profile and developing a new building designed to explore its unique experiential curriculum and cutting edge digital work. The building was completed on time and on budget and opened to national and international acclaim in January 2011. The New World Center, designed by Frank Gehry, enables New World Symphony to exploit the global reach of broadband technology for education and digital capabilities for artistic expression. New World Fellows are exploring the establishment of an online music education community, integration of music and video, and engagement of new audiences through alternate performance formats. Dynamic partnerships with professional orchestras and distinguished music schools have been formed around these experiments. New World Symphony The New World Symphony, America's Orchestral Academy (NWS), prepares graduates of music programs for leadership roles in professional orchestras and ensembles. In the 32 years since its co-founding by Artistic Director Michael Tilson Thomas and Lin and Ted Arison, NWS has helped launch the careers of more than 1,100 alumni worldwide. A laboratory for the way music is taught, presented and experienced, the New World Symphony consists of 87 young musicians who are granted fellowships lasting up to three years. The fellowship program offers in-depth exposure to traditional and modern repertoire, professional development training and personalized experiences working with leading guest conductors, soloists and visiting faculty. Relationships with these artists are extended through NWS's extensive distance learning via the internet. MISSION The mission of the New World Symphony is to prepare highly-gifted graduates of music programs for leadership roles in orchestras and ensembles around the world. VISION The New World Symphony envisions a strong and secure future for classical music and will redefine, reaffirm, express and share its traditions with as many people as possible. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE The New World Symphony is dedicated to the artistic, personal and professional development of outstanding instrumentalists. The NWS fellowship program provides graduates of music programs the opportunity to enhance their musical education with the finest professional training. A laboratory for musical education and expression, the New World Symphony, through a wide range of performance and instructional activities, seeks to develop in its participants the full complement of skills and qualifications required of 21st-century first-class musicians. Under the artistic direction of Michael Tilson Thomas, the program offers in-depth exposure to traditional and modern repertoire, with the active involvement of leading guest conductors, soloists and visiting faculty. The relationships with these artists are extended through NWS's pioneering experimentation with distance learning and performance. CULTURE The New World Symphony is committed to maintaining an educational, working, and living environment founded on civility and mutual respect. We have a philosophy of continuous improvement and are committed to strengthening this environment for the benefit of our Fellows, employees, and entire community. If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support! Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice. Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/ THANK YOU: Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show's musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson. Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly! MIND OVER FINGER: www.mindoverfinger.com https://www.facebook.com/mindoverfinger/ https://www.instagram.com/mindoverfinger/

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 conversation, Violaine expands on: The importance of choosing a teacher that will be a good fit The wonderful teaching philosophies of Isadore Tinkleman, which created "searching musicians" and fostered thinking and creativity in his students The importance of learning to listen and trust your ear Becoming a "Searching Musician" The importance of being versatile How and how long we should practice What summer festivals can bring to a young musician's development How much we learn when we teach The importance of having a good balance between routine, consistency, and variety Listening to yourself as if you were your own best student (which will help you listen better and assess what is objectively) Her main "engines:" curiosity, creativity in problem-solving, and yoga Her wise advice to students Her beautiful actionable tip: find a way to be inspired every day Don't forget to visit the Mind Over Finger Resources' page to check out amazing books recommended by my podcast guests, as well as my favorite websites, cds, the podcasts I like to listen to, and the practice and podcasting tools I use every day! Find it here: www.mindoverfinger.com/resources! And join the Mind Over Finger Book Club in the Tribe! We meet HERE, and we'll begin 2020 with The Inner Game of Golf by Tim Gallwey! Don't forget to sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to a super productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it's filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights! TURN THE METRONOME ON AND START PRACTICING BETTER AND LEARNING FASTER RIGHT NOW! GET YOUR FREE METRONOME GUIDE TODAY AT www.mindoverfinger.com!!!! MORE ABOUT VIOLAINE MELANÇON: Website: https://www.violaineMelançon.com/ An artist deeply dedicated to the range of violin and chamber music repertoire, violinist Violaine Melançon is Associate Professor of Violin at the Schulich School of Music at McGill University, and serves on the violin and chamber music faculties of the Peabody Conservatory. She was for thirty years the founding violinist of the Peabody Trio which was ensemble-in-residence at the Peabody Conservatory from 1987 to 2016. After winning the prestigious Naumburg Chamber Music Award in 1989, the Peabody Trio established itself as an important presence in the chamber music world as vivid interpreters of the classics of the repertoire, advocates for new music, and dedicated teachers and mentors to a generation of young musicians. As a member of the Peabody Trio, Ms. Melançon gave a New York debut in 1990 at Alice Tully Hall and has performed in the most important chamber music series in North America, including New York, Washington, DC, Chicago, Denver, Vancouver, Montreal, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Indianapolis, Dallas, Honolulu, Memphis, Minneapolis, New Orleans, Portland, St. Louis, Boston and Philadelphia. With them, Ms. Melançon toured internationally, frequently performing in England, making repeat appearances at London's Wigmore Hall, and in Japan and Israel. She has a special affection for the music of today and is a serious interpreter of works of Gyorgy Kurtag, Mauricio Kagel and Zhou Long. The Israeli composer Shulamit Ran wrote a violin concerto for her and she has premiered several works by other leading composers. Among the artists with whom she enjoys collaborating are pianists Leon Fleisher, Gilbert Kalish and Peter Frankl, soprano Phyllis Bryn-Julson, and violist Roger Tapping. During the spring of 2012, she presented the complete works for solo violin by J.S. Bach. She performs recitals annually, exploring unusual gems of the solo and violin-piano duo repertoire. Ms. Melançon is from Québec, Canada. After receiving First Prize in violin at the Conservatoire de Musique, she continued her studies with Ivan Galamian at the Curtis Institute of Music, with Isadore Tinkleman at the San Francisco Conservatory and with Arthur Grumiaux in Belgium. While at Curtis, she was a member of the Nisaika Quartet, prize winner of the 8th International String Quartet competition in Evian, France. Ms. Melançon is also the recipient of many awards for solo performance including the 1984 Prix d'Europe. In 1983, she formed the Knopp-Melançon Duo, an artistic collaboration which would eventually expand to become the Peabody Trio. In 1987, as a result of having been appointed USIA Artistic Ambassadors, the duo toured abroad extensively and made their Washington, DC debut at the Kennedy Center. Since then, her activities as a chamber musician, soloist with orchestras, and teacher have taken her to major music centers in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, and Japan. She has participated in many summer festivals as violinist, teacher and guest artists, including those of Tanglewood, Ravinia, Skaneateles, Rockport, Orford, and Domaine Forget. She gives yearly masterclasses at the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, and teaches regularly at NOI, the National Orchestral Institute and Festival. For many years, she has served on the faculty of Yellow Barn If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support! Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice. Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/ THANK YOU: Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show's musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson. Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly! MIND OVER FINGER: www.mindoverfinger.com https://www.facebook.com/mindoverfinger/ https://www.instagram.com/mindoverfinger/

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 culture. Marc-André also elaborates on: The practicing habits he had at a young age The importance of developing the aptitude to solve problems of becoming your own teacher His advice on memorization Score or no score, that is the question His simple practice "priming" His current interest in Faure's music and how he dives in the topic His favorite tool in the practice room: the score! His idea of the ideal concert: you will all agree with him! Why he strongly believes in practicing slowly Marc-Andre is an incredible artist and human being and I am so very happy and honored to have him on the podcast today! I know that you'll be inspired by his insight and wisdom! Don't forget to visit the Mind Over Finger Resources' page to check out amazing books recommended by my podcast guests, as well as my favorite websites, cds, the podcasts I like to listen to, and the practice and podcasting tools I use everyday! Find it here: www.mindoverfinger.com/resources! And join the Mind Over Finger Book Club in the Tribe! We meet HERE, and we'll begin 2020 with The Inner Game of Golf by Tim Gallwey! Don't forget to sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to a super productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it's filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights! TURN THE METRONOME ON AND START PRACTICING BETTER AND LEARNING FASTER RIGHT NOW! GET YOUR FREE METRONOME GUIDE TODAY AT www.mindoverfinger.com!!!! MORE ABOUT MARC-ANDRÉ: Website: https://www.marcandrehamelin.com/ YouTube: Click here to catch amazing performances and interviews with Marc-André Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marcandrehamelinpiano/ "A performer of near-superhuman technical prowess" (The New York Times), pianist Marc André Hamelin is known worldwide for his unrivaled blend of consummate musicianship and brilliant technique in the great works of the established repertoire, as well as for his intrepid exploration of the rarities of the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries – in concert and on disc – earning him legendary status as a true icon of the piano. Mr. Hamelin begins the 19/20 season performing the Brahms Piano concerti with the Orchestre Métropolitain and Yannick Nézet-Séguin at Le Festival de Lanaudière, and the world premiere of Ryan Wigglesworth's piano concerto at the BBC Proms, led by the composer. Other summer appearances include recitals at the Schubertiade, Helsingborg Piano Festival, Mänttä Music Festival, Domaine Forget, Orford Music Festival, the Newport Music Festival, and at the Rosendal Chamber Music Festival with friend and regular collaborator, Leif Ove Andsnes. Recital appearances this season include a return to Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage on the Great Artists Series. He also performs at Wigmore Hall, the George Enescu Festival, Ascona (Switzerland), Prague, Munich, Alte Oper Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Moscow State Philharmonic, at the Elbphilharmonie for the Husum Rarities of Piano Music Festival, Monte Carlo, and the Heidelberg Festival, among other dates. Mr. Hamelin is the inaugural guest curator for Portland Piano International, where he opens the season with two solo recitals. He returns to San Francisco Performances – a series with whom he has a long and deeply supportive artistic relationship – as a Perspectives Artist for their 40th Anniversary Season, performing a solo recital; Die Winterreise with tenor Mark Padmore; and the world premiere of his own Piano Quintet, commissioned by SFP and performed by himself and the Alexander String Quartet. An exclusive recording artist for Hyperion Records, in 19/20, Hyperion releases two albums by Mr. Hamelin – one a solo disc and the other with the Takács Quartet. He recently released a disc of Schubert's Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major and Four Impromptus; a landmark disc of Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring and Concerto for Two Pianos with Leif Ove Andsnes; Morton Feldman's For Bunita Marcus; and Medtner's Piano Concerto No. 2 and Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 3 with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Vladimir Jurowski. His impressive Hyperion discography of more than 60 recordings includes concertos and works for solo piano by such composers as Alkan, Godowsky, and Medtner, as well as brilliantly received performances of Brahms, Chopin, Liszt, Schumann, and Shostakovich. He was honored with the 2014 ECHO Klassik Instrumentalist of Year (Piano) and Disc of the Year by Diapason Magazine and Classica Magazine for his three-disc set of Busoni: Late Piano Music and an album of his own compositions, Hamelin: Études, which received a 2010 Grammy nomination and a first prize from the German Record Critics' Association. Mr. Hamelin was a distinguished member of the jury of the 15 th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2017 where each of the 30 competitors in the preliminary round performed Hamelin's Toccata on L'Homme armé; this was the first time the composer of the commissioned work was also a member of the jury. Mr. Hamelin has composed music throughout his career, with nearly 30 compositions to his name. The majority of those works – including the Études and Toccata on L'Homme armé – are published by Edition Peters. Mr. Hamelin makes his home in the Boston area with his wife, Cathy Fuller. Born in Montreal, Marc-André Hamelin is the recipient of a lifetime achievement award from the German Record Critics' Association and has received seven Juno Awards and eleven GRAMMY nominations. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada, a Chevalier de l'Ordre du Québec, and a member of the Royal Society of Canada. If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support! Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice. Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/ THANK YOU: Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show's musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson. Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly! MIND OVER FINGER: www.mindoverfinger.com https://www.facebook.com/mindoverfinger/ https://www.instagram.com/mindoverfinger/

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 influences his own interpretation His advice to young musicians on how to succeed as an orchestra member (and why he always looks at the back of the section!) What he means by "Trust creates magic" and how important it is for him to create trusting relationships with all artists NEW ON THE WEBSITE: A Resources page! You can find my favorite websites, cds, as well as the other podcasts I like to listen to and the amazing books recommended by my podcast guests! Visit www.mindoverfinger.com/resources! Don't forget to sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to a super productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it's filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights! TURN THE METRONOME ON AND START PRACTICING BETTER AND LEARNING FASTER RIGHT NOW! GET YOUR FREE METRONOME GUIDE TODAY AT www.mindoverfinger.com!!!! More about JAMES GAFFIGAN: Website: https://jamesgaffigan.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/james.gaffigan/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCljnsdbDEHbGLjTA1I1VkVg Hailed for the natural ease of his conducting and the compelling insight of his musicianship, James Gaffigan continues to attract international attention and is one of the most outstanding American conductors working today. James Gaffigan is currently the Chief Conductor of the Luzerner Sinfonieorchester and Principal Guest Conductor of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, recently extended for the third time. Since becoming Chief Conductor of the Luzerner Sinfonieorchester James has made a very significant impact on the orchestra's profile, both nationally and internationally, with a number of highly successful tours and recordings. In recognition of this success his contract has been further extended until 2021. James is in high demand working with leading orchestras and opera houses throughout Europe, the United States and Asia. The 2019/20 season features re-invitations to the Chicago, San Francisco and Detroit Symphony Orchestras, Orchestre National de France and Czech Philharmonic, as well as debuts with Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, Melbourne Symphony and the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. He undertakes four major opera productions in the United States including La Cenerentola at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Ernani at San Francisco Opera, Don Giovanni at Lyric Opera Chicago and Tristan and Isolde at Santa Fe Opera. The 2018/19 season saw James make his debut with the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks and return to the Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra, WDR Sinfonieorchester and BBC Symphony Orchestra. In the US he made house debuts at Metropolitan Opera for La bohème and San Francisco Opera for Carmen while European productions included a new production of La Fanciulla del West and Don Giovanni at Bayerische Staatsoper and Porgy and Bess at Dutch National Opera. Regularly conducting at major opera houses around the world, James' recent appearances include La bohème, Don Giovanni, La Traviata and Le nozze di Figaro at the Wiener Staatsoper; Così fan Tutte, La Cenerentola and Falstaff at the Glyndebourne Festival; Salome for Hamburg Opera; La bohème for the Opernhaus Zurich and Così fan tutte for Chicago Lyric Opera. James also works internationally with many leading orchestras and recent guest appearances include the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, London Philharmonic, Münchner Philharmoniker, Orchestre de Paris, Orchestre National de France, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Deutsches Symphonie-orchester Berlin, Dresden Staatskapelle, Wiener Symphoniker, Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra, Zurich Tonhalle, Seoul Philharmonic and Tokyo Metropolitan. In North America he has worked with New York Philharmonic and the symphony orchestras of Philadelphia, Cleveland, St. Louis, Baltimore and Toronto, among others. Born in New York, James was named first prize winner of the 2004 Sir Georg Solti International Conducting Competition. In 2009, he completed a three-year tenure as Associate Conductor of the San Francisco Symphony, in a position specially created for him by Michael Tilson Thomas. Prior to that appointment James was Assistant Conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra, where he worked for Music Director Franz Welser Möst. If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support! Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice. Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/ THANK YOU: Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show's musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson. Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly! MIND OVER FINGER: www.mindoverfinger.com https://www.facebook.com/mindoverfinger/ https://www.instagram.com/mindoverfinger/

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 instrument How he maximizes his practice time His injury story: How it happened Facing the stigma attached to being an injured musician The mental impact it had on him and the new mindsets he developed as a result The reflection he did, the changes he implemented and how he overcame it How he modified his setup and technique as a result How he remains injury free The very important concept of surrendering in practicing How our level of stress and the amount of pressure we tolerate affects our playing How to plan practice Don't forget to visit the Mind Over Finger Resources' page to check out amazing books recommended by my podcast guests, as well as my favorite websites, cds, the podcasts I like to listen to, and the practice and podcasting tools I use every day! Find it here: www.mindoverfinger.com/resources! And join the Mind Over Finger Book Club in the Tribe! We meet HERE, and we're currently discussing The Inner Game of Golf by Tim Gallwey! Don't forget to sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to a super productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it's filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights! TURN THE METRONOME ON AND START PRACTICING BETTER AND LEARNING FASTER RIGHT NOW! GET YOUR FREE METRONOME GUIDE TODAY AT www.mindoverfinger.com!!!! MORE ABOUT STEFAN JACKIW: Website: https://stefanjackiw.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=stefan+jackiw Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stefanjackiwviolin/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StefanJackiw/ Stefan Jackiw is one of America's foremost violinists, captivating audiences with playing that combines poetry and purity with an impeccable technique. Hailed for playing of "uncommon musical substance" that is "striking for its intelligence and sensitivity" (Boston Globe), Jackiw has appeared as soloist with the Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco symphony orchestras, among others. This season, he will re-unite with Juraj Valcuha to make his debut with the Konzerthaus Orchestra Berlin performing Korngold's Violin Concerto. He also returns performing Stravinsky to the Bournemouth Symphony with Kirill Karabits, the Helsinki Philharmonic with Hans Graf, and the RTÉ National Symphony in Dublin with Leonard Slatkin. Other highlights include performances with the San Diego Symphony and Rafael Payare, the Indianapolis and Baltimore Symphonies with David Danzmayr, and the Omaha Symphony. In recital, Stefan continues touring the complete Ives Sonatas with Jeremy Denk, with whom he has recorded the sonatas for future release on Nonesuch Records. He also appears on tour with harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani, exploring works for violin and harpsichord and featuring a new commission by Lester St. Louis, and continues to perform alongside pianist Conrad Tao and cellist Jay Campbell as part of the Junction Trio, with stops this season in Massachusetts, Washington D.C., Ohio, California, Texas, New Mexico, Florida, and more. Highlights of recent seasons include his debut with the Cleveland Orchestra and Juraj Valcuha, with whom he also re-united for performances in Dallas, Detroit, and Luxembourg; performances of Prokofiev's Second Violin Concerto at Carnegie Hall with Mikhail Pletnev, as part of a multi-city tour with the Russian National Orchestra; as well as performances with the St. Louis Symphony under Nicholas McGegan, the Minnesota Orchestra under Ilyich Rivas, the Rotterdam Philharmonic under Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the Indianapolis Symphony under Krzysztof Urbanski, and the Pittsburgh Symphony under Valčuha. Other highlights in Europe included his performances with the Netherlands Radio Symphony and Ludovic Morlot at the Concertgebouw. In Asia, Stefan has appeared with the Tokyo Symphony at Suntory Hall under the direction of Krzysztof Urbanski, and the Seoul Philharmonic under Venzago. He has also toured Korea, playing chamber music with Gidon Kremer and Kremerata Baltica. In Australia, Stefan toured with the Australian Chamber Orchestra play-directing Mendelssohn. He also gave the world premiere of American composer David Fulmer's Violin Concerto No 2 "Jubilant Arcs", written for him and commissioned by the Heidelberg Festival with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie under Matthias Pintscher. Recital highlights have included his performances of the complete Ives violin Sonatas with Jeremy Denk at Tanglewood and Boston's Jordan Hall, and performance of the complete Brahms violin sonatas, which he has recorded for Sony. He also recently recorded the Beethoven Triple with Inon Barnatan, Alisa Weilerstein, Alan Gilbert and Academy St. Martin in the Fields. Jackiw has performed in numerous important festivals and concert series, including the Aspen Music Festival, Ravinia Festival, Caramoor International Music Festival, Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, New York's Mostly Mozart Festival, the Philharmonie de Paris, Amsterdam's Concertgebouw, the Celebrity Series of Boston, and the Washington Performing Arts Society. As a chamber musician, he has collaborated with such artists as Jeremy Denk, Steven Isserlis, Yo-Yo Ma, and Gil Shaham, and forms a trio with Jay Campbell and Conrad Tao. At the opening night of Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall in New York, Jackiw was the only young artist invited to perform, playing alongside such artists as Emanuel Ax, Renée Fleming, Evgeny Kissin, and James Levine. Born to physicist parents of Korean and German descent, Stefan Jackiw began playing the violin at the age of four. His teachers have included Zinaida Gilels, Michèle Auclair, and Donald Weilerstein. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University, as well as an Artist Diploma from the New England Conservatory, and is the recipient of a prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant. He lives in New York City. If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support! Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice. Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/ THANK YOU: Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show's musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson. Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly! MIND OVER FINGER: www.mindoverfinger.com https://www.facebook.com/mindoverfinger/ https://www.instagram.com/mindoverfinger/

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 "Olympian" shape for auditions The importance of "seeing the forest" His view on devices – recorders, tuners, metronome, etc. The cumulative effect of preparing for audition The mental preparation A strategy to "find" the motivation to start practicing (Read my own blog post on the topic , Commit to Ten, here: https://www.mindoverfinger.com/post/commit-to-ten) His technique routine How to make practicing excerpts personal and enjoyable Don't forget to visit the Mind Over Finger Resources' page to check out amazing books recommended by my podcast guests, as well as my favorite websites, cds, the podcasts I like to listen to, and the practice and podcasting tools I use everyday! Find it here: www.mindoverfinger.com/resources! And join the Mind Over Finger Book Club in the Tribe! We meet HERE, and we'll begin 2020 with The Inner Game of Golf by Tim Gallwey! Don't forget to sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to a super productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it's filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights! TURN THE METRONOME ON AND START PRACTICING BETTER AND LEARNING FASTER RIGHT NOW! GET YOUR FREE METRONOME GUIDE TODAY AT www.mindoverfinger.com!!!! MORE ABOUT ROBERT DEMAINE: Website: http://www.robertdemaine.com/index.php Los Angeles Philarmonic: https://www.laphil.com/musicdb/artists/1440/robert-demaine YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=robert+demaine+cello Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertdemainecellist/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robertdemainecellist/ Robert deMaine is an American virtuoso cellist who has been hailed by The New York Times as "an artist who makes one hang on every note." He has distinguished himself as one of the finest and most versatile instrumentalists of his generation, performing to critical acclaim as soloist, recitalist, orchestra principal, recording artist, chamber musician, and composer / arranger. In 2010, deMaine was a founding member of the highly acclaimed Ehnes String Quartet and completed several world tours and recordings with the ensemble. In 2012 he was invited to join the Los Angeles Philharmonic as Principal Cello. He collaborates often in a piano trio with violinist Hilary Hahn and pianist Natalie Zhu. A first-prize winner in many national and international competitions, deMaine was the first cellist ever to win the grand prize at San Francisco's Irving M. Klein International Competition for Strings. As soloist, he has collaborated with many distinguished conductors, including Neeme Järvi, Peter Oundjian, Joseph Silverstein, and Leonard Slatkin, and has performed nearly all the major cello concertos with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, where he served as principal cello for over a decade. His recording of the John Williams Cello Concerto (Detroit Symphony, Leonard Slatkin conducting) is available on Naxos. His forthcoming recordings include the complete works of Beethoven for piano and cello with pianist Peter Takács, the Haydn Cello Concertos with the Moravian Philharmonic of the Czech Republic, and a recital CD of Grieg and Rachmaninoff sonatas with pianist Andrew Armstrong. DeMaine studied at the Juilliard School, the Eastman School of Music, the University of Southern California, Yale University, and the Kronberg Academy in Germany. If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support! Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice. Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/ THANK YOU: Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show's musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson. Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly! MIND OVER FINGER: www.mindoverfinger.com https://www.facebook.com/mindoverfinger/ https://www.instagram.com/mindoverfinger/

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 to teaching How being a performer made him a better teacher and what being a teacher taught him about performing The habits that help his students be successful Why we must develop great discipline and practicing habits in order to maximize our progress How we can expand our musicianship His wonderful books: CelloMind and ViolinMind Focus in the practice room The new book he's working on, which is about practicing (I know I'll be buying that!) The importance of setting short goals and the mindset to adopt when practicing The power of focusing on the *result* of a movement (the sound/the music you hear in your mind) rather than the movement itself Why he likes "block practice" Don't forget to visit the Mind Over Finger Resources' page to check out amazing books recommended by my podcast guests, as well as my favorite websites, cds, the podcasts I like to listen to, and the practice and podcasting tools I use everyday! Find it here: www.mindoverfinger.com/resources! And join the Mind Over Finger Book Club in the Tribe! We meet HERE, and we'll begin 2020 with The Inner Game of Golf by Tim Gallwey! Don't forget to sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to a super productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it's filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights! TURN THE METRONOME ON AND START PRACTICING BETTER AND LEARNING FASTER RIGHT NOW! GET YOUR FREE METRONOME GUIDE TODAY AT www.mindoverfinger.com!!!! MORE ABOUT PROFESSOR JENSEN: CelloMind: Have you ever doubted your intonation? Have you experienced the need to place pitches differently from one piece to another, or even from one measure to another? If so, you are not alone. Trying to decipher intonation is often frustrating and undermines the confidence of some of the most accomplished and talented musicians. CelloMind is a two-part, pedagogical method book that has been written to help musicians understand HOW intonation works and, more importantly, WHY it works the way it does. Purchase of the book includes exclusive access to an online resource portal with supplemental videos and audio. ViolinMind: ViolinMind is a pedagogical method book that has been written to help musicians understand HOW intonation works and, more importantly, WHY it works the way it does. It is an adaptation of the acclaimed book CelloMind. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CelloMindBook Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cellomindbook/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=cellomind Hans Jørgen Jensen is professor of cello at the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University. From 1979 to 1987 he was professor of cello at the Moore's School of Music at the University of Houston. During the summer, he is a faculty member at The Meadowmount School of Music and The Young Artist Program at the National Arts Center in Ottawa Canada under the direction of Pinchas Zukerman. He has been a guest professor at the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, The Oberlin College Conservatory, The Eastman School of Music, The Academy of Music in Sydney, The Royal Academy of Music in Copenhagen, the Tokyo College of Music and the Musashino Academy of Music in Japan, the Festival de Musica de Santa Catarina in Brazil, The Jerusalem Music Center, and the PyeongChang International festival and School in Korea. Mr. Jensen has performed as a soloist in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan including solo appearances with the Danish Radio Orchestra, the Basel Symphony Orchestra, the Copenhagen Symphony, and the Irish Radio Orchestra under the baton of conductors such as: Simon Rattle, Mistislav Rostropovich and Carlo Zecchi. He has given numerous workshops and master classes across the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, Brazil, Korea, Australia, and Israel. His former students have been and are members of major orchestras including The New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony, the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, the Cincinnati Symphony, the Detroit Symphony, the Kansas City Symphony, the Colorado Symphony, the Gulbenkian Orchestra in Portugal, the Graz Philharmonic in Austria and the Montreal Symphony. Mr. Jensen's former students are currently the principal cellists in the Toronto Symphony, the Detroit Symphony, the Kansas City Symphony, the Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Symphony Nova Scotia. His former students hold teaching positions at Northwestern University, the University of California at Berkeley, the Cleveland Institute of Music, the San Francisco Conservatory, the Cincinnati College Conservatory, the Royal Academy of Music in Copenhagen, the Desautels Faculty of Music at the university of Manitoba and numerous other music schools. Hans Jørgen Jensen's students have been first prize winners in competitions such as the 2017 Klein Competition, the 2017 Sphinx Competition, the Casado International Competition in Japan, the Johansen International Competition, the MTNA National Competition, the ASTA National Competition, the Stulberg International Competition, the Chicago Symphony Young Performers Competition, the WAMSO Young Artist Competition, and numerous other competitions. His students have also been prizewinners in the 2017 Queen Elisabeth Inaugural Cello Competition, the Naumburg International Competition, the Lutoslawski Cello Competition, and the Klein Competition. Mr. Jensen was awarded the prestigious 2010 Artist Teacher Award from the American String Teachers Association (ASTA), as well as the Copenhagen Music Critics Prize, the Jacob Gades Prize, the Danish Ministry of Cultural Affairs Grant for Musicians, the Northwestern Charles Deering McCormick Professor of Teaching Excellence award, and the U.S. Presidential Scholar Teacher Recognition Award by the U.S. Department of Education. He was named the outstanding studio teacher of the year by Illinois ASTA. He was also the winner of the Artist International Competition that resulted in three New York Recitals. E.C. Shirmer, Boston, published his transcription of the Galamian Scale System for Cello Volume I and II and Shar Products Company published his cello method book, Fun in Thumb Position. A new pedagogy book "CelloMind" was published in November 2017 by OvationPress. Jensen studied at the royal Academy of Music in Denmark with Asger Lund Christiansen at the Juilliard School with Leonard Rose and Channing Robbins and pursued private studies with Pierre Fournier, also appearing in his master classes. If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support! Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice. Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/ THANK YOU: Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show's musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson. Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly! MIND OVER FINGER: www.mindoverfinger.com https://www.facebook.com/mindoverfinger/ https://www.instagram.com/mindoverfinger/

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 deeply for her students and how that creates a profound studio culture of dedication and support Why she believes that the initial set up is so important Her approach to being a supportive and caring "24/7 teacher" How she listened carefully to the needs of the string community and created the upcoming Violin Pedagogy Symposium to address those needs The topics and guests of the symposium (CHECK OUT THIS AWESOME EVENT HERE!!! I'M GOING FOR SURE!) Why grit is so so so important! The habit that contributed to her success (you'll see: it's really inspiring) The awesome concept of "Musical Triage" More about Elizabeth Faidley and the Violin Pedagogy Symposium below NEW ON THE WEBSITE: A RESOURCES PAGE! You can find my favorite websites, cds, as well as the other podcasts I like to listen to and the amazing books recommended by my podcast guests! Visit www.mindoverfinger.com/resources! Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe Book Club! This January we read, study, and apply The Inner Game of Golf by Timothy Gallwey in our practice! Don't forget to sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to a super productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it's filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights! TURN THE METRONOME ON AND START PRACTICING BETTER AND LEARNING FASTER RIGHT NOW! GET YOUR FREE METRONOME GUIDE TODAY AT www.mindoverfinger.com!!!! MORE ABOUT ELIZABETH: Website: https://www.elizabethfaidley.com/ The Violin Pedagogy Symposium: https://www.pedagogysymposium.com/ Her Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/faidleystudio Her books on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2EdOtb2 The Strings Virtual Summit: https://stringsvirtualsummit.com/order-30774504-1 The Inner Game of Tennis by Tim Gallwey Mindset by Carol Dweck A highly sought-after pedagogue, violinist Elizabeth Faidley has been hailed as an "amazing and inspiring teacher" by the New York Times. She is the recipient of the American String Teachers' Association 2011 "Studio Teacher of the Year" award for the state of New Jersey. She has also been honored with multiple teaching awards, including ones from the Union City Symphony and the Korean Radio Broadcast Network. In addition to being on the faculty of the Pre-College Division of the Manhattan School of Music, she has a large private studio in the New York City metropolitan area where she teaches violin performance to aspiring players from ages 3 to 23. Her students have won national and international competitions and have performed in such great halls as Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, and the White House. They are routinely accepted, with scholarships, to the world's premier music conservatories including The Manhattan School of Music, New England Conservatory, the Juilliard School, Peabody Conservatory, Rice University, the Royal College of Music, and The Cleveland Institute. Her students routinely perform with orchestras around the NYC area. The NY Times described Ms. Faidley as "…fiercely yet compassionately committed to her students, to her colleagues, and to the art of music." Ms. Faidley became adjunct faculty at the Hartt School before the age of 30, reflecting her devotion to the art of violin pedagogy. She has also served on the college conservatory faculties of Montclair State University's Cali School of Music and Hunter College's School of Music. She holds a Master of Music degree in violin performance and pedagogy from the Peabody Conservatory of Music and was inducted into the professional music fraternity, Pi Kappa Lambda, which honors integrity, superior music performance, and academic success. Ms. Faidley routinely brings in major concert artists and teachers to give private masterclasses to her studio . The last four years have included Ray Chen, Stefan Jackiw, Charlie Siem, Dmitri Berlinsky, Ronald Copes, Lisa Batiashvili, Sarah Chang, and Katie Lansdale. She won the prestigious Melissa Tiller Memorial Prize for graduate performance and while still a student at Peabody, joined the faculty of both the preparatory and conservatory divisions after serving as a teaching assistant to Shirley Givens. Besides Givens, her major pedagogical influences include Ivan Galamian, Joseph Gingold, Paul Rolland, and Shinichi Suzuki, and Rebecca Henry. She also studied with such masters as Daniel Heifetz, Yuri Masurkevich, Christian Teal, and Qing Li. Ms. Faidley has served on the faculty of the Summit Music Festival, New York's premier summer chamber music institute. She has been invited to teach and give master classes in Italy, Germany, Spain, Russia, Norway, and Africa, and has provided private lessons in pedagogy to major violin performers and teachers throughout the United States. In the summers, Ms. Faidley has specialized camps for her students. Ms. Faidley is a frequent presenter and master class clinician, and she has recently spoken at two national conferences for the American String Teachers' Association. The first lecture focused on balance in violin technique and pedagogy. The second presented a series of unique technical etudes for every stage of violin playing. Ms. Faidley has been invited to be the keynote speaker, along with Nobel Laureates at the 2018 World Education Day in Jinan, China. Ms. Faidley currently employs fourteen violin and musicianship faculty members as part of her school, The Elizabeth Faidley Studio. All students of any faculty member have access to recitals, masterclasses, private camps, and other performance opportunities. Ms. Faidley works directly with each teacher in weekly consultations to ensure a balanced musical education for each student. Ms. Faidley also shares her passion for teaching through her writing. She has completed work on the second edition of a book for children titled "Pre-Twinkling to the Stars: Your Joyful Journey Begins" which focuses on a strong technical foundation for beginning violinists. Her second book, a beginning theory workbook for beginning and intermediate violinists, is also available. She has also published several essays in the American Suzuki Journal and is currently writing a third book on the art of pedagogy entitled, "What Happened to the Nurture?" The book reflects her teaching philosophy, which seeks to empower the entire, unique person as the foundation of the musician. She generously makes time to mentor her students through auditions, competitions, and performances and stays in touch with them between and beyond studio lessons. Ms. Faidley's violin, a generous gift from several patrons, was crafted by Lorenzo Ventapane in 1835 and is pictured in Four Centuries of Violin Making by Cozio Publishing. If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support! Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice. Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/ THANK YOU: Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show's musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson. Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly! MIND OVER FINGER: www.mindoverfinger.com https://www.facebook.com/mindoverfinger/ https://www.instagram.com/mindoverfinger/

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 same today, and he gives out wonderful wisdom and advice for young musicians. There's so much to learn and so much inspiration to be found through his story and I hope you love this conversation with Jerome Lowenthal! NEW ON THE WEBSITE: A Resources page! You can find my favorite websites, cds, as well as the other podcasts I like to listen to and the amazing books recommended by my podcast guests! Visit www.mindoverfinger.com/resources! Sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to a super productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it's filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights! TURN THE METRONOME ON AND START PRACTICING BETTER AND LEARNING FASTER RIGHT NOW! GET YOUR FREE METRONOME GUIDE TODAY! Click HERE or visit www.mindoverfinger.com! MORE ABOUT JEROME: Websites: https://www.juilliard.edu/music/faculty/lowenthal-jerome https://www.musicacademy.org/profile/jerome-lowenthal/ YouTube videos: CLICK HERE Jerome Lowenthal is an American classical pianist. He is chair of the piano department at the Juilliard School in New York. Additionally, Lowenthal is on the faculty at Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California. Lowenthal was born in Philadelphia. He made his debut as a solo pianist at the age of 13 with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Returning to the United States from Jerusalem in 1963, he made his debut with the New York Philharmonic, playing Bartók's Piano Concerto No. 2. Since then, he has performed with famous conductors such as Daniel Barenboim, Seiji Ozawa, Michael Tilson Thomas, Yuri Temirkanov, Leonard Slatkin, Leonard Bernstein, Eugene Ormandy, Pierre Monteux, Josef Krips,[3] and Leopold Stokowski. He has played sonatas with Itzhak Perlman, piano duos with Ronit Amir, and with Ursula Oppens,[4] as well as quintets with the Lark Quartet, Avalon Quartet, and Shanghai Quartet. His studies included lessons with Olga Samaroff in Philadelphia, William Kapell and Eduard Steuermann at the Juilliard School in New York, and Alfred Cortot at the École Normale de Musique de Paris in Paris, France. A prizewinner at Queen Elisabeth Music Competition in Brussels (1960) and Busoni Competition, he is a frequent judge in international piano competitions. He is recognized as a specialist of Franz Liszt, Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Béla Bartók, and more generally of virtuoso and late romantic music. His recordings include piano concertos by Liszt with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and the complete Tchaikovsky concerto cycle with the London Symphony Orchestra. He has an extensive repertoire, including 59 performed piano concerti. He is the dedicatee of many new works, such as Ned Rorem's Piano Concerto (No. 3) in Six Movements, and has unearthed some rare romantic piano works, such as the Liszt Third Piano Concerto edited by his former student Jay Rosenblatt. If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support! Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice. Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/ THANK YOU: Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show's musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson. Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly! MIND OVER FINGER: www.mindoverfinger.com https://www.facebook.com/mindoverfinger/ https://www.instagram.com/mindoverfinger/

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 the reality of a career in music today, to how she approaches learning repertoire, and how she's stays focused in the practice room! In this episode, Ursula expands on: Her love of new music and how it developed early on in her life How she approaches bringing new music to life Why she doesn't think musicians should have a niche but should, instead, be interested in learning Her view of the musical landscape of today What improvisation can bring to our playing How she loves practicing (and I love that she said that so much!) How mental and muscle memory develop together Why she thinks it's important to memorize music in order to learn it better Her strategies to find energy, motivation, and focus to practice Why flexibility is a crucial skill to develop How a well-rounded education is also very helpful Her very wise piece of advice for young musicians Ursula is a force of nature and very generous with her insight. I know you'll love this discussion! The Mind Over Finger Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtQSB1IVNJ4a2afT1iUtSfA/videos Sign up for my newsletter to get your free guide to a super productive practice using the metronome! This guide is the perfect entry point to help you bring more mindfulness and efficiency into your practice and it's filled with tips and tricks on how to use that wonderful tool to take your practicing and your playing to new heights! TURN THE METRONOME ON AND START PRACTICING BETTER AND LEARNING FASTER RIGHT NOW! GET YOUR FREE METRONOME GUIDE TODAY! Click HERE or visit www.mindoverfinger.com! MORE ABOUT URSULA: Website: https://colbertartists.com/artists/ursula-oppens/ YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqj7e-6dIIBw2OkKmHxYItw Ursula Oppens, a legend among American pianists, is widely admired particularly for her original and perceptive readings of new music, but also for her knowing interpretations of the standard repertoire. No other artist alive today has commissioned and premiered more new works for the piano. A prolific and critically acclaimed recording artist with five Grammy nominations, Ms. Oppens most recently released a new recording of Frederic Rzewski's The People United Will Never Be Defeated, nominated for a Grammy in 2016, and Piano Songs, a collaboration with Meredith Monk. Earlier Grammy nominations were for Winging It: Piano Music of John Corigliano; Oppens Plays Carter; a recording of the complete piano works of Elliott Carter for Cedille Records (also was named a "Best of the Year" selection by The New York Times long-time music critic Allan Kozinn); Piano Music of Our Time featuring compositions by John Adams, Elliott Carter, Julius Hemphill, and Conlon Nancarrow for the Music and Arts label, and her cult classic The People United Will Never Be Defeated by Frederic Rzewski on Vanguard. Ms. Oppens recently added to her extensive discography by releasing a two-piano CD for Cedille Records devoted to Visions de l'Amenof Oliver Messiaen and Debussy's En blanc et noir performed with pianist Jerome Lowenthal. Over the years, Ms. Oppens has premiered works by such leading composers as John Adams, Luciano Berio, William Bolcom, Anthony Braxton, Elliott Carter, John Corigliano, Anthony Davis, John Harbison, Julius Hemphill, Laura Kaminsky, Tania Leon, György Ligeti, Witold Lutoslawski, Harold Meltzer, Meredith Monk, Conlon Nancarrow, Tobias Picker, Bernard Rands, Frederic Rzewski, Allen Shawn, Alvin Singleton, Joan Tower, Lois V Vierk, Amy Williams, Christian Wolff, Amnon Wolman, and Charles Wuorinen. As an orchestral guest soloist, Ms. Oppens has performed with virtually all of the world's major orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the American Composers Orchestra, the Boston Modern Orchestra Project (BMOP), and the orchestras of Chicago, Cleveland, San Francisco, and Milwaukee. Abroad, she has appeared with such ensembles as the Berlin Symphony, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the Deutsche Symphonie, the Scottish BBC, and the London Philharmonic Orchestras. Ms. Oppens is also an avid chamber musician and has performed with the Arditti, Cassatt, JACK, Juilliard, and Pacifica quartets, among other chamber ensembles. Ursula Oppens joined the faculty of the Mannes College of Music in the fall of 2017, and is a Distinguished Professor of Music at Brooklyn College and the CUNY Graduate Center in New York City. From 1994 through the end of the 2007-08 academic year she served as John Evans Distinguished Professor of Music at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. In addition, Ms. Oppens has served as a juror for many international competitions, such as the Concert Artists Guild, Young Concert Artists, Young Pianists Foundation (Amsterdam), and Cincinnati Piano World Competition. If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support! Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice. Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/ THANK YOU: Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show's musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson. Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly! MIND OVER FINGER: www.mindoverfinger.com https://www.facebook.com/mindoverfinger/ https://www.instagram.com/mindoverfinger/