Episodes

  • 023. Alison Barr, Independent Piano Teacher and Local Celebrity
    Jun 18 2021

    0:27 Introductions

    1:42 Alison shares her very beginnings in music.

    2:40 Alison shares her memories of those early piano lessons. 

    4:12 Alison reflects on the transition to lessons at the New England Conservatory prep school. 

    6:20 Alison shares what music meant to her childhood.

    8:26 Alison tells us the story of how she decided on a career in music.

    10:50 Alison shares her career path through school that led to her independent studio.

    13:15 How Alison puts the "I" in "independent."

    16:09 Alison reflects on how she first became involved with MTNA.

    18:12 Alison discusses what she loves most about teaching the piano. 

    21:20 Alison shares a powerful teaching story.

    24:49 Alison explains how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted her teaching and her students.

    For more on how music education is changing lives, visit us at https://southshorepianoschool.com!

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    29 mins
  • 022. Jad Kiriaki, Aspiring Pianist and Video Game Music Fan
    Jun 7 2021

    0:30 Introductions

    1:17 Jad answers a fun question.

    2:14 Jad reflects on this beginnings in music lessons.

    3:30 Jad explains what sustained him through the early "make it or break it" years of piano lessons.

    3:48 Jad shares his favorite types of music to lesson to and play. 

    5:14 Jad tells us how he approaches handling challenges in his music.

    6:00 Jad reflects on his passion for video game music.

    7:23 Jad shares what music has meant to him during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    8:41 Jad talks about how he sees music being part of his life for the long haul.

    9:29 Jad's advice to young students who are just getting their start in piano. 

    For more about how music education is changing lives, visit us at https://southshorepianoschool.com!

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    11 mins
  • 021. Gita Brown, Wellness Activist, Writer, and Music Educator
    Jun 4 2021

    0:30 Introductions

    2:07 Gita shares her beginnings in music.

    6:00 Gita shares how she discovered yoga and meditation while in music school. 

    8:00 Gita tells us how she discovered her passion for teaching, leading to a certification in music therapy, which led to finding the intersection of teaching music and yoga, and yoga to musicians.

    10:15 Gita's reflection of how our teachers along the way make such a profound difference on our lives. 

    12:03 Gita reflects on how she meets students where they are when incorporating meditation concepts in lessons. (Most notably by not calling it "meditation," but a "musician's warmup!")

    19:30 Musings on slow practice.

    21:20 Gita shares a meaningful story about one of her clarinet students, now a professional clarinetist. 

    28:34 Gita talks about her beginnings and projects as a writer.

    32:34 Gita talks advice to people feeling overwhelmed and that there's just no time for wellness.

    To see more of Gita's work, visit her website at www.gitabrown.com, and her YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/GitaBrown.

    And for more about how music education is changing lives, visit us at https://southshorepianoschool.com!

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    42 mins
  • 020. Hannah Benjamin, 11-Year-Old Music Lover and Aspiring Pianist
    May 28 2021

    0:30 Introductions

    1:02 Hannah answers a silly question.

     1:56 Hannah shares her earliest memories of piano lessons.

    2:50 Hannah reflects on her first experience performing piano in public. 

    3:36 Hannah talks some of her challenges along the way, and how she enjoys challenges.

    4:33 Hannah shares more treasured memories of her music journey. 

    6:57 Hannah talks about her process for making up pieces.

    9:21 Hannah discusses how she tackles challenges in her music.

    11:47 Hannah shares her thought process for getting through repetitive process.

    12:30 Hannah reflects upon what music has meant to her over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    17:55 Hannah shares how she sees music being part of her future, and the power of music in her life.

    For more about how music education is changing lives, visit us at https://southshorepianoschool.com!

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    20 mins
  • 019. Kim Nguyen, Dentist, Adjunct Professor, and Adult Piano Student
    May 17 2021

    0:28 Introductions

    1:14 Kim shares what motivated her to start piano lessons a short year and a half ago.

    3:33 Kim tells us what led her to pursue dentistry.

    4:36 Kim reflects on how she has made steady progress over the past year, juggling work, life, and piano.

    6:10 Kim shares her experience at the outset of COVID, and how piano became an outlet.

    7:59 Kim discusses her experience performing virtually.

    10:32 Kim talks about how she has enjoyed Zoom lessons to the extent that it still feels like it's in person. 

    11:13 Kim reflects on how she feels having done this for the past year and a half.

    13:44 Kim's advice to adult students considering taking the leap.

    For more on how music education is changing lives, visit us at https://southshorepianoschool.com!

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    16 mins
  • 018. Theo Grossman, Aspiring High-School Pianist and Chorister
    May 14 2021

    0:30 Introductions

    1:01 Theo answers a fun question, because this is a fun show.

    2:15 Theo tells us what inspired him to start piano lessons during the summer of 2020.

    3:20 Theo talks about his beginnings in the school chorus.

    3:43 Theo discusses how the skills in piano and chorus have transferred to help one another.

    4:29 Theo talks about what his first virtual performances were like.

    6:24 Theo shares how he has progressed so well in the midst of high school and a pandemic.

    7:55 Theo shares how he handles challenges in music.

    9:49 Theo reflects how music may fit into his future.

    For more, visit us at https://southshorepianoschool.com!

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    12 mins
  • 017. Isla Shovilin, Aspiring Pianist, Singer and Actress
    May 10 2021

    0:30 Introductions

    1:32 Isla answers a fun question.

    2:29 Isla discusses her beginnings in music.

    3:37 Isla talks about how she got started in acting.

    4:49 Isla reflects on the aspects she loves about acting.

    5:49 Isla talks about the overlaps between music and acting practice.

    6:27 Isla tells us about one of her inspirational figures on Broadway.

    8:02 Isla talks about how she handles challenges in music and acting.

    9:37 Isla digs further into untangling challenges.

    10:35 Isla reflects on what the arts have meant to her over the COVID-19 pandemic.

    12:08 Isla talks about her dreams for the future in music.

    12:48 Isla reflects on what it means to her to perform for an audience.

    14:06 Isla's advice to students.

    For more about how music and the arts are changing lives, visit us at https://southshorepianoschool.com.

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    16 mins
  • 016. Rob Flax, Multi-Instrumentalist, Composer, and Educator
    May 7 2021

    0:27 Introductions

    3:10 Rob creates a tune out of thin air based on three random words from the Random Word Generator.

    6:25 Rob talks about what happens in his head when generating the awesomeness that just happened.

    12:10 Rob talks about the years of work that has gone into his ability to create spontaneous music like this.

    13:43 Rob shows us a game you can play to practice your free-style rapping.

    16:10 Rob talks about his beginnings in music.

    22:27 Rob discusses his chess background and how it plays into his music.

    31:50 Rob tells us how his college experience led to his career now.

    37:50 Rob reflects on how classical training has influenced and overlapped with the non-classical stuff.

    47:39 Rob talks about what has inspired him over the course of the pandemic quarantine months.

    54:08 Rob talks about COGIAD - Continuous Outward Growth In All Directions

    56:13 Rob talks about the myth of talent, and how myelination works.

    1:03:35 Rob's advice to aspiring creatives.

    1:05:27 Some final thoughts from Rob.

    Follow Rob's music and teaching here:

    http://www.robflax.com/
    www.patreon.com/robflax
    www.loopmethod.com
    https://www.andyreiner.com/grooveshop

    And for more about how music education and the arts are changing lives every day, visit us at https://southshorepianoschool.com!
     

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    1 hr and 9 mins