The Lean Musician Podcast

Barry Green is a writer, performer and teacher. He was principal bassist for the Cincinnati symphony for 28 years. He’s coached hundreds and hundreds of people on their performance, not just the practical but the ... Read More The post LM008: Barry Green appeared first on Lean Musician.

Chris Donnelly is from Toronto Canada. He's a juno-nominated pianist, composer and a fantastic educator. His background spans a rigorous education in both classical and jazz disciplines and today his projects cross many genres. During our conversation we covered some really fantastic topics, ones that particularly interest me, such as: Truly getting things into your playing & composition The idea of restricting yourself intelligently as a composer Using different mediums for composition Chris had a piano in the room where he was so he actually plays examples during the interview, which was really fantastic. A great, seriously fun (and long) interview awaits you - enjoy! :) What you'll learn during the episode How Chris's background in Jazz & Classical benefits his playing The unique early education that Chris had and how that formed his early years. The first kids Jazz education in the 80s The value in playing with other kids when you are younger i.e. the value of being social in music. How Canadian music grades go up to GRADE 11! ;) The value in getting involved in local music Chris's university studies & the kind of things he decided to work on in his playing Examples of practice exercises that Chris creates for himself Concepts of counterpoint in improvisation The value in playing and singing musical material at the piano if you are a composer - regardless of whether you are a pianist. How Chris studies hand independance An overview of species counterpoint writing The idea of creating your own practice methods with your own patterns. Creating exercises for specific keys. Chris's exploration of Chip Tunes & the idea of restricting yourself intelligently as a composer The difference between being a pencil-paper composer & computer composer - i.e. 'mediums' of composition. Chris's DAW setup & VSTs The idea of creating a box or restrictive creative environment as a composer. Chris's project Myriad 3 'If you approach everything with a sense of play, and experimentation & improvisation then it doesn't really matter what you start with, as long as you start'. Links Orff Method Kodaly Method Russell Hartenberger (Steve Reich) Chris's Website & Blog The hand independence posts Adventures in Chip Tunes Chip sounds (VST) Chip crusher (VST) Omnisphere Myriad 3 Video on Myriad 3 The post LM007: Chris Donnelly appeared first on Lean Musician.

David Reed is the creator of Improvise for Real - a method that empowers musicians to learn about music through their own creative explorations rather than learning rules, tips, tricks guidelines etc. Check out his book here. I heard about his work from episode 4 with Dave Swift and after checking out his work I was convinced we should have him on for you. The value of this interview lies in a really authentic teacher (David) explaining his method of teaching - or learning - which is really a life's work to create an entire trajectory for a beginner student. If you've ever felt that you lack natural flair or ability in improvisation, or even flat out say you can't do it - we're here to tell you it's just not true. It's just to do with how you may not have been prepared or been guided in the right ways. A big thanks to David Reed from ImproviseForReal.com for coming on the show - a really fantastic man and a great interview. During The Interview You Will Learn & Hear About about IFR and it's fairly unique and effective approach how a good goal of good practice is simply to keep loving recognising music deeply the value in taking the time to learn something fully rather than skipping ahead how we are all musical that the idea of 'self lack' or limitations in music are not there - it's just about your relationship with music. the falsity of 'natural talent' - it's just that others understand may currently understand it deeper than you. how it was David's students that really helped him to develop his initial approach to teaching this way improvisation in a different way than you may be used to where your focus should be when playing following passion & not pressure how experience beats knowledge. examples of IFR exercises the value of beginners mind how the method has really helped David's own development as a musician. Quotes "What people need is an experience of learning music that actually involves music." "There are some aspects of the learning process that are best served by silence... having free time to lie in the grass & look up at the sky & puzzle over that thing you've been trying to understand..." "The secret is that there is no secret" The post LM006 David Reed appeared first on Lean Musician.

When the first musician you ever sit in with is Rahsaan Roland Kirk, your first gig is when your 10 and names like Max Roach, Cark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie, Roy Haynes, Alan Dawson and Jack Dejohnette are really interested in your development... you know you're off to a good start. Terri Lyne-Carrington is a GRAMMY® award-winning drummer, composer and bandleader with decades of experience. Over the course of her career, she's played with the likes of Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, Wayne Shorter, Esperanza Spalding, Dianne Reeves, Dee Dee Bridgewater, John Schofield, Lizz Wright, Terence Blanchard and the list of her amazing musical collaborations goes on and on... During this interview we get into talking about how this all came about. We talk about the different styles of band leaders she's worked with & how she herself works with others. It was a true honour to speak to Terri - she's a really great person - very real and super chilled. On the day that we spoke Terri was actually doing numerous other interview for names like Jazzwise Magazine - so I'm really grateful for the time she took to speak to us. During the interview with Terri LC you will hear about: Terri Lyne-Carrington's background and childhood. Her amazing start in music and the numerous mentors she had around her when she was around. How to be social as a musician, & it's value. Being the type of person people want to have around. Different styles of the band leaders she's worked with How she brings together different musicians and The value of writing music for the musical personalities - i.e. people that you know. Terri's Compositional Process. What & how Terri teaches at Berklee Terri's music and the Mosaic Project The value of fundamentals "It's a work in progress. We're all a work in progress. In life and in music." Some of the items mentioned in the episode The 80/20 Drummer Terri's Website The Mosaic Project & Terri's other Albums Some of the musicians mentioned in this episode I started trying to list the names of the musicians mentioned in this episode... but frankly there are t0o many... ;) Alan Dawson Rahsaan Roland Kirk Clark Terry Dizzy Gillespie Elvin Jones Roy Haynes Max Roach Jack Dejohnette Brian Blade Danielo Perez Wayne Shorter The post LM005 Terri Lyne Carrington appeared first on Lean Musician.

Dave Swift has a big CV. Adele..? Amy Winehouse? Know them? ..Chaka Khan, Paul Simon, BB King, George Benson… 'The Beatles'?. For the last three decades, Dave has been the main bass man for Jools Holland. In this interview we hear about how Dave started out, we hear about his journey to becoming a well rounded musician, his early years with Jools, all the experiences with the band & we talk a load about education. Above all, there’s one quote or message that I took away from the podcast & it’s directly hinted at the excerpt at the beginning of the podcast. Often the study of music - whether through education or not - can all too easily become an academic affair - in other words, our effort to study and intellectualise music actually works against us. In this amazing interview, Dave reminds us how important it is to “go to the source” with music - in other words, don’t study things around music, or books etc… but listen, transcribe, assimilate - and then go do your own thing. It’s amazing and deceptively simple advice. I was inspired by this interview & I hope you will be too. Dave’s a great man with a wonderful approach to life. It’s a long interview but I hope you can stick through it - as there’s plenty of Gems in there. :) As always, get in touch if you’re enjoying the podcast - we’d love to hear from for whatever reason - whether just to say hi. Quotes from the interview "Listen more than you play" - Dave Swift "Go to the source" - Dave Swift "Imitate, Assimilate, Innovate" - Clark Terry What you will learn about in this Episode How Dave got started in music How Dave became a well-rounded musician What it takes to be a successful session musician The importance of having a mental repertoire The dangers of focussing solely on technique The value of listening & the importance of using your ears in music How fake-books used to be ILLEGAL! The value of throwing yourself into the deep end before your ready Dave's huge library of transcriptions The value in mistakes Dave's long career with Jools Holland and all the musicians he's collaborated with Why it's good to not care too much when you perform & focus on enjoying what you are doing Dave's method for practicing a new piece Links & Items Mentioned in this Episode Dave's Website Jamie Aebersold Episode Number 1 with William Westney Jade Visions: The Life and Music of Scott LaFaro Music Mentioned in this Episode Joni Mitchell Glen Millar Jimi Hendrix Cream The Sound of Music Earth Wind and Fire Pino Palladino Julian Arguelles Jaco Pastorius Weather Report Clark Terry Jimmy Blanton Michael Moore Bill Evans Dave Brubeck Jools Holland Return to Forever Chick Corea Adele Amy Winehouse Eric Clapton BB King The Rolling Stones Anthony Jackson Hiromi Scott Lafaro Charlie Haden   The post LM004 Dave Swift – Bass appeared first on Lean Musician.

Intro "There is always a solution. What’s more… there is always a positive solution to everything." Paul Harris is one of the top music educators in the world. Having studied at the Royal Academy, Paul has gone on to forge a wide career - spanning composition, performance, editing, adjudicating and teaching. His knowledge and passion is infectious & we had a great chat about his unique thoughts and refreshing approaches to education. Even if your interests do not lie with teaching so much - there is still huge worth in these sections of the interview. Teaching (i feel) is at the heart of really understanding and unpacking music more deeply & therefore improving your own musicianship. What you will learn from this episode: Paul's early movements into teaching at age 9! (sort of... ;) His mentors How being a teacher informs your musicianship The difference between collaborative teaching and authoritarian teaching which is at the core of Paul’s approach. The ‘myth of difficult’ - the perspective that nothing is difficult, but that it is really about finding the logical progression through ones learning. What’s the next thing to work on? What’s the next thing your students should be working on? The importance of really taking a piece off the page & mess with the ‘ingredients’ and ‘materials’. Being creative as a teacher and exploring your style. Avoiding reactive and ‘mistakes teaching’. Paul’s approach and methodology of ‘simultaneous learning’. How Paul talks students through HOW to practice & why practice is important. How to get students more engaged in the elements of music and get them to unpack a piece. The idea of flow and effortless engagement. The value of balance and lack of tension. How Paul guides students to learn through his compositions - or the idea of ‘order’ in terms of learning/progressing through musical material. The importance and progression of student's rhythmic understanding in music. How people play a hugely important role in Paul’s compositions Living and staying positive as a musician Links and items mentioned in this episode: Simultaneous learning The Practice process The Virtuoso teacher Simultaneous practice map Flow book Robert Starer Paul's Website The post LM003: Paul Harris appeared first on Lean Musician.

Intro This interview with Ben Salisbury was actually done over a year ago. Before Lean Musician, Jack had started another podcast for Film Composers & Sound designers called The Sound of Media. After he found himself winding it down after 7 episodes - Tom & Jack formed it into a new project – which is now Lean Musician! Jack knows Ben from a project a few years back & he’s a big composer on the Bristol scene (where Jack lives). He’s prolific has been involved in some seriously interesting projects, not least: Beyonce’s directorial debut Various natural history films with David Attenborough Work with Geoff Barrow & Portishead It’s a great interview & one of the ones we really didn’t want to let go into the dusty archives of Jack's computer. We hope you enjoy it & please remember to head over to the show notes at www.leanmusician.com/episode2 … where you’l be able to find an outline of the episode, subscribe on iTunes or Android & references all links mentioned in this episode. Outline of the podcast: 00.00 Ben Talks about what he's up to 12:30: How does the interplay of a classical education & an interest in sound design play out in your work? 15:50 Can you explain a bit more about what you mean by ‘changing the world with the score’? 18:40 Composing for Natural History vs more alternative projects & escaping the ‘standard way’ of writing. 23:00 Different ways of listening & hearing music in media. 25:00 The Sound of Natural History Scores 29:00 Not dominating with your scores & some praise from David Attenborough 35:36 Whats your starting point & approach to composition? 43:00 Any advice for getting ‘fresh ears’? Links and items mentioned in this episode: Ben Salisbury's website Ben's Twitter Geoff Barrow Portishead Drokk Beyonce - Life is But A Dream Scott Hendy Dolman Dolman Video - On Stony Ground Miguel Sapochnick Paul Stretch Scott Rudin Barnaby Taylor Monkey Planet George Fenton David Poore Dirk Campbell Steven Price Interview with Steven Price Pomodoro Technique The post LM002: Ben Salisbury, Film Composer. appeared first on Lean Musician.

Today's guest is William Westney. William is a concert pianist, professor and artist-in-residence at Texas Tech University & the author of ‘The Perfect Wrong Note’ a book about - as the subtitle says - ‘rediscovering your musical self’. He’s a perfect guest for episode number one & of course that’s no accident. During the episode we discuss his life’s work in education, as well as his deep exploration of practice & performance. At first glance, the concepts that William explores here are non-traditional, but as you will hear - they are from a tradition and musical wisdom that has been around for a long time. What you will learn in this episode Numerous principles and simple distinctions that will help enhance your practice A deeper look at what is meant by the ‘mechanics’ of practice - or as William calls it - ‘neuro-muscular work’. How to turn technical difficulties into pleasurable experiences and unlock their potential The radical mindset shift that helps thinking about mistakes differently How important it is to distinguish between practice and performance Why we should think clearly and carefully about what are goals are in practice How William thinks about performance & what ‘the zone’ is for him How to turn nerves into valuable food for your performance How the appropriate balance of risk & enjoyment actually encourages your brain to learn better Quotes “[Mistakes] are not just about forgiving ourselves and saying ‘let me try that again’, it’s totally embracing the mistake and saying ‘what’s the information in that mistake?’” “You have to make a thorough/physical commitment to every note” (in thinking about how to practice) - “How can everything I do feel great?” Links & items mentioned in this episode William’s Website The Perfect Wrong Note Dalcroze Eurhythmics Muzik Garten Eloise Ristad - A Soprano On Her Head William's research on musical movements and meanings Daniel Coyle The post LM001: William Westney appeared first on Lean Musician.