Discover Cool Musical Subcultures

Alp horns Tell me if you agree: playing for yourself versus playing with others are two completely different types of musicianship. As a singer myself, I am almost always with other people when I make music. Sure, I sing in my car or the shower or whatever, but most of my music-making is with choirs or instrumentalists like guitars or pianos. I recently had the opportunity to interview Elaine Crumb, who plays what is among the most solitary instruments in the world... but it turns out she is...

iPad ensemble When you think of modern instruments, what comes to mind? Is there innovation happening in the world of instruments? Is anything new being built? Today I'm speaking with Dr. Drake Andersen, a composer and music professor at Central Connecticut State University. He teaches a whole college class on what might be the most surprising instrument I've encountered so far: the iPad. Support this work Contribute Welcome to the world of iPads in live improvisatory performances... What is...

The Taubman approach What separates the greatest performers from the rest of us? What secret techniques do they know? What knowledge do they possess, that can only be found with the most elite teachers in the world? I spoke with someone who has coached those elite performers… and their teachers too. Robert Durso is a piano performer and teacher who has worked with hundreds of students and teachers, and has coached several of literally the world’s best piano performers. His students have...

Le Grand Bal de l'Europe What's the farthest you've been willing to go to try something new? Like, I'm pretty adventurous; I once took an entire summer driving around the USA in a pickup truck with a topper on it. ... but compared to William Watson? This guy loaded up his bicycle and flew halfway across the world, to a country where he doesn't speak the language, to stay in a stranger's backyard for two weeks for an absolutely one of a kind dance event where he didn't know anybody. This...

Learning music through play Have you played this week? I don't mean your instrument - I mean, have you engaged your brain and body in something make believe that maybe feels a little silly? I sat down with a music educator who believes the play involved in teaching kids music is just as important for adults... and the more serious you are about learning music, maybe the more serious you need to be about your play. Please welcome Danielle McNamara, a performer and music educator in Central...

Music, mindfulness, and gentle wisdom Here's a thought for the ages: What is JOY, and how do we get somma that? Attempts at this question have been made by all sorts, from spiritual gurus and philosophers to chemists. In December I had the privilege of speaking with someone who might actually have an answer... because he's kind of all of the above? Dr Michael McGee is a three times board certified psychiatrist specializing in trauma and addiction. He's practiced for over 30 years and worked...

The healing powers of music are proven...again Music and healing have been associated... forever? From chanting healing songs over those who are sick to the profession of music therapy, music heals. And this keeps being proven... My recent guest on Zeitgeist Radio, Bri Reve, speaks about the healing power of songwriting. But equally as healing can be just listening to music. Those of you who have been with me for a while may remember music therapist Marlys, who shared some techniques for...

The music of contra dance "Contra dance music takes its sound from a whole bunch of different influences," says contra dance musician Jeffrey Spero during our conversation on Zeitgeist Radio. "which is why it's very difficult to describe what contra dance music sounds like...Because it sounds like a whole bunch of different genres combined together to create its own genre." So here it is: my attempt (in conjunction with Jeffrey, of course) to define contra dance... not through the moves or...

Early childhood music education ftw "Sitting in a Kindermusik class, even though you may not even realize it, that child is going through a process of cognitive sequences," Jacque Negus says in our conversation on Zeitgeist Radio. "When we're moving them, especially to a steady beat, that's developing those neural passage ways that we always talk about, and stimulating the vestibular system in so many different ways to help them learn and grow." If you need to catch up on our conversation,...

Reader, I've been thinking a lot about community this season, mostly because of my amazing 4-month-old daughter (who is seriously the happiest baby in the world). I've been deeply considering my responsibility to nestle her inside a community (or several!) and what, in today's fragmented world, that curation process looks like. The world will throw its ick at her in due time; it's much more manageable with the love of a strong community at your back. This newsletter is a 2-fer on community:...