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Crushing Classical

Crushing Classical is a series of interviews with classical musicians who are forging unique paths with their talent, creating their own artistic fulfillment and financial comfort, and finding ways to thrive. I celebrate these brave people who are taking routes outside of traditional orchestral or academic employment! As always, I invite you to listen for your own sparks and breadcrumbs, and use these interviews to find the possibilities that exist in your own life.
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Now displaying: 2018

The Happiest Musician: Creating A Career You Love With All The Things You Love Doing

Jun 7, 2018

What you'll hear on this episode:

  • His NOT well-thought-out first plan, and the best tip he got about how to do it right the next time
  • The advice he got that revolutionized how he ultimately set up this business side of his ensemble
  • Why the RIGHT space for your concert is so important.
  • How he reframes his mindset for the necessary - but less enjoyable tasks to keep himself working joyfully
  • His recent collaboration and the crucial ingredient it contained for growth and success

Learn more about Christopher Rountree and his projects:

http://rountreemusic.com/

http://wildup.la/profile/chris-rountree/

One Festival: https://onefestivalomaha.org/

 

Also mentioned on the podcast:

Missy Mizzoli: http://www.missymazzoli.com/

ICE: https://www.iceorg.org/

 

I want to thank Ficks Music for sponsoring Crushing Classical. When you’re looking for high quality sheet music, look no further than  https://www.ficksmusic.com/discount/CRUSH
Use the link above to get 10% off your order!
 
 
Check out the new revolutionary tuner app DRONE TUNER on iOS. Available NOW for iPhone and iPad. Tune to REAL recorded instrument tones instead of machine-like sounds to work on intonation, sound concept and blend. Beautiful visuals! Get it today:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/drone-tuner/id1326016622?ls=1&mt=8 
May 24, 2018

What you'll hear:

  • Starting your own concert series: where do you find the concept, adding your own touches
  • The MOST important thing to consider and the FIRST place you should start when designing your concert series
  • The fundraising dilemma - Laura’s plan for fundraising for the first season
  • The importance of relationships and how they play a role in building a concert series
  • The biggest challenge in NYC producing this concert series
  • A unique promotional partnership opportunity with a big company… something you need to know if you put on concerts!
  • Laura’s advice for breaking into the scene in NYC or any big city

Find out more about Laura, her groups and Gather NYC:

http://gathernyc.org/ 

https://www.facebook.com/GatherNewYork/

https://www.fracturedatlas.org/

https://www.facebook.com/Laurametcalfcellist/

https://www.facebook.com/BoydMeetsGirlDuo/

https://www.facebook.com/SybariteFive/

Also mentioned:

https://www.chatterabq.org/

I want to thank Ficks Music for sponsoring Crushing Classical. When you’re looking for high quality sheet music, look no further than  https://www.ficksmusic.com/discount/CRUSH
Use the link above to get 10% off your order!
 
Check out the new revolutionary tuner app DRONE TUNER on iOS. Available NOW for iPhone and iPad. Tune to REAL recorded instrument tones instead of machine-like sounds to work on intonation, sound concept and blend. The visual component of this tuner is also incredible, with a super-fast reaction time, it allows you to tune while playing a musical passage or using vibrato. It even allows you to tune chords!
Get yours today: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/drone-tuner/id1326016622?ls=1&mt=8 
May 3, 2018

What you'll hear:

  • The fork in the road after music school - and the unusual choice Murray made after all those years studying music
  • His personal story of tragedy, an unconventional method of deep healing and the way he figured out how to share it on a large scale
  • His drastic career change after age 40 - and the bold steps he took to navigate the change
  • The unconventional way he thinks about audience and what his concert-goers have to say about it
  • … And much more

Find out more about Murray Hidary at https://www.murrayhidary.com/ 

Learn all about Mind Travel at https://www.mindtravel.com/#home 

Upcoming shows including his May 10th Central Park concert in NYC

https://www.mindtravel.com/experiences/ 

I want to thank Ficks Music for sponsoring Crushing Classical. When you’re looking for high quality sheet music, look no further than  https://www.ficksmusic.com/discount/CRUSH
Use the link above to get 10% off your order!
 
Check out the new revolutionary tuner app DRONE TUNER on iOS. Available NOW for iPhone and iPad. Tune to REAL recorded instrument tones instead of machine-like sounds to work on intonation, sound concept and blend. The visual component of this tuner is also incredible, with a super-fast reaction time, it allows you to tune while playing a musical passage or using vibrato. It even allows you to tune chords!
Get yours today: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/drone-tuner/id1326016622?ls=1&mt=8 

 

Apr 26, 2018

What you’ll hear:

  • Drew tells the KEY to great Instagramming
  • Find out what it takes to grow to over 160,000 followers
  • His opinion on current social media marketing for orchestras - and what’s missing on those teams and his ideas for how they could change
  • What he thinks is the reason people go to concerts… hint: it’s not only for the music
  • What he understands that makes him understand this platform so well

Find Drew on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatviolakid/?hl=en

For more about the Holland America/Lincoln Center partnership and to audition:

https://www.rwsnyc.com/lincolncenterstage/ 

Mentioned on the show - Drew's favorites:

Donald Glover: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2255973/

https://childishgambino.com/

Redbone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kp7eSUU9oy8

I want to thank Ficks Music for sponsoring Crushing Classical. When you’re looking for high quality sheet music, look no further than  https://www.ficksmusic.com/discount/CRUSH
Use the link above to get 10% off your order!
 
Check out the new revolutionary tuner app DRONE TUNER on iOS. Available NOW for iPhone and iPad. Tune to REAL recorded instrument tones instead of machine-like sounds to work on intonation, sound concept and blend. The visual component of this tuner is also incredible, with a super-fast reaction time, it allows you to tune while playing a musical passage or using vibrato. It even allows you to tune chords!
Get yours today: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/drone-tuner/id1326016622?ls=1&mt=8 
Apr 16, 2018

What you'll hear:

  • How Robert’s characteristic spirit - or ETHOS - guided him, and what people thought of that kind of thinking in music school
  • How his “Plan B” after not getting into any summer festivals ended up showing him a whole other world
  • The conversation that changed Robert’s point of view about his career in music
  • How a DIY move toward the unknown changed the course of his career
  • The realization he had about his career that applies to ALL careers - a very simple truth you have to hear.
  • How Robert is bringing his long-loved idea of collaboration into his career now
  • What most classical musicians are not seeing - but everyone has

 

Find out more about French Horn Rebellion and their current tour on their website: https://www.frenchhornrebellion.com/ 

Mentioned on the show:

Pathways horn podcast:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pathways/id1215168842?mt=2

Rock Horn Project:

https://www.rockhornproject.com/ 

I want to thank Ficks Music for sponsoring Crushing Classical. When you’re looking for high quality sheet music, look no further than  https://www.ficksmusic.com/discount/CRUSH
Use the link above to get 10% off your order!
 
Check out the new revolutionary tuner app DRONE TUNER on iOS. Available NOW for iPhone and iPad. Tune to REAL recorded instrument tones instead of machine-like sounds to work on intonation, sound concept and blend. The visual component of this tuner is also incredible, with a super-fast reaction time, it allows you to tune while playing a musical passage or using vibrato. It even allows you to tune chords!
Get yours today: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/drone-tuner/id1326016622?ls=1&mt=8 
Mar 29, 2018

What you'll hear:

  • A great idea for keeping adult students excited and motivated to take lessons
  • The seemingly obvious barriers that would stop anyone - solved in real time
  • The true reason parents bail on programs for their kids. Hint: It’s not cost
  • The secret to getting an audience right NOW - you’ll be surprised you didn’t think of it
  • AND… The way to KEEP that audience. This one gets forgotten about all the time.

Check out Margaret's program at https://www.facebook.com/hornsquad/

 
I want to thank Ficks Music for sponsoring Crushing Classical. When you’re looking for high quality sheet music, look no further than  https://www.ficksmusic.com/discount/CRUSH
Use the link above to get 10% off your order!
 
Check out the new revolutionary tuner app DRONE TUNER on iOS. Available NOW for iPhone and iPad. Tune to REAL recorded instrument tones instead of machine-like sounds to work on intonation, sound concept and blend. The visual component of this tuner is also incredible, with a super-fast reaction time, it allows you to tune while playing a musical passage or using vibrato. It even allows you to tune chords!
Get yours today: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/drone-tuner/id1326016622?ls=1&mt=8 
Mar 15, 2018

What you’ll hear:

  • The most important thing you need to succeed as a film composer
  • What NOT to do when networking with film industry people
  • His formula for getting work in the film music business (this formula is tried and true!)
  • Specific tips on what and how to share your music when looking for work - keeping your AUDIENCE in mind (AKA the producers/directors/people that hire you)
  • The big difference in contracts and unions between the US and other countries - how this causes work in the film recording industry to go overseas… and what you can do about it

… and SO much more

 

Mentioned in the episode - Larry Groupé's film composer workshop, coming up this summer. For more information go to: http://www.palomarworkshops.com/

I want to thank Ficks Music for sponsoring Crushing Classical. When you’re looking for high quality sheet music, look no further than  https://www.ficksmusic.com/discount/CRUSH
Use the link above to get 10% off your order!
 
Check out the new revolutionary tuner app DRONE TUNER on iOS. Available NOW for iPhone and iPad. Tune to REAL recorded instrument tones instead of machine-like sounds to work on intonation, sound concept and blend. The visual component of this tuner is also incredible, with a super-fast reaction time, it allows you to tune while playing a musical passage or using vibrato. It even allows you to tune chords!
Get yours today: https://apple.co/2pe4NBe 

 

Feb 22, 2018

What you’ll hear:

  • The epiphany Cliff had TWICE about his career that launched him in the direction of his career as an arranger
  • The bold way he learned the ins-and-outs of the commercial music business
  • Why you SHOULD NOT do what he did if you are interested in arranging for commercial music
  • How the commercial music business has changed
  • Two things you should do (and one thing you should NOT do) if you are thinking of diversifying the genres you play

Mentioned on the episode:

CONTACT CLIFF with any questions. He is happy to get your messages:

cliffccm@aol.com

Cliff's arranging projects mentioned in the episode:

David Bloom & Cliff Colnot CD: Contender: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/contender/1300774452

Ellington tribute CD with Daniel Barenboim:

https://www.amazon.com/Tribute-Ellington-Duke/dp/B00001SICY 

For the CSO ensemble Civitas: http://www.civitasensemble.org/

I want to thank Ficks Music for sponsoring Crushing Classical. When you’re looking for high quality sheet music, look no further than  https://www.ficksmusic.com/discount/CRUSH
Use the link above to get 10% off your order!
 
Check out the new revolutionary tuner app DRONE TUNER on iOS. Available NOW for iPhone and iPad. Tune to REAL recorded instrument tones instead of machine-like sounds to work on intonation, sound concept and blend. The visual component of this tuner is also incredible, with a super-fast reaction time, it allows you to tune while playing a musical passage or using vibrato. It even allows you to tune chords!
 
Get yours today: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/drone-tuner/id1326016622?ls=1&mt=8 
 
 
Feb 5, 2018

What you'll hear:

- How and why Amir ultimately chose jazz over classical after studying both through college

- What he did after college to seek out a specific sound he was craving... and it didn't even exist yet

- The unique learning style that has been lost over generations, the human connection it creates and how this style greatly impacted his trumpet playing

- What he realized about combining musical styles and what that actually means for the preservation and evolution of a musical tradition

... and much more.

More about Amir:

http://www.amirelsaffar.com/music/projects/rivers-of-sound/

https://newamsterdamrecords.bandcamp.com/album/not-two

Purchase on iTunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/not-two/1236925789 

Upcoming Concerts: Iowa City, Chicago and New York
 
Thursday, February 8th at 7:30 pm in Iowa City, IA at the Hancher Auditorium:
https://hancher.uiowa.edu/2017-18/AmirElSaffar 
Friday, February 9th at 8:00 pm in Chicago at Symphony Center
https://cso.org/ticketsandevents/production-details-2017-18/scp-jazz/mike-reed-amir-elsaffar/
Saturday, February 10th at 7:30 pm at NYU Skirball
http://as.nyu.edu/neareaststudies/events/spring-2018/rivers-of-sound-with-amir-elsaffar.html
 
Check out the new revolutionary tuner app DRONE TUNER on iOS. Available NOW for iPhone and iPad. Tune to REAL recorded instrument tones instead of machine-like sounds to work on intonation, sound concept and blend. The visual component of this tuner is also incredible, with a super-fast reaction time, it allows you to tune while playing a musical passage or using vibrato. It even allows you to tune chords!
Get yours today: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/drone-tuner/id1326016622?ls=1&mt=8 
 
I want to thank Ficks Music for sponsoring Crushing Classical. When you’re looking for high quality sheet music, look no further than  https://www.ficksmusic.com/discount/CRUSH
Use the link above to get 10% off your order!
Jan 18, 2018

What you'll hear:

- Why he turned down an offer to return for another season with New World Symphony, how he handled the criticism...and how it fueled a larger vision

 

- The best way to hire and enroll the caliber of musicians you need to establish a top performing ensemble

 

- How to turn an audience into true FANS in an orchestral setting (a key ingredient if you are fundraising)

 

- The unusual approach he took to raise money for Nu Deco at the starting line

 

...and much more

 

Check out the new revolutionary tuner app DRONE TUNER on iOS. Available NOW for iPhone and iPad. Tune to REAL recorded instrument tones instead of machine-like sounds to work on intonation, sound concept and blend. The visual component of this tuner is also incredible, with a super-fast reaction time, it allows you to tune while playing a musical passage or using vibrato. It even allows you to tune chords!

Get yours today: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/drone-tuner/id1326016622?ls=1&mt=8 

 

I want to thank Ficks Music for sponsoring Crushing Classical. When you’re looking for high quality sheet music, look no further than  https://www.ficksmusic.com/discount/CRUSH
Use the link above to get 10% off your order!

 

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