Learning to love the process

Have you had the experience of suddenly hearing something in a recording, or about your playing that you never noticed before? Could the secret to becoming a better musician, in large part, not be just about practice and technique, but about becoming a better listener? If you'd like to "grow your ears" and learn to hear more of the details music is trying to share, and to demystify the components that create passages with flavor and feeling, listen in as host Laurel Thomsen suggests some barriers to deep listening and reminds us about the elements we can learn to listen more deeply for.

What if "doing the music thing" didn't conjure subsisting on ramen and scrounging together rent money from a few random gigs and students, but finding a "path to remarkable success," ​positioning yourself in unique spaces and with interesting pursuits, making a healthy income while staying inspired and having a deep impact? If you've wondered if you could avoid the rat-race, create demand for your services, and love what you're doing each day, if you're a teacher or parent wondering how to best help your students realize their musical dreams, or even if you're not a musician, but want to live a rich, creative life, this episode is for you! We're speaking with the wonderful David Cutler, and his new book, "The Savvy Musician 2.0," presents a comprehensive manual that will fill you with passion for how to approach all elements of the music business, from positioning yourself in the marketplace and creating relevance, to promoting your shows and services, time management, and leaving a legacy.

What scale or excerpt should you choose to audition with? What should you do if all the excerpts are either too difficult and others too easy? When you have limited time to prepare the material, where should you put your focus for the most pay off? What do they mean by "contrasting" pieces? If you've wondered about these questions, or if you're a teacher wondering how to best help your students, or even if you're an adult student, dreaming of playing in a group someday, but not sure how to prepare for that or to know when you're ready, this episode is for you! Host Laurel Thomsen answers these questions and more, with ideas for how to approach all elements of an audition, from scales and excerpts, to sight reading and solo pieces, giving you a launch point to get to work and hopefully win the placement of your dreams!

What are études? Should you be playing them? Where do they fit into your practice routine, especially also considering a scale and arpeggio practice? Which ones should you start with, and should you always go in book order? If you've ever considered some of these questions, or you're a student, a teacher, or someone hoping to keep your playing chops in top condition, this episode is for you! Host Laurel Thomsen answers common questions and gives her recommendations for études to check out for beginners, intermediates, and more advanced players.

Ever wondered what strings might help your instrument sound warmer? Brighter? Louder? Softer? Should you try gut strings? Is there a difference between synthetic and composite strings? What about all metal strings, and do different types of metals make a difference? What about different gauges, or tensions for that matter? How should you best care for your strings, and when should you change them? In this episode, host Laurel Thomsen answers your questions about strings, arming you with more knowledge to make an informed choice to balance your instrument tone and get the most out of your strings.