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  • Best Podcasts for Pianists, Creatives, and Music Lovers

    August 11, 2025
    Artist Growth, Career Development, Film Music, Film Scores, Freelance Musician, Independent Music, Music Analysis, Music and Emotion, Music Business, Music Career, Music Education, Music Income, Music Industry, Music Promotion, Music Psychology, Music Science, Music Storytelling, Music Strategy, Music Theory, Musician Wellness, Musicianship, Networking, Performance, Pianist Mindset, Piano, Piano Inspiration, Pop Culture Music, Practice Tips
    best music podcasts, classical music podcasts, composer podcasts, creative inspiration podcasts, creative podcasts for musicians, film score podcasts, indie musician tips, motivation for musicians, music business podcasts, music education podcasts, podcasts for creatives, podcasts for pianists, soundtrack podcasts

    I’m a huge fan of podcasts. I’ve got one for every mood, topic and occasion. Whether I’m cooking dinner, driving to a gig, or going for a walk — I love to learn new things and get inspired. Over the years, I’ve found a handful of podcasts that keep me motivated as a pianist, feed

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  • Staying Motivated: How to Keep Practicing When You Feel Stuck

    June 28, 2025
    Artist Growth, Career Development, Music and Emotion, Music Career, Music Education, Music Psychology, Musician Wellness, Performance, Pianist Mindset, Piano, Piano Inspiration, Piano Practice, Piano Technique, Practice Tips
    daily practice habits, how to keep practicing piano, how to stay motivated to practice music, music motivation, music practice rut, music progress tips, musician mindset, overcoming music burnout, piano practice motivation, practice tips for musicians

    We’ve all been there. You sit at your instrument, open your sheet music or pull up your practice app… and then just stare. Nothing flows. Nothing feels exciting. You play the same passage 47 times and it still sounds meh. You’re not alone — plateaus in practice are completely normal, whether you’re a beginner or

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  • Anime Music for Pianists: 10 Must-Learn Pieces from Your Favourite Shows

    June 21, 2025
    Anime Soundtracks, Film Music, Film Scores, Japanese Film Music, Joe Hisaishi, Music and Emotion, Music Storytelling, Performance, Piano, Piano Inspiration, Piano Practice, Pop Culture Music, Studio Ghibli
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    There’s something uniquely powerful about anime music. Whether it’s the soaring emotion of a Studio Ghibli theme or the pulse-raising energy of a shonen opening, anime scores are packed with unforgettable melodies, rich harmonies, and heart. As a pianist, playing anime music isn’t just fun—it’s deeply expressive, emotionally satisfying, and a great way to grow

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  • How to Read Lead Sheets and Fake Books: A Pianist’s Guide

    June 14, 2025
    Accompanist Guide, Artist Growth, Aural Skills, Collaborative Pianist, Ear Training, Ensemble Playing, Music Analysis, Music and Emotion, Music Education, Music Industry, Music Storytelling, Music Theory, Musicianship, Performance, Piano, Piano Accompaniment, Piano Exercises, Piano Inspiration, Piano Practice, Piano Technique, Practice Tips
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    Whether you’re sight-reading for a last-minute gig, jamming with a singer, or performing pop songs at a wedding, lead sheets and fake books are a lifesaver for pianists who want flexibility, freedom, and speed. But if you’re used to fully-notated classical scores, lead sheets can look… a little bare. Just a melody? A few chord

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  • Musicality explained: A Beginner’s Guide to Expression

    June 7, 2025
    Artist Growth, Aural Skills, Career Development, Collaborative Pianist, Ear Training, Music Analysis, Music and Emotion, Music Career, Music Education, Music Psychology, Music Science, Music Storytelling, Music Strategy, Music Theory, Musicianship, Performance, Pianist Mindset, Piano, Piano Inspiration, Piano Practice, Piano Technique, Practice Tips
    expressive piano playing, how to improve musicality, how to play piano musically, music expression skills, music performance tips, musical expression, musicality for pianists, piano artistry, piano emotional playing, piano interpretation tips, piano performance tips

    “But how do I play it musically?” If you’ve ever asked your teacher that question – or been that teacher – you know how slippery musicality can feel. It’s not just about playing the right notes, or even playing them well. It’s about making music speak – telling a story through sound, communicating emotion through

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  • How I Lost $4,000 on My First Concert—And Why I Did It Again

    May 31, 2025
    Artist Growth, Branding, Career Development, Digital Marketing, Freelance Musician, Gig Booking, Independent Music, Marketing, Music and Emotion, Music Business, Music Career, Music Income, Music Industry, Music Promotion, Music Storytelling, Music Strategy, Performance, Pianist Mindset, Piano, Piano Inspiration, Pop Culture Music
    booking a venue for a piano recital, concert planning, how to make a piano concert successful, how to perform your own music concert, how to produce a piano concert, how to produce your own piano concert, how to sell concert tickets as an independent musician, independent artist success, independent musician, live music production tips, marketing a live music event, music career lessons, music industry insights, musician success story, my first concert experience, overcoming challenges in music, performing live, piano concert planning guide, piano concert production, piano performance journey, self-funded concert, self-produced concert, self-producing a music concert, solo piano concert, what goes into planning a concert

    Where It All Began: The Moment That Changed Everything In 2011, I attended a small piano recital at the Sydney Conservatorium, where a student performed an intimate concert of Final Fantasy music. I remember sitting there, shocked—not by the performance itself, but by the sheer fact that someone was playing non-classical music in a formal

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  • Top 10 Film Scores Every Pianist Should Learn

    May 3, 2025
    Film Music, Film Scores, Joe Hisaishi, Music Analysis, Music and Emotion, Music Education, Music Storytelling, Performance, Piano, Piano Inspiration, Pop Culture Music, Studio Ghibli
    advanced piano movie themes, best cinematic music for pianists, best film music for pianists, easy movie music for piano, famous piano film scores, Hans Zimmer piano pieces, movie soundtrack piano arrangements, top movie themes to play on piano

    Film music has an incredible ability to tell stories, evoke deep emotions, and transport us to different worlds—all without a single word. As pianists, we get the unique opportunity to bring these cinematic moments to life through expressive melodies, lush harmonies, and dynamic storytelling at the keyboard. But with so many iconic film scores out

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  • Everybody Hertz – The Best Non-Fiction Book I’ve Read in 2024

    April 12, 2025
    Book Reviews, Music and Emotion, Music Education, Music Psychology, Music Science
    best books on music and science, best non-fiction books for musicians, Everybody Hertz book review, frequency and vibration in daily life, how sound affects the body, how sound influences the brain, music therapy and brain function, Richard Mainwaring Everybody Hertz analysis, Schumann resonance and human health, the science of music

    Every once in a while, a book comes along that completely changes the way you think about something you’ve always taken for granted. For me, that book last year was Everybody Hertz by Richard Mainwaring. At first glance, you might think this is just another science book about sound. But Everybody Hertz is so much

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  • 6 Tips to Overcome Stage Fright as a Pianist

    April 5, 2025
    Artist Growth, Career Development, Music and Emotion, Music Career, Music Education, Music Industry, Music Psychology, Music Storytelling, Music Strategy, Musician Wellness, Performance, Pianist Mindset, Piano, Practice Tips
    anxiety coping strategies for performers, best techniques for stage fright, building confidence as a pianist, calming nerves before a performance, how to deal with nerves before performing, how to feel comfortable on stage, how to overcome stage fright, how to perform piano with confidence, how to play piano without fear, musician mental preparation, overcoming music performance anxiety, performance anxiety for pianists, piano stage presence, stage anxiety solutions for musicians, stage fright tips for musicians

    Stage fright is something almost every musician experiences at some point. That nervous energy before a performance can be exhilarating, but when it turns into overwhelming anxiety, shaky hands, or a racing heart, it can feel impossible to focus on the music. As a pianist, you don’t have the luxury of hiding behind a microphone

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  • Why Studio Ghibli Music Resonates with So Many People

    March 29, 2025
    Anime Soundtracks, Film Music, Film Scores, Japanese Film Music, Joe Hisaishi, Music Analysis, Music and Emotion, Music Composition, Music Education, Music Storytelling, Piano Inspiration, Pop Culture Music, Studio Ghibli
    best anime film music, best studio ghibli soundtracks, ghibli music emotional impact, how ghibli music tells a story, how music enhances ghibli films, joe hisaishi compositions, joe hisaishi film music, most beautiful ghibli music, spirited away soundtrack breakdown, studio ghibli music, studio ghibli music analysis, studio ghibli music nostalgia, the magic of joe hisaishi, why ghibli music is emotional, why we love joe hisaishi

    There’s something truly magical about Studio Ghibli films. Whether it’s the breathtaking animation, heartwarming storytelling, or unforgettable characters, these films have a way of staying with us long after the credits roll. But one of the most powerful elements that makes Ghibli movies so special? The music. As a huge fan of Studio Ghibli and

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