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Musicality Now
Discover the most powerful tools, strategies and insights with Musical U director Christopher Sutton and more than 100 of the world’s leading experts on developing your musicality.
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Episode Series
Musicality Unleashed
In this series of nine short episodes we reveal the components and techniques of the most effective musicality training available.
Improv Month
Featuring interviews with improvisation pros and a series of tutorials teaching you to play freely and spontaneously, if you have any interest in learning to improvise you won’t want to this special nine-episode series.
Beatles Month
In this series of eight episodes we examine the musicality of Fab Four themselves, asking the kinds of questions we’re so interested in here at Musical U – like what makes a song tick, how to understand what you hear in music, and what are the concrete, practical skills that underlie apparent musical “talent”.
Pathways
In these episodes regular music-learners share their stories so far, including the tips, techniques and resources that have helped them most.
Rewind
In these special episodes the Musical U team get together to revisit their favourite and most impactful moments from past episodes of Musicality Now.
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- Inside The Book: It’s Out! October 15, 2024 - We are celebrating the release of this: the Musicality book! Woohoo! This book has been in the works for two years or 15 years, depending on how you measure it, and it’s so exciting that it’s out. It’s taken me a while to do this announcement because, as we unpack in this episode, it’s been a […]
- Bringing light and clarity to your musical journey (Coaches Corner, Episode 12) July 25, 2024 - Here's how to bring more light and clarity into your musical life, by becoming more aware of what keeps you winning in music.
- Don’t Give Up. July 23, 2024 - If you've felt yourself losing motivation or even losing hope in music - this one is for you. Discover how to re-light that fire.
- How To Deconstruct Songs Like A Car Mechanic (with Benny Romalis) July 20, 2024 - What makes a great song tick? Discover how "thinking like a car mechanic" can reveal the role each section of a song plays to make it work.
- Curiosity And Craft, with Benny Romalis (How To Write Songs) July 18, 2024 - How is it the songwriting greats do what they do? And how can "thinking like a car mechanic" help you write better songs? Here's the answer.
- The Musicality Book Cover Reveal! (Inside The Book) July 16, 2024 - Join Christopher for an official unveiling of the cover design for the new Musicality book, as well as some exciting hints of things to come!
- The Scale That Keeps On Giving (Coaches Corner, Episode 11) July 13, 2024 - Did you know there's a scale that's simpler than the major scale but even more powerful? Discover "the scale that keeps on giving"!
- Audiation – It’s All In Your Head (Inside The Book) July 11, 2024 - Audiation is a powerful tool for increasing your musicality and accelerating all your music learning. Here's what you need to know.
- Motivation and Discovery (with David Reed, Improvise For Real) July 9, 2024 - When you play music, does it feel like the music is out there somewhere, or does it feel like it's inside you? We discuss that and more.
- Sing Better By Turning Your Voice OFF?! (with Jeremy Ryan Mossman, Body Based Voice) July 6, 2024 - Did you know, one of the best ways to discover what your singing voice can really do is to turn it OFF? Learn how in this masterclass clip.
- The Bus Shelter Breakthrough (with Jeremy Ryan Mossman, Body Based Voice) July 4, 2024 - Did you know you can dramatically improve your singing - with your voice turned "off"? Learn more in this interview with Jeremy Ryan Mossman.
- Where True Musical Creativity Comes From (with David Reed, Improvise For Real) July 2, 2024 - Did you know, your ears have already spent a lifetime learning to improvise? There might just be one small missing piece holding you back.
- Turning Problems Into Gifts And Enemies Into Friends (Coaches Corner, Episode 10) June 29, 2024 - Imagine if every problem in your musical life was actually a gift... Here are the two key ingredients you need, to make that happen.
- The Goal (Inside The Book) June 28, 2024 - Can you really become a gifted prodigy or a natural musician? How can you unlock your musical instinct? Find out in this new book.
- The 80% Rule In Ear Training June 27, 2024 - Have you ever slogged away at an ear training exercise day after day and found your improvement lessening and lessening, progress just getting slower and slower? It’s not unusual. And it can be maddening when you’re trying to ace a quiz or you’re trying to make your skills rock solid, but you just can’t seem […]
- Get Started With Konnakol (with Alex Ostapenko) June 26, 2024 - If you've ever been curious about the Indian rhythmic language of konnakol, you'll love trying this mini tutorial with Alex Ostapenko!
- Learning The Language Of Rhythm (with Alex Ostapenko) June 25, 2024 - Meet Alex Ostapenko, a master of both the Indian rhythmic language konnakol and body percussion techniques, and combining both!
- Feel, Imagine, Create (with David Reed, Improvise For Real) June 24, 2024 - What's going on when you improvise? Is it about theory, scales, listening, instinct, or something else? Christopher and David unpack it all.
- Diagnosing And Solving The True Causes Of Musical Struggles (Coaches Corner, Episode 9) June 22, 2024 - When you get stuck or frustrated in music… how sure are you that you know what the real problem is? It can be pretty surprising what the solution turns out to be, and in today’s Coaches Corner we have three perfect examples of that. Join Christopher and the Next Level coaching team to discover the […]
- Be Yourself And Discover Your Own Music (with David Reed, Improvise For Real) June 21, 2024 - What does it take to truly be yourself in music? Christopher from Musical U and David Reed from Improvise For Real dig in!
- Unlocking Harmony June 20, 2024 - Discover the two big epiphanies which can transform harmony from overwhelming and endlessly complex... to easy to understand and play by ear.
- Classical vs. Rock/Pop vs. Jazz Harmony (with Tony Parlapiano) June 19, 2024 - In this masterclass clip you'll discover how classical, pop/rock and jazz harmony are different, and what that can unlock for you.
- Creating, Listening, Understanding (with Tony Parlapiano of popMATICS) June 18, 2024 - Meet Tony Parlapiano of popMATICS, where they help regular music learners discover breakthrough insights and unlock creativity on piano.
- Can You Learn Perfect Pitch? Should You? (Inside The Book) June 17, 2024 - Can you learn perfect pitch (a.k.a. absolute pitch) as an adult? And if so, should you? In this episode we set the record straight.
- Help Us Choose A Book Cover! (Inside The Book) June 15, 2024 - We need your help to choose the best cover design for the new Musicality book! Here's how you can vote and give your input.
- Accelerating Musicality (Meet The Team, with Almut Spaeth) June 14, 2024 - Almut has had a fascinating and accelerating journey as a musician, into greater confidence and greater musicality. Hear her story and tips.
- Small Steps To BIG Performances (Coaches Corner, Episode 8) June 13, 2024 - How can you gear up to a big performance without being overwhelmed or intimidated? Find out the answer, plus more tips, in this episode!
- Overcoming The 4 Types Of Performance Stress, with Sarah Niblack June 12, 2024 - Discover the 4 types of stress response musicians experience, and how you can start to find your own personal antidote to performance stress
- The Practice Ingredients For Successful Performance, with Sarah Niblack June 11, 2024 - How can you feel safe, confident, and joyful when you perform music, even when pushing yourself to your limits? Sarah Niblack reveals all.
- 5 Tips For Rock-Solid Performances June 10, 2024 - Try these 5 tips to become a rock-solid performer, so that everything you prepare in the practice room actually comes out when you play live.
- Rising Above The Herd In Music (Coaches Corner, Episode 7) June 8, 2024 - Discover how to overcome "tall poppy syndrome" and rise above the herd in music, plus other tips in this episode of Coaches Corner.
- Choosing Musicality, with Mark Hanna (Meet The Team) June 7, 2024 - In this mini-interview with Mark Hanna you'll discover his own musical journey and his role on the Admissions Team at Musical U.
- What Exactly Is In The Musicality Book? (Inside The Book) June 6, 2024 - In this full chapter-by-chapter breakdown, you'll learn exactly what's covered in the new Musicality book from Musical U.
- Are You A Robot?! June 5, 2024 - In the age of AI, bringing humanity to our music-making is more important than ever. Here's how to escape the trap of playing robotically.
- The 3 Pillars Of Improv, with Lorin Cohen June 4, 2024 - What should be going through your head when you improvise? Jazz artist Lorin Cohen breaks down a simple 3-part framework for mastering improv.
- Rhythm and Soul, with Lorin Cohen June 3, 2024 - Meet highly-acclaimed jazz bassist and educator Lorin Cohen and discover his unique take on musicality and improv in this mini-interview.
- The Power Of Making BAD Sounds (Coaches Corner, Episode 6) June 1, 2024 - What if the way to make great-sounding music... was to focus on making BAD sounds? Discover that and more, in this episode of Coaches Corner.
- Musicality and Connection (Meet the Team with Charm Cajurao) May 31, 2024 - Meet the lady who makes it all happen behind the scenes here at Musical U, Charm Cajurao, including her own musical story and tips.
- 3 Ways To Use Singing In Your Daily Music Practice May 30, 2024 - Singing is one of the most powerful ways to accelerate and upgrade your music learning. Discover 3 ways to start using it in your practice.
- Becoming Aware Of The Breath (with Michaela Bartoskova) May 29, 2024 - If singing seems scary, what about breathing? Discover a "so easy you can't fail" route into singing successfully in this episode.
- The Power Of Finding Your Voice (with Michaela Bartoskova) May 28, 2024 - A simple breath can be a powerful gateway into discovering your voice and starting to sing. We interview Michaela Bartoskova to learn more.
- WHY Every Musician Must Sing (Inside The Book) May 27, 2024 - If you've ever heard that every musician must sing, here's exactly why, and the specific concrete benefits it will bring you in music.
- The “Sweet Spot” Repertoire That Unlocks Easier Musical Progress (Coaches Corner, Episode 5) May 25, 2024 - Did you know there's a "sweet spot" when choosing what music to learn? Get it right, and everything will flow much easier for you.
- Surprising Musicality (Meet The Team, with Andy Portas) May 24, 2024 - Discover the musical backstory and current activities of Musical U team member and Next Level coach, Andy Portas, in this interview.
- Is This The Missing Piece For Your Musicality? (Inside The Book) May 23, 2024 - Did you know there's one foundational skill which makes everything in musicality easier? Every musician must learn this one, simple skill.
- 5 BIG Mistakes Adult Music Learners Make – And How To Fix Them May 22, 2024 - There are 5 big mistakes that leave adult music learners with "one foot on the brakes". Here's the easy solution to each.
- Learn Music Faster… By Doing LESS?! (with Dr. Molly Gebrian) May 21, 2024 - What if you could learn music faster – by practicing less? It sounds crazy… but it’s actually possible, using this.
- Someone Should Have Told Me This When I Was A Kid! With Dr. Molly Gebrian May 20, 2024 - Dr. Molly Gebrian shares how her viola career combined with a fascination with neuroscience to create her expertise in learning music faster.
- The Power of Ease and Joy in Music Practice – Are You Missing Out? (Coaches Corner, Episode 4) May 18, 2024 - Hear tips on grooving, adapting to new musical styles, experiencing more ease and joy, and using solfa in this episode of Coaches Corner.
- Experiencing Musicality (Meet the Team, with Camilo Suárez) May 17, 2024 - Camilo Suárez shares his own musical journey, from "untalented" through discovering musicality training, and joining the Musical U team
- What’s Your “North Star” In Music? May 16, 2024 - Do you know what your "North Star" is in music? If you've ever suffered from "shiny object syndrome", you need to try this today.
- Comparison and Contribution (with Tero Potila) May 15, 2024 - Ever seen what other musicians are up to... and felt intimidated? Like YOU could never do that. These tips from Tero Potila will help.
- Craft, Creativity and Career (with Tero Potila) May 14, 2024 - In this mini-interview with composer Tero Potila, you'll hear exactly how he went from thinking songwriting took a magical "talent" to discovering that he too was capable of writing great music.
- How to Be a Beatle May 13, 2024 - Christopher looks back on "Beatles Month", when we went deep into the musicality of the Fab Four themselves, uncovering the truth behind their phenomenal career and apparently supernatural "talent".
- The Music Breakthrough Which Leads To ALL The Breakthroughs (Coaches Corner, Episode 3) May 11, 2024 - Join Christopher and the Next Level coaching team to discover the latest tips, tricks and techniques you can use to advance in your own musical life. Coaches Corner, Episode 3.
- The Heartbeat of Musicality (Meet the Team, with Stewart Hilton) May 10, 2024 - Since 2015 one man has been the heart of the Musical U community, our very own @GtrStu777! In this interview you'll meet our "Community Conductor" Stewart Hilton, who does so much to keep our unique community thriving, and find out a bit about his own fascinating musical journey.
- How to Play Expressively (Inside The Book) May 9, 2024 - In this sneak-peek behind the scenes of our forthcoming Musicality book, Christopher shares a framework you can use to start playing more expressively.
- This Zombie Cowbell Makes Me More Musical – Here’s How May 8, 2024 - What do a zombie cowbell, a matte-black drumhead, and a pink sparkly snare drum have in common? Believe it or not, they can all make you more musical... Here's how!
- Stepping Into Better Rhythm (with Dave Smith) May 7, 2024 - Drummer Dave Smith teaches a powerful stepping-based method for improving your connection to the pulse, your sense of rhythm and your ability to both perform and be creative with different rhythmic patterns.
- Rhythmic Reconnection (with Dave Smith) May 6, 2024 - Ever felt like your rhythm skills aren't quite what they should be - but you really didn't know what you could do about that? We've found that typically, the rhythm side of things is massively overlooked by music learners.
- How Musicians Can “Live In A World Of Sound” (Coaches Corner, Episode 2) May 4, 2024 - Join Christopher and the Next Level coaching team to discover the latest tips, tricks and techniques you can use to advance in your own musical life. Coaches Corner, Episode 2.
- Building Your Musicality Bridge (Meet the Team, with Zac Bailey) May 3, 2024 - From a Paul Simon dance-off through to scratch DJing and music video production, Zac Bailey has had a journey like no other, resulting in a deep, distinctive and profound grasp of what musicality is all about.
- I Am Not Your Guru May 2, 2024 - Looking around, most online music education companies follow the "guru" model where you can sign up to be just like the famous player by following in their footsteps. That's not how Musical U does it. Why not?
- What Makes a Great Performance (with Melissa Mulligan) May 1, 2024 - In her Musical U masterclass "Performance Secrets From An Industry Insider", Melissa Mulligan (founder of Music Career Mastermind) shared a wealth of insight and experience on what makes for a truly great musical performance.
- Finding Your Musical Identity (with Melissa Mulligan) April 30, 2024 - If you've ever wondered what it takes to hit the charts, the answer might surprise you! It surprises the artists who work with Melissa Mulligan, a recent guest expert here at Musical U.
- Q&A: If it ain’t broke, why fix it? April 29, 2024 - We had a really interesting comment on YouTube this week, which boiled down to "Learning from notation, and the traditional teaching methods worked for me - so why should I change it?
- Music: The Language Of Emotion (Meet The Team with Andrew Bishko, Head Educator) April 27, 2024 - Meet Musical U's Head Educator, Andrew Bishko and discover the fascinating musical background which produced his unique skillset and made him the perfect match for Musical U.
- This Musical Identity Shift Changes Everything (Coaches Corner, Episode 1) April 26, 2024 - Join Christopher and the Next Level coaching team to discover the latest tips, tricks and techniques you can use to advance in your own musical life. Coaches Corner, Episode 1.
- Q&A: I’m getting no results from my ear training – should I give up? April 25, 2024 - We've all been there. You're working away diligently, trying to improve your musical ear, but as days, weeks, even months pass with no apparent progress, you start to wonder: should I just give up?
- Rhythm Improv Games (with Jeffrey Agrell) April 24, 2024 - Dive into rhythmic improvisation in this segment of Jeffrey Agrell's Musical U masterclass on "Exploring Rhythmic Improv". Jeffrey introduces a rhythm vocabulary, using simple hand-drumming as a way to experiment and explore.
- If it makes you laugh, GOOD! (with Jeffrey Agrell) April 23, 2024 - We’re joined by Jeffrey Agrell, a returning guest on the show, and one of our absolute favourite music educators. Jeffrey has authored half a dozen books providing "games" which serve as a gateway into creativity and improvisation - even for the most buttoned-up, perfectionist classical players!
- We’re Back! 🎉 April 23, 2024 - Join Musical U Director Christopher Sutton for a live update on the reboot of our video series and podcast, Musicality Now, including a sneak peek of exciting things to come...
- Q&A: How (and why) should you do ear training for scales? June 18, 2020 - Musical U founder, Christopher Sutton teaches why you should learn scales and the two types of scale ear training that will improve your musicality.
- Q&A: I sometimes get the notes wrong when I sing – what can I do? June 13, 2020 - Musical U founder, Christopher Sutton talks about the three step process to singing the right notes. Learn to increase your vocal accuracy and musicality.
- Q&A: If playing music is like speaking a language – what about harmony? June 4, 2020 - Founder of Musical U, Christopher Sutton discusses how harmony fits in to the analogous relationship between music and language.
- Q&A: Why use headphones and what kind should I buy? June 2, 2020 - Founder of Musical U, Christopher Sutton explains the power of good headphones for ear training - and how to choose the best pair for ear practice.
- Q&A: What can you do if you struggle to audiate (imagine music)? May 30, 2020 - Musical U Founder, Christopher Sutton discusses why and how to audiate. Develop powerful musicality with simple exercises you can do anytime, anywhere.
- Q&A: Sometimes I feel like I’m just guessing – is that wrong? May 25, 2020 - Musical U Director, Christopher Sutton discusses guessing notes when ear training. Learn how to avoid frustration and get more results from ear training.
- Getting Out Of Your Own Way, with Dylan Hart May 15, 2020 - Dylan Hart, successful Hollywood French horn player and teacher, shares his unlikely success story and unique perspective on musicality.
- Pathways: Oli Fuhrmann May 10, 2020 - Oli Fuhrmann shares his musical journey and how he started jamming with high-level musicians. Learn practical tips to help you jump in the next jam session.
- What is musical “superlearning”? May 3, 2020 - The Musical U team discusses how to overcome common challenges in learning music. Discover the techniques of musical superlearning.
- Practice Q&A [5/5] How To Spend Practice Time And Prevent Overwhelm, with Gregg Goodhart April 25, 2020 - Practiclass creator, Gregg Goodhart teaches you how to know what to focus on in your music practice. Learn how to avoid overwhelm and get maximum results.
- Practice Q&A [4/5] How To Stay Consistent – Without Discipline, with Gregg Goodhart April 23, 2020 - Gregg Goodhart, The Learning Coach, teaches how to reach the highest state of learning. Learn how to stay consistent with your music practice.
- Practice Q&A [3/5] How To Conquer Tricky Sections And Break Through Plateaus, with Gregg Goodhart April 21, 2020 - Gregg Goodhart, The Learning Coach, teaches you how to break through plateaus and learn complicated music in a fraction of the time.
- Practice Q&A [2/5] How To Get Maximum Results In Minimum Time, with Gregg Goodhart April 19, 2020 - Practiclass founder, Gregg Goodhart teaches you how to maximize your practice time. Learn how get results in as little as 10 minutes a day.
- Practice Q&A [1/5] How To Find More Music Practice Time, with Gregg Goodhart April 17, 2020 - Gregg Goodhart, The Learning Coach, answers questions from a survey on our audience's experience practicing music. Learn how to find more practice time.
- Creative Improv for Classical Musicians, with Laura Nerenberg April 8, 2020 - Laura Nerenberg discusses the power of improvisation for classical musicians and teachers. Learn about the powerful musical impact improvisation can have.
- Pathways: Joanne Cooper April 2, 2020 - Joanne Cooper shares the story of how Band in a Box impacted her musical life. You will learn tips and tricks for your own songwriting and live performance.
- Four “Defaults” For Positivity And Success, with Brent Vaartstra (Learn Jazz Standards) March 30, 2020 - Brent Vaartstra shares 4 mindsets for getting through difficult times while staying positive and connected through music.
- Authentic, Engaging, Cooperative Learning, with Zach VanderGraaff (The Dynamic Music Room) March 26, 2020 - Zach VanderGraaff, of The Dynamic Music Room, teaches how to make music learning authentic, engaging, and cooperative. Have more fun and make more progress.
- Stay In. Play On! March 23, 2020 - Musical U has made a special page to share global learning opportunities to help you stay musical and connected in this uncertain time. Stay In. Play on!
- Choose Your Words Carefully, with Glory St. Germain (Ultimate Music Theory) March 4, 2020 - Glory St. Germain of Ultimate Music Theory teaches how you can apply transformative vocabulary to your musical life. Learn how to use words that uplift you.
- How The Best Play Their Best, with Annie Bosler February 26, 2020 - Annie Bosler, Co-Author of College Prep for Musicians, discusses performance anxiety, flow states, and getting into “the zone”. Learn how to play your best.
- The Biology Of Musicality, with Prof. Henkjan Honing February 19, 2020 - Professor Henkjan Honing, a leading researcher of biomusicology, shares results from his research on how human musicality works and where it comes from.
- Your Peak Performance Toolkit, with Mark Morley-Fletcher (Play In The Zone) February 12, 2020 - Mark Morley-Fletcher of Play in the Zone explains the concepts behind behind peak performance. Learn practical tips you can apply in your own musical life.
- Getting Into The Music And Into Flow, With Diane Allen February 5, 2020 - Diane Allen brings a unique perspective to the world of performance. Learn the specific practical steps you can take to get into your flow state at will.
- Pathways: Jon Magnusson January 29, 2020 - Swedish songwriter Jon Magnusson has done what many dream of: made music his full-time career. Gain insight into how business and musicality work together.
- How to Achieve Rapid, Unstoppable Progress in Music Learning January 23, 2020 - We share insights and strategies from world-leading practice expert Gregg Goodhart. Learn how to master your practice time and become a musical genius.
- Learning to Love Leadsheets, with Ruth Power (Piano Picnic) January 16, 2020 - Ruth Power, of Piano Picnic, shares insights and ideas from her new course, Lovin' Leadsheets. Learn how lead sheets can impact your musicality.
- Composing For Games, with Dan Hulsman (VGM Academy) January 10, 2020 - Dan Hulsman, founder of the Video Game Music Academy, discusses what goes in to composing and producing both modern and vintage VGM soundtracks.
- Rewind: Reflections December 30, 2019 - The Musical U team reflects on some of the guest experts that have had a big impact on our musical lives. Gain inspiration for your own musicality practice.
- Pathways: Sharilynn Horhota December 19, 2019 - Musical U member Sharilynn Horhota shares her fascinating musical journey along with some very useful tips you can apply to your own music practice.
- What Music Practice Really Means, with Jonathan Harnum, PhD (The Practice Of Practice) December 11, 2019 - Author of "The Practice Of Practice", Dr. Jonathan Harnum shares results from his PhD research on how high level musicians practice to achieve their skill.
- Mind Before Fingers, with Marilyn White Lowe (Music Moves For Piano) December 4, 2019 - Marilyn White Lowe, author of Music Moves For Piano, brings life to the inner musicality skills of improvising, playing by ear, composing & collaborating.
- How to Learn Like a Genius, with Gregg Goodhart November 27, 2019 - Gregg Goodhart of the Learn Like a Genius project applies the latest research on how the human brain learns most effectively to music practice.
- From The Notes On the Page To Artistry And Mastery, with Dennis Alexander (Premier Piano Course) November 21, 2019 - Dennis Alexander, author of Premier Piano Course, brings music theory & sight reading to life with a creativity and a consciousness of musical expression.
- Pathways: Nick Cheetham November 14, 2019 - Nick Cheetham shares his journey for the premier episode of Pathways, a new series where we dig deep in to the lives of passionate music learners.
- The Keys to Performance Success, with Dr. Don Greene (Winning On Stage) November 6, 2019 - Dr. Don Greene, one of the world’s leading experts on performance psychology, teaches how to assess and improve your performance abilities under pressure.
- Side By Side In Music, with Caroline Whiddon (Me2/Orchestra) October 30, 2019 - Me2/Orchestra co-founder Caroline Whiddon discusses how the support of the Me2/ classical music ensembles helps erase the stigma surrounding mental illness.
- Making Music Books More Musical, with Joseph Alexander (Fundamental Changes) October 23, 2019 - Joseph Alexander from Fundamental Changes explains how his modern approach to book publishing provides exciting opportunities for students and authors.
- What Is Ear Training? (and why does it normally fail?) October 17, 2019 - Musical U founder Christopher Sutton explains what ear training is - and how to get the most benefit from ear training with a holistic, musical approach.
- Your Connection To Music, with Dave Isaacs (The Perpetual Beginner) October 15, 2019 - Dave Isaacs, author of "The Perpetual Beginner", teaches how approaching music with a beginner's mindset can unlock the ease and musicality you desire.
- Unlock Your Potential By Understanding Your Mind, with Nick Bottini (Just Play) October 9, 2019 - Nick Bottini, author of “Just Play: The Simple Truth Behind Musical Excellence”, helps us understand how to achieve our full musical potential.
- Nature, Nurture, and your Duvet of Music, with Robert Emery October 3, 2019 - Conductor and Musical Director, Robert Emery shares his views on talent, nature versus nurture, and what that means for the average adult music learner.
- In Perfect Swinging Harmony, with The Quebe Sisters September 25, 2019 - We're joined by The Quebe Sisters who share how they write and arrange harmony parts and the relationship between ear skills and theory.
- Making Improv a Game, with Jeffrey Agrell September 18, 2019 - Jeffrey Agrell, pioneer of a game-based approach to improvisation, teaches how and why to learn improv - and how much theory and technique are required.
- About the Circle of Fifths September 11, 2019 - The MU team discusses why most musicians are missing out on the full power of the Circle of Fifths in their musical lives - and what you can do about it.
- What Is Musicality? (Revisited) September 6, 2019 - We surveyed our members and asked what "musicality" means to them. In this episode we share their answers to give you greater insight in to "Musicality"
- Rewind: Ease and Joy August 28, 2019 - The Musical U team shares how they've applied lessons from past episodes with hopes of helping you increase joy and ease in your own musical life.
- How Composers Improve, with Matthew Ellul (School of Composition) August 21, 2019 - Matthew Ellul from School Of Composition teaches how composing practice improves musicality - even if you don't aspire to be a composer or song writer.
- Intimidating – or Inspiring? You Choose August 15, 2019 - In this episode we share an approach to mentally flip the emotional reaction of intimidation into inspiration. Learn how to stay motivated to progress.
- Your Codex and Creativity August 7, 2019 - In this episode we share tips to help you find balance between codex and creativity. Learn how to unlock continuous progress with your musicality practice.
- Boosting Musical Brainpower, with Josh Turknett (Brainjo) July 31, 2019 - Learn new mental approaches to music practice in our interview with Dr. Josh Turknett, founder of Brainjo Center for Neurology & Cognitive Enhancement.
- A Simple Tip for Indecision and Analysis-Paralysis July 24, 2019 - We share a simple tip to help you overcome analysis-paralysis. Learn how to take the next steps to an enjoyable and rewarding musical life.
- More Mindful, More Musical, with Susanne Olbrich July 17, 2019 - Specialist in mindfulness for musicians, Susanne Olbrich shares her journey. Learn what it means to be mindful and how it can enhance your musicality.
- From Mechanics to Organics, with Bradley Sowash July 12, 2019 - Bradley Sowash, composer and educator, shares his musical journey along with some practical tips to bring more creativity and musicality into your playing.
- Rewind: A Mindset for Music Theory July 3, 2019 - Music theory doesn't have to be confusing. In this episode we share some mindset shifts to make theory easy and accessible for you.
- 100% Emotion, with Michele McLaughlin June 26, 2019 - Solo pianist and composer Michele McLaughlin inspires creativity with her emotional approach to improvisation and composing.
- How to Handle Musical Mistakes With Grace June 19, 2019 - Musical success means overcoming challenges and making mistakes. In this episode you will learn mindset shifts and practical tips for handling mistakes.
- Awareness, Innovation and Reflection, with Michael Compitello June 12, 2019 - Michael Compitello, percussionist and educator, talks about how to practice and learn. This episode is packed with tools to accelerate your progress.
- Is Aiming For Perfect Actually Holding You Back? June 6, 2019 - What is perfection? In this episode we share a mindset shift for approaching your playing and practicing that will improve your musicality rapidly.
- Letting the Music Play You, with Paul Wertico June 4, 2019 - Paul Wertico, renowned as the "musical" drummer, discusses what musicality means. Learn how understanding the role of the drummer can help you improve.
- Getting Into Action For Transformation May 30, 2019 - Transform your musical life by finding joy and ease with your practice. Learn how to take action and discover the fastest route to improving your music.
- What’s Going On In Your Head? May 29, 2019 - Learn how to recognize and remove a mental block that is holding you back from progress, and free yourself to find joy and ease with your music practice.
- Ease and Joy in Music Learning May 29, 2019 - Finding joy and ease in your practice is a powerful way to unlock your musicality. Learn how to have fun and improve faster in this episode.
- Do You Have An “Inner Natural Musician”? Here’s How To Know May 23, 2019 - In this episode, we reveal the truth behind the idea of a "natural musician" - and how to connect with the musical instinct that exists within us all.
- How to Earn Your Inspiration, with Mark Cawley May 21, 2019 - Mark Cawley, hit songwriter & online coach from iDoCoach.com shares powerful lessons he's learned writing songs for superstars like Tina Turner! Tune in!
- Rewind: Singing May 16, 2019 - The Musical U Team shares the most powerful lessons from past episodes on singing. Tune in for some tips to free up your voice and build confidence.
- Playing With Heart and By Heart, with Sarah Jeffery May 14, 2019 - Sound better and play better by learning to play by heart. Sarah Jeffery from Team Recorder shares some tips to improve your musicality. Tune in.
- 3 Lessons on Music Practice From The World’s Top Bassists May 9, 2019 - 3 lessons from The World's top bass instructors to arm you w/the practice skills to become a musical super human! Listen and learn how fun practice can be!
- The Roots of Greatness, with Scott Devine May 7, 2019 - Scott Devine of Scott's Bass Lessons, the #1 website for learning bass guitar, shares the secrets he learnt from studying with the world's top musicians.
- How to “Hear Like A Musician” May 2, 2019 - Andrew and Christopher teach you how to practice Active Listening. You're going to love how you hear music in a richer way after this episode.
- What it means to “Hear Like A Musician” April 30, 2019 - Increase your joy and love of music by becoming an Active Listener! Dive in to this episode and explore the what and why of active listening.
- The Musicality of the Beatles April 25, 2019 - In the final episode of Beatles Month we recap the major learning points from our expert guests and reveal the one big secret to the Beatles success.
- How To Be The Beatles, with Hard Day’s Night April 23, 2019 - Hard Day's Night, one of the top rated Beatles tributes, puts in extraordinary work to deliver the most detailed & authentic Beatles experience possible.
- The Story of the “Fifth Beatle”, with Kenneth Womack April 18, 2019 - Kenneth Womack, author of a two-volume biography of George Martin, astounded us with his expert perspective on why Martin really is “The Fifth Beatle”.
- The Simplicity and Sophistication of the Beatles, with Aaron Krerowicz April 16, 2019 - Aaron Krerowicz, The World's only professional Beatles scholar and creator of Flipside Beatles, discusses the sophistication of The Beatles songwriting.
- The Message in the Music of the Beatles, with Scott Kuehn April 11, 2019 - Scott Kuehn, Beatles expert/Professor of Communications at Clarion University shares his insight on Beatlemania. Learn how the Fab Four made females faint!
- Writing Songs the Beatles Way, with Matt Blick April 9, 2019 - Matt Blick shares the incredible insight he's learned on his mission to analyse every Beatles song for his website, Beatles Songwriting Academy.
- How the Beatles Came to Be, with Scott Freiman April 4, 2019 - You'll love The Beatles even more after you hear this interview with expert Scott Freiman! He draws new and fascinating insights on their music.
- Welcome to Beatles Month April 2, 2019 - We are excited to bring you Beatles Month! Come explore the musicality behind the Fab Four's incredible tunes with six renowned Beatles experts.
- When to stick with it – and when to move on March 28, 2019 - The musician's conundrum: should you stick with learning that difficult and frustrating thing, or leave it and move on? We explore a nuanced answer.
- Is it time to “break up” with music? March 21, 2019 - Is your love affair with music not all you thought it was going to be? How do you know when it's time to leave it all behind? Or... is there still hope?
- Rewind: Practicing March 19, 2019 - The Musical U team gets together to share their favourite episodes of the Musicality Podcast, focussing on the topic of effective and fun music practice.
- Forget Being Realistic – Do This Instead March 14, 2019 - In this episode, we reveal how you can knock down the one big obstacle standing between you and your biggest musical dreams.
- How to Stop Doubting and Start Performing, with Brent Vaartstra March 12, 2019 - Brent Vaartstra of Learn Jazz Standards gives insights and practical advice for getting yourself from the practice room to the stage.
- How to Improve AND Enjoy Your Musical Life March 7, 2019 - The process of learning music shouldn't be arduous, but enjoyable! We discuss how you can maximize both learning and joy in every practice session.
- Fundamentals Over Flash, with John Hatcher March 5, 2019 - Blues Guitar Institute founder John Hatcher talks instrument technique, blues fundamentals, and his game-changing concept of "microlicks".
- How To Start Improvising Today February 28, 2019 - Looking to start improvising? In this episode, we share a very useful mental framework and outlook to get yourself improvising freely - today.
- How To Truly Listen, with Evelyn Glennie February 26, 2019 - We interview Evelyn Glennie, an internationally-acclaimed solo percussionist who lost most of her hearing at a young age, on the art of "musical listening".
- Can’t Improvise? There’s just one thing holding you back February 21, 2019 - Does the idea of improvisation intimidate you? In this episode, we talk about how you can make improv accessible and attainable in your musical journey.
- Find and Make Peace with Your Voice, with Nikki Loney February 19, 2019 - Full Voice Music founder Nikki Loney talks about what it means to "find your voice", and answers the burning question: "Should I take singing lessons?"
- Intervals Versus Solfa: Which Is Best? February 14, 2019 - Listen to Musical U founder Christopher Sutton discuss the benefits of solfa (a.k.a. solfege) when interpreting music and learning to play by ear.
- The Power of Curiosity, with Adam Neely February 12, 2019 - We interview Youtube-based music educator Adam Neely on making music theory interesting, a helpful perspective on practice, and the power of audiation.
- Hey! Where are you going? February 7, 2019 - In this episode, we discuss the concept of a Big Picture Vision - and why pointing yourself in the right musical direction is so important.
- Making Music Learning a Picnic, with Ruth Power February 5, 2019 - Musical U interviews Piano Picnic creator and our own piano resident pro Ruth Power on the art of playing by ear and her remarkable method for teaching it.
- About Hacking Habituation January 31, 2019 - Listen to a snippet from our masterclass with neurosymphonic hornist and Modacity creator Marc Gelfo on the topic of effectiveness in your music practice.
- Entertainment and Education, with Mr. Q-U-E January 29, 2019 - Musical U interviews Music Notes Online creator Mr. Q-U-E on the art of delivering educational content to students through the power of song.
- Song Writing: Start and Succeed, with Alex Forbes January 24, 2019 - We interview award-winning songwriter Alex Forbes on the art of songwriting, the hallmarks of an instant hit, and giving yourself permission to write songs.
- Creativity, Composing, and Confidence, with Sabrina Peña Young January 23, 2019 - Musical U interviews award-winning composer Sabrina Peña Young about her learning experiences, mentors, the art of composition, and her epic sci-fi opera...
- Foundations Of A Musical Mind Is Open! January 17, 2019 - The popular Foundations of A Musical Mind course is back - and enrolment is now open! Reserve your place and get ready to level up your musicianship.
- Bringing It All Together January 17, 2019 - Find out how to piece together the various mental models discussed in the Musicality Unleashed series using an established and very effective methodology.
- Creativity Is The Vehicle, Not the Destination January 16, 2019 - Find out how you can make your musical practice creative right from day one, with the help of mental models discussed in the Musicality Unleashed series.
- Singing Is Your Birthright January 14, 2019 - There is almost a 100% chance that you are not tone-deaf, and are therefore capable of becoming a great singer. Learn about the mental model that can help!
- Don’t Just Learn Songs – Learn Music Through Songs January 14, 2019 - Find out how you can connect the music theory and ear training you're learning to that piece of music that you've been wrapping your fingers around.
- A Better Mental Model for Rhythm January 12, 2019 - Learn about an intuitive, highly effective model for counting rhythm, and how it can help you easily notate and play complex patterns in music.
- A Better Mental Model for Pitch January 12, 2019 - There's a better way to learn pitch than with intervals - a more intuitive, ear-friendly, and effective system called solfa. Get introduced!
- Musicality Unleashed: Did You Skip Step One? January 10, 2019 - You wouldn't paint the walls of a house without first building the foundation, right? Learn about how to build a foundational mental model for learning.
- Musicality Unleashed: What Makes A Musician A “Natural” January 10, 2019 - Even though you might have great instrument technique, you may not feel like a "natural" musician. Learn about the missing pieces of musicality!
- Musicality Unleashed: The Two Things Most Music Education Is Missing January 9, 2019 - Becoming a musician encompasses more than just instrumental proficiency. Discover the two other aspects of musicality that are often neglected in education!
- Musicality Unleashed: The Truth About Talent January 8, 2019 - Welcome to Musicality Unleashed, where we will explore mental models for realizing your full musical potential. First up: busting the "talent" myth!
- A Change is Gonna Come January 3, 2019 - Happy new year to you! We briefly interrupt our regular schedule to fill you in on some exciting changes coming to the Musicality Podcast in 2019.
- About the Little “Why” December 20, 2018 - Learn all about asking yourself the Little "Why" - and how it can help you stay on track in your musical journey and ensure you're making progress.
- About Your Self December 18, 2018 - When practicing and playing, what is the relationship between mind, body, and music? Lisa McCormick explores the components of the musical "self".
- About the Clave December 13, 2018 - Learn about the rhythmic tradition of clave, its widespread use in traditional and contemporary music, and how to play the rhythm yourself.
- Becoming a Bulletproof Musician, with Noa Kageyama December 11, 2018 - The Bulletproof Musician's Noa Kageyama talks about research-based strategies for practice, performance, and the intersection of the two.
- About the Long and Winding Road December 6, 2018 - Musical U's own Adam Liette talks about his ongoing musical journey and the various roles that music has played in his personal life and career.
- Practice, Performance, and Powerful Levers, with Josh Wright December 4, 2018 - Acclaimed pianist and music educator Josh Wright shares his favourite technique exercises, performance strategies, and secrets for playing musically.
- About Overwhelm in Music November 29, 2018 - Learn about the three most common root causes of musical overwhelm, how to identify them, and how to combat them so you can stay motivated and on-track.
- Circles of Creativity, with Tim Topham November 27, 2018 - Tim Topham discusses how to bring music to life through creative music teaching, and how to marry this approach with traditional drill-based ear training.
- About Hearing Key Changes November 22, 2018 - Katie Wardrobe from Midnight Music discusses how to hear key changes in music, and the things that sometimes trip musicians up in hearing this modulation.
- Learning to Rock the Stage, with Kevin Richards November 20, 2018 - We interview Sir Rod Stewart's vocal coach on the ins and outs of performance, and the learnable skills that deliver unforgettable shows night after night.
- About Taking a Long-Term Mindset November 15, 2018 - Music Entrepreneur HQ creator David Andrew Wiebe discusses the reasons you should adopt a long-term mindset with respect to your musical journey.
- Making Sight Singing Child’s Play, with Dale Duncan November 13, 2018 - Singing teacher Dale Duncan shares his inclusive and highly effective approach to helping his students integrate pitch and rhythm skills in sight-singing.
- About Why the Pentatonic Scale is So Great November 8, 2018 - Learn about the power of the pentatonic scale, why it makes for such beautiful melodies, and how to use it as an improvisational framework.
- Explaining the Musical Ear, with Aimee Nolte November 6, 2018 - Musical U interviews music educator Aimee Nolte on her music background and how she teaches musicality skills through her engaging YouTube channel.
- About Negative Musical Experiences November 1, 2018 - How do you recover from negative experiences during your musical journey? The Musical U team discusses those painful musical moments, and getting past them.
- Audiation and Thinking Music, with Cynthia Crump Taggart October 30, 2018 - The President-Elect of the Gordon Institute for Music Learning joins us to discuss Music Learning Theory and how it helps cultivate musicality.
- About Klezmer Music October 25, 2018 - Musical U's own Andrew Bishko talks Klezmer music, its cultural origins as Jewish folk music, and its idiosyncratic and expressive nature.
- Music Learning at Warp Speed, with Jason Haaheim October 23, 2018 - Jason Haaheim talks about how "deliberate practice" and its accompanying mindset will help you reach new heights in your musical practice.
- About Playing in Any Style October 18, 2018 - This week on the Musicality Podcast, jazz and blues expert Steve Nixon discusses the skills and attitude required for being a multi-genre musician.
- Designing for Joyful Learning, with Anne Mileski October 16, 2018 - Anne Mileski discusses her music journey and her teaching perspective as an early music educator who uses Kodály, Orff, Dalcroze, and Music Learning Theory.
- About Taking it Step by Step October 11, 2018 - The Musical U team has a roundtable discussion on the practice of breaking down your learning into chunks, rather than leaping straight for your goal.
- Focusing on What Matters, with Jeff Schneider October 9, 2018 - Composer and music educator Jeff Schneider talks to Musical U about effective practice, the learning process, and keeping your creative output alive.
- About the Message in the Music October 4, 2018 - The Musical U team discusses the topic of finding the message in the music, expressing it on your instrument, and getting it across to your audience.
- Becoming an Expert Learner, with Josh Plotner October 2, 2018 - Musical U interviews the incredible multi-instrumentalist Josh Plotner on the learning mindset and attitude that has given way to his accomplishments.