Earbuds Engaged

This week we’re featuring Pittsburgh based Music Therapist and singer/songwriter, Kennedy Jason! Kennedy gives us a peek into her daily life as a music therapist, pre and post covid, and walks us through the course load, skills, and process required to become a board certified music therapist. Kennedy talks about her love of working with senior clients, how music is used to treat anxiety and chronic pain, and how she hopes to use music as a way to help clients quit smoking. The theme music for this episode is by Kennedy Jason, titled “I Will Knit You a Sweater.” Check out her music on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0UVUynKoAOlbmRSc2S4JKS If you have more questions for Kennedy, you can reach her at kennedymjason@yahoo.com. Website: https://www.kennedyjasonmusic.com/

In this episode Casey and Alaina have their first opportunity to re-interview a previous guest! Rewinding back to the third episode, guest Edna Jeon mentioned the idea of being in a woodwind quintet that would practice independently, and meet a few times a year in person to perform. After a year of meticulous planning and dedication, 'Our Time Wind Quintet' was formed. While the 'perform in person' part of the dream has not yet been realized, OTWQ has managed to produce multiple high quality videos, concerts, and artist collaborations. The members of the group (in score order...of course) are: Edna Jeon on Flute, Jordan Pyle on Oboe, Dan Mills on Clarinet, Taryn Lee on Horn, and Keegan Hockett on Bassoon. "Our Time Wind Quintet specializes in performances that hold space for authentic connection and conversation. Members of the quintet are highly accomplished performers who integrate their collective passions and varied interests to create new ways to hold dialogue through chamber music. Through intentional and purposeful programming, Our Time offers a moment for attendees to reconnect with their simple but profound capacity to listen. The group aspires to share their joyous spirit through performance, educational engagement, and community partnerships. Our Time Wind Quintet holds space to weave together a more supportive humanity." To learn more about OTWQ visit their website When Alaina and I had everyone on a zoom call it was finally time to answer some very important logistical questions; What sort of mic set up is everyone working with? What is your recording process? What sort of 'hidden' roles do people have? What does OTWQ's future look like? We hope you enjoy listening to the answers of these questions and more! Show Links: Dan Mills Gratitude Instagram Account: @dan.mills.art Literary Music Library Concert: 28. Collaboration in Isolation Our Time Wind Quintet: Youtube Page, Facebook Page, Instagram Page, Website

Seattle based Oboist and Reed Maker, Jamie Sanidad joins us this week to talk about graduating college and entering life as a professional during the pandemic, teaching online, and starting a reed business! Jamie is one of the podcast's first listeners and a former studio mate of Alaina's during their undergraduate studies at Indiana University. Right now Jamie is building her career in Seattle, enjoying being close to her family and making oboists' lives better by providing them with good reeds :) Visit Jamie's oboe reed website: https://www.pnwreeds.com/ Theme Music by The Maplewaves

We've got the whole team back for a discussion about our Digital Residency with Weinberg Terrace. What have we learned through our pitfalls and triumphs? What is working and what do we need to work on? With an hour concert expected every month and a handful of Music Moments weekly, the content creation has ramped up our creativity and unity as a chamber group. Theme music by The Maplewaves

In this episode we are joined by a very inspirational teaching artist, Lauren Latessa. Lauren is the founder of the Iris Music Project whose mission as a 501(c)(3) non-profit is to reimagine residential and healthcare communities as spaces of creative exchange. Through collaboratively designed programming, Iris Music Project provides opportunities for connection and purpose for residents, caregivers, and musicians. Ears Engaged is currently in their training program to help recreate the IMP model at a senior living facility in Pittsburgh (online). Listen to learn more about Lauren, her path to creating the Iris Music Project and their model, and how the pandemic has affected their music making. Get in touch with Lauren through email at: laurenirismusic@gmail.com Resources: irismusicproject.com Being Mortal The Art of Relevance Theme Music: The Cactus Song by The Maplewaves

In this episode Alaina & Casey interview Simone Silé, Music Librarian to the Orlando Philharmonic. Throughout their conversation they learn about the process of auditioning for the job, the workload, and how the orchestra is being forced to experiment in the current COVID world. As one of the 20% of American orchestras that started their 2020-2021 season, Simone gives insight on how the Orlando Philharmonic is adjusting to meet the needs of their audience and their performers.  Simone's Personal Instagram: @sincerely.sile  Simone's Business Instagram: @peppers.bindery Questions for Simone about becoming a music librarian? email her at Simonesile2@gmail.com Candace's Instagram: @CandaceCanCreate Mozart y Mambo by Sarah Willis Theme Music by The Maplewaves

We made it to Season Two! Casey and Alaina give a brief update on each member of the Ears Engaged team, share great humanity driven resources they've been thinking about recently, and reveal some details about EE's current online residency with Weinberg Terrace in Pittsburgh. We love hearing from you! Send us an email at earsengaged@gmail.com or DM us on Instagram @earsengaged. Theme music by The Maplewaves! Resources- Meg Quigley Bassoon Competition: The Imperative of Community Engagement for Musicians https://youtu.be/7sH-OxwFrgg "The Art of Relevance" Free Blog, Nina Simon http://www.artofrelevance.org/read-online/ zFestival, Zoe Sorrell's Presentation: Modern Music Entrepreneurship https://youtu.be/untpVWlReYY

Resources to learn more, sign petitions, and get involved: Good Black News FB Page Black Lives Matter NAACP Color of Change Campaign Zero - data informed platform that presents comprehensive solutions to end police violence in America. Follow all of the above on Instagram plus these accounts for antiracism graphics: @theconsciouskid @theslacktivists @blackandembodied @moemotivate Watch adds on this and following videos on YouTube to help fund raise for Black Lives Matter: https://youtu.be/bCgLa25fDHM

This week we spoke with instrument repair technician, Allison Fong! Allison is such an inspiration when it comes to fitting into your own mold. After graduating with a double Bachelor's in Oboe Performance and Music Education, she realized she wasn't all that excited to continue either of those paths. During college, Allison worked part time at a music shop where she gradually built her instrument repair skills. She got to see how much of a difference she was able to make in band student's lives everyday while working there. Despite not looking like your average repairman, Allison followed this opportunity to a job that fits perfectly into her current life with her husband in Pittsburgh. We want to hear from you! If you're enjoying the podcast, please leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts and we’ll give you a shout out in our next episode! Our totally awesome theme music is called "The Cactus Song" by The Maplewaves - check them out on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/artist/2IeIcNBQdNt6YwWMBHIGRw

Have you ever heard about "The Texas Thing" in the music world? It's when you move to Texas and start a music studio as a full time career. Texas has large music programs that make it relatively easy to create a full time job out of private teaching! Co-host Alaina spent a year doing The Texas Thing herself and while she was there she met up with bassoonist Meridith Wright. In this interview, we hear from Meridith about all the ups and downs of teaching full time in San Antonio, Tx. Meridith explains how she got her foot in the door with local schools, becoming an official independent contractor, and the odd weekly schedule she maintains. She shares how teaching has changed over the past few months with schools being closed, and how having an official contract between her and her students (before something like a pandemic) "saved her sweet behind.”   After you listen be sure to check out her website www.bassoonwright.com to listen to her play, buy some reeds, or just to sneak a peak at her contract.  Both Meridith and Alaina use mymusicstaff to organize and plan their teaching schedule and recommend it to anyone interested in doing similar work. (not a sponsor). Theme music is "The Cactus Song" by The Maplewaves, find their music on Spotify and follow them on their socials! The Maplewaves Rock! 

One evening Casey was asked to introduce her bassoon to kids online for a class that was the following afternoon! Have you been in this situation? Do you know what you would play? What would you say to someone who has never seen your instrument before? How would you keep the attention of twenty toddlers? It's common to be asked to demonstrate your instrument for a class or whenever you're playing in public, often with little notice or planning time! It seems simple to talk about something that is such a big part of our lives! However, when you've been shredding in the practice room it can be hard to know how to take advantage of an engaging and personal teaching moment with your audience. You'll want to be prepared to engage any and all ages! Casey and Alaina discuss their silly experiences with giving instrument intros, the importance of being ready to do them, and the importance of making them interactive. You are more than a human Google, you're there to provide an experience beyond reciting facts. Be a good ambassador for classical music and for your instrument. Show them how relatable classical musicians are and invite the audience into your world. Try not to forget how cool it is that we get to play these things! Share with the audience, and let them know who you are as a person. All of that will help connect them further into what you do and the music you chose to play for them. In preparation for this episode, we read two chapters from Eric Booth's "The Music Teaching Artist's Bible." Both chapters were from Part IV: The Fundamentals of Working in Education Settings- Chapter 15, "Truth and Dare in Education Programs" Chapter 16, "How to Succeed in School Environments" We'd love for you to join our challenge and record a video of you introducing your instrument! Tag us in your video or send it in a message on Instagram @earsengaged or email us at earsengaged@gmail.com. We want to hear from you! If you're enjoying the podcast, please leave a rating or review! Our goal is to get 5 reviews by June. Everyone who leaves a review gets a shout out! WindSync website: www.windsync.org Peter and the Wolf: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngCqj-Fd2dw Links to Live Video Demos on WindSync's Facebook Page: WindSync Intro Video and Clarinet Demo WindSync Flute and Oboe Demo WindSync Horn and Bassoon Demo Kid Demos and Rhythms: https://www.facebook.com/WindSync/videos/223515622317728/ Theme music by: The Maplewaves https://open.spotify.com/artist/2IeIcNBQdNt6YwWMBHIGRw

In the orchestral audition world the competition is fierce, every plane ticket is a gamble, and rejection is heard more often than not. Yet there are still many steadfast musicians who hear a call from within to play in a symphony, and spend years auditioning in attempt to answer it.  In today's episode Alaina and Casey interview oboist Natalie Beckenbaugh; a fellow Carnegie Mellon University alum and dear friend who is in the thick of her audition season in life. Natalie talks about moving back to her hometown in Dunwoody, GA. after graduating with her Master in Music in Oboe Performance, her various musical day jobs, what the audition process has been like for her, what she has learned so far, and how long she is willing to pursue this job of a lifetime.  Theme music by: The Maplewaves  https://open.spotify.com/artist/2IeIcNBQdNt6YwWMBHIGRw

Casey and Alaina talk with another Indiana University alum and friend, Taylor Reutman! Taylor double majored in oboe performance and German while at IU, but after graduating he took a much needed break from music to explore his second major. Taylor's been traveling the world as a flight attendant with United for the past four years. It wasn't until recently that he was able to enjoy playing the oboe again. We discuss life with a varying schedule as a flight attendant, school experiences and studying abroad, falling out of and back in love with music, and the excited new chapter of Taylor's journey with music making! Listen to Taylor's podcast 'Under the Horror Dome' here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/under-the-horror-dome-podcast/id1466152624 Theme Music: "The Cactus Song" by The Maplewaves https://themaplewaves.bandcamp.com/ We are not including this link just because we have to for copyright purposes, we are including this link so you can go listen to the entire song because it's a good song! Casey's husband wrote and played it with his band. His band has a bunch of original music that you can check out. We think that's pretty cool.

When graduation is approaching, most music students feel anxious about how they are going to get paid to perform classical music. Today we offer a unique alternative to symphonic auditions; playing chamber music for a cruise line! This program was created out of a collaboration between New York City’s Lincoln Center and Holland America Line. *Spoiler* a program our guest loved so much she plans on going back for another 4 months! In this episode we talk with violinist, Khelsey Zarraga (Alaina's 4-year-roommate while at Indiana University!) about all the nitty gritty details of life as a Lincoln Center Stage Artist in their resident ensemble onboard. These realities include traveling the world, maintaining artistic integrity, programing, and the different sort of audience engagement skills that are needed. By the end we learn about the sacrifices it takes, but also what sort of life changing rewards it has to offer. Theme Music: "The Cactus Song" by The Maplewaves https://themaplewaves.bandcamp.com/ We are not including this link because we have to in order to not get sued, we are including this link so you can go listen to the entire song because it's a good song! Casey's husband wrote and played it with his band. His band has a bunch of original music that you can check out. We think that's pretty cool.

Woah! Purpose is such a big topic, what did we get ourselves into!? Casey and Alaina discuss the idea of an essential job and how musicians relate to that. They share their individual paths that lead them to choosing a career in music and what helped them stay on that path. They also discuss how being out of school has allowed them to fall back in love with music and find their purpose as musicians. At the end, we describe how the definition of art can be expanded into an action and how to encourage everyday people to use it as a way to confirm their individuality.

After graduating with a Bachelors of Music, a Masters of Arts and Teaching, and a license to teach choral music to k-12 our guest, Morgan Deal, found herself not wanting to pursue a career as a music teacher after all. As a childhood friend of cohost Casey, Morgan was invited to share the impact music has made in her life (including her love for 20th century music), her future aspirations, and the balancing act between music as a career and music as a hobby. 

Alaina and Casey test their virtual recording skills and discuss various ways Ears Engaged has been effected by the Corona virus restrictions.

The team meets again to discuss the details of their latest gig on March 6th at the Pittsburgh International Airport. *Notice: As of March 13th, 2020 The Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council & The Pittsburgh International Airport decided to pause this performance series in an attempt to prioritize the safety and security of both passengers & performers*

Casey and Alaina discuss applying for their first grant! This milestone lead to looking forward at more long term goals for Ears Engaged, especially when considering how expensive it is to be involved in classical music. They talk about being part of both a local and digital community and how those communities can benefit each other on a regular basis. This will hopefully help support the efforts of Ears Engaged to fulfill their mission of bringing classical music to everyday spaces and people.

In this episode, the full Ears Engaged team gets together to share our experience performing at a local open mic night, something we've never done before - especially as classical musicians! We give you an insight into how we felt, how the audience felt, and why we think more classical musicians should try putting themselves and their music in this setting. Nearing the end of the episode, we get into a great discussion about what qualifies as a gig you should be paid for versus a gig you benefit from in other ways, the future of Ears Engaged, and dealing with the realities of how new graduates make money.

Alaina & Casey talk through chapter 6 of David Wallace's book, "Engaging the Concert Audience: A Musician's Guide to Interactive Performance".  This chapter is about the 10 common pitfalls to avoid when executing an interactive performance. They share anecdotes about the pitfalls they have personally fallen into and discuss ways they could have been avoided. 

Meet fellow member of the Ears Engaged team, CJ Corbett! CJ shares memorable moments from his recently completed student teaching experience, talks about switching between performance and music education majors during college, what drew him to teaching artistry, and shares advice from past teachers.

In this episode Casey & Alaina invite you to be a fly on the wall during one of their business meetings. In this meeting, very clearly held at Casey’s house because of the bird chirping in the background (he wanted to be in the conversation so badly), they discuss various goals for Ears Engaged going into 2020. Our Final Outline is as Follows: 1. Performing gigs: (a) 4 new scripts (b) 4 new/different venues (c) 12 performances (one a month as a goal but let it happen organically as well) (d) Record 2 shows from previous year with a ‘studio audience’ 2. Teaching: (a) Host a workshop, 'Woodwind Day' 3. Entrepreneurship Projects: (a) Create contracts for internal use and external use (b) Podcast enhancement (Schedule interviews, map arch for chapter studies, figure out transcriptions)

Alaina and Casey discuss what it means to have a portfolio career, do a deep dive into projects that led to creating Ears Engaged, and share what's included in their portfolios as musicians.

In this episode Casey & Alaina sit down with former CMU colleague, Edna Jeon, who is currently playing 3rd flute/piccolo in the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra. Edna shares stories about her life after graduation, adjusting to island life on aloha time, and goals she has set for the future (including performing interactive concerts!).

In this episode Alaina and Casey talk through chapter 1 of Eric Booth's The Music Teaching Artist's Bible titled "What is a Teaching Artist?". They discuss their key take aways including: Art vs. Entertainment, what you teach is who you are, and how teaching artistry goes against standard practices in music. At the end they read through some of their favorite definitions other teaching artists have created to define this practice.

In this podcast co-hosts Casey & Alaina speak about life after music school, finding your niche in the music world, and making ends meet. Follow them as they figure out how to find success and how others are doing the same. This first episode features a conversation about their values as musicians, teaching artistry, and making your own opportunities.