More Than Musicians

Where are our young aspiring musicians at? This one is for you! This week we got so lucky because we got to sit down with the amazing Sara Bauman on the show! A native of Salt Lake City, Sara Noel Bauman Staples graduated from The Juilliard School in New York City with a master's degree in violin performance. She received her Bachelor's Degree from Brigham Young University while serving as concertmaster of both the BYU Philharmonic and Chamber Orchestras. Most recently she can be found playing with both the Utah Symphony and Seattle Symphony. On this episode, Sara and Sarah peel back the curtain on the Juilliard experience, everything from the audition process to the practice hours to the class load and what it truly takes. Sara gives us insight into how she plans to approach a music education with her own kids as well as the most important life lessons and experiences that she has taken away from her music career to this point. Sara graciously opens up about one of the most tender experiences music has afforded her as she describes her very most memorable performance. Sara describes the special relationship she shares with her go-to accompanist and how that person has helped her master her craft from a very young age. You won't want to miss this, it's a good one! Find Sara's and her music on her website here, youtube here, or Apple Music here!

This week we sit down with mother of seven, lifelong musician and co-author of The Piano Place Juniors program, Louise LeSueur. Louise dives in by sharing her background in music, her own experience with quitting and later regretting it and the approach she now takes with her own kids when it comes to lessons. We learn how Louise's regret in quitting lessons in her adolescence has lead her to re-enroll in lessons as an adult. Louise discusses the "fruit" she has seen come from her older children being able to use their music outside of the home and the personal reasons behind why she is so deeply committed to the cause of helping her kids stick with their lessons. Aside from her incredible insights as a mother and life-long student, Louise is one of the co-authors and brains behind the Piano Place Juniors Program. If you've ever wondered what it's all about, take a listen! 31:28: How the idea of a juniors program and the relationship with Louise came to be. 34:48: The pros and cons of Musikgarten, Kindermusik and Let's Play Music and how our The Piano Place Juniors program differs. 37:46: The thought process and intent behind the development of the curriculum. 43:02: The objectives of The Piano Place Juniors program (what skills its designed to help young musicians obtain) 44:04: A teacher's testimonial on how this program is truly helping her students excel. 46:21: A walk through of the format of the class. To learn more about The Piano Place Juniors program visit https://thepianoplaceutah.com/piano-place-jr/

In this episode, Sarah goes solo to answer the #1 question she most frequently gets asked which is, "What age should I put my kid in music lessons?" Sarah draws on her nearly 15 years of experience teaching private piano lessons and running a music studio to help parents identify markers of readiness. As as easy as it would be to slap a magic number on it, Sarah talks about why that isn't possible to define with a one-size-fits-all kind of answer. Sarah will outline four great questions a parent can ask themselves that will help them determine for their own family when it's the right time. Sarah will gives insight into the approach she is taking with music lessons in her own home as her own kids have recently begun the journey of learning an instrument. Sarah also recaps an exciting and eventful weekend full of marathon PR's, pet chickens and more!

On this episode, we sit down with Amy Geis, a talented singer/songwriter and former member of BYU's acapella group, Noteworthy. Amy discusses the vulnerable topics of her latest singles and shares the personal struggles she faces daily with body image, anxiety and self-acceptance. Amy's songs bring a message of hope and quite strength to all that listen.

On this episode we sit down with Dr. Matt Townsend as he gives us parenting tips that will help us in our approach not just with music lessons but all of our kids activities. Matt uses the metaphor of the parent being like a gardener whose sole job is to cultivate the seed. Listen to the full episode to hear more!

In this episode, Sarah sits down with singer/ songwriter and band front man EJ Michels as he opens up about his journey of both highs and lows that have brought him where he is today in his career. Eric discusses the positive outlet that music has become for him as he has navigated life's challenges and learned to love himself.

On this episode Sarah sits down with a neighbor and friend Fred Lowry to talk about the power music has to help us heal. In July 2017, Fred and his wife Jill went through the unimaginable when they discovered their 24-year old son Landon had died by suicide. After Landon's passing Fred began taking piano lessons again for the first time since his childhood. He discusses how playing music helped him process his grief and what we all can do to bring hope to those who need it most.

Kicking off our first ever episode, Sarah sits down with her brother, talented musician Tanner Townsend, to talk all things music. Everything from Tanner's behind the scenes experience auditioning for the judges on American Idol, to his childhood musical hero now becoming his business partner. Tanner and Sarah discuss the crippling role that fear can play in keeping us from tapping into our full potential and how over-consuming can keep us from creating the art we were born to make. Finally, Tanner and Sarah discuss about the importance of purpose in creating music and how because art is art and there is room for everyone to sit at the table.

We're Live! In this episode you will meet your host, Sarah Davies, as she explains how this podcast came to be and the mission behind the More Than Musician movement.