Musicians vs the World

Today is the first of a two-part series with our guest, musician and composer Alexander Parsons. In Part I, we're discussing Alexander's score to the upcoming film, "Flight 149: Hostage of War," the extraordinary story of passengers and crew who become unwitting hostages during Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait. We also discuss the impact of music teachers on their students, and how his own teacher influenced his life. https://alexparsonsmusic.com/

Today we learn about the Alexander Technique and improving our musicianship with the incredible Jennifer Roig-Francolí! We talk about the power of awareness, the sneaky thoughts and obstacles we put in our own way, and Christine even gets a quick lesson on a tension/awareness exercise we can all use in our own practice! Jennifer's Website: https://artoffreedom.me/

Composer James Allen Roberson has a great quote on his wall by Ira Glass that explains that the gap between our ability and our taste is only bridged by a lot of work. In today's episode, James sits down with us to discuss his own creative development and the hard work that went into it. We talk about maintaining and attitude of humility and learning lessons from unexpected places, living in the studio, how to find the right sound for a project, and mourning the end-of-life of Finale. https://www.robersonsound.com/

Today we visit Middle Earth and discuss the score to "The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim" with Emmy award-winning Composer Stephen Gallagher and Grammy award-winning Producer/Engineer Mark Willsher. Their goal in this project was to “honour the narrative of the film by blending the beloved design and musical language of the original Lord of the Rings trilogy with ideas befitting Kamiyama-san's beautiful hand-drawn anime.” We discuss learning from and enjoying the differences between "The War of the Rohirrim" and the original live action LOTR trilogies in terms of workflow and creative style. We also cover thematic material, composition/mixing techniques and the value of having a trusted collaboration! "Overture" from THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is copyrighted and used with permission from WBD Music AS(ASCAP), New Line Tunes (ASCAP) and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All rights to the music are owned by WBD Music, New Line Tunes, and Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.

Renowned German film composer Christoph Zirngibl joins us today to talk about his recent projects AppleTV+ “Where's Wanda” and the animated adventure film “The Hero of Centopia.” We chat about the difference between a Palette Composer vs an Artist Composer, his own composing process, and what makes a good melody. Christoph Zirngibl is a renowned German film composer based in Munich, Germany. Among the over 120 movies Christoph has composed the music for by now, you will find some of the most-watched German prime-time TV movies and successful national feature films, as well as a diverse range of indie films, short movies, TV series and documentaries. His music has been awarded the Hollywood Music in Media Award, the Jerry Goldsmith Award and the “German Emmy” ({reis der Deutschen Fernsehakademie) and has been nominated multiple times, e.g. for the German Filmmusic Award, the European Filmmusic Award (Camille Award) and the Music & Sound Awards. At the Cannes Film Festival 2022, he was one of ten international composers being selected for the Spot the Composer Program.

Collaboration is the cornerstone of a musicians' creativity and career. This is especially true in media composing. And here to talk with me about it today are my guests Ari Posner and Joel Schwartz. They worked together composing the score to the acclaimed drama series “Sullivan's Crossing” whose 2nd season premiered in the US in October 2024 on the CW, and kicks off its 3rd season on Canada's CTV in the spring of 2025.

Today we are honored to have Deva Anderson and Rachel Lautzenheiser, two renowned music supervisors, joining us to share their insights on the film adaptation of August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, The Piano Lesson. The two have worked together for more than a decade. Deva leads the music department at Tom Hanks and Gary Goeztman's Production Company, Playtone, where she has overseen music for all their productions for over 25 years, including the Oscar-nominated film Greyhound, Band of Brothers, and The Pacific. Rachel has played an integral part of the music department at Playtone as a rising Music Supervisor whose credits include Masters of the Air, Alaska Daily, and My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3. Deva and Rachel also received two Guild of Music Supervisor nominations for Best Music Supervision in a TV Drama (Masters of the Air) and Best Music Supervision in a Mid-Level Budget Film (The Piano Lesson).

Today we're talking with accomplished composer, Andrew Morgan Smith who has successfully navigated the world of both film and concert composition. We are diving into the technical details about work flow, working with orchestrators, scoring sessions that span the globe, and keeping up with latest technological innovations in the music world. https://www.andrewmorgansmith.com/

Musicians often get stuck in the mindset of 'being chosen.' We practice and hope we are chosen for the masterclass. We audition and are chosen to fill a seat in the studio, or in the orchestra. We submit a demo and cross our fingers that we win the project. Kate Kayaian, Career Coach for High Performing Creatives, has made it her life's mission to help creatives thrive in their careers and take the steps they need to unlock their creative potential. She joins us today to share her own story pivoting from a very successful career as a cellist to her new life helping other high-performing creatives. We discuss how fear gets in the way of creativity and growth, when it's time to pivot, when it's time to consult a career coach, and the value of community. We also chat a bit about Kate's first full-length book, "Beyond Potential: A Guide for High-achieving Creatives Who Are Looking to Re-assess, Re-define, and Re-ignite Their Careers" which is due out in March 2025. It is available for preorder on February 25, 2025. https://katekayaian.com/ https://talesfromthelane.com/ Instagram: @kkayaian 10 Habits of Successful Artists: https://mailchi.mp/b97d167bd642/10habits

The score for the BAFTA and Annie-nominated film, Kensuke's Kingdom, is big, traditional, and symphonic. Directors Neil Boyle and Kirk Hendry initially conceived the project almost as a silent movie, as there is very little dialogue between the two lead characters, who do not speak each other's language. The music plays a pivotal role in the story-telling, featuring a 60-piece orchestra and a 35-piece choir. Stuart handled every aspect of the music production – composition, orchestration, music editing, supervision of the mix, handling the budget, etc. He joins us to discuss the highs and lows of this massive project: from the business/budget to the thematic and orchestral development of this gorgeous score. He also shares his love of orchestral music from Stravinsky to John Williams, and gives his advice on scores to study and the importance of composing horizontally as well as vertically. https://www.stuarthancock.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2fTTVQwaWU

Steffen Thum is a German composer for film, TV, games and advertising, based in Berlin. With over 70 credits to his name, he has extensive experience across high profile studio films, independent cinema, TV and advertising campaigns. Max Aruj is a composer born and raised in Los Angeles. His recent projects include MoviePass, MovieCrash (HBO), Lansky starring Harvey Keitel, and The Ice Road (Netflix) starring Liam Neeson. Both are successful film composers with experience working on high profile projects with composers such as Lorne Balfe, Hans Zimmer and others. They're here to talk with us today about collaboration, lessons learned in their careers, and their work on the film “Betrayal.” Topics Include: *Working for another composer is another level of training and “school” *The importance of working very cleanly and clearly in collaboration *Work at a high level to hone your craft *The importance of attention to detail *Behind the score of “Betrayal” *Advice for aspiring musicians https://www.steffenthum.com/ https://maxaruj.com/

Robert Arzola is a freelance composer and music supervisor for Phantom Power based in the Atlanta, GA metropolitan area. After injury interrupted his plans of being a classical performer, Robert pivoted to composing. As a freelance composer, Robert has scored feature films for Reel One Entertainment, Lifetime, Lionsgate, and Feifer Worldwide along with the video game Tactical Breach Wizards. Robert has landed numerous placements in trailers as a composer, sound designer, and editor. As the music supervisor for Phantom Power, Robert helped release multiple albums and has helped Phantom Power acquire placements for various major campaigns. He is also a contributor for the YouTube channel, The Samplelist, where he does overviews of sample libraries. Today we talk about his career, his pivot to composing, and we do a deep dive into his score for the game Tactical Breach Wizards. https://robertarzola.com/

David Naroth is a Composer, Sound Designer, and all-around creative person. He loves creating and audio is his favorite outlet of that creativity! He loves experimenting with the traditional and non-traditional to create new perspectives in his compositions. He also loves to push himself to explore different genres of music and loves to work on all types of visual media formats. Today David joins us to discuss his latest project, “Searching for Amani.” The documentary takes place In the heart of Kenya, where a tragedy shatters a young boy's life. The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 8, 2024. We also talk about creating sonic palettes and world building through sound, as well as sonically representing abstract concepts like climate change. Topics Include: -Sonically representing climate change -Collaboration in composing -The process of creating sonic palettes -World building through sound -Experimentation vs working fast -The differences between documentaries and fiction projects -Gear David can't live without -Finding source sounds and creating a sound library -Sampling and re-sampling https://www.davidnaroth.com/ https://www.searchingforamani.com/

Austin Weber first gained attention in 2018 with his original records and boundary-pushing music videos. His music and videos are vibrant collages of early YouTube blogging, David Attenborough documentaries, and heartbreak. His theatrical live shows feature puppet monsters, lucha libré matches, and Gregorian chant ceremonies. With an upcoming solo record set to release in November 2024, and his involvement in scoring the recently Tribeca-premiered film Rent Free, Austin continues to push creative boundaries. His score for Rent Free uses homebuilt instruments and analog synthesizers alongside an original soundtrack of new songs to alternatingly ground and augment the chaos of your early 20s. Topics include: -Early success laying the track for a music career -The fun of being your own boss vs. having a director -Classical vs Media music....is there a difference? -Classical music as a visual medium -The “Cow tools” Plinko instrument – making new instruments for “Rent Free” -Collaboration and communication in Music https://www.austinweber.info/ https://www.youtube.com/@AustinWeber https://open.spotify.com/prerelease/5h0rTGkBqbWz66GwvsgwzF?si=b675e9bced7f4c43 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28626359/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk

My guest today is Dr. Erin Parkes, Founder and Executive Director of the Lotus Centre for Special Music Education. She is here to talk about her work with Adaptive Concerts, which are performances that are adapted for neurodivergent audiences that may respond differently to stimuli, and especially music. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Dr. Erin Parkes holds a Ph.D. in music education from McGill University, where she researched how to train studio music teachers to work with students with autism. In 2012, Dr. Parkes founded Lotus Centre for Special Music Education, a charitable organization committed to providing access to music education for people with exceptionalities. In addition to her role at Lotus Centre, Dr. Parkes is an adjunct professor at the University of Ottawa, where she is also a principal researcher at the Music and Health Research Institute. Dr. Parkes presents at conferences and guest lectures internationally on teaching music to students with exceptionalities and other issues in music education. MORE INFORMATION ON ADAPTIVE CONCERTS: www.lotuscentre.net https://nac-cna.ca/en/stories/story/a-musical-experience-for-autistic-children https://nac-cna.ca/en/video/series/the-music-circle https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1321103X231214113 https://xeniaconcerts.com/

After 12 years as a composer for media, David Bertok is branching out into the world of concert music with his most recent project, ONE, which will be released in October. He joins Christine in this episode to discuss his journey through music, his belief in the human touch of music, and the perfection in imperfection and experimentation. Topics include: *David's background from Germany to LA *The value of a wide range of skills *With new technology is human creativity necessary? *Will AI make us appreciate live performances and creativity more in the future? *What AI cannot do. *What is the composing process for “ONE” *David's favorite pieces *Improvising Baroque Counterpoint? *Why create a neoclassical? *From the DAW to the recording stage *The advantages of live instruments *The perfection in imperfection *Advice for aspiring musicians About our Guest: https://www.davidbertok.com/ Composer of the award winning feature films "Peace by Chocolate" and "Botero", David Bertok writes for film, TV and the concert hall. After graduating from music college in Germany, David enjoyed a busy career as a live musician touring Europe with progressive rock bands opening for acts such as Scorpions and Saga. His band, Subsignal, reached the German album charts twice during his tenure as keyboarder, songwriter, lyricist and producer. In 2012, he relocated to Los Angeles on a Fulbright Scholarship admitted to the famed Scoring for Motion Picture and Television Program at USC. David's creativity extends to songwriting, producing and more. After 12 years as a composer for media, David is branching out into the world of concert music with his most recent project, ONE, which will be released in October. https://frostedlens.com/musicians-vs-the-world/f/david-bertok-on-his-neoclassical-album-one

"You can't be the producer and the generator at once" When you get a chance to learn from an influential and innovative musician like Evan Frankfort, you can't pass it up! In this episode Evan shares fantastic practical advice for aspiring musicians/producers as well as his own philosophies on creativity, curiosity, craft, and of course....The Spiritual Machines! 4- time Emmy nominated, Songwriter, Sound Designer, and composer Evan Frankfort's innovative musical contributions in both television and indie rock have offered uniquely captivating soundscapes for nearly 30 years. He currently serves as Head of Music for Hearst Media, as well as frontman of the innovative indie rock band “The Spiritual Machines” and co-creator of “Less Friction.” His past credits include shows like The 100, and Beverly Hills 90210, and he has collaborated with iconic artists like The Bangles, Plain White T's, Rancid, Warren Zevon, and Liz Phair. Topics Include: *Finding your place in music – embrace your differences *Hiding the Tool – how it applies to music making *The Spiritual Machine – what defines us as individuals or as human? *Instruments as Spiritual Machines *Don't get bogged down by proving something *You can't be the producer and the generator at once *Spontaneous vs Scheduled creativity *Creativity through collaboration *The Spiritual Machines and the evolution of a band's “sound” *What is your “spiritual machine?” *Balancing life as a Music Director and a creative *Advice for aspiring musicians

Just like the many students in the US returning to school this month, music teachers are making goals of their own for the upcoming school year. In honor of that, Christine is switching from interviewer to interviewee, and with the help of producer, Russ, will be discussing some of the activities she's planning on implementing to help her students become more connected and creative in their music making. We also discuss a teacher's role in preparing and protecting their students in very competitive environments/auditions, as well as reviewing lessons Christine has learned from a few of her fantastic guests on this program! Resources Mentioned: **These are not affiliated links. We're not getting sponsored by any of these products...we just like them** The Mind's Ear by Bruce Adolphe https://a.co/d/hmBdsu2 Rhythm Cup Explorations by Wendy Stevens: https://composecreate.com/product/rhythm-cup-explorations/ Pattern Pieces by Piano Safari: https://pianosafari.com/product/patternpiecespack/ Shades of Sound by Jenny Boster: https://a.co/d/1JB7JeW MvW Episodes referenced: What Are You Trying to Say? Musical Imagination with Bruce Adolphe: https://frostedlens.com/musicians-vs-the-world/f/what-are-you-trying-to-say-musical-imagination-with-bruce-adolph How to Win an Audition: A conversation with Dr. Scott Holden https://frostedlens.com/musicians-vs-the-world/f/musicians-vs-auditions-part-1---how-win-an-audition Audiation and Music Learning Theory with Siliana Chiliachka: https://frostedlens.com/musicians-vs-the-world/f/audiation-and-music-learning-theory-with-siliana-chiliachka Competition in Music with Dr. Brandon Bascom https://frostedlens.com/musicians-vs-the-world/f/competition-in-music-with-dr-brandon-bascom Performance Anxiety: https://frostedlens.com/musicians-vs-the-world/f/performance-anxiety-5-principles Jenny Boster: Female Composers and Why We Should Study Them https://frostedlens.com/musicians-vs-the-world/f/female-composers-and-why-we-should-study-them

Binaural beats are an audio illusion often used in psychology circles to aid in stress reduction and concentration. Our guest today, composer John Joseph Wiater, used this compositional technique in a creative way to enhance the emotional impact of his score for the film “I Think I'm Sick.” He's here to talk with us about it today. TOPICS INCLUDE: -John's background -Finding the first composing job -Branching out to new styles -Binaural beats – what are they? -The use of binaural beats in film scoring -Future possibilities for exploration with binaural beats -DIY building a composing business About our Guest: https://johnwiater.com/ https://itisfilm.com/ Philidelphia-based John Joseph Wiater (Waiter) has scored over 15 genre-spanning films from an Oscar-qualifying family drama short to a dark comedy on suicide awareness, to espionage, romance, and sci-fi adventures. John's most recent credits include the debut feature from Danny Gevirtz "I Think I'm Sick", which portrays a young man's second chance at life after a failed suicide attempt. The score was a collaboration with long-time musical collaborator Matt Fell, and featured a textural scoring inspired by binaural beats and choral vocals. John has a strong following on social media through his educational and film composer and music production-centric content, and a large fanbase for his artistic compositions streaming on music platforms.

Today we are talking with Award-winning mixing engineer Shalev Alon. We'll be discussing the art of mixing music, the difference between vocal and instrumental mixing, and we'll also hear his excellent advice on building a successful career in music. TOPICS INCLUDE: -Mixing Music in depth: The width, the depth, and the height -Our ears are in charge of the final decisions – if it sounds good, it's good. -The intricacies of mixing vocals -The importance of the foundation: good songs, good arrangement, good production -Common mixing mistakes -Shalev's background and career path -Everyone can be successful in the entertainment business -What does success mean for you? -The value of persistence -The balance of building relationships – having social awareness -The 3 things you need to build your reputation and business https://www.youtube.com/@S.AMixing

Today we are talking with ASCAP award-winning composer, Matt Bowen. We discuss his musical development from a classically trained violinist touring with a youth symphony to a full-time composer. We also dive into the compositional process behind his project, the Amazon Series "Gen V." Topics Include: • Matt's Background in violin • San Diego Youth Symphony • Learning harmonic structure • Do you know how to wrap cables? The value of an internship • The Importance of asking questions • Gen V: Threading the needle of spinoff music • Creating the Gen V “gritty” sound • How experience as an orchestrator helps with synthesized music • The members of the Gen V music team • Advice for aspiring musicians https://mattbowenmusic.com/ Matt Bowen is an ASCAP award-winning composer based in Los Angeles. A classically trained violinist from the age of three and later a member of a touring youth symphony, he ultimately shifted to working behind the scenes. He teamed up with record producer Matt Wallace (Maroon 5, Faith No More) and worked as an engineer on RIAA-certified platinum singles Michael Franti & Spearhead's "All Rebel Rockers" and O.A.R.'s "All Sides.” As composing projects continued to ramp up, he ultimately pivoted to composing full-time. Bowen recently scored Hulu's R-rated feature film THE BINGE starring Vince Vaughn and Skylar Gisondo. His work can be heard on the gritty Emmy Award-winning documentary BLOOD ROAD (Red Bull Media House). He also teamed up with Christopher Lennertz to co-score the Netflix TV series BEST WORST WEEKEND EVER. In addition to composing, Bowen has contributed as an arranger, orchestrator, and composer of additional music on a wide variety of projects for all mediums. He frequently works on Christopher Lennertz's music team on projects such as THE BOYS and BAD MOMS.

Today we are talking with Elyssa Samsel, the composer behind the music of the Lionsgate feature film "Miller's Girl." We discuss her process of composing and creating the score for the popular film, including the use of conventional and unexpected instruments to add depth to scenes and characters. In addition, Elyssa discusses her background composing for musical theater and animation, the importance of collaboration, and her strategies for maintaining optimism in a competitive career. TOPICS INCLUDE: -Elyssa's Background -BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop -The Importance of Collaboration -The Freedom of Composing for Animation -Endless Optimism and How to Persist Through “Hiccups” in Your Career -The Value of Networking and Consistency -Surround Yourself with “A Mastermind Alliance” -Behind the Music of “Miller's Girl” -Advice for Aspiring Musicians https://www.samselanderson.com/ https://betweenthelinesmusical.com/ https://youtu.be/pKA01VUKlCU?si=kZGdalvpO9YQTUxY

“Cliff End Records is more than a label; it's a movement that empowers artists and navigates them through a vast ocean of musical possibilities.” In this episode Christine talks with Dina Rizvic and Alan Jones about the founding of Cliff End Records, and their goal of helping musicians create their art on their own terms. TOPICS INCLUDE: -Dina and Alan's backgrounds -The beginning of Cliff End Records -The goal of Cliff End Records -The history of recording and publishing -How a small label is different than a large label -Working with artists from a creative and legal standpoint -Plans for the future -A day in the life at an Independent Label -Advice for aspiring musicians https://www.cliffendrecords.com/ https://www.cliffendbooks.com/ https://dinarizvic11.wixsite.com/dinarizvic https://frostedlens.com/musicians-vs-the-world/f/cliff-end-records-behind-the-scenes-at-an-independent-label

Composer Jason Brandt joins us today as we're talking about how the composer needs to function as part of the story telling team in the world of film and television production. We discuss strategies you can use as a composer to help to support your message, transport your audience to different settings, and even foreshadow key narrative events. Topics Include: What Stravinsky and Metallica have in common The world is so beautiful when looking back into the history of classical music In Media Music, many different genres can have a home. Composing on a 4-track recorder - how to adjust composing to new technology Write a piece of music every day - but don't show it to anyone Give yourself space to fail Music's role in storytelling - Looking into the music of Camp Hideout and Max Winslow and the House of Secrets” When does your ear get tired? Advice for aspiring composers About our Guest: https://www.jasonbrandt.com/ https://soundcloud.com/jasonbrandtmusic Jason Brandt recently composed music for the film Camp Hideout (starring Christopher Lloyd and Corbin Bleu) released by Roadside Attractions. This family comedy was released theatrically on September 15, 2023 and on HULU in February 2024. Jason also scored the award-winning film Max Winslow & The House Of Secrets, (starring Chad Michael Murray) F.R.E.D.I. (starring Kelly Hu), and Christmas Wonderland. Other films include the thrillers Mommy Be Mine and The Other Mother. A Christmas Reunion, (starring Denise Richards). Night of the Living Dead 3D (starring Sid Haig) and the documentary That Guy Dick Miller premiered at SXSW 2014. Jason also creates original music for a wide range of national television programming, including Cartoon Network's Teen Titans GO!, Mike Tyson Mysteries, Extra, and TMZ. Other TV shows include American Idol, The Bachelor The Bachelorette, and many more. Music Featured in this Episode: Camp Hideout Main Title - from the motion picture "Camp Hideout" Composed by Jason Brandt Who is Atticus Virtue? - from the motion picture "Max Winslow and The House of Secrets" - Composed by Jason Brandt The Story Begins -from the motion picture "F.R.E.D.I." - composed by Jason Brandt

Have you stopped to think about what makes music funny? What makes a good action score? And what can a composer do to suck the life out of their composition? In today's episode, we're talking to Composer Matt Novack. We discuss all of this and really get into the details, so if you want to learn about how to write music like this, this is the episode for you. Matt Novack is a classically trained composer and percussionist whose intuitively smart scores have created indelible moments in (mostly) comedy projects across series and film. Matt's music supports performances by many of today's greatest comedic actors, including Amy Poelher, Paul Rudd, Rob Corddry, Megan Mullally, Henry Winkler and Will Arnett. Some of his notable credits include working cult favorite Children's Hopsital, Netflix's a Murderville, as well as award-winning Dog Days and spots for Assassin's Creed Valhalla. His most recent work can be heard on TBS's Miracle Workers: End Times. Topics include: • Matt's background and education as a percussionist/composer • What makes good “action” music • Scoring a comedy • Absurdist comedies vs sitcoms • What I wish I learned in school • Working with a temp track while staying original • Using and manipulating digital samples to create analog synth sound • Nothing kills the music of a scene like trying to be funny • The project Matt learned the most from • Advice for aspiring composers/musicians https://www.mattnovack.com/ Music featured in this episode (and shared with permission): Better Than Heroes Overture Composed by Matt Novack I Regret Lots of Things from "Harley Quinn" composed by Jefferson Friedman, Matt Novack, Christopher French I Like it Here from "Miracle Workers" Composed by Matt Novack Sad Sid from "Miracle Workers" Composed by Matt Novack The Enchanted Workshop Composed by Matt Novack End Times Main Title From "Miracle Workers" Composed by Matt Novack

Today we are talking with Composer, Producer, Cellist, and Teaching Artist, Margaret Maria, about music's power to change the world for the better. She shares her passion for creating music and giving back to the community by walking us through her not-for-profit organization "OrKidstra" as well as her creative projects. • Love at first sight with the cello • Learning to be fearless at Curtis Institute • Playing professionally. What comes next? • OrKidstra – not for profit serving kids in underserved areas • The internal drive to create and giving back to the community • Passion over Precision • Two goals of OrKidstra: create musicianship and social development • Academy of Impact through Music's five pillars of creating social change through music • Finding a place where music and belonging are the same • Changing the social structure so children learn their voices matter • Genre-fluid collaboration: “Music Can Change the World” • Finding a place for new music https://margaretmariamusic.com/home https://orkidstra.ca/ https://www.aimpowers.com/ https://musictreson.com/ https://marbyllia-bg.bandcamp.com/album/uncountable-spheres https://www.apmmusic.com/albums/HARD-0061 https://www.craigrobertmcconnell.com/

Video game orchestral composer Amanda Cawley joins us to discuss creating the music and atmosphere for the video game Siegebreaker. It's a fascinating discussion of the challenges of composing and producing numerous musical options for interactive entertainment. Topics Include: • Creating different palates for different settings in different points of the game • Workflow for Video Game music - Who does the composer answer to? • 3 levels of intensity • Linear vs looping track • Composing for an orchestra • How to break into the business • Finding inspiration when walking through the woods Music shared in this episode: Siegebreaker Main Theme Siegebreaker Main Theme 2 Forest Continent - Low Intensity Desert Continent - High Intensity Arctic Continent - Low Intensity Volcanic Continent - High Intensity https://amandacawley.com/ https://store.steampowered.com/app/21...

Composer Vinicius Barbosa Pippa believes that musicians need to be creative not only in their musical works, but also how they structure their career. In this episode we discuss Vinicius' journey from Brazil to the Berklee College of Music, to LA where he is currently running his own company “The Music Giant.” During our conversation we discuss how to say yes to diverse opportunities without losing sight of the ultimate goal, how to gain essential skills in unexpected places, and how to have fun and enjoy life along the way. Topics Include: • From Brazil to Berklee College of Music • Composing process: echoes of an idea fleshed out • The different paths in a music career leading to your ultimate goal • How experience in music editing can help composers technically and creatively • Be creative in how you structure your career • Say yes to opportunities without losing sight of your ultimate goal • Conducting an orchestra, conducting to screen • The next experiment – The Music Giant • Advice for aspiring musicians Music featured in this episode: “The Last Battle” composed and recorded by Vinicius Barbosa Pippa “Catalyst” composed and recorded by Vinicius Barbosa Pippa All music shared with permission https://www.themusicgiant.com/ https://frostedlens.com/musicians-vs-the-world

Today we are talking with Carlos Baker, who is sharing his story of overcoming childhood cancer and using creativity through becoming a songwriter and author to deal with the emotional aftermath. Topics Include: • The emotional aftermath of Cancer • Carlos' hermitage in Germany • Seeing yourself as an artist • Using creativity to cope with depression and anxiety • Working with a producer • Song melody vs syllabic melody • Working with studio musicians • Advice for future musicians Song Writer, Bass Player, and Author Carlos Baker is an American born musician who moved to northern Germany in 2009. In 2020, he penned the novel, Songs for Ivy which is available on Amazon. Carlos has written over 50 songs ranging from country to ballads to rock and blues. He writes songs that are filled with raw emotion, many of which deal with his personal experiences and struggles with depression. But above all, Carlos is most proud of the 4 children that he and his wife have raised. https://ckbakerband.com/ C.K. Baker Band on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1CsZn... Songs for Ivy on Amazon: https://a.co/d/huzxAoC

Today we are exploring the world of music editing, the invisible art form that is a success only if you don't notice it. We are lucky to have the award-winning music editor Yuri Gorbachow here to talk with us about this topic. Yuri Gorbachow is the founder of Aesthetic Corporation, a sound and music production company with a rich history in the audio for video industry. With a career spanning over 35 years, he has been working behind the scenes, ensuring that the music in some of the most iconic television productions reaches its highest possible standards. Recognized for his outstanding work, Yuri has been nominated for 25 M.P.S.E. Golden Reel awards and has won four times for best sound and music editing. He has received 11 Canadian Screen Award nominations, winning nine times. Additionally, Yuri's contributions earned him two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series, and he is especially acclaimed as a trustworthy ally and collaborator on prestige projects such as Vikings and Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale. TOPICS INCLUDE: · A music editor's role · What makes a good music edit? · How are awards decided? · The art form of temp music · Episodic music editing vs feature film music editing · What is a cue sheet? · Managing time and multiple projects · Yuri's background · The future of music editing · Advice for future music editors https://aesthetic.ca/ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0329786/

In this episode of Musicians vs the World, we talk with Adam Lukas and James Everingham, the incredibly creative composers behind the music to the BBC's Frozen Planet II. We're going to do a deep dive into the inspiration and composition techniques they used when creating their beautiful score and we'll also chat about their experience collaborating with Norwegian singer, songwriter and record producer, Aurora in this project. TOPICS INCLUDE: · Vomiting birds and baby seals · Collaboration with Aurora · The theme should be “giving” to the rest of the score for cohesion · Creating a sound palette – what is the core of your project? · How a chord progression can grow throughout a large project · That first view of a scene…where to begin? · The more you prepare before a project, the more fun you'll have at the end of it · Working with Spitfire to create “Fractured Strings” · What does Ice Sound like in Music · Take care of your mind, and keep composing https://www.adam-lukas.com/ https://www.jameseveringham.com/ https://www.bleedingfingersmusic.com/ https://www.spitfireaudio.com/ https://frostedlens.com/musicians-vs-the-world/f/frozen-planet-ii-behind-the-music

Tormod Ringnes is a Norwegian sound designer and sound editor. He is an avid collaborator and sought-after artist for much of his contributions, expertise, and precise dictations in the sound design community. In this episode, Tormod describes his collaboration with filmmaker Margreth Olin, editor Michal Leszczylowski, and composer Rebekka Karijord on the 2023 Norwegian documentary film "Songs of Earth," which was recently selected as Norway's entry into the International Feature category for the Oscars. Tormod's past projects also include Maleficent, Pirates of the Carribbean Dead Men Tell no Tales, Academy Award Winning Animated Feature Flee, partnerships with German filmmakers Thomas Aslan and Wim Wenders, video games like Battlefield 2042, and Tribeca 2023 selection Laroy (Steve Zahn). TOPICS INCLUDE: -What is sound design? -Tormod's background -Storytelling through sound -Collaborating with filmmakers, composers, and editors to enhance storytelling -The process of creating musical symphony using sound in "Songs of Earth" -Gaining inspiration from nature and from music -Tormod's 4-step approach to sound -Advice for future sound designers Songs of Earth Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InpVP... Songs of Earth Score: https://open.spotify.com/album/0o8KF0... https://www.margretholin.com/songsofe... www.uohert.no

In our latest episode of Musicians vs the World we'll be learning about the role and importance of the sound editor and re-recording mixer in the film and television industry. It's a possible career path for musicians, so we're going learn about it over the next 2 episodes. My guest today is Supervising Sound Editor and Re-recording mixer, James Parnell from Monkeyland Audio. Topics Include: • The difference between a sound editor and a re-recording mixer • The process of re-recording and mixing • What is foley? • How much sound is foley, and how much is original sound? • Ear Fatigue – what is it? Why is it a problem? • How to protect hearing as a sound remixer • How to stay true to source material in an adaptation • Advice for musicians wanting to become sound editors http://www.jamesparnell.com/ https://www.monkeylandaudio.com/ https://frostedlens.com/musicians-vs-the-world

Our guest today is composer, producer, and songwriter, Kyle Rodriguez. He's here to share his thoughts on building a career as a composer in the film industry through a non-traditional path. We also get to hear some great stories about gear, analog vs digital music production, and some tips on how to become a good composer's assistant. Topics Include: Doing things the hardest way possible Analog or Digital? Gear Kyle loves The secret to learning how to write orchestrally Lessons learned from orchestrator Bill Ross Getting a musical education without a degree Dissecting an orchestral score to find your own taste and compositional style – even when you don't connect with classical music Breaking down barriers for other musicians of color Hiring “blind” to remove bias The key to being hired as a composer's assistant Live life to inform your music https://kylerodriguezmusic.com/

It's football season! Ever wonder where the networks get the memorable theme music for their broadcasts? In our latest episode I'm talking with Alexander Hitchens, one of the top composers in the sports music business. He's here to talk with us about his latest project composing music for NBC's Big 10 football package, and how being observant and being prepared can change the course of your career in unexpected ways! Stay ready so you don't have to get ready! TOPICS INCLUDE: -How Hip Hop and Classical Music complement each other -Alexander's composing music for LeBron James and Kobe Bryant -The composing process: "Quantity Breeds Quality" -How an early morning tweet turned into a contract with NBC -The process of creating music for live sporting events -Advice for future musicians https://www.alexanderhitchens.com/ https://frostedlens.com/musicians-vs-the-world

In honor of Halloween, we'll be talking with Grant Meuers, sound designer for “The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster,” on how not only music, but sound design can effect an audience's experience and emotions. We talk about the importance of sound design, how to look at sound compositionally, foley, and how Grant balances his life while running his company “Snow Globe Sound.” Topics Include: • The difference between sound design and sound editing • The thought process behind the sound design in “The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster” • The use of texture and thinking compositionally in sound design • How music and sound can work together, and work against each other • Grant's music background and his path to sound design • The importance of taking breaks for physical and creative health • Balancing the administrative and creative aspects of owning a company https://snowglobesound.com/ https://frostedlens.com/musicians-vs-the-world

Dr. Malena McLaren joins me to discuss her decades-long passion project of discovering little-known Spanish clarinet works, their characteristics, and the stories behind their composers. This information is critical for composers wanting to integrate Spanish influences into their compositions, as well as musicians wanting to perform this music with appropriate stylistic nuances. Topics Include: • Malena's journey to Spain to find Yuste's music • Miguel Yuste's Life • Characteristics of Spanish Music: Rhythmic Elements, Melodic Elements, Harmonic Elements • Spanish clarinetists to listen to • Where to find Yuste's Music • Other Spanish composers to listen to Bassus Ediciones: https://www.bassusediciones.com/?lang=en Van Cott Information Services Inc,: https://vcisinc.com/

Have you ever heard of affiliate income, and how it can boost your financial situation as a musician and/or teacher? I am fortunate today to introduce you to Dr. Tonya Lawson who happens to be an expert in this very topic. We'll be diving into details into how to use your website properly, together with social media, to generate income. Topics Include: · How passive income can create stability for free-lance/independent musicians and music teachers · What is affiliate income? Is it possible for musicians to earn it? Where do I sign up? · What is SEO? Why do musicians need to know what it is? · Blog posts are not what they once were · Tips on working smarter, not harder when using social media and websites for marketing and affiliate income · Advice for new musicians https://tonyalawson.com/ https://tonyalawson.com/creative-seo/ https://frostedlens.com/musicians-vs-the-world

After an intense introspective moment during the pandemic, Kelly Monrow decided to pivot her artistic expression from acting to music. Months within launching her career, the determined musician had already amassed more than 2.5 million streams and made her performance debut at SXSW in Austin. In this episode, she candidly shares her story, her creative process, and advice for other musicians wanting to claim their own musical goals/dreams. Topics include: • Why pivot to music? • Kelly's creative process • Taking country music to France • Allow yourself to be free and make mistakes • Building your team to build your career • Being authentic to connect with fans • How to defy the odds of society https://www.youtube.com/@kellymonrowmusic https://www.instagram.com/kellymonrowdowdle/?hl=en https://www.kellymonrow.com/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/2Y9Plh9eUGTA1MKytihsvq?si=vk7K4lGnT0igtZD3j55TUQ

Sherri Chung has been recognized internationally as a trailblazing composer for film and television. From her beginnings as a classical pianist to award-winning composer, she has been recognized internationally as a trailblazer throughout her career. In 2022, she created history by being elected as the first female governor of the Television Academy's music branch. In this latest episode, Sherri talks about her career, her work on HBO Max/Amblin's animated series “Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai,” the Television Academy's music branch and her role in it, and the future of music and the Emmys. https://www.sherrichung.com/ https://www.emmys.com/ https://frostedlens.com/musicians-vs-the-world

“This is a moment to cherish…not everybody gets to do these kind of things.” Mark Evitts is an accomplished American composer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist whose career spans multiple genres and has led him from Nashville to The Grand Ole Opry and Carnegie Hall. Following his early career work as a road musician playing with country music artists, Mark has established himself as a versatile songwriter and composer. His songwriting credits include co-writing Nas' single "Brunch on Sundays,” which he also performed on, from the Grammy-nominated album "King's Disease II" and The Game's single "Violence." He joins Christine today to talk about his career and to share insight into his latest project: composing music for Apple TV+'s animated series “Frog and Toad.” Topics Include: · Mark's experience touring and recording with country and rock bands · How Mark's classical training opened doors into string arranging for albums and television music · Zoom in 2019? · Be yourself to win jobs · Frog and Toad: A collaborative philosophy to composing · Peter and the Wolf meets Frog and Toad · Cherishing the big moments · How do you get to Carnegie Hall? · The value of listening to many genres of music · Advice for upcoming Musicians http://www.markevitts.com/ https://frostedlens.com/musicians-vs-the-world

“Embrace the chaos. Breathe. Choose what you like about it. Repeat.” Today Christine talks with Latin Grammy and Grammy Award-winning producer, mixer, and engineer Vago Galindo. Together they discuss the production side of music, specifically about engineering, mixing, and producing, and how all of those things are critical to conveying the emotions of recorded music. Vago has worked with an impressive list of artists such as Juanes, Whiplash, Vale, and Elvis Costello, among many others. Besides his work in the music industry, Vago has also worked in the film industry as an engineer for movie soundtracks, including La La Land, The Girl in the Spider's Web, Beauty and The Beast (2017). He has also worked as Voice Over engineer for TV shows like Pokémon, Baby Shark, Rick & Morty, and more. Topics include: • Recording Engineers vs Mixing Engineers vs. Producers. What are their roles? • Embracing the chaos of music-making • Finding and emphasizing the emotion behind the music • What's great about working in musical films • Staying organized in high pressure situations • How working in VO made Vago better at his job • Recording an album during lockdown • Advice to aspiring musicians Vago Galindo: https://www.rebeleon.net/daniel-vago-galindo Elvis Costello: https://elviscostelloandtheimposters.bandcamp.com/album/the-boy-named-if Whiplash: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVMA1HFhCtBY9f71GlM2F2w Vale: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_e7S45aWj3QdLYg47Qzrw La Usurpadora: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16301792/

What makes a great performance? Yes, the quality of the music is a part of it, as is the skill of the musician. But the really successful musicians have all of that plus a thing called “stage presence.” They have the ability to connect with their audience on a personal level, and create truly meaningful performances. But why do some musicians have great stage presence, and others don't? Are people just born with it, or is it a skill that can be developed? In this episode, Christine is joined by pop singer/songwriter, Felice, to talk about stage presence and connecting with the audience. We also talk about her life that took her from Vienna, Austria to New York City, in pursuit of her own music career. • Felice's background/songwriting process • The magic of live performance • What makes a great performance • Connecting with your audience • Overcoming Performance Anxiety • The key to a great Stage Presence • How to build confidence in your performance • How to bounce back from a bad performance • Advice for future musicians https://felice3.bandzoogle.com/home https://www.youtube.com/@feliceofficialmusic/about https://frostedlens.com/musicians-vs-the-world/f/developing-your-stage-presence-with-pop-singer-felice

The word "audiation" means “to think music.” For music teachers who incorporate audiation and its accompanied Music Learning Theory in their teaching, it is a way to help students deepen their musical understanding from the very beginning of training. Music Learning Theory is a comprehensive approach for musical learning, based on an extensive body of research and practical field testing by Edwin E. Gordon. In this episode, Christine discusses audiation and Music Learning Theory with pianist and music educator Siliana Chiliachka, who uses Music Learning Theory and Audiation in her own piano studio. TOPICS INLUDE: What is Audiation? What is Music Learning Theory? What is missing in modern music/piano instruction What a audiation-based piano lesson looks like How to present Music Learning Theory to parents and students How to learn more about the Music Learning Theory method For links to more information about Music Learning Theory and Audiation, visit our shownotes on our website: https://frostedlens.com/musicians-vs-the-world/f/audiation-and-music-learning-theory-with-siliana-chiliachka

After losing her hearing to Ménièr's disease, Gaelen McCormick pivoted from her position in the double bass section in the Rochester Philharmonic to become Director of Eastman Performing Arts Medicine. EPAM's four pillars are to Heal, Inspire, Care, and Learn. Through these four pillars, EPAM combines music with healthcare by promoting music therapy, conducting research into music's effects on cancer treatments, and offering performance opportunities for musicians in hospital waiting areas. In this episode, Gaelen joins Christine to share her story, and to share the remarkable effects music can have in the healthcare field. Topics include: • What is the difference between Music Therapy and Music Performance • What are the benefits of Music Therapy? • Musicians and hearing loss • Finding meaning in a new normal • Connecting Eastman School of Music Students with hospital volunteerism • Creating a service mindset in music making • Know your “why” https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/eastman-performance-medicine.aspx https://frostedlens.com/musicians-vs-the-world

Raptor Violin? Hadro Cello? Triserachord? Fat Rex? These are real instruments crafted out of fossils, bones, and traditional string instruments. How better to bring the sound of dinosaurs into the 21st century? In this episode we continue our look into innovative composition in our conversation with composers Kara Talve and Anže Rozman. They, working alongside Hans Zimmer at the Bleeding Fingers Music Composers Collective, had the unique challenge of creating music to underscore Apple TV+'s Prehistoric Planet. Kara and Anže join Christine to talk about the incredible innovation and imagination behind the music. Topics include: -Designing instruments out of fossils and bones -Improvisation and Composition when you're not sure what your instrument will sound like -Inspiration and Growth that comes from Collaboration -Bleeding Fingers and the benefits of a composer collective -The workload of a full-time composer -Advice to aspiring composers

“Let's figure out where the boundary is by crossing it, and then walking back.” Award-winning composer, Tom Third, is known for his experimental leanings, using unconventional instrumentation to create novel textures and palettes. In this episode, Tom takes some time out of his busy schedule to chat with Christine about discovering the music hidden in ordinary objects, making a collage of sound using organic and synthesized samples, and working with other creatives on projects ranging from television, documentaries to Installation Art Exhibits. Topics Include: -Finding Music in Unlikely Sources -The creative composition process -Blending organic and looped music to create something new -Collaboration in Television/Building trust with other creatives -Bringing things to the edge of “crazy” without messing it up -Installation Art and music's role -Advice for aspiring musicians https://www.tomthird.com/ https://frostedlens.com/musicians-vs-the-world

Today we continue our series of episodes on building your music career. What do you know about publicists? When do you need one? What can they do for you? Here to teach us about this topic is Kate Twilley, Publicity Coordinator at Impact24 Public Relations. Hopefully, this episode can give you some clarity on what publicists do, and can help you in your decision on whether or not you need a publicist at this point in your career. Topics Include: What does a publicist do, and who needs one? At what point in your career should you think about finding a publicist? What should you look for in a publicist? What to bring with you to your first meeting? What is a pitch? What NOT to do when pitching yourself? How to find a PR agency that could be a good fit for you

In this episode we are continuing our look into taking charge of our music careers. We're focusing on website design with Taylor Rossi. Taylor is a Boston-based flutist and the website designer for Nicole Riccardo Media which offers conversion-based web design for classical musicians. As you listen to Taylor discuss this topic, you will be amazed at how many mistakes we as musicians are making on our websites. Topics Include: -What is a conversion-based website? -What are common mistakes musicians make when building their website? -How do I create a well curated website? -How much information is too much information? -How do I make my website stand out? -How would a portfolio music career work with a website? -How to use backlinks to increase credibility https://www.nicolericcardomedia.com/ https://www.instagram.com/thetaylorrossi/ https://frostedlens.com/musicians-vs-the-world

In this first episode in our series of “How You Can Take Control of Your Music Career,” we are exploring the idea of the Portfolio Career, and how musicians can make choices to take control of their lives artistically and financially. Here to guide us on this first crucial step is Musician/Entrepreneur/Teacher/Writer/Coach Jennet Ingle, who is an expert in the field of “being your own CEO” in order to become "The Happiest Musician. " Topics include: - What is a Portfolio Career? - Finding the common thread that guides your choices - Rethinking the definition of “success” and “failure” - A big obstacle musicians must overcome to cultivate their own Portfolio Careers. About our guest: Jennet Ingle truly is the Happiest Musician. She has been Principal Oboist of the South Bend Symphony Orchestra since 2006, and freelances throughout the Mid-west. As the owner and operator of Jennet Ingle Reeds, she makes and sells hundreds of handmade reeds every month to oboists all over the world and helps people with their own reed-making through her video series, The Five Minute Reedmaker, her weekly online Reed Club, and her online beginner course, Zero to Reedmaker. She is an experienced teacher and astute coach, devoting herself to helping musicians through her podcast, Crushing Classical, her group program, the Invincible Oboist and her one-to-one career and mindset coaching as The Happiest Musician. Her latest book “The Happiest Musician: How to Thrive in Your Creative Career” is available in both paperback and kindle versions on Amazon. Jennet's Website: https://jennetingle.com/about/ “The Happiest Musician” https://a.co/d/ggO46sg Crushing Classical https://crushingclassical.libsyn.com/

"Work towards discovering what makes you unique...what makes you, you. That's what's going to set you apart from the rest." Award-winning Venezuelan composer Sandro Morales-Santoro joins us today to talk about his career in Los Angeles, where he composes music for film and television, as well as interactive and new media. We also discuss the importance of collaboration and experimentation in his work on National Geographic's "Restaurants at the End of the World," as well as the eclectic influences that give him his compositional voice. Topics Include: -Sandro's journey from Venezuela to Los Angeles -The professional and personal value of finding community in the music world -His work on the new National Geographic show "Restaurants at the End of the World" - Finding your own eclectic voice https://www.sandromorales.com/ https://frostedlens.com/musicians-vs-the-world