The Musician Toolkit with David Lane

The skill of observation is a crucial skill for all musicians.  However, it's also a skill that most students have not come close to developing when they're early in their lessons for learning their instrument.  Observation helps you find patterns, to identify structure, to see how one part of the music connects with another, not to mention more basic things to notice such as dynamics and articulation.  In the digital age, paying attention and developing the skill of observation is not only more challenging, but more important than ever.  Check out this episode for ways to improve this important skill.
The YouTube video that is featured as an audio-only portion of this episode can be watched here:
https://youtu.be/AsNTSP7DxXk?si=CqlRmhNhcVK0mHNW
More or fewer episodes like this? Let me know your thoughts at: https://www.davidlanemusic.com/contact
You can also let me know your thoughts on this episode as a voice message to possibly share on a future episode at https://www.speakpipe.com/MusicianToolkit 
You can find this episode and links to this show on all podcast apps from https://musiciantoolkit.podbean.com/.  If you enjoyed this, please give it a rating and review on the podcast app of your choice.  You can also now find the podcast at https://www.davidlanemusic.com/toolkit
You can follow David Lane AND the Musician Toolkit podcast on Facebook @DavidMLaneMusic, on Instagram and TikTok @DavidLaneMusic, and on YouTube @davidlanemusic1
This episode is sponsored by Fons, an online platform that helps private teachers of all types (music, yoga, martial arts, academic tutoring, coaches, etc) with smooth, automated assistance such as securing timely automatic payments and scheduling.  Click here for more information or to begin your free trial.

Jazz is a genre that serious musicians at least take time to explore.  Whether it's classical musicians, film composers, rock musicians, pop artists, hip hop artists, even country artists like Willie Nelson...it's hard to find accomplished musicians in any genre who are ignorant of the world of jazz.  While this episode won't get into the nuts and bolts of the genre, this is an introduction to 10 albums that will give you an idea of the versatility of the genre.  All of this is from host David Lane, someone who resisted fully exploring jazz until he was nearly 40.
Sound clips from the following albums occur in this order:
Time Out (Dave Brubek Quartet)  (Blue Rondo a la Turk, Take Five, Everybody Jumpin’)
Sketches of Spain (Miles Davis) (Concert do Aranjuez: Adagio, Will o the Wisp, Soleo)
The Modern Jazz Quartet & Orchestra (Divertimento, England’s Carol, First movement)
Getz/Gilberto - Stan Getz and joǎo Gilberto (The Girl from Ipanema, Desafinado)
Far East Suite (Duke Ellington) (Ishafan, Depk, Mount Harissa)
Let My Children Sing (Charles Mingus) (Adagio Ma Non Troppo, Don’t Be Afraid, The Clown’s Afraid Too, Hobo Ho)
Rosetta (Stephan Crump) (Were It a Loss, Rosie, Our Survival)
Chamber Music Society (Esperanza Spalding) (Little Fly, What a Friend, Inútil Paisagem)
The Epic (Kamasi Washington) (Change of the Guard, The Magnificent 7, Clair de Lune)
Finding Gabriel (Brad Mehldau) (Born to Trouble, Striving After Wind, Proverb of Ashes)
Previous Episodes mentioned:
Episode 5 - Two Approaches to Listening to Music
Episode 6 - Jazz Piano 101 (with Federico Pivetta)
More or fewer episodes like this? Let me know your thoughts at: https://www.davidlanemusic.com/contact
You can also let me know your thoughts on this episode as a voice message to possibly share on a future episode at https://www.speakpipe.com/MusicianToolkit 
You can find this episode and links to this show on all podcast apps from https://musiciantoolkit.podbean.com/.  If you enjoyed this, please give it a rating and review on the podcast app of your choice.  You can also now find the podcast at https://www.davidlanemusic.com/toolkit
You can follow David Lane AND the Musician Toolkit podcast on Facebook @DavidMLaneMusic, on Instagram and TikTok @DavidLaneMusic, and on YouTube @davidlanemusic1
This episode is sponsored by Fons, an online platform that helps private teachers of all types (music, yoga, martial arts, academic tutoring, coaches, etc) with smooth, automated assistance such as securing timely automatic payments and scheduling.  Click here for more information or to begin your free trial.
 

Composing and Improvising are essential tools for every well-rounded musician, but they are different skills.  Quite often, when someone decides to become a composer, they are making up something from their instrument and then writing it down on staff paper.  This is actually more of a transcribed improvisation than it is true composition.  There's nothing wrong with that, but it is an incomplete look at the craft.  Composing a 2-part canon is a simple exercise that will force you to think like a composer and less like an improviser.  In this episode, David Lane composes an easy canon from scratch.  You can download that canon on the link below, and follow along.
Link: Sample Canon from this Episode
More or fewer episodes like this? Let me know your thoughts at: https://www.davidlanemusic.com/contact
You can also let me know your thoughts on this episode as a voice message to possibly share on a future episode at https://www.speakpipe.com/MusicianToolkit 
You can find this episode and links to this show on all podcast apps from https://musiciantoolkit.podbean.com/.  If you enjoyed this, please give it a rating and review on the podcast app of your choice.  You can also now find the podcast at https://www.davidlanemusic.com/toolkit
You can follow David Lane AND the Musician Toolkit podcast on Facebook @DavidMLaneMusic, on Instagram and TikTok @DavidLaneMusic, and on YouTube @davidlanemusic1
This episode is sponsored by Fons, an online platform that helps private teachers of all types (music, yoga, martial arts, academic tutoring, coaches, etc) with smooth, automated assistance such as securing timely automatic payments and scheduling.  Click here for more information or to begin your free trial.
 

Many professional musicians and music teachers struggle with charging what their worth, or even what they need to charge to make even a decent living.  Brian Witkowski of The Lucrative Artist helps musicians and other artists to develop their "money voice", to change the way they think about money.  In this episode, we chat about a variety of ways that you can charge more while also creating something incredible and memorable for those you serve.  We also talk about how to make a decision on whether or not to take a gig.
Links:
The Lucrative Artist
24 Ideas to Charge More in 2024
More or fewer episodes like this? Let me know your thoughts at: https://www.davidlanemusic.com/contact
You can also let me know your thoughts on this episode as a voice message to possibly share on a future episode at https://www.speakpipe.com/MusicianToolkit 
You can find this episode and links to this show on all podcast apps from https://musiciantoolkit.podbean.com/.  If you enjoyed this, please give it a rating and review on the podcast app of your choice.  You can also now find the podcast at https://www.davidlanemusic.com/toolkit
You can follow David Lane AND the Musician Toolkit podcast on Facebook @DavidMLaneMusic, on Instagram and TikTok @DavidLaneMusic, and on YouTube @davidlanemusic1
This episode is sponsored by Fons, an online platform that helps private teachers of all types (music, yoga, martial arts, academic tutoring, coaches, etc) with smooth, automated assistance such as securing timely automatic payments and scheduling.  Click here for more information or to begin your free trial.

Even after you've scheduled your practice time each day and planned what your focus is during that time, the mindset you bring to your practice will absolutely affect how well or poorly you do during your session.  There are 5 common types of practice mindsets, 2 which are helpful and 3 which are not.  Which one or ones do you gravitate towards the most, and might a shift be helpful in improving the effectiveness of your practice time?
More or fewer episodes like this? Let me know your thoughts at: https://www.davidlanemusic.com/contact
You can also let me know your thoughts on this episode as a voice message to possibly share on a future episode at https://www.speakpipe.com/MusicianToolkit 
You can find this episode and links to this show on all podcast apps from https://musiciantoolkit.podbean.com/.  If you enjoyed this, please give it a rating and review on the podcast app of your choice.  You can also now find the podcast at https://www.davidlanemusic.com/toolkit
You can follow David Lane AND the Musician Toolkit podcast on Facebook @DavidMLaneMusic, on Instagram and TikTok @DavidLaneMusic, and on YouTube @davidlanemusic1
This episode is sponsored by Fons, an online platform that helps private teachers of all types (music, yoga, martial arts, academic tutoring, coaches, etc) with smooth, automated assistance such as securing timely automatic payments and scheduling.  Click here for more information or to begin your free trial.

If you're an independent teacher, there are a number of important steps to go from being a hobbyist to becoming a legitimate business.  Andrea Miller of Music Studio Startup talks about all of this including making a decision about becoming an LLC and what steps go with that if you choose, making quarterly tax estimates, deductions, and other general information to help you be a thriving music studio.
Find out more about Music Studio Startup (including Andrea's podcast with the same name) at: https://www.musicstudiostartup.com/
Let me know your thoughts on this episode at https://www.speakpipe.com/MusicianToolkit or you can send me a written message at https://www.davidlanemusic.com/contact 
You can find this episode and links to this show on all podcast apps from https://musiciantoolkit.podbean.com/.  If you enjoyed this, please give it a rating and review on the podcast app of your choice.  You can also now find the podcast at https://www.davidlanemusic.com/toolkit
You can follow David Lane AND the Musician Toolkit podcast on Facebook @DavidMLaneMusic, on Instagram and TikTok @DavidLaneMusic, and on YouTube @davidlanemusic1
This episode is sponsored by Fons, an online platform that helps private teachers of all types (music, yoga, martial arts, academic tutoring, coaches, etc) with smooth, automated assistance such as securing timely automatic payments and scheduling.  Click here for more information or to begin your free trial.

This is a follow-up to Episode 17 from last year, where this podcast introduced 25 pieces of classical music, not necessarily the best or most acclaimed pieces, but 25 that you should know even if classical music is not your genre of focus.  Even after 25 more pieces, there are so many that were left out, but this plus the previous episode in this series will give you 50 pieces you should know no matter your genre as a musician.
Previous episodes mentioned:
Part 1 of this series
Listening Approach for Classical vs Non Classical Music
This episode uses excerpts from the following pieces in this order:
Pieces:Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy from “The Nutcracker” (Tchaikovsky) - London Philharmonic Concerto for 2 Violins (Bach) - Issac Stern, Itzhak Perlman, New York Philharmonic, Zubin MehtaMusic for Stringed Instruments, Percussion, & Celesta (Bartok) - Cleveland Orchestra, Christoph Von DohnányiSonata Op. 27, No. 2 “Moonlight” (Beethoven) Daniel BarenboimSuite No. 1 from Carmen (Bizet) Lamoureux Concert Associations Orchestra, Antal DoratiEtudes Op. 12 (Chopin)  Vladimir AshkenazyThe Sorceror’s Apprentice (Paul Dukas), Cincinnati Symphony, Jesús López-CobosPomp and Circumstance No. 1 (Edward Elgar) - English Symphony Orchestra, William BoughtonString Quartet Op 76, No. 3 “Emperor” (Haydn) - Kodály QuartetSymphony No. 4 “Italian” (Mendelssohn) - Cleveland Orchestra, George SzellSerenade: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (Mozart) - I MusiciCarmina Burana (Orff) - London Symphony, Andre PrevinCanon in D (Pachelbel) - London Baroque Romeo and Juliet (Prokofiev) - London Symphony, Andre PrevinWilliam Tell Overture (Rossini) - National Symphony, Riccardo Chailly Carnival of the Animals (Saint-Saens) - George PrêtreStars and Stripes Forever (Sousa) - US Marine BandOn the Beautiful Blue Danube Walzes (J Strauss Jr) - Berlin Philharmonic, Herbert von KarajanThe Firebird (Stravinsky) - Phiharmonia, Robert CraftOverture to Romeo and Julet, 1812 Overture (Tchaikovsky) - Russian National, Mikhail PletnevWhy Fumeth in Fight (Tallis) - Chappelle du Roi, Alistair DixonFantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis (Vaughan Williams) - London Philharmonic, Leonard SlatkinThe Four Seasons, Op. 8 mp 1-4, (Vivaldi) - I MusiciRide of the Valkyries (Wagner) - London Philharmonic, Adrian BoultLohengrin: Prelude to Act 3 and Bridal Chorus - Vienna Philharmonic, Rudolf Kempe
Let me know your thoughts on this episode at https://www.speakpipe.com/MusicianToolkit or you can send me a written message at https://www.davidlanemusic.com/contact 
You can find this episode and links to this show on all podcast apps from https://musiciantoolkit.podbean.com/.  If you enjoyed this, please give it a rating and review on the podcast app of your choice.  You can also now find the podcast at https://www.davidlanemusic.com/toolkit
You can follow David Lane AND the Musician Toolkit podcast on Facebook @DavidMLaneMusic, on Instagram and TikTok @DavidLaneMusic, and on YouTube @davidlanemusic1
This episode is sponsored by Fons, an online platform that helps private teachers of all types (music, yoga, martial arts, academic tutoring, coaches, etc) with smooth, automated assistance such as securing timely automatic payments and scheduling.  Click here for more information or to begin your free trial.

The Instrument Spotlight series within The Musician Toolkit is meant to introduce instruments as possible primary or secondary instruments, the challenges, the repertoire, and the capabilities.  Kate Warren is a freelance hornist and educator who also serves as Yaffe Post-Graduate Teaching Fellow for the Yale School of Music's Music in Schools Initiative.  In this episode, we talk about the horn, types of motivation, transposing, and practice organization.
Kate Warren can be followed at https://www.katewarrenmusic.com/
 
Music excerpts are featured in this order: Mvt 2 from Symphony No. 1 (Gustav Mahler) - Chicago Symphony, Georg Solti | "Poppyfields" from The Shadow original soundtrack (Jerry Goldsmith) | Incommensurable (Christopher Biggs) - Kate Warren, horn and Amer Hasan, clarinet | "The Escape to Sherwood" from Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves (Michael Kamen) | Excerpts from Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi (John Williams) - London Symphony Orchestra | "Andante Cantabile" from Symphony No. 5 (Peter Tchaikovsky) - London Symphony, Igor Markevitch | "Allegro Vivace" from Sextet for Piano, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, and Horn (Francis Poulenc)  - Alexandre Tharaud, Phillipe Bernold, Oliver Doise, Ronald Van Spaendonck, Laurent Lefevre, Herve Joulain | "The Anvil of Crom" from Conan the Barbarian original score (Basil Poledouris)
 
Full clip for Incommensurable on Kate's YouTube channel
 
Previous Episode in Instrument Spotlight series:
The Clarinet Family (with Kania Mills) | Ep18
 
Also mentioned:
Episode 7 - The Overtone Series
 
Let me know your thoughts on this episode at https://www.speakpipe.com/MusicianToolkit or you can send me a written message at https://www.davidlanemusic.com/contact 
You can find this episode and links to this show on all podcast apps from https://musiciantoolkit.podbean.com/.  If you enjoyed this, please give it a rating and review on the podcast app of your choice.  You can also now find the podcast at https://www.davidlanemusic.com/toolkit
You can follow David Lane AND the Musician Toolkit podcast on Facebook @DavidMLaneMusic, on Instagram and TikTok @DavidLaneMusic, and on YouTube @davidlanemusic1
This episode is sponsored by Fons, an online platform that helps private teachers of all types (music, yoga, martial arts, academic tutoring, coaches, etc) with smooth, automated assistance such as securing timely automatic payments and scheduling.  Click here for more information or to begin your free trial.

This episode is primarily meant as a primer for music students.  It gives a very broad overview of music history from the Medieval era through what we might call modern classical music.  This episode is limited to Western civilization and some of the common composers.  This episode also offers David Lane's suggestion that we should rethink how we've classified musical eras since 1900.  Let us know what you think.
 
Music excerpts occur in this order:
O virga ac diadema (Hildegard von Bengen), The Shoemaker’s Wife (John Dowland), Canzon 12 (Giovanni Gabrieli), Spem in Alium (Thomas Tallis), Erbarme Dich, mein Gott from “St Matthew’s Passion” (Johann Sebastian Bach), String Quartet op. 76, no. 2 mvt III (Franz Joseph Haydn), finale of Act 4 of Swan Lake (Peter Tchaikovsky), Symphony No. 2 (Gustav Mahler), “Nuages” from Nocturnes (Claude Debussy), and Part 2 of Daphnis et Chloe (Maurice Ravel)Let me know your thoughts on this episode at https://www.speakpipe.com/MusicianToolkit or you can send me a written message at https://www.davidlanemusic.com/contact 
 
You can find this episode and links to this show on all podcast apps from https://musiciantoolkit.podbean.com/.  If you enjoyed this, please give it a rating and review on the podcast app of your choice.  You can also now find the podcast at https://www.davidlanemusic.com/toolkit
You can follow David Lane AND the Musician Toolkit podcast on Facebook @DavidMLaneMusic, on Instagram and TikTok @DavidLaneMusic, and on YouTube @davidlanemusic1
This episode is sponsored by Fons, an online platform that helps private teachers of all types (music, yoga, martial arts, academic tutoring, coaches, etc) with smooth, automated assistance such as securing timely automatic payments and scheduling.  Click here for more information or to begin your free trial.

Dr. Ronnal Ford has learned to play, on a professional level, all of the woodwind and stringed instruments of the orchestra in addition to a few others.  He talks about how he approaches learning a new instrument.  He also talks about the challenges of being a musician of color in the classical community, and some of the recent opportunities that help him and similar musicians to be featured more prominently.
Let me know your thoughts on this episode at https://www.speakpipe.com/MusicianToolkit or you can send me a written message at https://www.davidlanemusic.com/contact 
Links:
Ronnal Ford's website: https://www.ronfordmusic.com/
Ronnal Ford's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RonFordMusic/featured
Life in the Pit episode featuring Ronnal Ford
You can find this episode and links to this show on all podcast apps from https://musiciantoolkit.podbean.com/.  If you enjoyed this, please give it a rating and review on the podcast app of your choice.  You can also now find the podcast at https://www.davidlanemusic.com/toolkit
You can follow David Lane AND the Musician Toolkit podcast on Facebook @DavidMLaneMusic, on Instagram and TikTok @DavidLaneMusic, and on YouTube @davidlanemusic1
This episode is sponsored by Fons, an online platform that helps private teachers of all types (music, yoga, martial arts, academic tutoring, coaches, etc) with smooth, automated assistance such as securing timely automatic payments and scheduling.  Click here for more information or to begin your free trial.