The Piano Pod

by Yukimi Song New York

...where tradition meets innovation, and together, we bring PIANO into the 21st Century.

Hey, 🎹 enthusiasts out there! My name is Yukimi, a classical pianist and educator from NYC and executive producer of The Piano Pod. The Piano Pod🎙 is a one-of-a-kind podcast that delves deep into the fascinating world of classical music, with a specific focus on the 🎹 piano. In a biweekly format, the show explores intri ... 

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Podcast episodes

  • Season 4

  • Season 4 Finale: "Conquer Performance Anxiety," feat. Dr. Jon Skidmore, Performance Psychologist

    Season 4 Finale: "Conquer Performance Anxiety," feat. Dr. Jon Skidmore, Performance Psychologist

    🥹How can we shift the cultural perception of performance anxiety from a personal weakness to a natural aspect of the human experience, deserving of compassion and support? Welcome to the Season 4 Finale, titled “Conquer Performance Anxiety” with a guest Dr. Jon Skidmore! We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Jon Skidmore, Performance Psychologist, back to The Piano Pod! Many of you may remember his insightful contribution to our very first episode back in September 2020. It feels truly fitting to bring him back as we wrap up this season. In this episode, we cover: ✅ The Importance of Mental Skills Training for Musicians ✅ Understanding Performance Anxiety ✅ The Correct Definition of “Mindset” ✅ “Stage Fright is Not an Enemy nor a Disease; It’s a Skill Deficit!” ✅ From Traditional Practice to Brain Science and Flow ✅ Strategies for Music Educators to Help Their Students And much more! 👏👏👏 Dr. Skidmore will explore the topic of performance anxiety with compassion, drawing on insights from neuroscience and psychology. This is an episode you won't want to miss! [About Dr. Jon Skidmore] 🌐Website 📘His Book: Conquer Anxiety 📚His Course: Musicians’ Path to Peak Performance, starting in November 📝Register to Join Dr. Skidmore’s Free Monthly Workshops on 2nd Wednesdays at 9:00 am MT or 3rd Wednesdays at 5:00 pm MT 📆 Schedule a 30 min Discovery Call with Dr. Skidmore. 👉 If you haven't checked out our first episode, listen HERE. [The Piano Pod🎙️] Yukimi Song (Executive Producer/Writer & A/V Editor) 🌐 TPP Official Site 📱 Connect with us on Social Media 👉👉👉 NOMINATE YOURSELF OR SOMEONE IN OUR INDUSTRY TO BE A GUEST ON THE PIANO POD! #Podcast #MusicEducation #ClassicalMusic #PianoPerformance #PerformanceAnxiety #MentalSkills #MusicTeachers #MusicStudents #StageFright #BrainScience #FlowState #MusicPodcast #PianoLife #Pianist #MusicCommunity #SeasonFinale #TuneIn #PodcastPremiere #MusicInsights #ArtistSupport

  • Season 4 Episode 19: Connecting Contemporary Audiences – Megan Ihnen, Mezzo-Soprano & Executive Director of the Live Music Project

    Season 4 Episode 19: Connecting Contemporary Audiences – Megan Ihnen, Mezzo-Soprano & Executive Director of the Live Music Project

    Connecting Contemporary Audiences – Live Music Project: Bridging Musicians and Audiences, Empowering Next-Generation Innovators Get ready for an exhilarating conversation with Megan Inen, celebrated Mezzo-Soprano and Executive Director of the Live Music Project During our conversation, we focused on the Live Music Project: its concept, mission, and significant impact and reach within the music industry and among global communities of music lovers. We discussed how the platform connects classical musicians with broader audiences and explored the topic of audience engagement — a subject that has captivated Piano Pod listeners from the beginning. In this episode, we delved into the overview of the Live Music Project ✅ Bridging the Gap Between Musicians and Audiences ✅ Becoming a Hub for Orchestras, Ensembles, Choirs and Independent Musicians ✅ Inviting Novice Listeners with the “Spontaneous Free Tickets Program” We also discussed Megan’s Multifaceted Entrepreneurial Career: ✅ Megan’s Celebrated Career as a Mezzo-Soprano ✅ Helping Fellow Musicians Develop Entrepreneurial Skills through Her Coaching Business ✅ Nurturing the Next Gen of Musical Innovators Through Her Role in the Peabody LAUNCHPad And much more! 📺 The video version of this episode is available on our YouTube channel! [ABOUT THE LIVE MUSIC PROJECT] 🌐 Visit HERE to learn more! 📱 Follow LMP on Instagram [MEGAN IHNEN] 🌐 Visit HERE to learn more! 📱Connect with Megan on Instagram: 🎵Find Megan on Spotify [ABOUT THE PIANO POD] Greetings, piano lovers! I'm Yukimi Song, your host from NYC. Every fortnight, join me as I delve deep into the world of PIANO with groundbreakers from the classical music industry. Our mission? To provide a platform for classical musicians and educators to reflect and discuss how to keep our industry robust and relevant in this rapidly changing world and move it forward in the post-pandemic era. ❤️❤️ Show your love and support for TPP: Donate https://bit.ly/3EsvRDg❤️❤️ 🎬 Credits: Yukimi Song (Executive Producer/Writer & A/V Editor) 🌐 Official Site 📱 Connect with us on social media

  • Season 4 Episode 18: Keys to Identity - A Profound Conversation with Grammy Award-Winning Steinway Pianist, Kristhyan Benitez

    Season 4 Episode 18: Keys to Identity - A Profound Conversation with Grammy Award-Winning Steinway Pianist, Kristhyan Benitez

    Get ready for an exhilarating conversation with Kristhyan Benitez, a Grammy-winning concert pianist and esteemed Steinway Artist known for his mastery of Latin American music, for our upcoming episode! In our discussion, we delved into Kristhyan’s impressive career accomplishments, exploring his numerous stellar awards and recognitions, and examining how his diverse identity shapes his creative journey. In this revealing interview, we'll touch upon ✅ Kristhyan's critically acclaimed third studio album, "Latin American Classics," which clinched the Latin Grammy for "Best Classical Album" in 2021. ✅ His Passion for Piano Exploration through Improvisation: insights into his creative process when approaching improvisation in both studio and live settings. ✅ Collaborations with Renowned Figures, Spanning from Legendary Conductors to Latin American Music Icons. ✅ The Influence of Identity Complexity on Artistic Expression and Career Trajectory. ✅ His exciting venture with his alter-ego, "Benitez," experimenting with electro-acoustic music. And much more! 🎧 The audio episode of this fun episode will be split into 2 parts. Part 1 will be available on your favorite podcasting platform simultaneously with the YouTube premiere. [ABOUT KRISTHYAN BENITEZ] 🌐Website 🎵Kristhyan’s Grammy-Award Winning Album, "Latin American Classics" under the Steinway and Sons label 🎵Kristhyan’s Grammy-Nominated Album, "Afro Cuban Dances" 📱Kristhyan’s Instagram Accounts: https://www.instagram.com/kristhyan and https://www.instagram.com/benitezsounds/ [ABOUT THE PIANO POD] Greetings, piano lovers! I'm Yukimi Song, your host from NYC. Every fortnight, join me as I delve deep into the world of PIANO with groundbreakers from the classical music industry. Our mission? To provide a platform for classical musicians and educators to reflect and discuss how to keep our industry robust and relevant in this rapidly changing world and move it forward in the post-pandemic era. ❤️❤️ Show your love and support for TPP: Donate HERE❤️❤️ 🎬 Credits: Yukimi Song (Executive Producer/Writer & A/V Editor) 🌐 Official Site 📱 Connect with us #podcast #podcaster #classicalmusicindustry #pianomusic #steinwayartist #kristhyanbenitez #latinamericanmusic #latingrammys #grammyawardwinner #pianist #concertpianist #recordingartist #piano #venezuelanmusic #venezuela #latinamerica #classicalpiano #classicalmusic

  • Season 4 Episode 17: Jim Wilson - Yamaha Recording Artist, One of the World's Leading Concert Piano Technicians, and Author

    Season 4 Episode 17: Jim Wilson - Yamaha Recording Artist, One of the World's Leading Concert Piano Technicians, and Author

    Welcome to an enlightening conversation with Jim Wilson, an award-winning Yamaha recording artist, concert piano technician, and author! As one of the most prominent and sought-after piano technicians in the world, Jim worked closely with big-name artists like Van Cliburn, Lang Lang, Chick Corea, Ivo Pogorelic, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Carole King, and Barbara Streisand to ensure their pianos were perfectly tuned and ready for both recording and live performances, whether at home or on stages around the globe. Tune in for an exhilarating upcoming episode where we'll dive into Jim's journey from a challenging childhood in Amarillo, Texas, to his status as a renowned musician and the go-to piano technician for the celebs! In our revealing interview, we'll cover: ✅ Jim's experiences working on pianos for the world's most acclaimed artists in their homes and premier concert venues. ✅ His friendships with legends like Chick Corea and Elton John. ✅ The unique technical challenges Jim has faced while tuning pianos for renowned musicians. ✅ Jim’s role in pioneering the first MIDI adapter for acoustic pianos. ✅ His impressive music career, including four Billboard Top-20 albums. ✅ A sneak peek at his latest book, Tuned In - Memoirs of a Piano Man: Behind the Scenes with Music Legends and Finding the Artist Within 📺 This episode is also available in video format on our YouTube channel! 🎹 ABOUT JIM WILSON 🌐 Website 💚 Jim’s Music on Spotify 📘 Read Jim's Book: “Tuned In: Memoirs of A Piano Man” 🎹🎙️ ABOUT THE PIANO POD Greetings, piano lovers! I'm Yukimi Song, your host from NYC. Every fortnight, join me as I delve deep into the world of PIANO with groundbreakers from the classical music industry. Our mission? To provide a platform for classical musicians and educators to reflect and discuss how to keep our industry robust and relevant in this rapidly changing world and move it forward in the post-pandemic era. ❤️❤️ Show your love and support for TPP: Donate HERE❤️❤️ 🎬 Credits: Yukimi Song (Executive Producer/Writer & A/V Editor) 🌐 Official Site 📱 Connect with us on Social Media #podcast #podcaster #classicalmusicindustry #pianomusic #pianotechnician #yamahaartist #pianist #classicalpianist #jimwilsonmusic #paulmccartney #vancliburn #chickcorea #langlang #piano #pianomusic #songwriter #tunedin #philosophy #midi #pianists

  • Part 2 of Season 4 Episode 16: Irina Gorin - Educator, Creator of the "Tales of a Musical Journey" and Founder of The Gorin Institute

    Part 2 of Season 4 Episode 16: Irina Gorin - Educator, Creator of the "Tales of a Musical Journey" and Founder of The Gorin Institute

    Join us as we continue our conversation with the exceptional pedagogue, Irina Gorin - with Irina Gorin, Creator of the "Tales of a Musical Journey" Series and Founder of The Gorin Institute In case you missed Part 1 of this special episode titled, “Piano, Pedagogy, Pioneering,” check it out on your favorite podcasting platform today by tapping HERE. Irina Gorin is celebrated for her groundbreaking approach to piano education, particularly for young children and beginners. Educated in Ukraine, her teaching methods highlight musicality, expressiveness, and a comprehensive grasp of piano fundamentals from the onset. Using storytelling and vivid imagery, her acclaimed method books and tutorial videos make learning piano engaging and effective. As a respected figure in music education, she's a regular at international conferences, masterclasses, and workshops, passionately sharing her insights while guiding piano teachers globally. In Part 2 of this episode, we delved into: ✅ Irina’s insights on the prevailing challenges and misconceptions among piano teachers in the post-pandemic era. ✅ The ways she empowers piano teachers through innovative courses and fosters a supportive community at The Gorin Institute. ✅ Irina’s views on the critical role of parental involvement in ensuring consistent practice for young beginners. 📺 This episode is also available as a video format on our YouTube channel. 🎹 ABOUT IRINA GORIN Tales of A Musical Journey Series The Gorin Institute Irina’s Facebook Forum 🎹🎙️ ABOUT THE PIANO POD Greetings, piano lovers! I'm Yukimi Song, your host from NYC. Every fortnight, join me as I delve deep into the world of PIANO with groundbreakers from the classical music industry. Our mission? To provide a platform for classical musicians and educators to reflect and discuss how to keep our industry robust and relevant in this rapidly changing world and move it forward in the post-pandemic era. ❤️❤️ Show your love and support for TPP: Donate HERE ❤️❤️ 🎬 Credits: Yukimi Song (Executive Producer/Writer & A/V Editor) 🌐 Official Site 📱 Connect with us on Social Media ******************* This episode is brought to you by phMediaStudio, championing unique artistic self-expressions through custom-designed websites tailored exclusively for their clients. Visit HERE to learn more.