Katherine Dowling is a brilliant Canadian pianist and in this conversation we talked about her album of solo music by Alice Ping Yee Ho, mentors including Gil Kalish and Henk Guittart, and how and why she’s developed her exceptional musical memory. Katherine shared fantastic insights into teaching and learning, the importance of inclusivity and access to arts education, and how she uses the Pomodoro technique in the practice room. She explained how sound production on the piano is about the speed of attack and we discussed different skill sets and career paths for pianists. Dr. Dowling shared many inspiring musical memories, and how she developed her ambitious Elegy project to follow her personal path through grief. You’ll be hearing some clips from the album Awake and Dreaming, which you’ll find linked below, and you can use the timestamps to navigate the eipsode. Like all my episodes, you can watch this on my YouTube channel or listen to the podcast on all the podcast platforms, and I’ve also linked the transcript to my website Katherine Dowling websiteWhere to listen to Awake and Dreaming I wanted to let you know about some other episodes I’ve linked directly to this one, which I think may interest you, with: pianist and musicologist Samantha Ege composer Frank Horvat organist Gail Archer Cheng2 Duo with Bryan and Silvie Cheng pianist Jeeyoon Kim Original Merch for saleCan you buy this independent podcaster a coffee? ⁠Complete Catalog of EpisodesNewsletter sign-upLinktree for social media ⁠photo: Jiyang ChenTimestamps:(00:00) Intro(01:54) Eckhardt-Gramatté competition, composer Alice Ping Lee Ho, regional music festivals(7:18) album Awake and Dreaming, solo piano music by Alice Ping Lee Ho(11:34) Elegy project, coping with grief(16:09) excerpt from There is No Night Without a Dawning from Awake and Dreaming(18:59) Memorization, Suzuki method(25:15) limitations of learning on electronic keyboards(27:08) mentor Henk Guittart, Schoenberg(29:48) appreciation for modern music in the Netherlands, Ellen Corver(32:31)connection to visual art with Alice Ho’s compositions (34:20) excerpt of Shade(35:51)experience of funnel couds on the Prairies(37:34) Cyclone by Alice Ping Lee Ho(41:12) valuable teaching experiences in Regina(42:37) other episodes you’ll like and ways to support this series(43:32) positive teaching experiences(46:48) new parent(48:18) Gilbert Kalish(53:49) Tanglewood experience, different skills and careers for pianists(56:45) sound production for pianists(01:04:31) inspiring concerts for different audiences(01:07:48) practice strategies, The Artist’s Way, Pomodoro technique(01:12:05) mentoring the next generations

Kala Ramnath is a world-renowned Indian violinist who performs in both the Hindustani classical tradition, and in collaborations that incorporate many styles with Ray Manzarek of The Doors, Bela Fleck and Edgar Meyer, Hilary Hahn, Kronos Quartet with Reena Esmail and veena player Jayanthi Kumaresh, and  leading orchestras such as my own National Arts Centre, to name but a few. You’ll hear about her childhood, and how she became a disciple of the legendary vocalist Pandit Jasraj, leading her to revolutionize her approach to Hindustani violin technique. As a teacher she has put together an incredible resource with an extensive video library that she’s created of Indian music, Indianclassicalmusic.com  

When I recorded this interview with Kala, she had just the day before returned from the celebration of life for the legendary tabla master Zakir Hussain, who died this past December, and was one of the most important musicians in both Indian music and in bringing a global audience to Indian music. He had moved to San Francisco in the 1960s and was involved in too many projects to begin to list; in 2024 he was the first musician from India to receive 3 Grammys at one ceremony, including his collaboration with Bela Fleck and Edgar Meyer. Zakir Hussain was an incredibly important mentor of Kala, and you’ll hear in her words about what his guidance and collaborations meant to her. 

Kala talked to me about some of her many cross-genre collaborations, including her fantastic albums with tabla master Bikram Ghosh  and her inventive trio with George Brooks and Gwyneth Wentink and you'll hear some of that music as well (albums linked below).

 Like all my episodes, you can watch this on my YouTube channel or listen to the podcast on all the podcast platforms, and I’ve also linked the transcript : YouTube and Transcript

Kala Ramnath Website Indianclassicalmusic.com

Raag Ahir Bhairav  Paperboats album Elements trio album

Other episodes I’ve linked directly to this one, which I think may interest you: Karnatic violinist Suhadra Vijaykumar

Sitar and tabla player Mohamed Assani

Bansuri player Milind Date

Sarod player Avi Kishna

It’s a joy to bring these inspiring episodes to you every week, and I do all the many jobs of research, production and publicity.  Please buy me a coffee? Or check out my merch store Sign up for my newsletter and get exclusive sneak peeks!

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(02:41)Zakir Hussain, Triveni with Jayanthi Kumaresh

(10:53) Kala’s childhood

(15:17) Indianclassicalmusic.com resource

(17:56) Kala Ramnath Collective world music 

(19:13) albums with Bikram Ghosh

(20:28) A Better Place from Paperboats with Bikram Ghosh

 (26:30) Pandit Jasraj, changing her approach

Tasha Warren  is an acclaimed clarinetist who has premiered over one hundred solo clarinet and chamber works. In this podcast you’ll hear excerpts from her album “Ourself Behind Ourself, Concealed” a fantastic collaboration with cellist Dave Eggar of newly commissioned and premiered Bass Clarinet and Cello works, which earned two Grammy nominations. If you listened to my episode with Meg Okura last year, you heard a bit about this project, and Meg’s episode is linked in the show notes if you missed it. Dr. Warren is Assistant Professor of Chamber Music at Michigan State University and the principal clarinet faculty of Mostly Modern Festival and you’ll hear her valuable and candid perspectives on a life as an educator, concert presenter and also the challenges of balancing such a full professional life with that of being a mom. You’ll also hear about her unique musical trip to India sponsored by Pitch Pipe organized by Jennifer Heemstra, among several inspiring projects in this wide-ranging episode. In this episode you’ll be hearing music by Nathalie Joachim, Paquito D’rivera, Martha Redbone Pascal Le Boeuf and Cornelius Boots.  One of the wonderful surprises for me as a podcaster has been getting to know composers new to me and I encourage you to listen to Tasha and Dave’s recording which is linked for you below. 

Like all my episodes, you can also watch this on my YouTube channel or listen to the podcast on all the podcast platforms, and I’ve also linked the transcript to my website

Tasha Warren Website

Ourself Behind Ourself Concealed album

It’s a joy to be able to bring these meaningful conversations to you, but this project costs me quite a bit of money and lots of time; please support this series through either my merchandise store or buy me a coffee on my Ko-fi page

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Some other  episodes I’ve linked directly to this one, which I think may interest you, with:

 Meg Okura

 Katherine Needleman 

  Anthony Brandt 

 Naomi Moon Siegel  

  Sarah Jeffery of Team Recorder 

Timestamps: 

(00:00) Intro

(02:14) champion of new music, “Ourself Behind Ourself, Concealed” album with Dave Eggar

(09:05) Pascal Le Boeuf

(13:19) clip from Snapshots by Pascal Le Boeuf

(15:00) process of choosing composers for this project, expanding styles

(17:37) trip to India, Jennifer Heemstra

(25:07) experiences presenting concerts in different contexts and communities

(30:53) value of journaling, importance of self-awareness and practicing efficiently

(36:25) Martha Redbone, about Black Mountain Calling Cherokee stomp dance

(40:07) clip from Martha Redbone’s Black Mountain Calling

(41:19) Paquito D’Rivera, about African Tales

(43:26) clip of African Tales by Paquito D’Rivera

(44:37) embracing the risk of improv

(46:06) other episodes you’ll like and different ways to support this series

(46:55)study abroad program in Israel, Klezmer improv 

(49:29) husband clarinetist Guy Yehuda, balancing family li

Tal Yahalom is an award-winning jazz guitarist and composer and you’ll be getting a preview of his compelling quintet album Mirror Image  with  refreshingly unique instrumentation: violin, cello, percussion, sax and flute and both nylon-string and electric guitar. You’ll be hearing excerpts from the album and hear about Tal’s creative process and collaborators including percussioninst Rogerio Boccato and David Leon on sax and flute. Tal told me about some great advice he got from Pat Metheny, whom he met  when Tal won the Detroit Jazz Festival National Guitar Competition, and the invaluable guidance of key mentors throughout his education and career. Tal recently came back from musically immersive travels in Brazil and Argentina, and it was inspiring to hear about his experiences their as well as hear about several of his collaborators,  including his band KADAWA, and we’re featuring a track from their new album as well. Towards the end of this interview, Tal shared some personal reflections on his new duo with vocalist Danielle Wertz, and some very wise insights into student-centered learning, which I think apply quite broadly, not just to music.  Like all my episodes, you can watch this on my YouTube channel or listen to the podcast on all the podcast platforms, and I’ve also linked the transcript to my website https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/tal-yahalom

Tal Yahalom Website Mirror Image Album (pre-order link; releasing March 21, 2025)

KADAWA band

Buy me a coffee? Original Merch Newsletter

Other episodes you'll like:

Marc van Vugt Ariel Bart Gilad Weiss Edison Herbert

Roddy Ellias Daniel Ramjattan

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(02:49) album Mirror Image

(07:00) clip of KIM from Mirror Image

(07:29) about Prelude, use of strings

(09:30) clip of Prelude from Mirror Image

(11:13) album set list, listening parties

(14:01)Argentian grandfather, trip to Brazil and Argentina, Vardan Ovsepian

(17:26) Rogerio Boccato, Brazil trip, Gian Correa

(22:43) clip from Chorinho for Tati from Mirror Image

(23:28) Brazil trip

(25:43) creative process, about Hymn for Tomorrow

(28:56) excerpt from Hymn for Tomorrow

(30:22) album art Linnea Lieth, Tal’s creative process

(35:09) other episodes linked to this one and different ways to support this series

(36:04) Tal’s creative process

(40:26) percussionist Rogerio Boccato

(43:50) clip of Dusk on Landwehr Canal

(45:10) David Leon sax and flute player 

(47:39) story of Sophianic Mess

(51:04) clip of Sophianic Mess

(51:47) band KADAWA Almog Sharvit, Ben Silashi

(55:58) KADAWA Salhov Syndrome from Post Graduation Fees

(01:02:11) Tal’s experience of student-led education, guitar teacher Shai Chen

(01:05:36) the

Rachel Eckroth and John Hadfield are wonderfully inventive musicians who have formed a duo. This podcast episode is shining a light on their recently released album “Speaking in Tongues”and you’ll hear some of this textured and dynamic music that really pushes the boundaries of a duo,  along with insights into their creative process and their varied career paths. 

  John Hadfield  is a phenomenal percussionist, drummer, and composer, for many years based in New York and now based in Paris. He’s collaborated on over 100 recordings including Grammy-award winning albums. He talked to me about performing with Kenny Werner, with Yo-Yo Ma and the Silkroad Ensemble, as well as John’s Paris Quartet.

 Rachel Eckroth was nominated for a GRAMMY for her album “The Garden” and she is very active as a keyboardist, vocalist, composer, producer and arranger. She tours currently with St. Vincent, and she talked to me about her keyboards, and some of her formative experiences. 

Both Rachel and John love to explore new sound colours both acoustically and with electronic instruments and this album is a powerful, inventive and immersive listening experience. You’ll find this project linked in the show notes, and hopefully some of you can attend  their live shows on one of their tours. 

 Like all my episodes, you can watch this on my YouTube channel or listen to the podcast on all the podcast platforms, and I’ve also linked the transcript to my website

Speaking in Tongues albumRachel Eckroth websiteJohn Hadfield website

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Complete Catalog of Episodes

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 I wanted to let you know about some other  episodes I’ve linked directly to this one, which I think may interest you, with: 

 Ineke Vandoorn

Naomi Moon Siegel 

 Chuck Copenace   

 DeWitt Flemining Jr.  

 Lisa Pegher

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(02:45) duo project, Speaking in Tongues album

(07:45) clip from Speaking in Tongues

(08:27) Gamelan strips, John’s Gamelan studies in Indonesia

(10:50) Phase and Libration Part 1 from album Speaking in Tongues

(14:18) formative experiences Rachel and John

(19:54) God Particle, creative process of the album

(22:13) clip from God Particle 

(23:24) Rachel’s album One improvised piano music, her creative practice and challenges of touring

(26:35) Light Sleeper from Rachel Eckroth’s album One 

(28:59) Paris, Dennis Rowland,  Rachel’s keyboards, John’s collaborations Sara Caswell

(34:17) other linked episodes you’ll like and ways to support this series

(35:06) John’s Drum of Stories album, Collin Walcott, John’s use of electronics with acoustic

(38:25) Rachel’s touring career

(41:20) Kenny Werner, different performance experiences

(44:10) Women’s March 2017, life-changing opportunities

(48:19) clip from Andromeda from Speaking in Tongues

(49:53) New York City early career

(52:34)Silkroad ensemble, Yo-Yo Ma

(55:35) projects toge

Fern Lindzon is a Canadian multi-style pianist, vocalist, composer and improvisor. She recently released a great album with her newjazz trio project Tryptique with Colleen Allen and George Koller ,and we’re featuring music from that album as well as some of her other work, including her Juno-nominated album Two Kites. We talked about her mother, the artist Rose Lindzon, many mentors and influences including Don Thompson, Alan Bern and Marilyn Lerner, and several of Fern’s projects including creating silent film music, Klezmer with the Sisters of Sheynville, and her new project of learning the expressive electronic instrument the Haken Continuum. In fact, what really struck me about talking to Fern was her thirst to continuously expand her knowledge, skills, and creativity. Like all my episodes, you can watch this on my YouTube channel or listen to the podcast on all the podcast platforms, and I’ve also linked the transcript to mywebsite.Fern Lindzon websiteCould youbuy me a coffeeto support this series? Thanks! Another way to support this podcast and channel is to ordermy merchandise. Sign up formy newsletter to get access to information about upcoming guests! Some other episodes I’ve linked directly to this one, which I think may interest you: Colleen Allen Matt Zimbel Polina Shepherd Marilyn LernerKellylee EvansKait DuntonTimestamps:(00:00) Intro (03:08)Fern’s mother the artist Rose Lindzon(07:02) Tryptique, decision to focus on piano playing(12:29) studying jazz with Don Thompson, Fred Hersch(17:04) excerpt of Eucalyptus from Tryptique(18:45) creativity prompts, silent film music(22:28) clip from the Windmills of Your Mind from album Like a Circle in a Spiral(23:52) Tryptique, Bach chorale inspiration(25:37) clip from Do Look from Tryptique(26:53) Las Meninas project, Canarios, inspiration from visual art, Gaspar Sanz (29:50) clip from Canarios from Tryptique (30:39) how to get support for projects, Marilyn Lerner(32:46) Doug Wilde(34:19)clip from Wondering from Tryptique(35:24)silent films, musical evolution and education(42:24) Klezmer, Sisters of Sheynville, Alan Bern(45:49) other episodes you’ll like and different ways to support this series(46:42) Tryptique, George Koller(48:10) clip from Compassion Blues from Tryptique(50:23) Toronto jazz scene(54:27) Two Kites album(57:00) clip from Two Kites(57:59)singing, lyrics(1:04:19) To See Through Infant Eyes from Moments Like These(1:08:38)A Circle in a Spiral, Peter Bragg photographer(01:11:22) teaching, Fern’s childhood, listening parties(01:16:45) Haken continuum

Naomi Moon Siegel is an award-winning trombonist, improvisor, composer and educator. In this episode we’re highlighting her beautiful sextet album Shatter the Glass Sanctuary, and you’ll hear her reflections on the valuable mentorship process with Allison Miller and brilliant collaborators including Marina Albero and Ray Larsen. Naomi reflected on her journey finding a supportive musical community, overcoming injury, and how she’s advocated for intersectional gender justice for many years through her workshops for fellow educators and music students. We talked about some of her mentors including Kristen Strom, Wayne Horwitz, and her duo project the Syrinx Effect with Kate Olson. Naomi shared how her career path has been shaped by personal decisions and outlook, some of her experiences on several inspiring trips, as well as how she’s able to find grounding and inspiration in both her new physical landscape in Montana and her new emotional landscape as a parent.

photo of Naomi: Rio Chantel

Anthony Brandt is an acclaimed composer who is also a multi-disciplinary researcher. Dr. Brandt is a Professor at Rice University and co-founder and Artistic Director of Musiqa. Like many people worldwide, I had first learned of his work as co-author with neuroscientist David Eagleman, of the amazing book “The Runaway Species: How Human Creativity Remakes the World”. We started this episode with an overview of that book, and Tony’s passion for the importance of encouraging creativity at all stages of life comes through in our discussion of his research, compositions, teaching and mentoring. You’ll hear about how he and other researchers are using mobile brain body imaging, and how research into the arts are so important to the development of neuroscience. You’ll learn about his unique childhood, his mentors and approach to composing and teaching composition, his valuable insights on presenting new music and how integrating art forms can help to connect with audiences. We’re also shining a light on his recent album of string quartet music Meeting of Minds and LiveWire which are both collaborations with the NobleMotion Dance Company and the University of Houston Brain Center. Central to this episode is the importance of creativity, and different ways to investigate and explore that.

Samantha Ege is both a leading scholar and interpreter of Florence Price. In this interview, she talks about her recent book “South Side Impresarios: How Race Women Transformed Chicago’s Classical Music Scene”. I was fascinated to learn about this compelling history of Chicago’s Black Renaissance with women such as Nora Holt,  Margaret Bonds, and Katherine Dunham.  Dr. Ege shared how the scholarship side of her work informs both her identity as a pianist and also how this research and storytelling cause her to reflect on some of her own challenges. We also talked about some of her other recent recording projects, including the upcoming Avril Coleridge-Taylor piano concerto and chamber music with Castle of our Skins, and she reflected candidly on her personal creative life as a writer, performer and composer.

Like all my episodes, you can watch this on my YouTube channel or listen to the podcast on all the podcast platforms, and I’ve also linked the transcript to my website

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You may be also interested in the following episodes: 

 Gerry Bryant

Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser 

 Vahn Black

Rebeca Omordia

Omo Bello

DeWitt Fleming Jr.

 Destiny Muhammad

among so many https://www.leahroseman.com/about

Troubled Water by Margaret Bonds

from concert in Chicago for Crossing Borders Music

Fantasie Negre no. 1 in E minor by Florence Price:

from concert in Chicago for Crossing Borders Music

https://www.samanthaege.com/

Timestamps: 

(00:00) Intro

(02:11) book Southside Impresarios, Race women, Florence Price

(05:07) racism, Florence Price, John Powell

(10:50) Margaret Bonds “Troubled Water” from live performance (link to video in show notes)

(15:46) Southside Impresarios, Black Chicago Renaissance, Florence Price

(18:08) Wannamaker competition, Florence Price, Margaret Bonds

(21:47) Nora Holt, Florence Price

(30:43) Samantha’s practice diaries, Avril Coleridge-Taylor piano concerto

(38:03) other episodes you’ll like and ways to support this series

(38:56) composing, identity and confidence

(41:17)the importance of storytelling, upcoming Chicago concerts, community of Black researchers

(44:59) Katherine Dunham, ballet

(47:05) Boston Six, Amy Beach, exclusion of Black composers

(48:55) excerpt from Fantasie Nègre by Florence Price from live performance (link to video in show notes)

(51:52) Chamber music album with Castle of Our Skins, Undine Smith Moore, Bongani Ndodana-Breen

(55:08) Cambridge Companion to Florence Price, Rae Linda Brown, Alexandra Kori Hill

(57:16) Southside

Ian Maksin holds a special place in the hearts of his fans worldwide,  with his unique concerts of cello and songs in over 37 languages. It was really interesting to learn about how he has forged a unique path as a solo touring performer, and he shared his insights on finding commonalities between cultures, mindfulness practice and how he stays healthy with such an intense touring schedule. You’ll hear about his childhood, his need to break out of a strict classical music career, how his love of languages started and some suprises, including how he became a pilot as a teenager. 

Like all my episodes, you can also watch this on my YouTube channel or listen to the podcast on all the podcast platforms, and I’ve also linked the transcript to my website

Ian Maksin website

Gelino video

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I’ve linked some episodes to this one that you’ll enjoy, with Margaret Maria

Kelly Thoma

Raphael Weinroth-Browne

Colin Aguiar

Bad Snacks

Dorothy Lawson