Learn Piano: A Personal Practice

Wish you had more time to practice piano? Sometimes findingextra time isn't about doing more. It's about managing what we're already doing. Take a look at your weekly schedule and see where you might make a little room for music. Could you spend less time scrolling on your phone or watching television? Simplify household tasks by automating bill payments, ordering groceries online, or combining errands into one trip? Perhaps you could delegate a few responsibilities or cut back on commitments. Once you've reclaimed some time, schedule your piano practice just as you would any other important appointment. Challenge yourself to find just two hours each week for piano practice! That's only 20 minutes a day, six days a week, and it adds up to104 hours of musical development over the course of a year!

For more info: https://www.cynthiaalistudios.com/

Copyright © 2026 Cynthia Ali Studios LLC. All rightsreserved.

The music in this podcast is either public domain,original,or used under Fair Use for educational purposes. Any third-party content is used for commentary, criticism, or education and does not infringe upon original creators' rights. ([email protected])

The views expressed are those of the host(s) and guests anddo not necessarily reflect those of Cynthia Ali Studios LLC.

In Season 6, Episode 4 of Learn Piano: A Personal Practice, “Tending to Piano Practice: What Happens After You Sit Down?”, we continue exploring the connection between caring for flowers and developing meaningful piano practice. While discipline brings us to the piano bench, thoughtful and intentional practice helps our music grow. Just as flowers need the right amount of water, gentle care, healthy roots, and occasional pruning, our piano practice requires focused attention, clear goals, patience, and flexibility. From choosing the best time to practice and working carefully through difficult passages to understanding musical patterns and correcting unhelpful habits, we discover how small, deliberate efforts lead to lasting progress. Ultimately, practicing isn't simply about putting in the time or playing the correct notes—it's about nurturing our musical abilities so that our expression, confidence, and enjoyment of music can truly blossom.

For more info: https://www.cynthiaalistudios.com/

Copyright © 2026 Cynthia Ali Studios LLC. All rights reserved.

The music in this podcast is either public domain,original, or used under Fair Use for educational purposes. Any third-party content is used for commentary, criticism, or education and does not infringe upon original creators' rights. ([email protected])

The views expressed are those of the host(s) and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of Cynthia Ali Studios LLC.

In this episode of Learn Piano: A Personal Practice,I welcome Steven Seidenberg, a poet, philosopher, writer, photographer, andmusician whose creative work spans several artistic disciplines. We explorehis latest book, Coda, along with his photographic projects KanazawaVacancy and The Architecture of Silence.

Our conversation takes a wonderfully musical turn asSteven shares his experiences composing for guitar and playing the shakuhachi,a traditional Japanese bamboo flute. We discuss the role of repetition inmusical composition and how rhythm influences his writing, from the carefulselection of words to the musical cadence of language when spoken aloud.

Throughout our conversation, we explore what Steven'spersonal practice looks like across these different creative disciplines, howhe approaches his work, and the ways his artistic pursuits intersect. Thereis much we can glean from his experiences and apply to our own musicalpractices, offering fresh perspectives on repetition, creativity, and the artof developing a personal practice.

Explore Steven's Work

Official Website: ​https://www.stevenseidenberg.com/​

Photography — Kanazawa Vacancy and The Architecture ofSilence: ​https://www.stevenseidenberg.com/artwork-1​

Listen to Coda for Free

Experience Steven's rhythmic use of language firsthand inhis complete, author-narrated audiobook, approximately 3 hours and 23 minuteslong.

SoundCloud: ​https://soundcloud.com/sjseidenberg/coda-by-steven-seidenberg​

Spotify: ​https://open.spotify.com/episode/6HSFcMK28cTt0Rabic5AZI​

Apple Podcasts: ​https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coda-published-by-omnidawn-2025-read-by-steven-seidenberg/id1849257706​ Listen to theConverstion on: YouTube ​here​,Spotify ​here​, Apple Music ​here​, and more!

If you enjoy today’s episode, please like, subscribe, andfollow so you never miss a lesson or story. Do you have ideas for futureconversations and guests, hit reply and let us know!

For more info: https://www.cynthiaalistudios.com/

Copyright © 2026 Cynthia Ali Studios LLC. All rightsreserved.

The music in this podcast is either public domain,original,or used under Fair Use for educational purposes. Any third-party contentis used for commentary, criticism, or education and does not infringe uponoriginal creators' rights. ([email protected])

The views expressed are those of the host(s) and guests anddo not necessarily reflect those of Cynthia Ali Studios LLC.

This episode explores the relationship between discipline and effective piano practice, using the daily care of summer flowers as a metaphor for tending musical growth. Discipline is what helps us return to the piano consistently, even on days when motivation is low, while true practice involves purposeful attention to the specific skills, passages, rhythms, or techniques that need improvement. Like watering flowers, small efforts may not produce visible results immediately, but over time they accumulate into real progress. Discipline is the action that gets you to your bench to practice. It leads you to your practice, so you can make growth in your journey as a pianist.

Copyright © 2026 Cynthia Ali Studios LLC. All rights reserved.

The music in this podcast is either public domain, original, or used under Fair Use for educational purposes. Any third-party content is used for commentary, criticism, or education and does not infringe upon original creators' rights. ([email protected])

The views expressed are those of the host(s) and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of Cynthia Ali Studios LLC.

For more info: https://www.cynthiaalistudios.com/

This episode explores how passion and purpose work together to sustain piano practice. A piano student's comment about their participation on a volleyball team sparked the thought of how much I love playing volleyball. I reflect on how passion made me want to practice, while having a team, games, and a reason to improve gave that passion purpose. The same is true in music: loving the piano does not always automatically create motivation, but having something meaningful to work toward can give practice direction. Whether your purpose is preparing for a performance, learning a favorite piece, developing your artistry, playing for others, or simply keeping music as part of your life, purpose gives passion somewhere to go. 

Copyright © 2026 Cynthia Ali Studios LLC. All rights reserved.

The music in this podcast is either public domain,original, or used under Fair Use for educational purposes. Any third-party content is used for commentary, criticism, or education and does not infringe upon original creators' rights. ([email protected])

The views expressed are those of the host(s) and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of Cynthia Ali Studios LLC.

For more info: https://www.cynthiaalistudios.com/

Season 6 of Learn Piano: A Personal Practice begins September 29 with a new fall theme: Overcoming Obstacles to Your Piano Practice. In this opening episode, I look back at some of our summer musical adventures before returning to the piano bench to explore the habits, expectations, time constraints, and life circumstances that can interfere with consistent practice. Throughout the season, we’ll talk about passion and purpose, discipline, focus, bandwidth, realistic expectations, momentum, inspiration, and how our piano practice can grow and change along with us. We’ll also continue our Piano Studio Book Club with Poulenc: A Biography and welcome Rachel Revvenaugh for another Conversation in the Piano Lounge.

For more info: https://www.cynthiaalistudios.com/

Copyright © 2026 Cynthia Ali Studios LLC. All rights reserved.

The music in this podcast is either public domain,original, or used under Fair Use for educational purposes. Any third-party content is used for commentary, criticism, or education and does not infringe upon original creators' rights. ([email protected])

The views expressed are those of the host(s) and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of Cynthia Ali Studios LLC.

In this episode, Cynthia reflects on an unexpected musical experience at a friend’s ice skating competition and how one beautiful piece, Little Things by Adrián Berenguer, followed her home to the piano. From skating and performance to adult learning and simple beginner pieces, she explores the difference between critique and meaning, and why music does not have to be perfect, or win first place, but to matter. This summer finale is a reminder to notice the music that grabs your heart, find joy in the journey, and build a personal musical life from the little moments that stay with you.

For more info: https://www.cynthiaalistudios.com/

Copyright © 2026 Cynthia Ali Studios LLC. All rights reserved.

The music in this podcast is either public domain,original, or used under Fair Use for educational purposes. Any third-party content is used for commentary, criticism, or education and does not infringe upon original creators' rights. ([email protected])

The views expressed are those of the host(s) and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of Cynthia Ali Studios LLC.

In this episode, I reflect on a day that moved from quiet nostalgia to an electric evening concert with musician Jeremy Camp. After the stillness of a historic church, wooden pews, natural light, and a pump organ, the flashing lights, drums, electric guitars, and joyful worship of the evening created a powerful contrast. Jeremy’s story about beginning the song “This Man” at age sixteen, but needing to live through suffering before he could finish it, opened a deeper reflection on creativity and the artist’s journey. Sometimes a song, story, or work of art must wait until life gives us the experience to express it truthfully. From a nineteenth-century hymn to modern worship music, the day revealed how instruments, settings, and personal hardship shape creative expression and how music continues to carry hope across generations.

For more info: https://www.cynthiaalistudios.com/

Copyright © 2026 Cynthia Ali Studios LLC. All rights reserved.

The music in this podcast is either public domain, original, or used under Fair Use for educational purposes. Any third-party content is used for commentary, criticism, or education and does not infringe upon original creators' rights. ([email protected])

The views expressed are those of the host(s) and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of Cynthia Ali Studios LLC.

In this episode, I visited my college reunion and finally stepped inside a small historic white church on campus that I had walked past for years but had never entered. Inside, I discovered a beautiful connection between Swedish immigrant history, old hymnals, diaries, artifacts, and music. One of the most memorable moments was hearing “Children of the Heavenly Father” played on an old pump organ. The song also held deep personal meaning for me, as my Swedish grandfather used to sing it in Swedish near the end of his life. What began as a simple campus visit became a moving reflection on history, family memory, and the way music can carry comfort across generations.

For more info: https://www.cynthiaalistudios.com/

Copyright © 2026 Cynthia Ali Studios LLC. All rights reserved.

The music in this podcast is either public domain,original, or used under Fair Use for educational purposes. Any third-party content is used for commentary, criticism, or education and does not infringe upon original creators' rights. ([email protected])

The views expressed are those of the host(s) and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of Cynthia Ali Studios LLC.

In this episode, I reflect on Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein through the intertwined worlds of art, music, history, and atmosphere. My son and I have long loved del Toro’s richly imaginative films, and seeing his At Home with Monsters exhibition at the Minneapolis Institute of Art gave us a deeper appreciation for the way he blends beauty, darkness, grief, and wonder. Watching Frankenstein, I was especially drawn to the ornate Rococo-style piano and the use of Bach’s Prelude and Fugue No. 17, both of which bring refinement, order, and humanity into the film’s Gothic world. From Georgian salons to Victorian parlors, the piano has long represented culture, creativity, and emotional expression. This episode explores how one beautiful instrument can connect a cinematic story of creation and identity to centuries of musical history—and remind us why the piano always seems to find its way into the heart of the story.

More info: www.cynthiaalistudios.com

Copyright © 2026 Cynthia Ali Studios LLC. All rights reserved.

The music in this podcast is either public domain,original, or used under Fair Use for educational purposes. Any third-party content is used for commentary, criticism, or education and does not infringe upon original creators' rights. ([email protected])

The views expressed are those of the host(s) and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of Cynthia Ali Studios LLC.