A small town. A young college professor. A non-existent music program. Join Christine as she talks with Dr. Keith Bradshaw on how he built a legacy and influenced lives through his development of the music program at Southern Virginia University.

What is it with NFTs that is making musicians so excited? It seems like every week there's a news story about a musician jumping on the NFT bandwagon in some way. They're either minting and selling NFTs, or investing in companies involved with them. But what are NFTs anyway? Is it just a side-hustle famous musicians are doing while they wait for concerts to start up again? Or is it a long-term, sustainable income stream for musicians and other artists? In this episode, Christine takes a look into NFTs, what they are, how music is involved, and why should musicians even care?

In 2020, the Video Gaming Industry was estimated to be worth $159.3 Billion. Video Games are a huge part of our global culture, and music and sound design are a huge part of the gaming experience. In this episode, Christine talks with Matt Kenyon, composer, arranger, and host of Composer Code Podcast. Matt and Christine wade into the world of Video Game Music, and discuss how composers and musicians can find a place in and navigate their way around this growing industry.

How do performers balance creativity with the need to follow the composer's intentions? Why can it so difficult to compose original music? And what does Albert Einstein have to do with it? In part 2 of Christine's interview with composer Bruce Adolphe, Bruce shares his wisdom on all of these topics, as well as offering advice for new musicians. For background information on Bruce Adolphe and his career, be sure to listen to the first half of this interview in "What Are You Trying to Say? Musical Imagination with Bruce Adolphe Part I."

What is a Musical Imagination? Do musicians really need it? Composer and scholar Bruce Adolphe thinks so. And he believes that even the most reluctant musician can learn to improvise and express themselves more deeply. And he should know; he wrote the book on it! Join Christine and Bruce on part 1 of their interview as they discuss the wonders of music, and the keys to unlocking improvisation and creativity in composers and performers alike.

In honor of our newest National Holiday, "Juneteenth National Independence Day," Christine discusses three classical pieces to listen to and study. These pieces are only a jumping off point into a deep dive into African American musical heritage, and how it has shaped music of all genres, but specifically classical music in American Culture.

Hailed as "a true heir of the mainstream of Russian pianism, like Horowitz," Armenian concert pianist Raffi Besalyan has lived an exciting life. In this episode, Raffi shares lessons learned along the way, from his start in Armenia to his current home in Atlanta. This episode is perfect for pianists, or anyone who loves piano music. He and Christine talk about the difference between Armenian and American music education, technique, performing, recording, editing, and the never-ending quest of expression and connection through Classical Music.

"Music allows a voice to things we can't otherwise express." What is spirituality, and what does it have to do with music? How are spirituality and music connected? In this episode, Christine talks with Dr. Keith Bradshaw about his career, his philosophy on composing and performing classical music, and the vital role spirituality plays in connection and musical experiences.

Part 2 of the Choose the Best Music For Your Project series is here! In this episode we take a deeper look into the emotions of music. Why do certain songs make us sad? Or happy? How do we use that knowledge to increase the impact of the music we choose? And along with that, how can this understanding of music and emotion help us to become better story tellers, content creators, or musicians?

How do professionals choose music to fit their projects? How does a composer get started scoring a film? How can music help enhance the effectiveness of visual presentations? In this episode, Christine gives a step-by-step tutorial on how she approaches music in video and audio projects. She covers important initial steps that ensure that the music composing (or licensing) portion of any project ends up with the most effective outcome.