How many composers from music history can you name? Probably a good number. How many of those composers were female? Jenny Boster from The Playful Piano is on a mission to help solve that discrepancy and re-introduce some fantastic female composers back into the classical repertoire. In this episode Christine and Jenny share their reflections on Jenny's Female Composer Challenge, discuss a few favorites, and most importantly, explain WHY we all should be studying the work of female composers along with the old standards we know and love!

Who would have thought there was so much business strategy and bookkeeping in music! So you want to make a living as a musician or an independent music teacher. Where to start? In this episode, Christine talks with Sara Verheyen, CPA and owner of Mareish books. Sara's passion is helping small, artistic business owners start off on the right foot. Today she gives helpful advice on everything from setting up a business, figuring out your goals for the future, bookkeeping, key performance indicators, and taxes. This is a must-listen episode for any musician learning to navigate the ins and outs of making a living as an independent musician or music teacher.

In this episode, Christine continues her deep dive look into collaboration and music by discussing a musician's role in film production. Join her as she has a round-table conversation with the the Producer and Director of the award-winning short film, "Broken Lilies." They discuss workflow, communication, how to find work in the industry, as well as the importance of good music and sound in film production.

In this first installment of the "Student Sectional" Series, Christine explores different types of motivation, and how they relate to a musician's world. What happens when a musician loses their motivation? Is it time to quit? Or can the magic be found again?

Musicians vs the World returns with a Valentine's Day love letter to the unsung heroes of music: accompanists! In this episode Christine speaks with the president of the Collaborative Pianists Guild of Utah, Jayne Galloway, about the art and craft of accompanying. As the music world prepares for in-person concerts to start up again, let's take a few minutes to learn from Jayne's expertise on building strong collaborative work relationships and creating effective performances. She also shares useful tips for pianists that may be interested in a career in collaborative piano. Enjoy!

For many musicians, the act of composing their own original music is the ultimate expression of creativity and connection to music and other people. In these uncertain times, many have turned to composing as an emotional outlet. But how does a musician take that creativity and turn it into a living? In this episode, Christine speaks with award-winning composer, Bradley Ellingboe. Together they discuss the "ins" and "outs" of composing new music and getting that new music performed. From the very first spark of inspiration to dealing with unexpected performances, Brad shares stories and expert advice drawn from over 40 years of professional composing experience. Enjoy!

In today's world, the only constant is change! In this episode, Christine speaks with the wonderful coloratura soprano, Amber Brooke. They discuss Amber's inspiring life story, and how she seized every unexpected opportunity to live her life to the fullest and to share her music with audiences around the world. We hope you enjoy this uplifting and inspiring interview!

IMPORTANT!!! The US government has made money available to citizens who are self-employed, sole proprietors, or contract workers, along with small business owners! This money can help many musicians who are struggling financially due to the COVID-19 shut downs. In this episode, Christine goes over some of the basic information to get you started on your way for financial help during this difficult time.

In this episode, Christine has a conversation with the wonderful Grant Gershon, Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Master Chorale. Together they discuss the human aspect of music making, and how music can connect people from all different aspects of life in powerful ways. Grant shares his expertise on how, as musicians, we can garner that sense of connectedness through our performance, and how we can look forward towards the future of music and performance. As an added bonus, Grant shares some valuable advice for musicians wanting to make a career out of music.

In this episode, we continue our fascinating conversation with Lori Finlay Hamilton (and a few special guests!), about how music effects our bodies on the cellular level. This time, we dive into the science behind music's effect on the minds and bodies of children. What is the Mozart effect? Does it really exist? Does music make children better students? Better people? Should every child study music? Join us and find out!