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The final episode in this series of podcasts reflects on previous episodes and the need for change within the industry. I'm joined by Greg Lawson (Violinist, Conductor and Teacher), Dave Mastrocola (Head of Visual & Performing Arts at The Bourne Academy) and Ronan MacManus (Singer/Songwriter).
We reflect on a whole host of points raised throughout the series. We talked about the current lack of visibility for new artists due to streaming platform saturation. We discuss the need for patience and understanding as a performer because so many musicians are now left feeling cynical, jaded and exhausted after years in the profession.
We also discussed the need for a reform in music education and a change in attitudes towards teaching the subject, and how so many positives changes could be made if some of the "lesser known" examining bodies were recognised for their content, not only at a high school level but into further education.
Intro/Outro track: "Battle" by Ian Prowse
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Scottish Percussionist, Marimba soloist and Conservatoire Professor, Calum Huggan, joins me for Episode 9. Calum's journey as a musician and a teacher is a really inspirational one, as he talks so passionately about what a privelige it is to be a musician and have this as a career.
Calum's commitment to education is at the forefront of everything he does and this is largely down to the amazing support he was given from a young age by his high school percussion tutor and then his specialist tutors at conservatoire level. He felt fortunate to have teachers that looked after his body and mind as well as his musicianship and this is something he strives to take forward into his own teaching.
We talk about finding the best structure for your day and your week as a freelancer, making use of "out of office" to give your mind a proper break from working, finding time for self care and rest, and also how important it is to continually learn - whether that's from CPD within the Music industry or learning from other industries.
We also talk about how kindness is needed, now more than ever, within the Music Industry. Calum is passionate advocate for LGBTQIA+ and works hard to represent all musicians regardless of sexual preference or gender.
Intro/Outro Track: "Battle" by Ian Prowse
Middle Track: "Prelude Number 1" - performed by Calum Huggan
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Dave's journey to Music as a career wasn't a conventional one, as he was actively encouraged not to do a degree in Music, so he specialised in Maths and Physics at University instead. However, due to the amazing inspiration of his Music teachers at school, plus constantly gigging throughout his time at uni, he chose to study a PGCE in Music education.
Dave is now Head of Visual & Performing Arts at The Bourne Academy, a school based in one of the top 10 most deprived areas in the UK. When he initially started, he was the only music teacher and there were only 8 students taking music as a core subject. Fast forward to the present day and his department is one of the most successful in the school, with the highest grades for GCSE and A Level in 2022.
We cover so much throughout the episode. Dave talks about how giving students the best possible experience on stage through detailed set up and proper equipment raises the aspirations of each individual as a whole, how he, alongside a dynamic team of teachers and musicians have turned the department into a creative hub within the school, where in Year 9 alone, there are now 55 students taking music as a core subject!
He also talks about the importance of being a practicing, performing musician in order to be the best possible teacher so that the young people are inspired, which is why Dave goes to incredible lengths to make sure he is regularly able to go on tour with "Ian Prowse and Amsterdam."
All this and SO much more!
Intro/Outro Music: "Battle" by Ian Prowse
Middle Track: Live performance of "Running Down A Dream" by Tom Petty by Year 13 students at The Bourne Academy.
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Scots Singer/Songwriter Josie Duncan joins me for Episode 7 to discuss her journey with music and how it has greatly improved and impacted her life as someone diagnosed later in her twenties with ADHD.
Josie speaks so beautifully about how being on stage feels like home for her, as it gives focus, purpose and joy, where other so-called "every day" situations can feel so much more challenging to manage - for example - the process of making a phone call can cause complete overwhelm!
She passionately believes that education surrounding ADHD should be much more widely available and discusses how women are typically diagnosed later on because they are pre-disposed to masking symptoms that would otherwise make it clearer that they had the condition. She also highlights the wider spectrum of ADHD and how many people stereotype it, with only being associated with hyperactive young boys, when in fact, it is actually a much broader set of symptoms and issues.
She talks about the immense amount of joy that singing and songwriting gives her and shares her coping strategies for working through the creative process with ADHD - for example - setting alarms to remember to eat or drink whilst in the midst of a 12-hour songwriting marathon!
Intro/Outro Music: "Battle" by Ian Prowse
Middle Track: "Be Around" by Josie Duncan
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Episode 6 explores the musical journey of Violinist and Ukulele player, Jasmine Watkiss. As half of the Americana folk duo, Roswell, Jasmine discusses her love/hate relationship with music. As the child of musician parents, Jasmine felt that music was the vehicle to a private school scholarship rather than something to be enjoyed, and as a result suffered extreme performance anxiety due to the pressure of consistently needing to pass exams and auditions to maintain the scholarship. Further to that, the atmosphere at private school wasn't a supportive one, where her violin teacher would regularly rubbish her performances and laugh at her.
She discovered that bands and orchestras were where her true passion lay and the social side of music has kept her love of it alive, despite not entering into it as a full time career. Jasmine also talks about how she has coped with extreme anxiety over the years with performing and how the pandemic affected her, but with a supportive singing teacher and therapy sessions, plus conversations with her fellow band mate, she has overcome a lot of this and now performs regularly all over the UK.
Intro/Outro music: "Battle" by Ian Prowse
Middle track: "What I Know Now" - Roswell
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Conductor and former Principal 2nd Violin of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Greg Lawson shares a whole host of thoughts with me on his feelings surrounding Musician's Mental Health. We touch on all kinds of subjects, including how music education and instrumental teaching can be guilty of not even scratching the surface of the subject, partly because of the lack of vulnerability from tutors and also the limitations that curriculums can put in place for such a vastly creative subject.
When it comes to the presentation of music, particularly Classical, why DO we have to dress like 16th Century servants in tails to perform Beethoven?!
We also cover the weirdly formulaic nature of auditions and how the fear of the participant was so palpable you could almost smell it! Greg expresses how he always wanted to make musicians feel as comfortable as possible in that setting so that their creativity would stand a chance of shining through, but any of us who have experienced an orchestral audition know that this is rarely the case!
We also talk about how it's taken Greg a lifetime to feel that his confidence and insecurities are starting to stay in check, his experiences of feeling like a misfit within the Classical Music industry and how we need to foster a sense of community within our industry to ensure it's survival at the highest level, not continue down the road of toxic behaviours that kill the musician's love of music. Plus SO MUCH MORE!
Intro/Outro Music: "Battle" by Ian Prowse
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Dorset-based Cellist, Composer and Teacher, Lee MacKenzie chats to me about his musical journey and how music has impacted on him as a person with Autism. We also discuss how he copes with criticism and the desire we both have to remind some audiences that musicians are human beings, not auto-tuned robots! He shares his plans for a new podcast, "Limited Bandwidth" which explores how musicians work with social media and it's limitations as well as possibilities and we also explore his teaching style and how he strives to create self-sufficient and self-motivated students, capable of learning the art of practicing and self reflection.
Intro/Outro Music: "Battle" by Ian Prowse.
Mid Music: "Breathe Easy" by The Last Inklings.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Head of Artistic Planning at the Royal Conservatoire Samantha McShane chats to me about a whole host of topics surrounding mental health throughout this episode. Sam is such a passionate advocate for openness and honesty surrounding mental health and it was really moving to hear about her own experiences as a French Horn student at the RCS. We covered so many topics including feeling like you had to change your personality in order to fit into the classical musician stereotype, how studying should have been more about finding your own identity as a musician and speaking your truth as an individual. We also covered how we both coped with anxiety and depression and the stigma that surrounded taking medication when we were both students and the incredible difference it has made to us both since.
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Professional saxophonist, composer and conductor Adam Letman chats to me about all kinds, including the importance of positively shaping your music students without your own issues affecting their future, gender stereotypes, dealing with very personal criticism including constant comments on appearance, his difficulties with anorexia and his hopes for music education in the future as a teacher!
Intro/Outro Music: Ian Prowse - "Battle"
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Hailing from a musical family, Rónan speaks candidly about his own personal experiences as a singer/songwriter, living up to the family name and legacy as one of Elvis Costello’s four younger brothers, vulnerability, the immense privilege yet responsibility of making every performance count, battling and successfully overcoming addiction and how music has given him some of the best experiences in life, as well as helping him through some of the worst. Plus so much more!
Intro/Outro track: "Battle" by Ian Prowse
Middle Track: "Human Kindess" by Ronan MacManus/Brand New Zeros
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
