The Euterpean Podcast

Jordan Christianson is a pianist and teacher living and working in Chicago, IL. He primarily performs in the jazz idiom, but enjoys playing and teaching in a variety of styles.Since 2016 he has been a member of The Well-Balanced Pianist community. He began Taubman Approach studies with Anna Reiser, and continues to study and apprentice with Teresa Dybvig.He enjoys helping those who have also found themselves on a journey to find more comfort, freedom, and expression at the piano.Where to find Jordan:https://pianowithoutpain.comhttps://www.wellbalancedpianist.com/who-we-are/#jcSupport the Show.If you would like to support this podcast, consider becoming a patron on Patreon: simply click “support the show.” For more information about the podcast or to enquire about lessons in the Taubman Approach or composition, please email zacharydaviesmusic (at) gmail (dot) com or find me on X and Instagram @zdaviesmusicThank you!

For this episode I had the very special honour of talking with jazz pianist and composer, Darius Brubeck. We discuss myriad topics including Darius' musical upbringing, his time in South Africa, how he improvises and thinks about jazz, his current projects, as well as the current situation in Ukraine and its cultural similarities with the Cold War.Darius' website: https://www.dariusbrubeck.com/Support the Show.If you would like to support this podcast, consider becoming a patron on Patreon: simply click “support the show.” For more information about the podcast or to enquire about lessons in the Taubman Approach or composition, please email zacharydaviesmusic (at) gmail (dot) com or find me on X and Instagram @zdaviesmusicThank you!

For this episode I had the honour of welcoming back Professor John Salmon. John was one of my first guests on the podcast, so it’s such a pleasure to have him on again. This time, our conversation is all about improvisation. We explore jazz and classical improv, harmony, modes, melody, the difference between composing, improvising and inventing, and everything in between. This is of course a conversation that could last a lifetime; there’s so much to talk about. Nevertheless, I feel we covered much ground and I certainly learned a lot. I would also like to say that this is the first podcast episode I’ve done that has a video element; to view our conversation, check it out on YouTube.Support the Show.If you would like to support this podcast, consider becoming a patron on Patreon: simply click “support the show.” For more information about the podcast or to enquire about lessons in the Taubman Approach or composition, please email zacharydaviesmusic (at) gmail (dot) com or find me on X and Instagram @zdaviesmusicThank you!

Welcome to the Euterpean Podcast, this is your host Zachary Davies. For this episode, I welcome Mattia Aisemberg, a music student from Berlin. It was really great to meet him, to talk about his interests in music, from Schoenberg to Jazz, as well as his experience as a student today in Germany. Mattia also has an impressive YouTube channel, which explores musical topics in incredible depth. I’ve attached a link below.Recorded in July 2021Mattia Aisemberg YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpY9ie_NHmROGwVVBXfjZUQSupport the Show.If you would like to support this podcast, consider becoming a patron on Patreon: simply click “support the show.” For more information about the podcast or to enquire about lessons in the Taubman Approach or composition, please email zacharydaviesmusic (at) gmail (dot) com or find me on X and Instagram @zdaviesmusicThank you!

Welcome to the Euterpean Podcast, this is your host Zachary Davies. I’m delighted to welcome for the first episode of this season, pianist Zsolt Bognár. It was such a pleasure to have this conversation with him. We explore a range of topics from Schubert and Liszt, to piano playing and injury, to his award-winning show “Living the Classical Life.” I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I enjoyed having it. Support the Show.If you would like to support this podcast, consider becoming a patron on Patreon: simply click “support the show.” For more information about the podcast or to enquire about lessons in the Taubman Approach or composition, please email zacharydaviesmusic (at) gmail (dot) com or find me on X and Instagram @zdaviesmusicThank you!

Welcome to the Euterpean Podcast, this is your host Zachary Davies. For this episode I welcome pianist, writer, and professor at Trinity Laban Penelope Roskell. Her most recent book, The Complete Pianist, is a must-read for piano students everywhere; for me, to quote a Chopin student, it has made what was once insurmountable, natural and easy. Our conversation covers healthy technique and natural artistry – which is roughly the subtitle of her book – as well as injury, practice, interpretation and many other topics. As you might have guessed, this is quite a piano-heavy episode, but there is good reason for it. In short, about six months ago, I injured my hands and without Penelope’s books, time and advice, I might’ve had to stop playing piano altogether. This is an experience that I discuss at length in a monologue in part two of this mini-series.  Useful links:BAPAM: https://www.bapam.org.ukHealthy Piano Playing: https://www.healthypianoplaying.co.ukPenelope's Website: https://peneloperoskell.co.ukSupport the Show.If you would like to support this podcast, consider becoming a patron on Patreon: simply click “support the show.” For more information about the podcast or to enquire about lessons in the Taubman Approach or composition, please email zacharydaviesmusic (at) gmail (dot) com or find me on X and Instagram @zdaviesmusicThank you!

Welcome to the Euterpean Podcast, this is your host Zachary Davies. For this episode, I had the privilege of speaking to a remarkable guest – conductor, teacher, and founder of both the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra – Mr. Benjamin Zander. When writing this introduction, it was really hard to know where to start because Ben’s influence on my own music-making began years ago, probably when I was entering my teens. So, needless to say, I haven’t the words to sufficiently express my gratitude for this having taken place. Indeed, we cover many topics: from the use of tempo in Elgar and Beethoven, to the inherent spirituality of music, as well as the inexhaustible influence that Ben’s teacher, Gaspar Cassadó, continues to have on his interpretations. Such musical understanding is audible not only in Ben’s recordings, however, but also in his incredibly popular classes which are broadcast on YouTube, namely “interpretations of music: lessons for life.” It’s also apparent from the popularity of his TED talk, which as I record this approaches 15 million views, that classical music isn’t just for musicians or a small group of cognoscenti – it is for everyone – and this certainly comes across. In addition to the maestro’s spontaneous playing of examples on his piano in Boston, he has allowed me to close our conversation with a short excerpt of his recording of the second movement of Mahler’s second symphony, as played by the Philharmonia Orchestra. Support the Show.If you would like to support this podcast, consider becoming a patron on Patreon: simply click “support the show.” For more information about the podcast or to enquire about lessons in the Taubman Approach or composition, please email zacharydaviesmusic (at) gmail (dot) com or find me on X and Instagram @zdaviesmusicThank you!

In this episode, I had the great pleasure of welcoming Tiffany Poon, an exceptionally talented concert pianist based in New York, with well over a quarter of a million subscribers on YouTube. Our conversation explores her introduction to classical music and her journey studying the piano – from a toy instrument to the Juilliard School. We touch upon other topics too, such as the music of Robert Schumann, vlogging, and her new charity, ‘Together With Classical’. We also ruminate on more philosophical questions about performance and how she approaches interpretation. Having followed Tiffany’s music and YouTube for quite some time now, it was lovely to finally meet her, and I hope it shows in the breadth and depth of our chat. Support the Show.If you would like to support this podcast, consider becoming a patron on Patreon: simply click “support the show.” For more information about the podcast or to enquire about lessons in the Taubman Approach or composition, please email zacharydaviesmusic (at) gmail (dot) com or find me on X and Instagram @zdaviesmusicThank you!

In this episode, I had the privilege of welcoming Wigmore Hall's executive and artistic director, John Gilhooly. We discuss the importance of live music, the digitisation of the concert hall, the impact of Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic on the performing arts, as well as how he chooses concert programmes and commissions works by contemporary composers. Certainly a wide-ranging conversation. Support the Show.If you would like to support this podcast, consider becoming a patron on Patreon: simply click “support the show.” For more information about the podcast or to enquire about lessons in the Taubman Approach or composition, please email zacharydaviesmusic (at) gmail (dot) com or find me on X and Instagram @zdaviesmusicThank you!

In this episode, I welcome pianist and singer-songwriter, the 4X winner of Hawaii's Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award, Maggie Herron. Maggie and I met in 2019, at the jazz-club Lewers Lounge in Hawaii, where she’s a resident musician. From the moment I entered the musical sanctuary, I was deeply impressed by the musicianship and artistry of all the players. And of course, being the jazzophile I am, I was intrigued to learn of Maggie’s musical upbringing, her tastes, what she thinks of this artist or that... and it’s fair to say that we cover these topics in some depth in this episode. It was a real pleasure talking with her again, and I hope you enjoy the ride. Support the Show.If you would like to support this podcast, consider becoming a patron on Patreon: simply click “support the show.” For more information about the podcast or to enquire about lessons in the Taubman Approach or composition, please email zacharydaviesmusic (at) gmail (dot) com or find me on X and Instagram @zdaviesmusicThank you!

In this episode, I welcome King's College London lecturer and critic at the Guardian, Flora Willson. We discuss what it means to be a critic, its responsibilities, and the contrasts between criticism and academia: above all, with regard to aesthetic judgement.Support the Show.If you would like to support this podcast, consider becoming a patron on Patreon: simply click “support the show.” For more information about the podcast or to enquire about lessons in the Taubman Approach or composition, please email zacharydaviesmusic (at) gmail (dot) com or find me on X and Instagram @zdaviesmusicThank you!

In this episode, I had the immense joy of welcoming UNC piano professor John Salmon. John is recognised globally as one of the foremost authorities on the classical music of Dave Brubeck. This is due not only to his brilliant recordings of Brubeck’s pieces, but to his decades-long professional relationship with the jazz legend: acting as editor, arranger, musical confidant of sorts, not to mention the good friendship that they shared too. We discuss this music, its nature, its instrumental flexibility, as well as the composer’s approach to writing it. Not only have I been allowed to include some of John’s records (by the pianist), I’ve also been given access to a recording of a conversation that the two musicians had over dinner in Duisburg, Germany, 1994, which until this episode had never been shared publicly. I learnt a lot from this conversation: from Dave Brubeck’s music to jazz in general. EDIT: I have decided it is best not to include the recordings of the Brubeck compositions - legally, it was just too grey for me to be comfortable. However, the extracts of Dave and John's conversation will remain. Thank for your understanding.Support the Show.If you would like to support this podcast, consider becoming a patron on Patreon: simply click “support the show.” For more information about the podcast or to enquire about lessons in the Taubman Approach or composition, please email zacharydaviesmusic (at) gmail (dot) com or find me on X and Instagram @zdaviesmusicThank you!

In this episode, I welcome award-winning composer, oboist and educator, Samuel Andreyev. We dissect each part of the title: from his experience as a composer living in France, to posting educational videos on YouTube. Our conversation is followed by Jana Luksts performance of SA's hypnotic Piano Piece No. IV. Hope you enjoy! ZachSupport the Show.If you would like to support this podcast, consider becoming a patron on Patreon: simply click “support the show.” For more information about the podcast or to enquire about lessons in the Taubman Approach or composition, please email zacharydaviesmusic (at) gmail (dot) com or find me on X and Instagram @zdaviesmusicThank you!

In this episode, I am joined by award-winning composer and pianist Kristina Arakelyan. We discuss Kristina’s experience in academia - as well as her current PhD thesis - and her philosophy behind composition. Our conversation is followed by Srdan Bulat's performance of her 'Fantasia', a piece for solo classical guitar. I hope you enjoy! ZachSupport the Show.If you would like to support this podcast, consider becoming a patron on Patreon: simply click “support the show.” For more information about the podcast or to enquire about lessons in the Taubman Approach or composition, please email zacharydaviesmusic (at) gmail (dot) com or find me on X and Instagram @zdaviesmusicThank you!

In this episode, I am joined by Jessica Peng, an English Literature student from UCL, to discuss a vast list of issues and topics in both Literature and Music. I hope you enjoy! ZachSupport the Show.If you would like to support this podcast, consider becoming a patron on Patreon: simply click “support the show.” For more information about the podcast or to enquire about lessons in the Taubman Approach or composition, please email zacharydaviesmusic (at) gmail (dot) com or find me on X and Instagram @zdaviesmusicThank you!