The Piano Pod - a global hub for innovation, education, and connection in classical piano music
Yukimi Song
Show overview
The Piano Pod - a global hub for innovation, education, and connection in classical piano music has been publishing since 2020, and across the 6 years since has built a catalogue of 237 episodes, alongside 87 trailers or bonus episodes. That works out to roughly 170 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a fortnightly cadence, with the show now in its 6th season.
Episodes typically run thirty-five to sixty minutes — most land between 3 min and 1h 10m — with run-times ranging widely across the catalogue. It is catalogued as a EN-language Music show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 1 weeks ago, with 30 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2023, with 53 episodes published. Published by Yukimi Song.
From the publisher
...where tradition meets innovation. Together, we bring PIANO into the FUTURE.a global hub for innovation, education, and connection in classical piano musicHey, 🎹 enthusiasts out there! My name is Yukimi, a classical pianist and educator from NYC and executive producer of The Piano Pod. The Piano Pod🎙 is a one-of-a-kind podcast that delves deep into the fascinating world of classical music, with a specific focus on the 🎹 piano. In a biweekly format, the show explores intriguing discussions with guests breaking exciting new ground in the classical music industry. The Piano Pod aims to nurture a thriving community that embraces innovative approaches to ensure classical music's relevance and vitality in today's dynamic landscape."How can I present the beautiful tradition of classical music to the 21st-century audience in a fun, contemporary, and engaging way?"When I started building a piano studio in the trendy neighborhood of Downtown Manhattan in 2007 while in the NYU graduate program in piano studies, I began to ponder this question. I realized the stark difference in expectations toward classical music and music education between music professionals and the general public. Then, one of the NYU music department's professors suggested I start a podcast: the platform would allow classical musicians to address this disparity and spark conversations about audience engagement.Finally, fast forward to 10+ years later, The Piano Pod was born in the summer of 2020. Since then, I have had the privilege of interviewing A-listers in the classical music industry: international concert pianists, composers, arrangers, digital streamers/influencers, music educators, entrepreneurs, neurodiverse specialists, and performance psychologists.Through fascinating conversations, we have explored how classical music should continue to evolve to remain relevant to our lifestyle, society, and culture. Over the past three seasons, The Piano Pod has achieved remarkable success by reaching faithful listeners on audio platforms and viewers via YouTube.As the show is celebrating the past season's achievements and gearing toward the new season in the fall, my mission as the Executive Producer is crystal clear: to provide a platform for classical musicians and educators to reflect and discuss ways to keep our industry robust and meaningful in this ever-changing world and move it forward in the post-pandemic era.🔗Follow TPP on social media accounts to get the latest news about 🎹.Thanks for listening♥️🎹
Latest Episodes
View all 237 episodesCarrying Memory Forward: Pianist, Composer & Author Inna Faliks on Odesa, Stranger Things, and the Courage to Reimagine
Official Trailer: "Carrying Memory Forward" feat. Inna Faliks
Welcome to Season 7: Culture & Courage
Introducing Season 7: Culture & Courage
Spirit, Body, and Soul: Pianist & Composer David Berry on Virtuosity, Creativity, and Artistic Identity
Official Trailer: Season 6 Finale "Spirit, Body, & Soul" feat. David Berry
Sound Liberation: Joe Williams on Black Artistry, Legacy & Belonging in Concert Music
Official Trailer: "Sound Liberation" feat. Joe Williams, Sound Liberator
Beyond Borders: From Argentina to Poland to Texas—Oscar Macchioni reflects on a life in music
Official Trailer: "Beyond Borders" feat. Oscar Macchioni, Steinway Artist & Pedagogue
Music As Witness feat. Concert Pianist, Anna Shelest
Official Trailer: Season 6 Eps.17 "Music as Witness" feat. Anna Shelest
Joy Luck Trio -- Groundbreaking Pipa-Erhu-Piano Trio
Official Trailer: Season 6 Episode 16 feat. Joy Luck Trio
The Sound of Perseus feat. Composer & Conductor Michael Ostrzyga
Official Trailer: Season 6 Eps.15, The Sound of Perseus feat. Michael Ostrzyga, Composer
S6 Ep 14The Infinite Staircase feat. Concert Pianist, Han Chen
In this episode of The Piano Pod, concert pianist Han Chen joins TPP for a deep conversation about virtuosity, vision, and what it means to build something meaningful in today’s classical music landscape.Han Chen is a GRAMMY Award–nominated pianist known for his fearless approach to some of the most demanding repertoire in the piano canon — from György Ligeti’s Complete Piano Études to Beethoven’s Hammerklavier. His recent recording of Florence Price’s Piano Concerto in One Movement with conductor John Jeter and the Malmö Opera Orchestra has brought renewed attention to one of the most compelling American concertos of the 20th century.Beyond performance, Han is also a curator and creator. His large-scale project Infinite Staircase pairs all 18 Ligeti Études with 18 newly commissioned works by living composers, expanding the repertoire while rethinking what a piano program can be.This episode offers a rare look into the mind of a pianist who is not only performing at the highest level, but actively shaping the future of classical music.In This Episode, We Talk AboutFlorence Price and the legacy of her Piano ConcertoLigeti’s Complete Piano Études and technical/interpretive challengesInfinite Staircase — a 36-work project pairing Ligeti with new commissionsCreative programming as artistic identityCommissioning new music and working with living composersJuilliard training and mentorship under Yoheved KaplinskyExpanding the role of the pianist in today’s classical music worldLearn More About Han ChenWebsiteInstagramMeet Our Guest: Han Chen The Piano PodBecome a VIP Member / Unlock Exclusive ContentSubscribe to the Season 6 Piano Playlist — a collection of every piano work mentioned throughout the episodes Join Our NewsletterWebsiteInstagramFacebook🔗 All Links
Official Trailer ✅: The Infinite Staircase feat. GRAMMY-nominated Pianist Han Chen
trailerHere is the trailer for our upcoming episode with GRAMMY-nominated pianist Han Chen.From mastering Ligeti to building Infinite Staircase, this conversation goes beyond performance — into vision, risk, and creating something that lasts. 🎥 Premieres tonight at 8 PM ET: https://youtu.be/2JqDeHYSk58?si=QgFPTfWf0ch_7WBl 🎧 Audio: https://linktr.ee/thepianopodaudio Read Our Blog: https://open.substack.com/pub/thepianopod/p/meet-our-guest-han-chen-concert-pianist?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
S6 Ep 13Accents of Love feat. Pianist and Singer-Songwriter, Vivian Fang Liu
Accents of Love: Vivian Fang Liu on Artistry, Belonging, and Music for the Next GenerationThe Piano Pod — Season 6, Episode 13In this episode of The Piano Pod, pianist, singer-songwriter, composer, educator, and music researcher Vivian Fang Liu joins host Yukimi Song for a powerful conversation about identity, creativity, and the role of music in shaping the next generation.Vivian Fang Liu is a classically trained pianist whose work spans classical performance, cross-genre songwriting, children’s music, and music education research. Her award-winning children’s album Accents of Love (2023) invites young listeners to celebrate their voices, languages, and identities through imaginative storytelling and vibrant musical production.Throughout the conversation, Vivian shares the inspiration behind her children’s music, her journey immigrating to the United States at age fifteen, and how themes of belonging, cultural identity, and resilience shape both her artistry and her educational work.This episode explores how music can empower children to embrace who they are while also building bridges across cultures and communities.Listen to Vivian Fang LiuChinese Pop OriginalChildren's MusicBelongI Is LoveTalk to the Fishes with Your Inner VoiceSilenceAll Accents Are ArtLearn More About Vivian Fang LiuWebsite Instagram SpotifyMeet Our Guest: Vivian Fang Liu https://substack.com/home/post/p-190096545The Piano Pod💖 Become a VIP Member / Unlock Exclusive Content 📫 Join Our Newsletter🌐 Website
Official Trailer for Season 6 Eps.13 Vivian Fang Liu
trailerHere is the trailer for our upcoming episode of The Piano Pod.Concert pianist, singer-songwriter, and composer Vivian Fang Liu joins us for a powerful conversation about music, identity, and belonging.From her award-winning children’s albums to cross-genre artistry shaped by classical piano, Vivian shares how her work brings together performance, storytelling, and education to empower the next generation.🎥 Full episode premieres tonight, March 17, at 8 PM ET on YouTube.https://youtu.be/bH4YCXAZX5M🎧 The audio episode will be released simultaneously on all podcast platforms.We hope you’ll join us for this inspiring conversation.#ThePianoPod #VivianFangLiu #AccentsOfLove #PodcastPremiere #MusicAndIdentity