The Pianote Podcast

Listen to Lisa and Sangah discuss the difference between practicing and playing, Sangah's experience as a lounge pianist, and how music is "time art" on this episode of the Pianote Podcast.

Best known for his work with progressive rock act Dream Theater, Jordan Rudess was named "Best Keyboardist of All Time" by MusicRadar. With classical roots in the Juilliard School, Jordan is also famed for his technical virtuosity and knowledge of music technology. In this exclusive interview, we'll learn about Jordan's journey from Juilliard to Dream Theater, his influences and inspirations, and how he plays so gosh darn fast.

Did you ever think you could create visual art with the piano? It's called MIDI art, and GLASYS is one of the most popular artists doing it on YouTube today. Listen to GLASYS and Lisa discuss his musical roots, his love/hate relationship with social media, and why video games are awesome on this episode of the Pianote podcast

If you are learning how to play an instrument, having the right mindset is crucial! In this episode of the podcast, Lisa chats with Pianote coach Kevin Castro. Listen as he shares his path to becoming a professional musician and how the musicians' mindset played a huge role in his success!

When it comes to music theory, piano players tend to fall into two categories. Either we love it, or we hate it. If you struggle to love music theory, David Bennett just might change your mind! If you don't know David, he's an incredibly talented pianist and educator. He takes a deep dive into some of the most famous songs of all time and explains the musical choices the composers made to make the music so amazing! In this podcast, David and Lisa chat about some of the mysteries of music theory and just how incredible it can be!

In this episode of the Pianote Podcast, Lisa sits down with Jesus Molina to discuss why "music isn't just playing." It's an inspiring episode that touches on everything from the "secret" behind improvisation to how to manage frustration.

Meet Victoria Theodore! With a Masters in Classical Piano Performance from Standford University, Victoria has travelled the world playing with some of the greatest musicians of our time. Learn how Victoria got her start in Classical piano and how it led her to becoming Beyonce's keyboard player in this episode of the Pianote Podcast.

We've got a special show for you today because this is our very first Q&A episode! We sent out a questionnaire to all our valued members, and in this episode Lisa reads through and answers some of your top questions. You'll hear about her practice routines and goals, how she got started in her musical journey, and how she manages to keep balance in her personal and professional life.

When it comes to performing, Erskine Hawkins has done it all. Well, maybe not all, but it's safe to say that he's seen many stages in his time as a professional musician. In this episode of the Pianote Podcast, Lisa and Erskine sit down to discuss Erksine's journey with the piano and what kind of impact music has had on his life. They also look at some of the more important aspects of finding work as a gigging musician while also ensuring that whatever decisions you have to make, that you do them with your own interests at heart.

Watching Summer Swee-Singh perform re-imagined pop medleys on the piano is a delightful treat. But the arranger, composer and pianist didn't always hug the spotlight. Summer originally began piano as a way to conquer her shyness. Today, she's an accomplished artist who has performed at TedX, The Ellen Degeneres Show, and with many acclaimed bands. For this episode of the Pianote Podcast, Lisa sits down with Summer to talk about her classical roots, trusting your ear, and beating anxiety with music. Listen to Summer Swee-Singh on Spotify

Brett Ziegler has been involved with educating Pianote students since the beginning. Brett is an incredible musician and in this episode of the Pianote Podcast, you will get to know his musical story! From his beginnings as a classical piano student to how he ended up playing a ballroom gig 5 nights a week, this episode is sure to inspire and entertain!

The learning journey can be a roller coaster with ups and downs that include frustration, joy, failure, and success! The key to staying committed to your learning journey is to be aware of the potential pitfalls and have the right mindset to overcome them!

Yvette is a 29-year-old multi-instrumentalist from California who has achieved a significant following on guitar through her solo work and as a member of the "math rock" band Covet. Yvette started learning piano at the age of 4 but the classical music world was not a good fit. She describes it as being "too competitive" and there being too much pressure to perform and audition. In this Episode of the Pianote Podcast, Lisa & Yvette chat about Yvette's tumultuous journey with the piano as well as the healing powers of music.

Synthesizers are sensational! Our friend Truman (aka MR TUNA) is a master of synthesis and sound design. In fact, synths are what got him excited to play the piano in the first place! In this episode of the Pianote Podcast, Truman and Lisa dive into the wonderful world of synths using the new Roland Jupiter-X. We'll talk sounds, synthesis, and exploration with this very cool piece of gear.

In Episode 11 of the Pianote Podcast, Lisa talks about her struggle with imposter syndrome. If you've ever felt like you aren't good, have hesitated to share your music because you felt like you didn't belong or have a place in the musical community, this episode is for you! Spoiler alert - you aren't alone.

Let's talk about classical piano! In this episode, Lisa chats with Pianote instructor Cassi Falk about her passion for classical piano. From the various eras of classical music, to their favorite composers, this episode will teach you something new, make you laugh, and hopefully inspire you to go play (or listen to) some classical music!

I've always been a bit jealous of drummers and their ability to feel and understand rhythm. I've learned a lot about rhythm over the years I've played piano but I've really struggled to fully embrace and understand it the way I want to. Recently, Sam posted about her experiences with rhythm as a classical piano player versus her experiences with rhythm as a drummer. After seeing her post I just knew I needed to talk to her more about this and share her insights with the Pianote community, which is exactly how this episode of the Pianote Podcast came to be!

If you love music, chances are you had some influences in your life that helped you to develop your musical taste and style! In this episode, I dive into my musical influences and how they helped shape me into the musician I am today!

Meet my sister Eleny! We are complete opposites in so many ways, including how we learn and enjoy the piano. Get ready for some fun sibling banter in this episode!

Sam Vesely is our community manager here at Pianote and is fresh out of Jazz piano school! He's got some great stories to share with us along with some spicy discussion on whether or not it actually makes sense to get a music degree.

The first time I met Mel I was blown away with his ability to read and play music. I'm quite certain there isn't a piece you could give him that he couldn't play. Not only is he an amazing sight reader, but also loves music and has been a professional musician for over 55 years. So of course I began to wonder, "How often does he practice? How does he keep his love of music alive? What kinds of stories does he have from his travels around the world?" So obviously, I invited him to come have a chat with me on the podcast. This one is a real treat folks, and with a beautiful performance at the end you won't want to miss!

Regardless of how much time goes by since Pianote's inception, Jared Falk and Lisa Witt are names that will forever be etched in its history as some of its most influential. After achieving great success within the world of online drum education with Drumeo, Jared founded Pianote with the same core values that made Drumeo such an awesome place to teach at and learn from: create the best and safest place to learn piano online in a fun and exciting way. Lisa was brought in to operate Pianote and help make this dream a reality. As you can imagine, while growing Pianote together, they amassed a great deal of cool stories and experiences that they will share with you in this episode. From discussing the past and future of Pianote, to exploring the value of creativity, the importance and difference between online and private education, no stone is left unturned.

In this episode, I share my most horrifying piano moments. I also share some of yours too because this episode was a team effort. The moral of the story? We all have a story. We all have those moments where we may have felt embarrassed, incapable, terrified, forgotten our music ... the list goes on. Talking about these experiences helps us know we aren't alone, and gives us an opportunity to support each other along the way.

I think it is safe to say that we all have a love-hate relationship with practicing the piano. I know that I used to hate practicing, and it has taken me nearly a lifetime to develop good practice habits. This episode focuses on how to set yourself up for success when it comes to practicing so you can achieve your goals and play the music you love!

Welcome to the very first Pianote podcast! In this episode, I've decided to share my musical story with you. I'm going to take you back to my first piano lesson, where throwing my piano books in frustration happened more often then I'd like to admit. Consider this a warning because you're going to hear it all! The reason I want to share my Piano story is because I believe that sharing our stories is a crucial part of building a community: it helps us realize we aren't alone. And building community is exactly what I hope to accomplish with this podcast. I would love to hear your stories, so please feel free to share in the comments below. I hope you enjoy! Thanks for listening!