Tuned And Strong Podcast

The Courage to Change

IT’S THE END OF AN ERA!!
 
On the FINAL EPISODE of the Tuned and Strong Podcast, we discuss the courage it takes to make the changes we need in life, and follow the paths that make us truly happy rather than giving in to the pressure of “expectation.”
 
Join us for our final hoorah, as we say goodbye and salute the wonderful experience we have had on this show. We have loved providing content, and hope you have grown as much from listening as we have from creating!

Stories from the Road with Bob Bender

“Music used to have heart and soul, now it’s all technical.”
What is the difference between a craftsman and an artist? Have the performing arts become sterile? Are we too removed from our audiences and each other?
These questions have been well-discussed in the music and performing arts world over the course of the last 50+ years. The introduction of technology and remote performances through performing and broadcasts has spawned many debates, and these debates only intensified with the advent of social media and electronic manipulation of sound.
On this episode of the Tuned and Strong Podcast,  join us as we chat with Bob Bender about his life on the road as a tour manager. He’s got some great “backstage” stories, talking about the health challenges touring musicians face, what’s it’s like to manage musicians, record deals “now and then,” and the modern experience for musicians looking to be discovered for a tour or recording deal!  Bob also has his own podcast “The Business Side of Music”, please go check it out.
This was a special episode as Angela and Bob both live in Nashville so this was recorded in Bob’s podcast studio and Jen joined us via Zoom!

We Don’t Play for Free

Are you tired of hearing that musicians are broke?
I think we all are and it's not an easy solution but one of the things that perpetuates the problem is people expecting musicians to play for free and musicians accepting that. 
Recently a very well-known jewelry designer put out a call for musicians to play in their brand new store. They stated they'll give you a piece of jewelry but no money, you are not allowed to ask for tips nor are you allowed to play original music. 
If that's got your blood boiling you'll want to listen to this entire episode as I break down the issues, the source of the problem, and possible solutions for all of us to get out of this so we can stop having to say “we don't play for free”. Click this LINK to watch the full episode in YouTube.
 
This is actually something I address in my Job Security for Musicians 2-day Intensive Workshop this weekend. If you want to get in on the movement, there's still time to register and get a $500 discount until tomorrow, Wed. July 6!
 
Click HERE to register.
 
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Artist Interest Application Kendra Scott Fifth+Broadway
We are looking for artists to play at our brand new Kendra Scott Fifth+Broadway location. There is a small stage, stool, with 1 mic and 1 guitar plug in.
As a corporate retailer, we are unable to pay for performances, but can gift one piece of Kendra Scott fasion jewelry. Also, as a retailer, we are not permitting performers to collect tips and/or have any mobile payment info displayed (i.e venmo, cashapp). You are welcome to display your own marketing.
We are requesting the artists we invite to play covers of well-known songs to  keep the audience engaged. Starting out, each set will be 12:00-1:45PM, 2:00-3:45PM, 4:00-5:45PM, 6:00-7:45PM.
 

Play Strong, Play Long with Dr Katie Mess

Please let us know if there are any specific topics you'd like us to cover on our next Tuned and Strong Podcast.
 
Downloadable instrument specific workouts on demand:
INSTRUMENT SPECIFIC WORKOUTS
 
Had too long of a break? Not sure where to start?Get a 6 or 12 weekend one for you workout program designed to bring you from out of shape to fit for the stage
JOIN THE COVID COMEBACK CHALLENGE
 
Did you know that up to 93% of musicians experience playing related pain or injury? How many hushed conversations have you had about a lingering “shoulder pain” or weird tingling in your fingers, low back pain, weakness and “crampy weakness” in your extremeties…so many right? This program combines the content of WHAT to do with the knowledge of HOW to do it and the guidance of WHO to seek out when something isn’t working.
JOB SECURITY FOR MUSICIANS

Balance and Burnout Prevention with Kyla Cofer

“Is it normal to feel like you’re fighting against the thing you love??”
Burnout. It’s become a popular buzzword, but what is it really, and how do you know if you’re experiencing it or if you’re just “done” with your passion?
Many musicians throughout many stages of their careers face this feeling, and end up asking the question if we really love what we do “enough.”  Join us for this week’s episode with Kyla Cofer, as she discusses burnout and her experience guiding people through this troubling time!
Follow Kyla on her social media accounts:InstagramFacebook
Also, visit her website

A Musician’s Path Through Focal Dystonia

What happens when a “natural” task suddenly feels “foreign”??
For many musicians struggling with injury, the feeling of “not knowing your own body” is very common. But this feeling is usually even more prominent in those suffering from Focal Dystonia - in which their brain literally switches or crosses signals to the body!
In this episode of the Tuned and Strong Podcast, Dr. Joanna Cowan White shares with us her experience of developing, living with, and recovering from focal dystonia. Join us as she discusses her thoughts, feelings, experiments, and creative outlets during her journey to reclaim her performance abilities!
You can find more about Joanna Cowan White here:Musician’s Focal Dystonia Resources on joannawhiteflute.com  http://www.joannawhiteflute.com/musicians-focal-dystonia.html 
ARTICLE links on that websiteWhite, Joanna Cowan. “Musician’s Focal Dystonia: Strategies, Resources, and Hope”Flutist Quarterly (Journal of the National Flute Association,) pp 26-36. February 2017.White, Joanna Cowan. “Musician’s Focal Dystonia: Annotated Bibliography” Flutist Quarterly Plus. (Online Journal of the National Flute Association.) February 2017.White, Joanna Cowan. “Musician’s Focal Dystonia: Strategies, Resources, and Hope”Pan (British Flute Journal) reprint.
 
Poetry Websitehttps://www.joannawhitepoet.com
Music Websitehttp://www.joannawhiteflute.com
Music and Poetry CD – Poet as Musehttps://www.joannawhitepoet.com/musictext.html
Musician’s Focal Dystonia Resources on http://www.joannawhiteflute.com/http://www.joannawhiteflute.com/musicians-focal-dystonia.html
POEMWhite, Joanna. “Musician’s Focal Dystonia.” Poetry and Medicine Column, Journal of the American Medical Association. May 16, 2017https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2626576
 
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Musician’s Focal Dystonia
It’s the voice of that person comes through the instrument.––Franz Welser-Möst
When dystonia scrambled my brain signals like a viruscorrupts a hard drive, I was sure I could not spend ten-thousand hours retraining my brain to play the flute a new way, but when I heard that a luthier and his son restored the holocaust violins to free their lost voices, I changed my mind. If I am silenced, you would not miss me but the way my vibrato, on the first c# of L’apres midi d’un faune, conjures up a sultry summer afternoon, the way your hips swing when I play a tango, the way you hear whales when I close my lipsaround the mouthpiece to hum Voice of the Whale. The original ten-thousand hours, I will tick in reverse, a feat as tricky as learning to ride a backwards bicycle, until once again I can curve quiet fingers over the keys, whistle my lips to laser the tone down the silver tube, your body ringing in sympathetic vibration.
 

Nutrition for Musicians with Duncan Rock Part-2

“And I’m supposed to eat well during performance season too??”
We’ve all been there - long hours, late nights, and excess stress during a run of performances can make it seem like “survival” is the name of the game. The idea of actually thriving and protecting your health during these times can seem impossible and often farfetched!
Join us as we chat with Duncan Rock - an international baritone, nutritionist, AND registered exercise professional - as he discusses the balance between these seemingly disparate practices, and learn some of the most fundamental ways you can practice good nutrition regardless of your performance schedule!
You can find Duncan Rock at:Websites:
www.duncanrocknutrition.com
http://www.duncanrock.co.uk/ 
Instagram: @duncanrock_nutrition

Nutrition for Musicians with Duncan Rock Part-1

“And I’m supposed to eat well during performance season too??”
We’ve all been there - long hours, late nights, and excess stress during a run of performances can make it seem like “survival” is the name of the game. The idea of actually thriving and protecting your health during these times can seem impossible and often farfetched!
Join us as we chat with Duncan Rock - an international baritone, nutritionist, AND registered exercise professional - as he discusses the balance between these seemingly disparate practices, and learn some of the most fundamental ways you can practice good nutrition regardless of your performance schedule!
You can find Duncan Rock at:Website:
www.duncanrocknutrition.com
http://www.duncanrock.co.uk/ 
Instagram:
@duncanrock_nutrition

Nutrition 101

Keto! Vegan! Macros! Paleo! What does it all mean?!
 
Have you ever wondered what people are talking about when they mention their latest diet? Or what all these terms are when people are discussing nutrition? Don’t worry, we’re here to help!
 
Join us for Episode 64 of the Tuned and Strong Podcast, where we will answer all of your questions on the basics of the most common nutrition terms and types of diets!!
 
And be sure to check out the related articles below!!
 
How to Make Your Own Greek YogurtHow to Figure Out Your MacrosRapid Fat Loss Handbook: Link 1Rapid Fat Loss Handbook: Link 2A Guide to Flexible Dieting
More Blog articles you may find useful:Making Sense of Dieting NonsenseLyle McDonald's Books

Music is Movement

Thank you to Simone Mauer for joining Jen and I on this episode of the Tuned and Strong podcast and the 4th in our series "Interviews with the Performance Health Committee". We are interviewing current members of the National Flute Association Performance Health Committee in this series.
 
As always, please like, share with another musicians and subscribe to the Tuned and Strong podcast wherever you get your podcasts - and if you're enjoying it, please leave us a good review so we can reach more musicians!
 
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Do you ever wish composers know the struggles we experienced while playing their pieces?
You know there are just some of those musical pieces that take a toll on your body? We love them but as in the case of our latest podcast guest, harpist Danielle Kuntz, the piece by Prokofiev she referenced just automatically is understood that you will develop tendonitis by the end of playing it.
Isn't it insane? Don't you wish composers knew how to better write for your instrument?
That's why she created THE TOOLBOX SESSIONS ( And if you hurry you can still register HERE ). It is a 3-day virtual summit designed to give you the tools you need to write for instruments & voices! From May 19-21, you'll get to join 12+ presentations on writing for specific instruments/voices (oboe, voice, harp, percussion, & more), taught by performer-educators who are passionate about collaborating with composers and arrangers. To have a $10 discount type the code TUNEDANDSTRONG22 on registration.