Best Jennifer Rosenfeld Podcasts (2025)

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How to Develop the Habit of Practicing 17:29

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3d ago17:29

17:29

Every musician knows that daily practice is essential to progress. But what if you're not practicing often enough because you've never developed the habit of practicing daily? This episode will help you develop this most important habit for any musician! Musicianship Mastery is formerly known as The Musician Toolkit. Let me know your thoughts on th…

1
Improve Your Reps! Why Your Practice Isn't Leading to Better Progress 13:52

11d ago13:52

13:52

Showing up regularly and putting in the work is important, but your "reps" aren't enough on their own. Listen to this episode to help you evaluate and improve the quality of your practice. Musicianship Mastery is formerly known as The Musician Toolkit. Let me know your thoughts on this episode as a voice message to possibly share on a future episod…

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Lyadov or Stravinsky: How to Be Ready for Opportunity 26:11

18d ago26:11

26:11

Igor Stravinsky regularly gets mentioned among the 20th century's greatest composers. Anatoly Lyadov requires some digging to find much of his music. The story that links the composers Lyadov and Stravinsky is one of several great examples of opportunity, and how you can either be ready for it or not. This episode explores their story along with a …

1
Miriam Toews Reads Raymond Carver 1:02:05

24d ago1:02:05

1:02:05

Miriam Toews joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “Elephant,” by Raymond Carver, which was published in The New Yorker in 1986. Toews has published ten books, including the novels “A Complicated Kindness,” which won the Governor General’s Award for Fiction; “All My Puny Sorrows,” “Women Talking,” and “Fight Night”—and the memoir “A Truce That…

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Technique Through Repertoire (with Christopher Madden) 37:34

25d ago37:34

37:34

This episode focuses on pianists but applies to all instrumentalists. We explore what technique actually is and isn't, and a practical way to get better at it. My guest, Dr. Christopher Madden, is co-author along with Jani Parsons of "Technique Through Repertoire" vol. 1 and 2 for intermediate pianists. Musicianship Mastery is formerly known as The…

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How to Hear Music While Reading the Score 22:06

1M ago22:06

22:06

A very handy skill for any musician to develop is the ability to look at written sheet music and "hear" what it sounds like in your head. It's a skill that takes time, but this episode will outline all the steps you can take to develop this ability. Musicianship Mastery is formerly known as The Musician Toolkit. Let me know your thoughts on this ep…

1
What Happens as a Musician When You Start Saying No 19:57

1M ago19:57

19:57

One of the biggest things that musicians do in all levels, but especially professionals, is say "yes" way too much. There's a time to say "yes" a lot, and I describe that in this episode. However, being strategic and limited with your "yes" while saying "no" to everything else is what allows for growth and focus. In this episode, you can learn of 8…

1
Embracing the Art of Music (with Jennifer Rosenfeld) 41:25

2M ago41:25

41:25

If you're a professional musician, it can be hard to separate the idea that there's this part of your schedule where you make music just for YOU. It might be music you're composing, or an ambitious piece you're learning to play. You might make your income as a musician and you might have a career that has nothing to do with music. Regardless, you c…

1
Advanced Projects from Listening to Just One Piece 10:02

2M ago10:02

10:02

Analytical Listening is one of the most important skills for any musician. Take it to the next level by implementing any 1 of these 5 advanced projects while listening to just one piece of music. Other Episodes mentioned: 20 Questions to Help You Get More Out of Listening Scales, Modes, and How to Use Them Musicianship Mastery is formerly known as …

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Adam Levin Reads David Foster Wallace 1:06:21

2M ago1:06:21

1:06:21

Adam Levin joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “Backbone,” by David Foster Wallace, which was published in The New Yorker in 2011. Levin, a winner of the New York Public Library’s Young Lions Fiction Award, is the author of the story collection “Hot Pink” and the novels “The Instructions,” “Bubblegum,” and “Mount Chicago.” Learn about your a…

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Why You're Not Making Progress on Your Instrument, and How to Fix It 24:20

2M ago24:20

24:20

If you think you're practicing well but still not making progress in your musical skill, here are 10 possible reasons and their solutions. Musicianship Mastery is formerly known as The Musician Toolkit. Let me know your thoughts on this episode as a voice message to possibly share on a future episode at https://www.speakpipe.com/MusicianToolkit If …

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Embracing Joy in Making Music (with Eric Branner) 1:03:08

2M ago1:03:08

1:03:08

This episode is a broad conversation between friends, but centers around the topics of finding joy in your growth as a musician, time management, practice and mindset, as well as what it means to be a human artist in the digital age. We also have some talk for those getting started with teaching. Eric Branner is the CEO of Fons, a platform for musi…

1
What Musicianship Is and How to Develop It 19:26

2M ago19:26

19:26

What is musicianship? Specifically, what does it mean when we say someone has "good musicianship"? This episode explores the question while reviewing all of the musicianship tools that inspired this podcast in the first place. Musicianship Mastery is formerly known as The Musician Toolkit. Let me know your thoughts on this episode as a voice messag…

1
Designing Your Musical Life for Success as a Working Musician 30:37

3M ago30:37

30:37

With so many ways to express yourself as a musician, it can be hard to know how to get started. If you'd like to become a working musician, either part-time or full-time, this episode goes over some of your options and presents a strategy for how to build your musical life. Musicianship Mastery is formerly known as The Musician Toolkit. Let me know…

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Karen Russell Reads Louise Erdrich 49:19

3M ago49:19

49:19

Karen Russell joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “The Stone,” by Louise Erdrich, which was published in The New Yorker in 2019. Russell is the author of six books of fiction, including the story collections “Vampires in the Lemon Grove” and “Orange World and Other Stories” and the novels “Swamplandia!,” which was a finalist for the Pulitzer…

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Succeeding in Music While Living With Chronic Illness (with Jastin Artis) 43:58

3M ago43:58

43:58

Practicing well is hard to do every day just because of the mental focus and discipline it requires. How much more difficult is it when you add a physical challenge like chronic pain or other illness? Jastin Artis was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2019, and had to learn how to function before he could eventually thrive. He shares here his tactics …

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Building Your Staircase of Musical Goals 9:39

3M ago9:39

9:39

4 episodes prior to this episode, I talked about creating a 5-year plan as a musician. Although we touched on how to take that backwards into shorter-term goals, this is a follow-up to focus on exactly how to think backwards so that you can build your staircase of musical goals that starts with the very first step: today! Featured episode mentioned…

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When Should You Prioritize Your Musical Technique? 13:58

3M ago13:58

13:58

This is a topic that many of my piano teacher colleagues might disagree. Some teachers believe that mastering technique is a prerequisite for playing any level of repertoire. I have a different opinion about the importance or at least the prioritization of technique, and explain why in this episode. Musicianship Mastery is formerly known as The Mus…

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The Craft of Music Composition (with Tony Steve) 54:04

4M ago54:04

54:04

Composing music is something that you can practice and improve in the same way you can with your instrument. In this episode, Dr. Tony Steve and I chat about music composition as a craft, the idea of compositional templates, the importance of limitations, mastering idioms, counterpoint, and how you can use exercises to improve. Follow Tony at https…

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Victor Lodato Reads Denis Johnson 1:30:37

4M ago1:30:37

1:30:37

Victor Lodato joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “The Largesse of the Sea Maiden,” by Denis Johnson, which was published in The New Yorker in 2014. Lodato is a playwright and the author of the novels “Edgar and Lucy,” “Mathilda Savitch,” the winner of the PEN USA Award for fiction, and “Honey,” which came out in 2024. He has been publishing…

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How to Analyze Music Before Practicing 11:48

4M ago11:48

11:48

Good practice isn't aimless, but involves a plan. This episode talks about how you can analyze your music before you begin practicing so that you can be most efficient in your learning. Musicianship Mastery is formerly known as The Musician Toolkit. Let me know your thoughts on this episode as a voice message to possibly share on a future episode a…

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What's Your 5 Year Plan as a Musician? 23:05

4M ago23:05

23:05

We've recently discussed the importance of quarterly goals, but are those goals feeding into a longer term vision? How do you see yourself as a musician in 5 years, and how do you get there from here? This episode offers some prompts to help build your long term musical goals, and how this connects to your shorter term goals. Episode mentioned: htt…

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Enjoying a Successful Music Career in Theme Parks (with Doug Minerd) 35:11

4M ago35:11

35:11

For more than 30 years, Doug Minerd has found a place to use and further develop his skills in composing and arranging, lead rehearsals, and unlike a lot of similar musicians...engage with a wide variety of people in collaboration. He's done this while working up to the executive office at places like Cedar Point, Busch Gardens, Sesame Place, and S…

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Switching from Finale to Dorico: My Early Journey 18:13

5M ago18:13

18:13

As one of many thousands of users of Finale, I was floored by the news last year that they were no longer continuing their legendary notation software. I've chosen to begin learning Dorico. It's slow going, but I wanted to share my experiences so far as a beginner, and what I'd recommend to get the most out of the program. Also check out the previo…

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The Four Core Performance Skills: Integrating in Practice 11:04

5M ago11:04

11:04

After nearly a year, this podcast returns to the four core performance skills. These are the skills that will equip you as a performer for absolutely any situation. This episode shares how you can combine 2 or 3 at once into your practice time. If you missed it, check out the previous episodes in this series: The Four Core Skills Part 1: An Overvie…

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Lauren Groff Reads Elizabeth Hardwick 1:12:03

5M ago1:12:03

1:12:03

Lauren Groff joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “The Faithful,” by Elizabeth Hardwick, which was published in The New Yorker in 1979. Groff’s works of fiction include the novels “Fates and Furies” and “Matrix,” both of which were finalists for the National Book Award, and “The Vaster Wilds,” which was published in 2023. A new story collecti…

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How to Play Music Confidently in Public (with Michelle Wachter) 56:57

5M ago56:57

56:57

Whether you find the thought of playing in front of people to be paralyzing or if you just get nervous when someone else is listening and don't play as well as you think you should, this episode is for you! Dr. Michelle Wachter, a piano teacher and executive director of the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra, shares her 3 stage strategy for how to unders…

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10 Encouragements for Music Students 12:39

5M ago12:39

12:39

If you're studying music and feeling discouraged, this episode is for you! Here are 10 encouragements to help you accept where you are and keep going in your own way as a musician. Musicianship Mastery is formerly known as The Musician Toolkit. Let me know your thoughts on this episode as a voice message to possibly share on a future episode at htt…

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20 Questions to Help You Get More Out of Listening to Music 20:24

6M ago20:24

20:24

The ability to listen to music well, analytically, is a crucial skill for any good musician to develop. Analytical listening is quite a bit different than just putting on music in the background. One of the keys to success is simply asking the right questions and taking note of the answers. Here are 20 questions to can ask while listening to a piec…

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Developing a Well Rounded Voice (with Thao Nguyen) 46:44

6M ago46:44

46:44

Being comfortable with singing is a tool that every musician should have, even instrumentalists. It's also worth exploring all the things the voice can do to come up with your own personal sound that doesn't necessarily have to blend with everyone else. Thao Nguyen, voice teacher and actor, helps us understand how to explore this instrument you car…

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Souvankham Thammavongsa Reads Samanta Schweblin 48:30

6M ago48:30

48:30

Souvankham Thammavongsa joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “The Size of Things,” by Samanta Schweblin (translated, from the Spanish, by Megan McDowell), which was published in The New Yorker in 2017. Thammavongsa is a Laotian Canadian writer. Her publications include the poetry collections “Light” and “Cluster” and the story collection “How…

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Musician Tools You Should Learn That Have Nothing to Do With Your Instrument 18:51

6M ago18:51

18:51

This episode offers 6 minor musician tools to add to the original 21, some specific things that will make you a more well-rounded and capable musician! Musicianship Mastery is formerly known as The Musician Toolkit. Let me know your thoughts on this episode as a voice message to possibly share on a future episode at https://www.speakpipe.com/Musici…

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Practice: It's All About the Brain! 29:32

6M ago29:32

29:32

The hands don't play on their own and the voice doesn't sing on its own. It just seems that way if you've practiced well. The brain is always in control whether you're aware of it or not. To practice well, you need to understand how the brain works, and how to improve it. This episode offers ways to optimize the power of the brain while practicing …

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Wellness and Mindfulness for Musicians (with Lisa Joy Glassman) 1:01:41

6M ago1:01:41

1:01:41

This is an important topic for all musicians that many may not be willing to admit. Whether it's being inside a lot, sitting down a lot, or having imbalances in the body due to performance posture, it's important to take practice time for wellness and mindfulness. In this episode, learn about integrating good habits as practice, the powerful but si…

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Compose Music Like a Chef: The Secret to Originality 24:00

7M ago24:00

24:00

Something I teach to all composition students is the idea of a compositional pantry and creating music like a chef. In this episode, I'll share what's in my pantry and how to use it as an example of how you can develop your own voice as a composer and write music that fits you to a tee! Musicianship Mastery is formerly known as The Musician Toolkit…

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Dealing with FOMO as a Musician 39:11

7M ago39:11

39:11

The fear of missing out (FOMO) comes in 2 forms for a musician. The first is social and live events that you're not able to do because of rehearsal and performance. The other is not using all the skills you practiced because there isn't enough time to achieve a professional goal on all of them. Saying I CAN do this, I'm good at this, and even to a …

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Edwidge Danticat Reads Zadie Smith 44:06

7M ago44:06

44:06

Edwidge Danticat joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “Two Men Arrive in a Village,” by Zadie Smith, which was published in The New Yorker in 2016. Danticat, a MacArthur Fellow and a winner of the Vilcek Prize in Literature, has published six books of fiction, including “Breath, Eyes, Memory,” “The Farming of Bones,” “Claire of the Sea Light,…

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Embracing Technology for Learning Music (with Sam Reti) 1:12:10

7M ago1:12:10

1:12:10

Let's talk about making use of apps and other technology to help your growth as a musician. We talk about the explorer's mindset needed to embrace technology rather than fearing it. We then dive into categories such as practice apps, metronome apps, assessment tools, and a few others. The featured guest is Sam Reti, who teaches guitar and also uses…

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What I Got Wrong About Quarterly Goals 22:59

7M ago22:59

22:59

Way back on Episode 27, I talked about the power of having quarterly goals. Since then, I've spent over a year in an accountability group centered around quarterly goals, and have gained more clarity on what works and what doesn't. This is a revised look at one of the most powerful ways to keep succeeding at anything. Previous episode on this topic…

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Getting Beyond the Sight Reading Mode 30:46

8M ago30:46

30:46

Sight reading is the first time you play through a piece of music, but the "sight reading mode" can last for a long time. The sight reading mode is the stage where you feel like your eyes have to stay glued to the sheet music for nearly every performance second because your mind and body has no real familiarity with the music. It's not that you're …

1
Developing Your Accompanying and Collaboration Skills (with Rachel Ehring) 59:51

8M ago59:51

59:51

Playing your instrument while following other musicians is an art, and one of the essential tools of musicianship. Dr. Rachel Ehring chats with me in this episode about why this is a good skill to learn, the challenges unique to collaborating, and how this opens the doors to opportunities for both amateurs and professionals. Links for this Episode …

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Yiyun Li Reads William Trevor 1:11:01

8M ago1:11:01

1:11:01

Yiyun Li joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “The Piano Tuner’s Wives,” by William Trevor, which was published in The New Yorker in 1995. Li has published eight books of fiction, including the novels “Must I Go” and “Book of Goose,” a winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction, and the story collection “Wednesday’s Child,” which was a fina…

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Why You Should Memorize Everything 22:40

8M ago22:40

22:40

Some classical musicians have severe anxiety about playing from memory, and others just want to avoid it, but this episode offers 9 reasons why memorizing everything you ever practice is actually a solution to that and more! Click here for the episode on HOW to memorize music: https://www.davidlanemusic.com/toolkit/episode/791a00c3/tactics-for-memo…

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The Practice Pyramid: What Matters Most When Practicing Music 30:59

8M ago30:59

30:59

The most common question I get from students and their parents when they ask about practice is: "how many minutes should I be practicing?". This isn't the first question they should ask. To get the most out of your practice, you need to work on 3 habits in a specific order to set a good foundation. This episode introduces the Practice Pyramid to he…

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Championing New Music and Working Internationally (with Michael Hall) 1:02:39

9M ago1:02:39

1:02:39

Michael Hall is a Chicago-based violist who is an international soloist, clinician, and artistic director. He has carved a career for himself with a zeal for living composers and new music, as well as his work with musicians around the globe, including as artistic director for the Bandung Philharmonic Orchestra in Indonesia. His passion is infectio…

1
Why You Should Go To Summer Music Camp 14:52

9M ago14:52

14:52

If you haven't yet graduated from school, you should seize the opportunity THIS SUMMER to go to camp. You'll grow as a musician in ways you probably haven't yet imagined. After listening, click here to find a summer music camp: https://www.musicalamerica.com/pages/?pagename=camps2025&header Musicianship Mastery is formerly known as The Musician Too…

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David Wright Faladé Reads Madeleine Thien 1:16:54

9M ago1:16:54

1:16:54

David Wright Faladé joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “Lu, Reshaping,” by Madeleine Thien, which was published in The New Yorker in 2021. Falade is the author of the novels “Black Cloud Rising” and “The New Internationals,” and the nonfiction work “Fire on the Beach: Recovering the Lost Story of Richard Etheridge and the Pea Island Lifesav…

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Why You Should Play in Band or Orchestra 19:52

9M ago19:52

19:52

If you or your child is looking ahead to starting middle school, you likely have the opportunity to sign up for band or orchestra, and you absolutely should!! An instrumental ensemble offers many benefits that you cannot get in private lessons, and a different set of benefits from singing in a chorus. And if you're older, even an adult, there are o…

1
When an Adult Beginner REALLY Commits (with Reid Harrison) 48:50

9M ago48:50

48:50

If you're an adult music student, this episode is for you! Reid Harrison is an engineer who decided to take up piano at the age of 48, and was able to apply his engineering skills in a way to help him become a solid intermediate to upper immediate pianist in 4 years. In this episode, you'll learn about the powerful role of a practice journal (or sp…

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How Teaching Music Improved My Own Musicianship 24:41

10M ago24:41

24:41

This year marks 25 years since I started teaching piano, composition, theory, and (for a while) French horn. There's a lot I've appreciated about being a teacher, but one of the benefits is that it made me a better musician! In this episode, I share what I've learned about being a teacher and how I've benefitted in my own playing and understanding …