You drink green tea, meditate, and practice yoga. But how do you provide zen for your pets? My Zen Pet is the only podcast with music for dogs and their people, with easy-to-digest short episodes. Cuddle up on the sofa together and get ready to turn down the stress and turn up the Zen when listening to your host, Pet Calming Maestro and Juilliard alum Lisa Spector.
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Lisa Spector Podcasts
The Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast is the show for adult classical pianists wanting to play the classical music of their dreams with joy and ease. Meet your host, Juilliard alum and Piano Ninja, Lisa Spector. She's sharing her treasured tricks honed through years of study with legendary mentors Earl Wild, Leon Fleisher, John Perry and Lillian Kallir. But here's the remarkable part: Lisa's journey to piano mastery was interrupted after an unexpected fall led to seven complicated right-hand fractu ...
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SEASON 2 FINALE: From Practice Frustration to Major Progress!
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9:26Send us a text https://LisaSpector.com/Groundhog Register for the Masterclass. Free through Feb. 7. ⬆️ Welcome to the last episode of Season 2 of the Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast! 🎧✨ In this special episode, I’m taking you inside a YouTube Live Masterclass where we tackled one of the biggest struggles pianists face—feeling stuck in slow progress. If …
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STOP REPEATING MISTAKES: Smarter Practice for Chopin's Revolutionary Étude
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9:50Send us a text https://lisaspector.com/groundhog Is your piano practice is stuck on repeat—practicing the same sections over and over with little to no progress? 🔁 You're not alone! In this episode, I bring you into my live, sold-out performance of Chopin’s Revolutionary Étude and share the smart practice tricks I used to prepare for it. 🎹 Featured…
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Send us a text Free Masterclass on Groundhog Day, Feb. 2nd From Practice Frustration to Major Progress Register here ⬇️ https://LisaSpector.com/groundhog Mastering the art of slow practice is the key to unlocking precision, speed and musical expression in your playing. In this episode, I discuss why slowing down is essential for learning challengin…
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Quick Piano Ninja Tricks for Instant Progress
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13:08Send us a text Welcome to another episode of the Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast! I’m Lisa Spector, here to make your piano practice easier and more effective so you can play and feel like a true piano ninja. In this episode: 🐾 Meet Sundance, my new 1.5-year-old yellow lab who’s bringing joy to my life and recordings! 🔥 Learn about my initiative to supp…
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Two Things I Never Look at in a Music Score—and Why You Shouldn’t Either
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14:26Send us a text Discover why some score markings—like editor's fingering and pedal markings—are better ignored! Join Lisa Spector, your Piano Ninja, as she shares her top tips for choosing efficient, personalized fingering and using the pedal as a "dimmer switch" rather than an on/off button. Learn how to make piano playing easier and more natural, …
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Piano Goals Made Easy: Start 2025 With Smart Practice Habits
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17:12Send us a text 🎹 Welcome to 2025 with the Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast! 🎉 In this special 51st episode, Lisa Spector introduces her new four-legged companion, Sundance, a 17-month-old career-change dog from Guide Dogs for the Blind. Sundance is already learning the art of settling during piano practice! 🐾 Lisa dives into essential strategies for sett…
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Beethoven, Trills and Quick Reflexes: Holiday Harmony In Less than 20 Minutes a Day
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12:07Send us a text In this milestone 50th episode, I share practical Piano Ninja tips to help you make major progress with minimal practice during the holiday season. 🎹 We’re halfway through the free Holiday Harmony Challenge, but there’s still time to join! These quick, 2-minute daily audio prompts will guide you through stress-free and efficient prac…
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Micro Practice for Maximum Progress: Holiday Harmony Tips
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14:34Send us a text Join Lisa Spector, the Piano Ninja, as she explores how focused micro-practice sessions can lead to faster progress at the piano. Inspired by her upcoming 12 Days of Holiday Harmony Challenge (Dec. 12–23), Lisa explains why short, intentional practice is scientifically proven to be more effective—and shares actionable tips for making…
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Holiday Harmony: Focused Practice Tricks for a Stress-Free Season
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35:28Send us a text 🎹 Celebrate International Ninja Day with a Special Episode! 🎹 Feeling the holiday rush? Discover how to create harmony—both at the piano and in your life—through focused, efficient practice sessions. In this YouTube Live episode, Lisa Spector, your Piano Ninja, shares tips to help you maximize your practice time during the busiest se…
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Less Is More: Smart Piano Practice for the Holiday Season
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14:52Send us a text The holiday season is here, and your piano practice time might feel squeezed. But don’t worry! In this episode, Lisa Spector shares actionable tips to help you accomplish more in less time. ✔ Discover how short, focused sessions can transform your playing ✔ Avoid brain fatigue and eliminate poor practice habits ✔ Master essential tec…
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Pattern Recognition: The Fast-Track to Piano Proficiency
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13:05Send us a text https://LisaSpector.com/BlackFridayWaitlist This Black (& White) Friday week, discover the ultimate piano productivity boost. Learn twice as much at half the price! Discover how recognizing patterns in your music can accelerate your learning process exponentially. In this episode, Lisa Spector, Your Piano Ninja, breaks down the impor…
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Send us a text https://LisaSpector/BlackFridayWaitlist Welcome to a special and deeply personal episode of the Piano Ninja Tricks podcast. This week, I’m stepping away from the usual format to remember my beloved black Lab, Gina, who passed away this week at 15 and a half years old. Gina was my agility champion partner, my devoted companion and a f…
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From Amateur to Professional: Piano Tricks for Touch and Timing
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15:27Send us a text Grab my focused practice checklist ⬇️ https://lisaspector.com/practice In this special election-eve episode of the Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast, host Lisa Spector demonstrates the subtle but vital differences that set professional pianists apart from amateurs: inner pulse and touch. Amid the uncertainty and stress of the moment, Lisa s…
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Send us a text Happy Halloween from me and my bumblebee sidekick, Gina! 🐝 🐶 Today’s Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast episode features a quick dive into fast, efficient fingerwork and musical expression. Playing in my bumblebee costume, I perform Rimsky-Korsakov's Flight of the Bumblebee and share tricks to tackle challenging, quick passages. From keeping…
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From Nerves to Piano Ninja: Mindset Tricks for Thriving Under Pressure
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10:19Send us a text 🎉 Season 2 of the Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast is here! I’m Lisa Spector, your Juilliard Alum Piano Ninja, helping adult classical pianists play with more joy and ease. This season, in addition to Piano Ninja Tricks that help your technique and musicianship, we’re also focusing on mindset mastery, because every great performance starts…
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Season Finale: Piano Ninja Tricks for Chopin Nocturne in C minor
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12:55Send us a text In this closing episode of Season 1 of the Piano Ninja Tricks podcast, join your host Lisa Spector, The Piano Ninja, as she shares Piano Ninja Tricks from her recent all-Chopin YouTube Live concert. Lisa shares Chopin's Nocturne in C Minor, Op. 48 No. 1 as performed in her recent All Chopin program on YouTube Live. WATCH THE FULL CHO…
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My Favorite Chopin in Memory of My Mom Sunday night on YouTube Live
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6:37Send us a text Quick bonus episode to invite you to My Favorite Chopin Sunday night on YouTube Live in memory of my mom. https://www.youtube.com/live/E92z-cyEgWM Add to your calendar of choice here. 👍 Sunday, August 4 TIME 5 pm PT / 8 pm ET My mother and I shared a deep love for the music of Chopin. In Trudy's memory, you're invited to "MY FAVORITE…
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From Velvet Keys to Lightning Fingers: The Tricks of Piano Touch
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9:54Send us a text Welcome to the 40th episode of the Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast! This episode is all about the tricks of touch. Play into the keys? Pull up the keys? When? Why? How? Learn the art of touch and knowing when, why and how to apply specific touches can make you sound like a Piano Ninja! Join me as I prepare to perform My Favorite Chopin in…
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BEHIND THE SCENES: Practicing for My All-Chopin Performance on YouTube Live
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8:58Send us a text This week, I’m sharing my preparations for an upcoming all-Chopin concert on YouTube Live, happening Sunday night, July 28th. Etudes, nocturnes, scherzi and mazurkas... oh my! https://www.youtube.com/live/E92z-cyEgWM I’ll also demonstrate the more subtle use of my Quick Reflex Motion Trick with Chopin’s Ocean Etude, showing you how t…
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Effortless Practice: Merging Piano Ninja Tricks
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17:20Send us a text In this episode of the Piano Ninja Tricks podcast, Lisa Spector shares her latest adventures in the world of piano. Lisa talks about her recent YouTube Live performances, including a special American music concert featuring works by Gershwin, Earl Wilde, Zach Gulaboff Davis and Amy Beach. She introduces her new YouTube Live series, "…
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Celebrating American Composer Amy Beach: Tricks for Soft Inner Voices
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19:37Send us a text Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast https://LisaSpector.com As we celebrate the July 4th holiday week, I invite you to join me for a special YouTube Live event, "Red, White, and Rhapsody in Blue," on Sunday night. I'll be playing Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, the enchanting Dreaming of Amy Beach, and virtuoso etudes by my Juilliard professor E…
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TURNING TRAUMA INTO TRIUMPH: The birth of Piano Ninja Tricks
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13:19Send us a text Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast https://LisaSpector.com In this heartfelt episode of the Piano Ninja Tricks podcast, Lisa Spector reflects on the significance of June 27th, 2017 in her life — both the worst and best day. She shares her journey of overcoming a severe hand injury, her transformative experience with recovery, and how it led …
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Send us a text Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast https://ChopinDemo.LisaSpector.com This week has been exhilarating as I hosted a Chopin Ninja Tricks masterclass for the Piano Ninja Tricksters club and invited guests. If you missed it, don't worry! You can still access the replay for a limited time by registering for free. https://ChopinDemo.LisaSpector.c…
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Chopin Ninja Tricks: Mastering the Art of Interpretation
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10:09Send us a text Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast https://chopindemo.lisaspector.com/ Welcome to another episode of the Piano Ninja Tricks podcast! I'm Lisa Spector, Your Piano Ninja, here to make everything easier for you at the piano. This episode is all about Chopin, and I'm eager to share some of my special "Chopin Ninja Tricks" with you. Whether you'r…
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🎉 Gina's 15th Birthday Bash: A Special Episode with Music for Dogs 🐾
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12:39Send us a text Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast In this special episode of the Piano Ninja Tricks podcast, Lisa Spector dons her "dog clothes" to celebrate a milestone birthday for her beloved Labrador, Gina, who's celebrating her 15th birthday today! Also known as the Pet Calming Maestro, Lisa shares her unique journey of recording music for canine anxi…
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Turn 20 Minutes Into an Hour's Worth of Piano Progress
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10:01Send us a text Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast https://lisaspector.com/practice In this episode of the Piano Ninja Tricks podcast, Lisa Spector shares her secrets to turning a 20-minute practice session into an hour's worth of productivity. Learn how intentional, focused practice can help you achieve more in less time, avoid poor practice habits and enh…
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PIANO NINJA MINDSET TRICK: Stay In Your Own Lane
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8:46Send us a text Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast https://lisaspector.com/piano-ninja-m... In episode 31 of the Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast, Lisa Spector discusses the importance of staying in your own lane. Don't compare yourself to other pianists and don't compare yourself to who you used to be. Deeply listening to the music you're playing helps you stay …
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Send us a text Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast https://LisaSpector.com In this episode of the Piano Ninja Tricks podcast, Lisa Spector, Your Piano Ninja, shares practical piano techniques to help you become a piano ninja. Lisa discusses her upcoming Chopin masterclass series starting in the first week of June. Sign up at PianoNinjaTricks.com to receive …
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NURTURING THE SOUL: Music for Mental Health
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15:02Send us a text Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast https://LisaSpector.com In this special episode of the Piano Ninja Tricks podcast, host Lisa Spector takes a departure from her usual piano teachings to share a deeply personal and touching experience. Donning her pajamas instead of her ninja outfit, Lisa opens up about her journey through grief during Nati…
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FROM INJURY TO INSPIRATION: Relearning Prokofiev 2nd Cadenza in 10 Days
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12:02Send us a text Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast https://LisaSpector.com/Prokofiev Join Lisa Spector on a transformative 10-day challenge as she navigates the complexities of Prokofiev's cadenza, offering practical tips and demonstrating the art of efficient practice with her Piano Ninja Tricks. In this episode, she's playing the final version at Day 10. …
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The Benefits of Creating Smart Piano Practice Habits
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17:21Send us a text Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast https://LisaSpector.com In this episode of the Piano Ninja Tricks podcast, Lisa Spector shares the importance of cultivating smart practice habits to achieve piano success. Drawing from her own experiences and expertise, she highlights the transformative power of practicing smart, making everything from lea…
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Master Your Mindset, Master Your Piano Playing
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6:02Send us a text https://lisaspector.com/pianotricks/ Welcome to another episode of the Piano Ninja Tricks podcast with your host Lisa Spector. In this episode, Lisa shares highlights from her recent virtual Piano Ninja Tricks Mini-Course, recorded on World Piano Day. Lisa reflects on the importance of mindset in piano playing and offers valuable ins…
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Send us a text Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast https://lisaspector.com/ Welcome to Episode 25 of the Piano and Tricks Podcast! In this episode, your host Lisa Spector, aka the Piano Ninja, delves into the fascinating world of piano pedaling just in time for World Piano Day.... the 88th day of the year, March 28, 2024. Lisa begins by recounting a persona…
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UNVEILING SCHUMANN: Piano Voicing Tricks Revealed
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11:26Send us a text Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast https://lisaspector.com/pianotricks/ Register for the World Piano Day Celebration starting on March 28th! A Live Virtual Piano Ninja Tricks Mini-Course ending with a finale Concert on March 31 for one and two hands. Join host Lisa Spector as she unveils the intricacies of voicing in the stunning "Kind im Ei…
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Send us a text Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast https://LisaSpector.com Scales should be fun, practice that inspires you to listen. Various techniques are demonstrated to spice up your practice routine. From dynamic variations to exploring different intervals, Lisa provides a roadmap for transforming scales from mundane exercises into captivating musical…
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LEAP WITH CONFIDENCE: Perfecting Piano Jumps
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11:32Send us a text Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast https://LisaSpector.com/leapmasterclass Join me for an exciting episode as we gear up for Leap Day! In this episode, I'll be sharing all the details about the upcoming Piano Ninja Leaping Masterclass happening on Thursday, February 29th. Get ready to revolutionize your piano playing with my exclusive leapin…
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Send us a text Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast https://LisaSpector/leap Get my new free crazy leaping video. ⬆️ Learn to LEAP EFFICIENTLYwith 100% accuracy while using minimal movement. Welcome back to another episode of the Piano Ninja Tricks podcast with your host, Lisa Spector. She's back to share her insights and experiences from her healing journe…
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Efficiency in Motion: Conquering "The Man I Love" Left-Handed
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21:50Send us a text Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast https://lisaspector.com/ In Episode 20 of the Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast, Lisa Spector, your dedicated Piano Ninja, unveils the secrets behind mastering Gershwin's "The Man I Love," brilliantly arranged into a virtuoso etude for left hand by her Juilliard professor Earl Wild. Join Lisa on this musical journ…
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From Complexity to Clarity: Turning Notes Into Music
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11:56Send us a text Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast https://LisaSpector.com In Episode 19 of the Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast, join Lisa Specter, your piano ninja guide, as she dives into the art of turning notes into music. While navigating the complexities of challenging Godowsky works for left hand only, Lisa shares valuable insights on making the symphonic…
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Reimagining Chopin: Lisa's Left-Hand Journey Through Godowsky
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10:26Send us a text Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast www.LisaSpector.com In this episode of the Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast, Lisa Spector, Your Piano Ninja, shares her journey of recovering from a shoulder fracture and continuing her musical pursuits with left-hand piano music, particularly the challenging Godowsky transcription of Chopin's Op. 25 No. 1 "Aeoli…
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Send us a text Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast https://lisaspector.com/ In this episode, I share my experience of playing piano with my left hand only due to a recent fracture in her my right humerus shoulder. Despite the challenges, I embark on a project to learn and master the Godowsky transcription of the Strauss Symphonic Metamorphosis, specifically…
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Harmony in One Hand: Mastering Three Voices with Five Fingers 🎹🎶
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19:39Send us a text Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast https://LisaSpector.com In this episode, immerse yourself in the world of musical complexity as we unravel the secrets of playing three distinct voices using just five fingers. I guide you through the enchanting Scriabin Prelude, showcasing the left hand's prowess in delivering a symphony of voices. Dive in…
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Piano in PJs and Nighttime Melodies: A Ninja's Guide to Controlling Soft Notes and Chords
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10:58Send us a text Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast https://LisaSpector.com In episode 15 of the Piano Ninja Tricks podcast, we delve into a commonly overlooked yet essential trick— the speed you press the keys (unrelated to the tempo). Using Satie Gymnopédie No. 1 as an example, discover how the subtle speed adjustments can transform your piano playing into…
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Calming Fireworks Fears: Music and Tips for Your Sound Sensitive Dog
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1:01:13Welcome to a bonus episode of the My Zen Pet podcast, where renowned pet calming maestro Lisa Spector brings you soothing music and expert advice to help your sound-sensitive dogs relax. In this special episode, Lisa guides you through calming techniques and shares invaluable tips on preparing your dogs for the stressful fireworks season. With a ba…
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MASTERING CLARITY: A Piano Ninja Trick for Fast, Clean Passages
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8:07Send us a text Join me in this podcast episode as we explore the secrets to playing fast passages with clarity and precision. I share a Piano Ninja Trick that will help you achieve clean and clear notes, demonstrated through Bach's Chaconne arranged by Brahms for left hand only and Chopin's Revolutionary Etude. This trick, which involves a unique f…
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THE POWER OF SILENCE: Unlocking Tension and Beauty In-Between the Notes
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10:36Send us a text Get your free Piano Nina Tricks, staring with piano ninja fingering at https://Piano Ninja Tricks.com Discover the hidden world between the notes in Episode 13 of the Piano Ninja Tricks Podcast with host Lisa Spector. Dive into the exquisite tension and beauty created by the spaces in music, using Chopin's C Minor Nocturne as a guide…
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Thumb Placement Magic: The Easiest Piano Ninja Trick Revealed
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8:51Send us a text In the latest episode of the Piano Ninja Tricks podcast, your host, Lisa Spector, reveals a game-changing technique to make your piano playing easier and more efficient. This episode, part of the Technique Thursday series, dives into the art of minimizing movement by strategic thumb placement on the keys. Lisa demonstrates how this s…
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Breaking Through: The Resilient Rhapsody of My Hand Injury and Recovery
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19:56Send us a text In this poignant Thanksgiving episode, join me on an intimate journey through the trials, tribulations, and triumphs that defined my piano odyssey. From the unexpected fall that shattered my right hand and soul to the relentless battles with CRPS, the story unfolds with resilience as the central theme. Discover the surprising gifts t…
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Beyond Practice: The Secret to Musical Growth
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8:32Send us a text In this Mindset Monday, get ready for a dose of piano pep talk. Today's topic revolves around a question that often echoes in the minds of musicians: Can you truly enhance your musicality when you're away from your instrument? Learn why stepping away from the piano doesn't mean stepping back from improvement. Discover how life experi…
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Send us a text I get asked all the time, "Lisa, how much should I move my wrists when playing piano?" My answer is always... It all depends! Some music requires your wrist to be completely still, while some requires a lot of movement to support the phrasing and overall musical line. Listen and find out when and where to use wrist motion. Tune in, l…
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