The Piano Pod - a global hub for innovation, education, and connection in classical piano music
Yukimi Song
...where tradition meets innovation. Together, we bring PIANO into the FUTURE.a global hub for innovation, education, and connection in classical piano musicHey...
Season 5 Episode 13: Composing with Humanity – Nimrod Borenstein on Music, Expression & Legacy
In this episode of The Piano Pod, I had the pleasure of speaking with Nimrod Borenstein—acclaimed composer and conductor—about his remarkable journey in music. From his early days as a violinist to becoming one of today’s most celebrated composers, Nimrod shares his artistic philosophy, the evolution of his piano works, and the influences that have shaped his unique voice.We dive deep into his signature piano works, including Reminiscences of Childhood and his 24 Études, explore the inspiration behind his Shirim collection, and discuss his collaborations with legendary musicians like Vladimir Ashkenazy. His insights into the challenges of composing for piano, the storytelling power of music, and his artistic legacy make this an episode you won’t want to miss!IN THIS EPISODE:🔹 Defining artistry, mission, and passion 🔹 The piano as a powerful medium of expression 🔹 Signature piano works: Reminiscences of Childhood & Études 🔹 Shirim: Bringing sophisticated music to all pianists 🔹 The making of Borenstein’s Piano Concerto 🔹 His greatest influence: His father, painter Alec Borenstein 🔹 Collaborating with Vladimir Ashkenazy 🔹 Legacy, storytelling, and the composer’s role todayAll the pieces mentioned in the episode are listed in this playlist.💬 What does music mean to you? How do you connect with a composer’s storytelling? Let’s discuss in the comments!🔔 Subscribe & hit the notification bell so you don’t miss out on more inspiring conversations with the world’s leading musicians.[The Piano Pod]💖 Subscribe TPP on Substack to support our work!🎗️ Support Our Work by a donation
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2:03:26
Official Trailer ✅ for Season 5 Episode 13, "Composing with Humanity"
Here is the trailer of our upcoming episode feat. Nimrod Borenstein. In this episode of The Piano Pod, I had the pleasure of speaking with Nimrod Borenstein—acclaimed composer and conductor—about his remarkable journey in music. From his early days as a violinist to becoming one of today’s most celebrated composers, Nimrod shares his artistic philosophy, the evolution of his piano works, and the influences that have shaped his unique voice.We dive deep into his signature piano works, including Reminiscences of Childhood and his 24 Études, explore the inspiration behind his Shirim collection, and discuss his collaborations with legendary musicians like Vladimir Ashkenazy. His insights into the challenges of composing for piano, the storytelling power of music, and his artistic legacy make this an episode you won’t want to miss!IN THIS EPISODE:🔹 Defining artistry, mission, and passion 🔹 The piano as a powerful medium of expression 🔹 Signature piano works: Reminiscences of Childhood & Études 🔹 Shirim: Bringing sophisticated music to all pianists 🔹 The making of Borenstein’s Piano Concerto 🔹 His greatest influence: His father, painter Alec Borenstein 🔹 Collaborating with Vladimir Ashkenazy 🔹 Legacy, storytelling, and the composer’s role todayCheck out Nimrod’s solo piano and orchestral works on YouTube:Nimrod Borenstein - Prayer to the Moon (overture) Nimrod Borenstein: OstinatoÉtude opus 66 No. 1 World premiere with Irina LankovaNimrod Borenstein: Baba Yaga Étude performed by Kseniia VokhmianinaClélia Iruzun plays Nimrod Borenstein's Barcarolle💬 What does music mean to you? How do you connect with a composer’s storytelling? Let’s discuss in the comments!📅 Tune in Tuesday, March 11, at 8 PM Eastern Time for the official premiere of this episode on YouTube and all major podcast platforms.[Nimrod Borenstein]🌍 https://www.nimrod-borenstein.com/📺 https://www.youtube.com/@nimrodborensteincomposer
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Season 5 Episode 12: "Blurred Boundaries: Classical Meets Jazz" feat. Ophelia Gordon, Concert Pianist & Recording Artist
📣 This Episode is Brought to You by the New York Piano Group. Find Your Piano Community with the New York Piano Group! 🔗 Learn more 🎶 Can a composer truly belong to both the jazz and classical worlds?In this episode of The Piano Pod, we sit down with concert pianist and recording artist Ophelia Gordon, a leading interpreter of Nikolai Kapustin’s music. Known for her seamless fusion of classical technique with jazz freedom, Ophelia shares her journey of trusting her instincts, finding her voice, and redefining musical boundaries.Topics We Explore:Trusting Yourself – The journey of self-discovery and staying authentic in a field rooted in tradition. Kapustin’s Legacy – The ongoing debate: Is his music jazz or classical? Improvisation & Freedom – How Ophelia brings spontaneity into structured compositions. Musical Identity & Influence – Growing up in a jazz-loving household, training in classical music, and even studying at the BRIT school. Bridging Two Musical Worlds – Creating jazz-style lead sheets for Kapustin’s etudes, inviting improvisation into his structured compositions. Finding Kapustin in a Time of Crisis – How discovering his music became pivotal in her life. Upcoming Album: Between the Lines – Behind the scenes of her all-Kapustin recording, set for release in Fall 2025.Watch exclusive excerpts of Ophelia’s performances of Kapustin’s works throughout the episode!What do you think—is Kapustin more jazz or classical? How do you define authenticity as a musician? Drop your thoughts in the comments![Ophelia Gordon - Pianist, Recording Artist, and Leading Kapustin Interpreter] 📸 Instagram & TikTok: @OpheliaGordon 🌍 Website: OpheliaGordon.com[The Piano Pod]💖 Subscribe for free or unlock exclusive materials with a paid subscription.🎗️ Support Our Work: Make a donation🎵 Subscribe to our Sounds of Inspiration (all the music and piano pieces mentioned during our conversations)Stay Connected:Latest News: https://linktr.ee/thepianopod Website: https://thepianopod.com 📱 Instagram: @thepianopod Facebook: https://facebook.com/ThePianoPodNYC TikTok: @thepianopod #Kapustin #Jazz #ClassicalPiano #Pianists #ClassicalPianists #JazzPianist #MusicIdentity #Improvisation
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Official Trailer ✅: "Blurred Boundaries: Classical Meets Jazz" feat. Ophelia Gordon
I had an incredible conversation with Ophelia Gordon —concert pianist, recording artist, and one of the world’s leading interpreters of Nikolai Kapustin’s music—for Season 5, Episode 12! Ophelia’s artistry defies categorization. She seamlessly blends the rhythmic pulse of jazz with the technical depth of classical music—a rare and extraordinary balance. Her discovery of Kapustin’s music was a pivotal moment, leading her to a composer who, like her, refused to be boxed into a single genre. 💡 How do you bridge two musical worlds that seem at odds? 💡 What does staying authentic in a tradition-bound field really mean? 💡 How can improvisation reshape classical performance? We explore these questions and more in this inspiring episode. What to Expect in This Episode: 🎹 Kapustin’s Legacy – A classical composer with a jazz heart. 🎵 Improvisation & Freedom – Redefining technique and expression. 🎷 The Jazz-Classical Intersection – Breaking down genre barriers. 🔎 Finding Your Artistic Identity – How Ophelia forged her own path. 🎤 Recording & Interpreting Kapustin – Behind the scenes of Between the Lines. 🔥🔥 Read the full blog post and learn more about Ophelia Gordon HERE.For our paid subscribers on Substack, enjoy exclusive early access to this exciting episode on our Substack page on February 24 at 8:00 PM ET—one day before the official release! https://thepianopod.substack.com/subscribe 📅 Premieres Tuesday, Feb 25, at 8:00 PM ET Watch on YouTube → https://youtu.be/VTHMvumdAZE Listen on your favorite podcast platform → https://linktr.ee/ThePianoPodAudio 👏👏 Don’t miss this episode—it’s a deep dive into what it means to be a musician in the 21st century!
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How I Conduct Meaningful Engaging Interviews
🎤 Want to become an excellent interviewer? Here’s how I do it!After conducting countless interviews with world-class musicians, educators, and industry leaders, I’ve developed a system that makes my interviews engaging, insightful, and natural.In this carousel, I’m breaking down my key techniques—from crafting unique questions to keeping the conversation flowing and handling challenges with grace.🔥 Listen this bonus episode and learn: ✔️ How I prepare for interviews without bias ✔️ My approach to active listening & guest engagement ✔️ The secret to asking deep, thought-provoking questions ✔️ How I balance guiding the conversation without overshadowing my guest ✔️ Strategies for making interviews feel like stories—not just Q&A💬 Which of these tips do you want to try in your interviews? Let me know in the comments! 👇📌 Share this episode on your social media!
About The Piano Pod - a global hub for innovation, education, and connection in classical piano music
...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♥️🎹
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