This week Merideth explores how our teachers affect our creative development. She'll offer practical take aways for how to rebound and heal from these interactions when they're painful, including the four people every artist needs in their life.
80: Musical Meditation: How to Love Yourself
79: How to Love Yourself
Merideth offers three practical take-aways for how to love your artist-self well.
78: Musical Meditation: Creative Pep Talk
Self-Coaching Questions:
What action do you need to take this week to find more confidence?
Who can you invite into your process by sharing your experience and vulnerably opening up about your creative life? What might you be missing when you are not letting yourself be fully known?
Look back at a work of art you made that you are really proud of: was there a coda, or a place towards the end where all the strings were tied up together, that may have just appeared out of nowhere? Study your previous process with curiosity not judgment, and notice what magic, synchronicities, or little graces that were offered to you as you worked.
Today’s music is “I. Allegro non troppo” from Brahms Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 73 performed by the Czech National Symphony. Read more about them here.
77: Creative Pep Talk
In celebration of 2 years of podcasting, Merideth reflects on 3 things she's been learning from that practice. Listen to this if you’re feeling stuck and need a little creative pep talk.
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76: Musical Meditation: Who do you create for?
Self-Coaching Questions:
Who are some of “the ones” you have created for in the past? Bring names and faces to mind of those who have shared how much your creative work impacted them. Spend time being grateful for each of them.
Now flip it— think of someone you have been “the one” for. Remember the first time you heard the Nutcracker or encountered a work of art that truly changed everything. What if that artist had given up right before they hit send or said yes? Spend some time being grateful for those artists and those moments in your creative life.
Jonathan Jones said “…art’s story is not a trajectory of ascent, but more of a looping spiral, constantly retracing its steps.” If this is the case, look at your current artistic practice and consider the overlap you share with artists of other times and places. What styles have you learned, borrowed, rediscovered, or made your own? How else are you connected to artists throughout time?
This (and last) week’s music featured Marnie Laird on piano, performing Debussy, Beethoven, and Brahms, as well as a Menuet from a Bach Cello Suite arranged by Cicely Parnas performed by her with Patrick Laird and Christine Lamprea for Brooklyn Classical. Our theme song is by Angela Sheik. All recordings used with permission.
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75: Who do you create for?
However you answer this question may be the key overcoming feelings of discouragement or burn out. I don't know who needs to hear this, but this is for you.
74: Musical Meditation: The Artist's Oath
Reflection Questions:
1. What are some of the challenges that you face in your creative life? How is your current lens serving you?
2. How do want to show up to your creative life? Make a list of adjectives for how you’d like to be.
3. What do you believe to be true about creativity, and how is it springing you forward or holding you back
73: Shifting the Lens--The Artist's Oath
Have you ever considered the code of conduct that’s in play in your creative life? Have you ever taken the time to name and claim the ways you want to be with yourself as you go about your creative life? Merideth shares a story of a coaching client’s breakthrough that was contagious. Plus, learn more about how you can join like-minded artists in community to craft an Artist’s Oath of your own.
72: Musical Meditation: Your Inner Artist Child
Reflection questions:
What are 5 things you love about yourself as a child?
What stories does your inner child believe about your creative life? (e.g. “I can’t draw” or “if I do that, I’ll fail.”)
What would you say if you could have a conversation with your younger self? What advice would you give them? What might your inner child being saying to you today?
This episode features Bach’s Prelude in G Major for Three Cellos, arranged by Cicely Parnas performed by Cicely Parnas, Patrick Laird, and Christine Lamprea, “Vedro con Mio Diletto” from Antonio Vivaldi's 's opera Il Giustino arranged and performed live by Cicely Parnas, cello, with Marnie Laird, piano, and Debussy’s Bruyères all presented by Brooklyn Classical. All recordings used with permission. Learn more and listen online to Brooklyn Classical here.
71: Reparenting Your Inner Artist Child
The Inner Child is an artist. Merideth shares some truths she is learning about parenting and how it speaks deeply to that internal struggle toward healing and acceptance of our own inner artist child.
How can you open the lines of communication with your inner artist and treat them with respect?
What boundaries does your inner artist need to feel safe?
How can you surround yourself with items that your inner artist resonates with and loves?
Art begets art—what do you need to get started?
Are you a safe place for your inner artist child to return home to?
70: Meet an Artist Who: Is Who He Is
This week Merideth interviews someone who makes her inner artist child jump for joy. Pianist Emile Pandolfi's music has been streamed half a billion times across all platforms. His humor, authenticity, and joy radiate through this talk about everything from how to stop judging yourself, to his new book, "Play it Like you Mean it." Available now!
More about Emile:
Emile Pandolfi is a professional pianist and entertainer with over 40 years of performance experience. One of the top-selling pianists in the music industry, he has recorded and released over 30 albums, including one with the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra (Czech Republic). Since his first release in 1991, Emile has sold over 4.5 million copies nationally and reached more than 750 million collective streams online. Throughout his career, Emile has performed hundreds of concerts with thousands of fans in attendance, including performances at St. Mark’s Square in Venice, the Catherine Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, Liverpool Cathedral, and Sydney Opera House in Australia. While intricate arrangements of Broadway and pop standards make up the majority of his performance repertoire, his influences remain more classical than pop. It is his subjective layering of classical style, which he infuses into the broad palette of his performance selections, that continues to resonate with audiences everywhere.
Although serious about his playing, Emile is never serious about himself and believes that every moment at the piano should be one of joy. While his audience is treated to a brilliant musical performance, they are also entertained by Emile’s charming, light-hearted sense of humor and outgoing personality. From his early performances on cruise ships, in piano lounges, and in the recording studio to his current solo performance career in concert halls, Emile has used his music to create an intimate and powerful emotional connection for those listening.
Today, Emile continues to write original songs and arrangements for his fans to stream. He lives in Greenville, South Carolina, with his wife Judy. Learn more at www.emilepandolfi.com.
69: Musical Meditation: Creative Wounds
Reflection Questions:
Who is it safe to remove my bandages with?
Healing takes a lot of energy. What can I say no to or cut back on that would allow me to conserve time and energy for my own healing?
As new soft tissue forms, gently rubbing along a scar can help improve circulation and healing. As your creative wound is healing, what can you do to encourage that process?
When you are triggered by something, what wound is asking for your attention?
Emile Pandolfi is a professional pianist and entertainer with over 40 years of performance experience. One of the top-selling pianists in the music industry, he has recorded and released over 30 albums, including one with the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra (Czech Republic). Since his first release in 1991, Emile has sold over 4.5 million copies nationally and reached more than 750 million collective streams online. Throughout his career, Emile has performed hundreds of concerts with thousands of fans in attendance, including performances at St. Mark’s Square in Venice, the Catherine Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, Liverpool Cathedral, and Sydney Opera House in Australia. While intricate arrangements of Broadway and pop standards make up the majority of his performance repertoire, his influences remain more classical than pop. It is his subjective layering of classical style, which he infuses into the broad palette of his performance selections, that continues to resonate with audiences everywhere.
Although serious about his playing, Emile is never serious about himself and believes that every moment at the piano should be one of joy. While his audience is treated to a brilliant musical performance, they are also entertained by Emile’s charming, light-hearted sense of humor and outgoing personality. From his early performances on cruise ships, in piano lounges, and in the recording studio to his current solo performance career in concert halls, Emile has used his music to create an intimate and powerful emotional connection for those listening.
Today, Emile continues to write original songs and arrangements for his fans to stream. He lives in Greenville, South Carolina, with his wife Judy. Learn more at www.emilepandolfi.com.
68: Creative Wounds
This week on the podcast: creative wounds—the tender spots where we have been hurt or disappointed creatively and how we can heal them. Merideth shares some insights she garnered from her own journey with wound care. A brave creative life can leave a mark, but we aren’t alone in our pursuit of healing and wholeness.
67: Musical Meditation: Give Yourself Permission
As you listen and reflect this week, consider:
1. What obstacles stand in the way between you and creative permission?
2. What sounds fun at this moment? Try to make a list of as many things as you can that sound like fun to you, even if they are impossible for now.
3. Finally, I compared the creative impulse in this episode to an underground river. Consider what action you can take to "break ground" or reestablish connection with that flow. No action towards creative recovery is too small.
This podcast featured the first movement of W.A. Mozart’s Sonata No 11 in A Major, K. 331 performed by Marnie Laird at the piano.
More about Marnie:
Canadian pianist Marnie Laird, praised as "…a technically immaculate, probing and authoritative protagonist" (The Miami Herald), enjoys an active career as a collaborative pianist, chamber musician, and soloist. Prior to founding Brooklyn Duo and Brooklyn Classical, Marnie spent three years as principal pianist of the New World Symphony in Miami under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas. In high demand as a pianist in New York City, she worked with several opera companies, including the Gotham Chamber Opera, and was also on staff as a collaborative pianist at The Juilliard School after graduating. Recent performances have taken her to Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Merkin Hall, SubCulture, and Joe's Pub.
Originally from Vancouver, BC, Marnie has been the recipient of numerous Canadian awards, including top prizes from the Canadian Music Competitions, Canadian Music Teachers' Association, and the BC Arts Council. Most notably she was awarded the Gold Medal for the highest mark in Canada on the A.R.C.T. piano performance exams. She made her solo orchestral debut at age 13 with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and has participated in the Tanglewood, Music Academy of the West, Kneisel Hall, and Banff summer festivals.
Marnie received her Master’s degree in collaborative piano from The Juilliard School, where she was the recipient of a full scholarship as well as the Orchestral Piano Fellowship. She also has a Master’s in solo piano performance from The University of British Columbia. Her principal teachers include Lorraine Ambrose, Robin Wood, Jane Coop, Jonathan Feldman, and Margo Garrett.
66: Give Yourself Permission
What if your best creative life was just a permission slip away? In celebration of Mozart’s birthday, Merideth shares her true feelings about one of his most popular pieces for oboe. (Plus a bonus story about the Bard!)
Artist’s Way Creative Cluster begins Feb 15
65: Musical Meditation: Worthiness
Second installment of our new series, featuring music of Claude Debussy:
1. "Pagodas" from Estampes, L. 100 performed LIVE by Jani Parsons
2. "Clair de Lune" from Suite Bergamasque performed by Amy Gustafson
3. "Beau Soir" transcribed and performed by Merideth Hite Estevez, oboe and Jani Parsons, piano
While you listen:
What stifles your artistic practice?
What spoken or unspoken laws are you adhering to in your creative work?
What would it be like to let joy be the rule or theory that guides you?
Take a moment to brainstorm some ways you might practice courage, compassion, and connection this week, around any shame you may feel about your worthiness.
About the performers:
Jani Parsons is an award-winning Canadian pianist and teacher, exploring diverse interests in performance, pedagogy, theory, and new music performance. Previous concerts include appearances at the Chan Centre for the Arts, Banff Centre for the Arts, the Ravinia Festival, MASS MoCA, Constellation, the Museum of Contemporary Art (Chicago) and the Detroit Institute for the Arts. In addition to her work as pianist and artistic director with Latitude 49, Jani is an active collaborator, having performed with members of Bang On A Can All-stars, New Music Detroit, Eighth Blackbird, Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, Fifth House Ensemble, and members of the Detroit and Chicago Symphony Orchestras. Jani has appeared in educational residencies at the New England Conservatory, University of Minnesota, Indiana University, Northwestern University and University of Southern Mississippi, and has served as faculty at the Fresh Inc festival and Interlochen Summer Arts Camp. She can be heard on the Tzadik label and Çedille Records and has been broadcast as soloist and collaborator on CBC Radio 2 and Wfmt. Jani is a graduate of the University of Michigan (MM and DMA in Piano Performance and Pedagogy), the Vancouver Academy of Music (BM), and the Royal Conservatory of Music (ARCT). Her esteemed teachers include Dr. Arthur Greene, Dr. John Ellis, Prof. Christopher Harding, Lorraine Ambrose, and Allen Reiser. A passionate teacher herself, Jani serves on the piano faculty at University of Calgary (Canada) as Assistant Professor and Head of the Piano Program. Jani is generously sponsored by the Canada Council for the Arts and is a Hambidge Scholar.
Praised for her “exquisite sensitivity” and a “style filled with class and elegance” by La Voz de Asturias (Asturias, Spain) and recognized as a “talented player who doesn’t fit the cookie-cutter mold” by Lucid Culture (New York City), American pianist Amy E. Gustafson has performed across the United States and in both Western and Eastern Europe. Her debut album, Reverie, consists of music by Claude Debussy and was released in June 2017. Recent performances include replacing legendary pianist Abbey Simon in Los Angeles at LACMA’s series, Sundays Live, an appearance with the Sofia Sinfionetta in Sofia, Bulgaria, and a concert tour in Dallas, Texas with her piano duo, Duo Azul. Other recent engagements have taken her to Spain, China, and Canada, and she has also performed New York City venues, such as Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall, Steinway Hall, Trinity Church Wall Street, the Tenri Cultural Institute, CAMI Hall and the Kosciuszko Foundation.
Born into a musical family, her talent was evident at an early age, and she received much of her beginning piano instruction from her grandmother. By the age of 15, she had won several local competitions, including MTNA’s Baldwin Competition, and her success led her to move to New York City to continue her studies. Since then, Gustafson has won numerous awards, including the second prize in the International Young Artists Piano Competition, second prize in the Joyce Dutka Arts Foundation Competition, and the Special Presentation Award and the Alumni Award from Artists International Presentations, Inc. Gustafson completed her studies at the Manhattan School of Music, New York University, and the University of Texas at Austin. Her major teachers have included Julian Martin, Andre-Michel Schub, Anton Nel, Constance Keene, and Miyoko Lotto, and she has benefited from the advice of many renowned pedagogues, including Solomon Mikowsky, Arie Vardi, Veda Kaplinsky, Robert McDonald, Paul Badura-Skoda, Marc Durand, Martin Canin, Leslie Howard, and Luiz de Moura Castro. In addition to her performing career, Gustafson is on the piano faculty at Millersville University and is Director and Faculty of the Gijón International Piano Festival in Gijón, Spain, as well as Director of the Palmetto International Piano Festival in South Carolina. Previously, Dr. Gustafson directed The Stony Brook International Piano Festival in Stony Brook, New York. Amy E. Gustafson is a Yamaha Artist.
Praised by American Record Guide as “Luminous sound and gorgeous phrasing…remarkable…exquisite,” oboist Merideth Hite Estevez is an active freelancer and sought-after recitalist. She has performed and taught throughout North and South America, Asia, and Europe. Orchestrally, she is currently the English hornist for the Chamber Orchestra of NY, and has also performed with PhillyPOPS, OperaDelaware, Metropolitan Opera (NYC), American Symphony (NYC) as well as innovative shows with cutting-edge groups like Experiential Orchestra (NYC). Her education has taken her all over the world—Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Yale School of Music, Fulbright Scholar to Germany, and to The Juilliard School where she received for her doctorate in oboe.
A passionate teaching artist, Merideth loves taking her oboe everywhere she goes in hopes of making music accessible to all types of audiences. She has completed teaching artist training over three summers at Lincoln Center Education in NYC and has also received instruction in their groundbreaking Aesthetic Education curriculum. She has worked in classrooms all over Delaware and provided professional development opportunities for teachers in school districts throughout the state as a teaching artist for Delaware Institute for Arts in Education (DIAE).
As founder and director of Lumina Arts Incubator in 2017, Merideth invites artists into community to debunk the stereotype of the tortured artist, to unleash joy in the creation of art in all disciplines, and to consider creativity as a spiritual practice. Her podcast, Artists for Joy, has been downloaded over 20k times since its inception in 2020 and was a finalist in the 2020 Podcast Awards. She is a certified Start with Heart Facilitator through Graydin, has received multiple coaching certificates, and coaches one-on-one helping artists of all disciplines build a creative life that sings.
Merideth has also held positions at numerous universities and schools of music, including University of Delaware School of Music, University of North Carolina School of the Arts (Winston Salem), The University of Southern Mississippi (Hattiesburg), and Music Institute of Chicago, while she was in residence with Fifth House Ensemble, an innovative ten-piece chamber ensemble in Chicago. Before Chicago, she resided in New York City where she appeared with the Metropolitan Opera, American Symphony Orchestra, and Orchestra of St. Luke’s as an active freelancer.
When she’s not playing oboe or making reeds, Merideth enjoys traveling the world and attempting to speak foreign languages with a southern accent. She hails from Abbeville, SC, but now lives in Bloomfield Hills, MI, where she resides with her husband, Rev. Edwin Estevez, their 4 year-old daughter Eva, and new addition, Baby Eli.
64: Worthiness
This week–worthiness. Merideth shares what she learned from having the same conversation twice in one week with two different friends. She’ll also answer a listener’s question about writing routines.
63: Musical Meditation on How to Change
This week we begin a new series entitled Musical Meditations. Every other week, while Merideth works on the book, she’ll share an episode that puts the music front and center, featuring a piece or pieces that go along with a theme. This week you’ll hear Bach’s Prelude in C Major, BWV 846 and Chopin’s Prelude No 4 in E Minor, both performed by pianist Gabriel Benton.
While you listen consider:
What small changes feel possible today?
Where could you be more gentle with yourself as you change?
What else do you need to feel supported now?
Artists for Joy Classical Playlist
More about today’s performer:
Gabriel Benton enjoys a multifaceted career in music as an early music specialist, accompanist, and church musician. Deeply passionate about music of the baroque and earlier eras, he studied harpsichord performance at Oberlin Conservatory and The Juilliard School. As a harpsichordist, he frequently performs with his group Corda Nova Baroque as well as with ensembles across the country, including American Baroque Orchestra (New England) and American Bach Soloists (San Francisco.) With the latter, he has recorded two CD’s. Past performances include concerts with Venice Opera Project, Juilliard415, Yale Baroque Opera Project, York Symphony Orchestra, and New World Symphony. Gabe has been accompanying worship services since he was a teenager, but after a life-changing experience working as director of music at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Yonkers, NY, he felt called to devote his time more deeply to church music. He went on to study organ performance at Yale University’s Institute of Sacred Music, where he served as organist at the University Church and received the Charles Ives Award for outstanding work as an organ major.
62: How to Change
New year…but are you feeling new? This week, Merideth shares a story of a coaching client who gets unblocked. Plus she’ll offer one way of viewing a well-known work of art and what it might teach us about how to change. Also EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT about a new project and a change to the show schedule!