The Happy Musicians Podcast

How to go from amateur/hobby/"not a real" musician to someone with a deep connect with making sound. Thank you to every single person who has listened to this show over the years. I'm so proud of what we've learned together. Here's to whatever comes next.

For over 35 years Elma Linz Kanefield has worked with performing artists as a psychotherapist and life coach and has one of the only private practices exclusively for them in the country. In 1986, she founded the Juilliard School's Counseling Service. Recently, she released her findings in Hamlet's Mirror a workbook for "reaching your performance potential onstage and off". It is the greatest mental health resource for artists I've ever found.   Hamlet's mirror: https://www.elmalinzkanefield.com/hamlets-mirror Finding Frances: https://www.youtube.com/@FindingFrancesBand Scotland (featured song): https://open.spotify.com/track/3fy6TrOb7U8HKGBWufaGbe?si=7bbb187ec9ce4b27

There's a wholesome way to get meaningful, fulfilling gigs. I'm talking about the best kinds of gigs. The ones you're so excited about you'd go to even if you weren't playing. The best part is there is no networking, sitting in, or jams sessions involved.  If you enjoyed this episode definitely listen to the Trumpet Mafia episode for ideas on group practice and Ep. 80 for help connecting with potential mentors.

(REPOST) Brent Wallarab – acclaimed arranger and composer – joins me to discuss walking away from the trombone, making relationships work, rediscovering his self worth, and the expectations we tend to have as musicians that lead to misery.

Bethany Robinson–award winning high school band director and bassist–on building a wholesome band room culture. She built her program from 1 to *checks notes* 6 freakin' jazz bands: she knows her stuff! What do students think makes a good teacher? How do you stay humble and curious as an educator? How do you avoid status games in a program with 6 bands? We also discuss work life balance and why education matters in light of Bethany's recent battle with cancer. 

If you've found musicians who you resonate with on the deepest level, you also know it can be intimidating to approach them. It's easy to feel unworthy of their time, attention, and friendship. These are our creative heroes after all! Why should they care about little old us? What could we possibly have to offer? If I could just practice enough then we could be friends... If any of that sounds familiar this episode is for you! Journal Prompts 1. All Musicians Are Nerds What are the musicians I want work with nerdy about? Am I nerdy about that too? 2. Focus On Giving How can you be of service to the musicians you look up to and want to work with? 3. Show Up and Be Patient Where are these musicians and what are they doing? Are you showing up?

5 new ideas to help navigate the age old pursuit of finding your voice. Here's a hint: finding your voice isn't a one time discover, it's a daily opportunity! Here are this episode's journal prompts: 1. Our voice is the group of musicians you associate with Are there musicians you're trying to impress, or play with, that you don't actually like? Are there musicians you'd like to be playing with that you don't feel 2. Your voice isn't notes on recordings. We play more than just notes How do you want others to feel when they're playing with you? Listen back to yourself on a gig. Does your playing match that intention? If someone is about to call you for a gig, and 3 things were to flash through their mind, what would you want those associations to be? 3. Your voice is mostly what you don't play Are there things you're ashamed of, or you've been trying to learn how to do but just can't seem to get get them feeling natural? Why are you trying to play them? What would happen if you gave yourself permission to let go of those? 4. Your voice is musical habits  Write out 10 musical problems you solve evergy gig. Is there an bigger musical problem you can have a habbit for that solves multiple of these smaller problems? 5. Finding your voice isn't a one time discover, it's a daily opportunity

Garrett Spoelhof-audio engineer and touring musician with indie rock outfit Secret Mezzanine-on the complex relationship between musicians and sound engineers. We explore several strategies for fostering good will, respect, and more wholesome music making between these two interconnected communities. We also discuss Garrett's decision to drop a performance major during school and how that reinvigorated his relationship with music. 

How to avoid fighting with our family when they ask us things like "What do you even do with a music degree?", "How's the little music thing going?", and "Can you really make money playing music?". Being a musician can be scary for us AND the people who care about us. With a bit of prep, planning, and compassion, we can all make it through the holidays not only fight free, but more connected with our folks and our musical journey. 

Josh Harmon–comedic drummer behind the mega-viral "Rhythms of Comedy"–on the emotional behind the scenes of being the most viewed drummer in the world. This is not an episode on how to win the social media lottery, but rather what life is like offline when you do and whether being a viral success is actually the thing we're looking for as creatives. We talk about isolation, therapy, finding genuine connections when it feels like people just want to use you for your platform, and getting in touch with the feeling of playing music. The song at the end is from guitarist Josh Starkman's HAGD series (check out EP. 46) featuring Josh and the incomparable Charlie Gabriel.