The Unclassical Musician
Hello! This is the podcast empowering the new generation of classical musicians to take risks and live a meaningful life.
info_outline
Musicians who podcast: Karen Cubides of The Musician's Guide
06/29/2021
Musicians who podcast: Karen Cubides of The Musician's Guide
Wrapping up this three-part series with Karen Cubides was so fun! Karen is the host of The Musician's Guide podcast, as well as the Fempire to Inspire podcast. With a background in classical saxophone and orchestra admin, Karen set off to found her own marketing agency in Nashville-- the Karen Cubides Agency. Karen works with musicians of all stripes on building a rewarding career that is unique to them through coaching, photography, social media, web design, and videography. In this episode: Why Karen loves podcasting (she has TWO new shows coming soon!) The role podcasting plays in her career The Enneagram for musicians We're taking a short break, but we'll be back later in July with fresh content! In the mean time, there are only a few days left to register for Heidi Kay Begay's course Use my code TORI10 at checkout for 10% off. Classes start July 3! ~~~~~~~~~ Episode links: ~~~~~~~~ Show Links: Follow Tori and The Unclassical Musician! Follow The Unclassical Musician on Instagram by following the hashtag Send Tori an email
/episode/index/show/theunclassicalmusician/id/19596368
info_outline
Musicians who podcast: Jason Heath of Contrabass Conversations
06/22/2021
Musicians who podcast: Jason Heath of Contrabass Conversations
In part two of our three-part series on musicians who podcast, I had the pleasure of chatting with Jason Heath-- host of the Contrabass Conversations podcast. Jason started his podcast way back in 2007 (!!) and has continued with it on and off ever since. The show is now close to reaching 3 million downloads!!! Jason's career has been very multi-faceted and is a textbook example of a modern portfolio career. From gigging all over the Chicago area, to blogging and podcasting, to teaching high school orchestra-- Jason has done it all! In this episode: How podcasting has shaped Jason's career Advice for musicians just starting out A crazy gig story involving an FBI investigation (you're going to have to listen all the way to the end for that one!) Stay tuned next week for a conversation with the host of The Musician's Guide podcast-- Karen Cubides! Don't forget about our special 10% off code for Heidi Kay Begay's course ! Use the code TORI10 and sign up NOW-- class starts July 3! ~~~~~~~~~ Episode Links: Show Links: Follow Tori and The Unclassical Musician! Follow The Unclassical Musician on Instagram by following the hashtag Send Tori an email [email protected]
/episode/index/show/theunclassicalmusician/id/19533548
info_outline
Musicians who podcast: Heidi Kay Begay of Flute360
06/15/2021
Musicians who podcast: Heidi Kay Begay of Flute360
This month, we are doing a 3-part series featuring musicians who podcast! First up is the host of the Flute 360 podcast-- Heidi Kay Begay. Heidi started her podcast as part of her DMA project, and 3 years later it is going stronger than ever! Flute360 offers "a panoramic view of flute-related topics for the modern day musician." Heidi now has her own course called "The Podcasting Musician" which takes entrepreneurial podcasters from scratch to launch in only 5 weeks! In this episode: Why podcasts are an important part of the entrepreneur's arsenal The perks of being a podcaster All about Heidi's course The Podcasting Musician Now for a limited time, Unclassical listeners get 10% off Heidi's course with the code TORI10! Course starts July 3! Check back next week for a conversation with Jason Heath-- host of Contrabass Conversations! SHOW LINKS: Use the code TORI10 for 10% off Check out Heidi's Follow Heidi on Send Heidi an email Listen to Follow Flute360 on Podcast links Follow Tori and The Unclassical Musician! Follow The Unclassical Musician on Instagram by following the hashtag Send Tori an email [email protected]
/episode/index/show/theunclassicalmusician/id/19448231
info_outline
Rebroadcast of the original trailer
06/08/2021
Rebroadcast of the original trailer
In preparation for our June series with musicians who podcast, I'm bringing back the original trailer for the show. Listening back to the trailer has been a helpful reminder to me about why I started this podcast, how much growth it has experienced in the last 8 months, and how much growth I've experienced through producing the show! I am SO pleased to share our next lineup of guests! Stay tuned to hear from Heidi Kay Begay of the Flute 360 podcast, Karen Cubides of The Musician's Guide podcast, and Jason Heath of Contrabass Conversations. LINKS Pod Perks! Unclassical listeners recieve 10% of Heidi Kay Begay's Podcasting Musician course with the code Tori10. Heidi helped me build my podcast, and she will help you build yours in July! with Nicole Riccardo on How to Sell Out Your Offers on Instagram Podcast links Check out Heidi Kay Begay's show Check out Karen Cubides' show Check out Jason Heath's show Follow Tori and The Unclassical Musician! Follow The Unclassical Musician on Instagram by following the hashtag Send Tori an email [email protected]
/episode/index/show/theunclassicalmusician/id/19329656
info_outline
New World Flutist Leah Stevens on Mental Health
05/25/2021
New World Flutist Leah Stevens on Mental Health
Last installment of mental health awareness month! I wanted to ask New World flutist Leah Stevens to come on the show during mental health month because I have admired how transparent she is about her mental health struggles online. In addition to performing with the New World Symphony, she has served as principal flute with The Orchestra Now and substituted with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Quad Cities Symphony, South Bend Symphony, and the Lexington Philharmonic. Leah has also won First Prize in the Orchestral Audition and Masterclass and Second Prize in the Piccolo Orchestral Audition and Masterclass at the 2017 National Flute Association Convention. In this episode: How music school is a contributing factor to a decline in mental health How depression and anxiety affect everyday musician tasks Social media as an accountability buddy Taking a break next week, but we'll be back in June with musicians who podcast! Stay tuned! LINKS Send Leah an email Pod Perks! with Nicole Riccardo on How to Sell Out Your Offers on Instagram Podcast links Follow Tori and The Unclassical Musician! Follow The Unclassical Musician on Instagram by following the hashtag Send Tori an email
/episode/index/show/theunclassicalmusician/id/19199828
info_outline
Rusty Holmes on Mental Fitness for Musicians
05/18/2021
Rusty Holmes on Mental Fitness for Musicians
Continuing with Mental Health Awareness Month on the podcast... This week we have Rusty Holmes-- french horn player, teacher, and motivational speaker based in Austin, TX. In addition to being in the private teaching scene, Rusty plays in many orchestras in central Texas. During the pandemic, he developed his Musican's System for Success mental fitness lecture and has delivered it over 20 times. Rusty is a huge advocate for journaling, gratitude, and challenging yourself! If you aren't motivated to get off your butt and do something awesome after listening to this episode... In this episde: What is self-efficacy and how is it different than self-confidence? Mental fitness routine for musicians Journaling 101! Stay tuned next week as we wrap up our mental health series with New World Symphony flutist Leah Stevens on her personal struggles with mental health both in and out of the pandemic. LINKS: Rusty's Website Check out Rusty's Article on and motivational speaking. Info on Jeff Nelson's Pod Perks! with Nicole Riccardo on How to Sell Out Your Offers on Instagram Podcast links Follow Tori and The Unclassical Musician! Follow The Unclassical Musician on Instagram by following the hashtag Send Tori an email
/episode/index/show/theunclassicalmusician/id/19117070
info_outline
Amanda Deligiannis on musician trauma and self-care
05/11/2021
Amanda Deligiannis on musician trauma and self-care
Welcome back to mental health awareness month here on The Unclassical Musician! This one is a must-listen! This week, I sat down with my good friend and master of social work Amanda Deligiannis to talk about some mental health issues pertaining to musicians, and the music school experience. Amanda started at DePaul as a music ed major, with french horn as her instrument. Over the course of our four years there she waffled between continuing with music ed and considering switching to regular education. She eventually finished her music ed degree. During her teaching career she became passionate about education inequity as well as childhood trauma, which inspired her to complete a Master of Social Work from Loyola University. Throughout this time, she gained clinical experience interning for the Cook County Public Defender as well as in addiction treatment. Amanda also completed an internship as a medical social worker at the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, supporting families while they experienced chronic illness, celebrations, and loss in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Amanda now works for a children’s therapy group in Chicago. Even though Amanda has been out of music school for a while now, she is still very much in this community. I think she has a very unique and interesting view on the struggles of classical musicians from a clinical perspective. In this episode: Some fundamental aspects of music school that are detrimental to students' mental health Music school as a traumatic experience Self-care tips for musicians (we're not talking bubble baths and manicures!) We are continuing Mental Health Awareness month next week with Rusty Holmes! Another french horn player, based in Austin TX. One of his many passions is mental fitness for musicians! Links for this episode: Send Amanda an email Check out on IG! with Nicole Riccardo on How to Sell Out Your Offers on Instagram Links for the podcast: Follow Tori and The Unclassical Musician! Follow The Unclassical Musician on Instagram by following the hashtag Send Tori an email
/episode/index/show/theunclassicalmusician/id/19036916
info_outline
Coping with COVID
05/04/2021
Coping with COVID
Thank you to everyone who took the time to check in on me while I was sick! Many people have been asking questions about my experience with covid, so I wanted to do an episode about it. We are kicking off Mental Month with a solo episode that goes into detail on the negative mental side effects of testing positive for the enemy virus during a global pandemic. In this episode: The whole story! The physical symptoms The mental side effects Stay tuned next week for a conversation with my friend Amanda Deligiannis-- music educator turned social worker-- all about the trauma that is music school, and self-care for musicians. LINKS: Follow Tori and The Unclassical Musician! Follow The Unclassical Musician on Instagram by following the hashtag Send Tori an email
/episode/index/show/theunclassicalmusician/id/18947648
info_outline
Katherine Emeneth on teaching privately
04/27/2021
Katherine Emeneth on teaching privately
Better late than never! I am so pleased to FINALLY bring you this conversation with flutist, educator, studio-building guru, and pedagogy nerd Katherine Emeneth. Based in Georgia, Katherine has taken her successful private flute studio and expanded her career into studio consulting, speaking on private studio development, and career coaching for recent music grads. She is basically the queen of teaching musicians new to the private teaching game all about how to succeed in the industry! In this episode: How her background in music education has benefited Katherine's career as a private teacher How DOES one build a private studio? What do you do with a kid who doesn't practice??? Stay tuned next week to kick off Mental Month with a solo episode covering the negative mental side effects of covid-19. Links for this episode: Send Katherine an email Follow Tori and The Unclassical Musician! Follow The Unclassical Musician on Instagram by following the hashtag Send Tori an email
/episode/index/show/theunclassicalmusician/id/18846461
info_outline
Katie Velasquez and the Virtual Flute Music Festival
04/20/2021
Katie Velasquez and the Virtual Flute Music Festival
Katie Velasquez is another flutist with Texas connections! Originally from Austin, Katie is now the principal flutist of the Missouri Symphony, and the Artistic Director of the Virtual Flute Music Festival! Katie has a very impressive background in orchestra performance and has killed it in many national competitions. Perhaps one of her most impressive feats is starting her own VIRTUAL flute and piccolo festivals featuring top names in the flute world. The truly unique aspect of this festival is the strong focus on empowering the artist through courageous thinking and mindset training. I wanted to get Katie on the podcast to talk more about her festival because the application will be closing MAY 1ST! That’s coming up! So non-flutists, maybe put your cross-disciplinary hats on for this convo about all the mental work behind bringing your most inspired self to your performances. In this episode: How Katie has been able to stay inspired during the pandemic The inspriation behind the festival How and why mindset is a key part of the festival If you are looking for my interview with Katherine Emeneth, that episode will be airing next week-- stay tuned! LINKS: Enroll in Nicole Riccardo's Follow The Unclassical Musician on Instagram by following the hashtag Send Tori an email [email protected]
/episode/index/show/theunclassicalmusician/id/18750311
info_outline
How does one build a private studio?
04/06/2021
How does one build a private studio?
Special thanks to Keith Alcius (tuba) for submitting this question for the Q&A episode!
/episode/index/show/theunclassicalmusician/id/18598238
info_outline
Nicole Riccardo on how to market yourself online
03/30/2021
Nicole Riccardo on how to market yourself online
A conversation with the queen of social media marketing for musicians—Nicole Riccardo. Nicole learned industry secrets around utilizing social media for marketing during her 9-5 job. These skills eventually allowed her to quit her job and start working for herself. Nicole now runs her own online media marketing agency.
/episode/index/show/theunclassicalmusician/id/18501182
info_outline
Rebroadcast: Episode 10 Pivoting Online
03/23/2021
Rebroadcast: Episode 10 Pivoting Online
This week we are re-airing episode 10: Pivoting online and virtual networking for musicians.
/episode/index/show/theunclassicalmusician/id/18317306
info_outline
It's Tax Time
03/16/2021
It's Tax Time
It's tax season...
/episode/index/show/theunclassicalmusician/id/18317063
info_outline
Q&A/AMA
03/09/2021
Q&A/AMA
Thank you to everyone who submitted questions for this week's show! This show format is a unique Q&A/"Ask me anything" that will now be reserved exclusively for Patreon supporters in the future. If you enjoy this show format, be sure to check out The Unclassical Musician on Patreon!
/episode/index/show/theunclassicalmusician/id/18222248
info_outline
Flutist Tyler Martin on pandemic life at Rice and the future of our industry
03/02/2021
Flutist Tyler Martin on pandemic life at Rice and the future of our industry
Tori interviews fellow flutist and Chicago-Houston transplant Tyler Martin on life at one of the United States' top orchestral training institutions during the pandemic. They also dig into how his experiences of the past year have broadened Tyler's mindset on new possibilities for his career path.
/episode/index/show/theunclassicalmusician/id/18126527
info_outline
Budgeting for Beginners
02/23/2021
Budgeting for Beginners
In this episode, Tori shares some backstory about her relationship with money at the end of her time as a student and just getting started as a flute lesson teacher in Texas. Listen for some tips to help you change your relationship with money, ditch the starving artist mindset, and get out of debt!
/episode/index/show/theunclassicalmusician/id/18030293
info_outline
Jess Voigt Page: music business and career success coach
02/16/2021
Jess Voigt Page: music business and career success coach
Originally from Australia, Jess Voigt Page is an Austin, TX-based classical saxophonist, teacher, performer, and coach. She is on faculty at Baylor University and is president-elect of NASA (North American Saxophone Alliance). Jess’ “three-ish-minute thursday” Youtube videos cover a variety of bite-sized topics pertinent to creating your own music career.
/episode/index/show/theunclassicalmusician/id/17931257
info_outline
Make money NOW
02/02/2021
Make money NOW
SPOILER ALERT! This episode uses the word a**. Also, this is NOT a step-by-step guide on how to get rich quick! This week we are talking about some mental blocks that might be holding you back from making more money as a musician during a pandemic.
/episode/index/show/theunclassicalmusician/id/17758934
info_outline
Austin Pancner on Recovering from Injury
01/26/2021
Austin Pancner on Recovering from Injury
This week, Tori speaks with Austin Pancner of The Functional Musician about the importance of exercise, nutrition, and meditation when recovering from a performance-related injury. Austin is a bass trombonist, personal trainer, and nutritionist finishing his DMA at Indiana University. He is also the founder of The Functional Musician, who's Holistic Transformation Program boasts taking injured musicians back to playing and living without pain in 90 days or less!
/episode/index/show/theunclassicalmusician/id/17669306
info_outline
Chelsea Tanner on Mindset
01/19/2021
Chelsea Tanner on Mindset
Join us this week for our first conversation episode! Dr. Chelsea Tanner is a flutist and mindset coach. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Chelsea started two online Flute Bootcamp courses, launched her self-image coaching business, AND her very own podcast called Align Your Mind.
/episode/index/show/theunclassicalmusician/id/17573942
info_outline
Pivoting online and virtual networking for musicians
01/12/2021
Pivoting online and virtual networking for musicians
Yes, we are (hopefully) halfway through this pandemic thing. No, it is never too late to start amplifying your artistic voice online!
/episode/index/show/theunclassicalmusician/id/17500727
info_outline
PPP Loans for Musicians
01/08/2021
PPP Loans for Musicians
If you are a musician with a gig-based income, you will likely qualify for some covid relief money from the federal government soon!
/episode/index/show/theunclassicalmusician/id/17423051
info_outline
New Year's Resolutions and SMART Goals
01/05/2021
New Year's Resolutions and SMART Goals
Are you a new year's resolution person, or not really? This week we'll talk about why resolutions don't work, and how to create resolutions that motivate you to achieve your goals!
/episode/index/show/theunclassicalmusician/id/17416733
info_outline
Imposter Syndrome
12/22/2020
Imposter Syndrome
"Imposter!" Who, me?? This week, we discuss this syndrome that affects 70% of adults and develops as a side effect of going through the music school system. Listen all the way to the end of the episode for exciting Unclassical news and fun things to come in 2021!
/episode/index/show/theunclassicalmusician/id/17282999
info_outline
Coping with Anxiety
12/14/2020
Coping with Anxiety
This week, Tori shares when she first realized she had performance anxiety as a teenager. We'll also talk about the difference between nervousness, performance anxiety, and social anxiety. Are performance and social anxieties directly related in individuals? Are musicians prone to social anxiety? We'll talk about it.
/episode/index/show/theunclassicalmusician/id/17192696
info_outline
Dealing with a Performance Injury
12/08/2020
Dealing with a Performance Injury
This week, Tori shares her personal struggles with TMJ as a flutist.
/episode/index/show/theunclassicalmusician/id/17096678
info_outline
The Ethics of Music During a Pandemic
12/01/2020
The Ethics of Music During a Pandemic
Its another loaded topic! Keeping it under 30 minutes, here's what we'll talk about:
/episode/index/show/theunclassicalmusician/id/16984205
info_outline
Mindset for Musicians
11/17/2020
Mindset for Musicians
"Mindset is everything." Is it really? This week we unearth some mindset and self-talk habits that sabotage musicians--especially recent music grads.
/episode/index/show/theunclassicalmusician/id/16836956
info_outline
Work From Home Scheduling
11/10/2020
Work From Home Scheduling
This week, Tori shares some insights into the intensity of a musician's schedule compared to "muggles." She also provides some helpful tips for creating your own effective and productive work from home schedule!
/episode/index/show/theunclassicalmusician/id/16747454