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There are so many ways to use sound in your meditations, and here you’ll start by becoming enveloped by your sound environment. You can never control all the aspects of any space, so how can sounds that enter your meditation environment actually draw you deeper into your meditation rather than distract you from it? What to expect in this meditation: A practice of deep listening to the sounds in your environment. You’ll notice how your meditation is affected once you become fascinated by the sounds around you rather than trying to push them away. It will change your relationship with music too. ;)   Follow me on Facebook@AmandaChavisCreative

What does it actually look like to build a successful business as a musician? How do you find the time and the money? Is it possible to keep playing seriously and run a business at the same time? If you’ve had great ideas about putting on really innovative concerts but didn’t see how it was possible to make them happen... If you’ve had a great idea on how to solve a problem you see in the musical community but don't know how to take it from idea to reality... If you love connecting with your own local community and wish you could turn it into something more... ...then this is the episode for you. Fabiana Claure shares her experience and insight as an actively performing pianist who co-founded the nationally acclaimed Superior Academy of Music in Miami, Florida, and who now is the Director of Career Development and Entrepreneurship in Music at the University of North Texas. Hear from Fabiana: How the word “entrepreneur” applies to you Why you need a business plan, even as a solo artist How to get other people to buy into your vision The most important question to ask yourself when you don’t have the time or the money to invest in a dream Why the best time to start a business is when you’re in school How is it possible to be a musician, business owner, student, university professor, and mom at the same time? Resources mentioned in the show: Career.music.unt.edu Coro by iCadenza Lynda.com

Here is our culminating meditation in the Connecting to Body and Breath series. This is your chance to become the observer in whatever way has resonated with you most in the past 6 weeks. Or simply with what resonates with you today. We’ll start with a rotation of awareness through the body, and then you get space. 10 minutes, to be exact. It’s your chance to practice and to observe. What will come up for you today?

In striving to get from point A to point B in our lives, we often forget to enjoy - or at least be present in - the process. We forget that we are human BEINGS, not human DOINGS, and that the point of life is to experience it. We’re so focused on moving TOWARDS something we want or AWAY from something we don’t want that we forget that life is happening RIGHT NOW, in between one mile marker and another. In reality there are no arrivals. Life is all a continuous unfolding. Your life is not made by how many mile markers you have. It’s made by how you live the unfolding. So this meditation is about getting present to the unfolding. You’ll use your breath as a tool to hold your attention on the experience of the breath itself. And you’ll learn how to apply this technique to your life in a profound way.

As human beings, we judge everything. But "good" and "bad" don't actually exist. Learn how to identify when you're making value judgements by noticing the many different aspects of your breath - and how it will change your everyday life.

Everything cycles, and the breath is a beautiful reminder of how we can be in that flow. This meditation begins with a rotation of consciousness and then allows you time to observe your thoughts and your breath.

"Making it" as a musician today has everything to do with how you stand out from the crowd. But how? How do you identify who you are, what your uniqueness is (what does that even mean?), and what you want for your career? And then, how do you get people to actually support you, whether that's as fans, consumers, clients, or followers? Jennifer is CEO and co-founder of iCadenza, an online resource dedicated to helping musicians create the creative careers we love by connecting our artistic brains with our business brains (yes, we all have one!). Find out how to find your own uniqueness, what it takes to be a leader, and the mindsets that led iCadenza to the success it enjoys today.

A meditation with 2 main parts. 1. Control your breath The practice of consciously deciding how you want to breathe (and the effects you'll notice of a slow and controlled breath) will give you a tool to help ease performance anxiety and stress. It also builds your focus and awareness muscles. With practice, this can become second nature as you approach nerve-wracking performances (or stressful situations) of any kind. 2. Become the observer You'll release control of the breath and, as always, get the opportunity to become the observer of your natural breath, where you also get to practice allowing thoughts to come and go. 

This month is all about getting connected to your body and your breath. It's the best way to start building your awareness muscle, the easiest way to become the observer. Even if you're an experienced meditator, this foundational practice will re-connect you to the parts of yourself that so easily get overlooked.  What's in it... Rotation of awareness In the rotation of awareness, you are guided to focus your attention briefly on one body part at a time. This settles the mind and helps build a connection between mind and body. Exploring the breath Afterwards, you become the explorer who is sent to observe and report about all there is to notice about your breath. With this focus on the breath established, you then practice watching your thoughts and directing your mind where you want it to go. Meditation Length: 12 minutes Silent Time: 3 minutes

Here's why you'll want to listen to this episode first: Learn what to expect from Meditation Mondays Hear my own real life experiences of how mediation has changed my life (musical and otherwise) Learn what to do when you can't stop your thoughts Get some helpful tweaks to your meditation posture to make it more comfortable Learn how, exactly, meditation is related to practice and performance This is the best place to start whether you're an experienced meditator or you're just beginning. So jump in, get familiar with the foundations, and then head over to Meditation 1! Find more meditations and interviews at WeAreClassicallyTrained.com

What makes you a musician, really? Is it the instrument you play? The groups you play with or ensembles you conduct? The sounds you make or the technique you've developed? What if you couldn't do one, or any, of those things any more? Would you still be a musician? Find out what Brian has to say, why "it's not about the tone," and why he has stopped playing trumpet after years of study and a thriving professional career. You may have seen Brian in collaboration with Mark Gould as Pink Baby Monster on YouTube. He is also the Music Director for Orchestra Next and  has composed music for several feature length films, dozens of shorts, instrumental ensembles ranging from tuba duet to wind ensemble, choir, dance, cabaret, off-Broadway shows, and even a 10,000 meter footrace. Brain's lone foray into the world of sculpture – The Extract-o-Rama – became the subject of a documentary called I Live for Art. Show notes at http://weareclassicallytrained.com/021

Drew (a.k.a. That Viola Kid) has grown a huge following (107k followers, to be exact) through social media, including a hugely popular YouTube channel where he posts vlogs, viola tips, his own music videos and collaborations, as well as thoughts and experiences on how we can make sustainable and enjoyable livings as musicians today. He not only plays as a classical violist, but can also be heard on rapper Mac Miller's album The Divine Feminine, as well as on the upcoming Final Fantasy XII remake. As a growing presence on YouTube and social media, Drew shares some really fantastic tips and insights on creating your own engaging videos that will grow and connect with your audience, whether you're just starting out or have been at this for a while.

How to choose and set meaningful and fulfilling goals, how to actually stick with them, and how to take action on them so they don't live and die in your head. Rik and I bare our souls as we lead each other through the process.

In this episode, we explore confidence. What is it? How do we find it within ourselves? Rik and I share from our own experiences about what it actually takes to become a confident player.

As an international flute soloist, conductor, and teacher, Jean has made a name for himself not only for the way in which intimately connects with his audiences, but for the whole-hearted person he is and both on- and offstage. We talk about why he almost quit playing early in his career, what the point is of doing competitions (and how to get past the negative energy they bring), why he left a stable orchestral position to pursue a solo career, how he built that solo career, how he deals with nerves, and - most importantly - how you can use all of that to make a deeper connection to your own music right now.

Dive into Chrysanthe’s multi-faceted career as a violinist, composer, singer-songwriter, and poet. We talk about overcoming imposter syndrome, the point of school, proving yourself, making albums, world tours, and business advice.

Tara weaves together her expertise as life coach, professional counselor, yoga instructor, breathwork facilitator, and meditation teacher to get you un-blocked, creatively flowing, and taking meaningful action on your goals and dreams.

Nathalie and Allison have fused their classical training with hip-hop, jazz, electronics, and other musical genres to create their unique voice in the world. Find out what led them off the traditional path to become so much more than just flutists!

If you've ever struggled with building an audience of your own, with the way we interact with classical music as an art form today, or with how you might create a niche for yourself, this one's for you. It's got the vision and the practical steps Chad took to turn that vision into a reality.

From growing up in a body cast and unable to walk, hear how Viviana now lives (and walks!) free of physical pain, stage fright, and fear; what belly dancing and firewalking have to do with it; and how she got nominated for a Grammy award along the way.