So many music students only practice with their conscious mind. When you train beyond the point of awareness where your hands just seem to play by themselves, you have entered the subconscious zone with your music, and this is where the fun begins! davidlanemusic.com/toolkit/episod…

This is the 1st episode of (at least) a 5-part series. There are many skills that go into making music such as technique & music theory, but neither of those are the 4 Core Skills, the big ones that you need to play well in absolutely any situation! davidlanemusic.com/toolkit/episod…

This video is for any pianist who might easily remember what a key signature is in their head, but the hands can't seem to remember to play the correct sharps & flats. Here are some exercises you can try to more naturally play in any major or minor key. youtube.com/watch?v=YHVmb4…

This is the 2nd episode in the series on the 4 Core Performance Skills, what you need to be a well-rounded musician. The 1st skill is sight reading. I not only talk about the benefits, but 10 steps you can take to improve your skills in sight reading. davidlanemusic.com/toolkit/episod…

Playing by ear is not an all-or-nothing skill, but one made of parts that you can practice on an easy level and progress until you can play just about anything you hear. Learn 10 things you can do to get better at playing by ear! davidlanemusic.com/toolkit/episod…

What Good Piano Practice Actually LOOKS LIKE youtu.be/cymxVceIgCY?si… via YouTube,YouTube

Transposing requires understanding music from a relative sense rather than absolute. You must know WHY you're playing a certain note or chord rather than just WHAT to play. This episode has 10 steps you can take to develop your core skill of transposing. davidlanemusic.com/toolkit/episod…

My latest video for pianists is up! It' about the coordination problem of getting 1 hand to play steadily while the other moves from one spot on the piano to another smoothly. I offer some general & specific exercises to help improve this coordination. youtube.com/watch?v=W0-Ucq…

Improvising: natural to some, mysterious & perhaps scary to others. Yet, it's the oldest of all the skills, the earliest way to make music. It's a pure way of learning how music works. Listen to 10 exercises to get you started with improvisation. davidlanemusic.com/toolkit/episod…

Episode 89 features my updated thoughts on talent (previously in Ep. 3). I share why I think talent can influence your possible goals as a musician, but also why I still believe that you need to stop offering "talented" as praise, especially children. davidlanemusic.com/toolkit/episod…

One possible part-time or full-time job for many musicians can be as a music director for a church. Bob Moore is a composer with much experience as a music director. In this episode, we chat about the musicianship tools needed to do the job well. davidlanemusic.com/toolkit/episod…

In theatre, the music director has to plan rehearsals to teach vocal parts to a cast where not everyone sings on every song. This requires organization & creativity. Here, I use 2 productions as different examples of how I prepare for music rehearsals. davidlanemusic.com/toolkit/episod…

There's a method to getting things done that actually works! I know because I've had a very productive 2024 largely thanks to this method. In this episode, I explain how batching works and how you can use it for practicing, composing routine, and more. davidlanemusic.com/toolkit/episod…

Jason Loffredo of Conquering Finale returns as a guest to chat with me about notation programs, options, and priorities for moving forward in the wake of last month's news about Finale. davidlanemusic.com/toolkit/episod…

If you're a composer or an arranger, it is invaluable to have plenty of references to help you study and improve your craft. I share 4 types of books that I think every composer should have on their bookshelf, and my personal favorites of each kind. davidlanemusic.com/toolkit/episod…

Tomorrow I will be starting a new job as a church music director. In this episode, I share my goals and action lists to help ensure that I get off to a great start. Hopefully this can give you ideas as well if you're looking to do similar work. davidlanemusic.com/toolkit/episod…

Good reading is more than just staring at words on pages. Besides types of books, it's important to invest time, energy and techniques to get the most out of what you're reading. Check out Episode 97 of The Musician Toolkit! davidlanemusic.com/toolkit/episod…

From job changes, to pieces that aren't getting better to possible existential threats such as streaming services and AI. A successful musician needs to know when and how to pivot. Hopefully this episode will help you answer both questions. davidlanemusic.com/toolkit/episod…

Episode 100! In addition to celebrating podcast highlights, I also share announcements like a new name, a new focus, & a new episode frequency. One spoiler in case you miss it: This is the last episode of 2024. This podcast will return early in 2025! davidlanemusic.com/toolkit/episod…

Just noticed I managed to go through all of 2025 without posting here. Might as well break the streak. Is anyone I know still here?