This podcast aims to explore life from a musician's point of view: the peaks, troughs and the downright unexpected. Hosted by London-based cellist Davina Shum
Episodes
Tuesday Dec 15, 2020
Tuesday Dec 15, 2020
Egīls Šēfers is my guest for Episode 35. He joined me from his home in Riga to chat to me about performing with the Carion quintet during the pandemic, his musical journey growing up behind the Iron Curtain, how global travel broadens one's musical sound, as well as Latvian voices and music-making. We also talk about his hobbies he indulges in away from playing the clarinet and being director of the Latvian Music Information Centre and SKANi Records.
These days we seem to have brief slivers of time in which to enjoy sweet live performances, including my experience of finally performing in a chamber concert recently that was a long time in the making. Also featured is a disastrous flag-bearing anecdote from friend of the podcast, Jen Lang (Episode 34) from her time working at St Martin-in-the-Fields church.
Got something music college didn't prepare you for? A funny or unexpected gig? Let me know: asitcomespodcast@gmail.com.
Special thanks to Victoria Taylor for her assistance in this episode.
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Mentioned in this episode:
carion.dk
skani.lv
Episode 34: https://www.podbean.com/eu/pb-fw6y6-f3e348
Friday Dec 04, 2020
Friday Dec 04, 2020
Jen Lang is my guest for Episode 34. As well as recent motherhood, we chat about what led her to her role as Senior Manager for learning, engagement and innovation at Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, as well being a new mother in one of the longest local lockdowns in the world. Lots of laughs in this one, as well as the different ways one can make a musical contribution and providing platforms for musical voices that have previously been unheard. Music college didn’t prepare her for an experience involving rodents, and I’ve also found my new favourite analogy for explaining shifts on the cello.
Got an experience that Music College Didn't Prepare You for? Email me: asitcomespodcast@gmail.com
Don't forget to like and follow on Facebook and Instagram @asitcomespod.
Mentioned in this episode:
MSO Beethoven Bites: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGUc1mZt9dlKZLrfSt5bA6kRC8tSyX6-h
All or Nothing: New Zealand All Blacks: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/detail/B086R6GMMY/ref=atv_hm_hom_1_c_2LIVgA_4_10
Tuesday Nov 24, 2020
Tuesday Nov 24, 2020
Pianist Sarah Watkins is my guest for this episode. She spoke to me from post-Covid New Zealand, where she's been busy working and performing (remember that foreign concept?) Along with violinist Andrew Beer, she's the winner of the Aotearoa Music Award for her album "11 Frames". We chatted about the state of composition in New Zealand and how multi-culturalism continues to influence New Zealand's musical voices.
I've been watching lots of sports matches broadcast with artificially generated crowd noises. What if classical concerts did the same thing? This episode also features a wintery vehicle-pushing Music College Didn't Prepare Me segment. Got a weird gig you'd like featured? Email me at asitcomespodcast@gmail.com
Remember to rate, review and subscribe, plus Like and Follow the podcast on Facebook and Instagram @asitcomespod.
Mentioned in this episode:
“The Meaning Behind Creative Output” – My chat on Nadine Benjamin’s Safe At Home Sessions: https://youtu.be/0p6Ssk2IaT4
Friday Nov 13, 2020
Friday Nov 13, 2020
Episode 32: brought to you from the throes of Lockdown 2.0! Before said lockdown, I chatted with Violeta Vicci in the garden about her livestream performances in nature, interacting with a scenic backdrop through music, and the challenges of setting up a livestream performance outdoors. We also touch on sharing the stage with Radiohead's Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood (swoon) as well as Violeta's passion for motorbikes.
Listen out for a Music College Didn't Prepare Me segment involving deluges of confetti and fire alarm system sprinklers (eek!)
Like what you hear? Rate, review and subscribe, and gizzus a follow on Instagram and Facebook @asitcomespod.
Mentioned in this episode:
violetavicci.com
@violetavicci
Friday Oct 30, 2020
Friday Oct 30, 2020
This episode’s guest is Daniel Rainey, an artist manager for Keynote Artist Management. We talk about how his training as a violinist informs his job, what an artist manager does, how the atmosphere of live music can never replace an online concert, plus lots of various chat about Shostakovich, Catdog and Nintendo 64 (there’s a sentence I never thought I’d write).
I also share a recent travel fail I had on my way to a rehearsal during Covid times, plus we have a special Music College Didn’t Prepare Me segment courtesy of Molly from the Corran Quartet.
Find the podcast at asitcomes.com, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and your favourite podcast apps. Don’t forget to subscribe and review!
Got something you’d like to share with me? Email me at asitcomespodcast@gmail.com
Like and follow the pod on Facebook and Instagram @asitcomespod
Mentioned in this episode:
@daniel_rainey_
@keynote_artist_management
Music for Silenced Voices: https://www.prestomusic.com/books/products/7543479--music-for-silenced-voices-shostakovich-and-his-fifteen-quartets
Friday Sep 11, 2020
Friday Sep 11, 2020
Lucia D’Avanzo-Lewis (not Lucia di Lammermoor) is my guest for this mammoth-sized episode. Lucia’s the author of the Eco Notes blog, and we chatted face-to-face about how reducing waste is like learning a new instrument as well as sharing tips on how to reduce waste and reuse possessions not only in our everyday lives, but also as musicians.
I share with you my experience of playing at my first post-lockdown wedding gig, plus we have a stupor-inducing Music College Didn’t Prepare Me contribution. Would you like to contribute? Email me: asitcomespodcast@gmail.com
Remember to like and follow on Facebook and Instagram @asitcomespod.
Mentioned in this episode:
Econotes.co.uk
Facebook.com/luciaseconotes
Episode 2 for my late-to-a-wedding anecdote and chamberoke: https://asitcomespod.podbean.com/e/episode-2-madeleine-ridd-part-1-nobody-has-a-monopoly-on-suffering/
Friday Aug 28, 2020
Friday Aug 28, 2020
Baritone Peter Brathwaite is my guest for episode 29. We chatted about keeping busy during lockdown, the pressures of putting out content online, adaptability, versatility and transferable skills as musicians, Peter’s recreation of Black portraiture throughout history. Find out also what Peter’s favourite plants are!
This episode is brought to you reluctantly by my good friend Writer’s Block and features a Music College Didn’t Prepare Me segment all about early starts and miming.
Follow and Like the podcast: @asitcomespod.
Instagram: @peter_brathwaite
Twitter: @peterbrathwaite
Peterbrathwaitebaritone.com
Friday Aug 14, 2020
Friday Aug 14, 2020
Episode 28 features guitar legend Xuefei Yang – we chat about the importance of sleep and exercise for musicians, Fei’s journey to become the first Chinese classical guitarist to reach the world stage (just don’t call her a pioneer) and her new album “Sketches of China”. Find out Fei’s recommendation of what to listen to if you’re totally unfamiliar with guitar repertoire, and what to do if you break a nail before a show.
Gyms and fitness centres are now open again in the UK, so this episode opens with my thoughts on what I’ve been doing to keep myself moving, plus we have a Music College Didn’t Prepare me contribution from a sneezing bassoonist.
Special thanks to Rebecca and Tessa at Premier Classical for their assistance in this episode.
Like and follow on Facebook and Instagram @asitcomespod
Fei’s socials:
F : www.facebook.com/xuefeiyang
T : www.twitter.com/XuefeiYang
I : www.instagram.com/xuefeiyang_guitar
Tarrega’s Recuerdos de la Alhambra: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBIhC0r2iJ8&feature=youtu.be
Friday Jul 31, 2020
Friday Jul 31, 2020
My guest this episode is Justine Cormack – a seriously accomplished violinist, creative performance coach and analogy enthusiast from New Zealand. We chat about her move from the city to the countryside, her Grand Designs featured house and her philosophy Listen Feel Play, which focuses on harnessing physical awareness in movement that we can bring to our music-making, by getting out of our heads and listening to, feeling and exploring what’s going on in our bodies instead. Find out about her day of food and her plant-based milk of choice (why does this topic always come up with New Zealanders.)
This episode features a Music College Didn't Prepare Me segment involving masks (with a slightly off-the-cuff rant about suffering from Resting B*tch Face) during a rather peculiar summer.
Mentioned in this episode:
justinecormack.com
https://www.actual.ac/project/wanaka-wedge-house/
Animals at Play (not Science of Play, as wrongly mentioned in the chat): https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m00077gh/animals-at-play
Friday Jul 17, 2020
Friday Jul 17, 2020
Father and daughter unit Fred and Lily Scott are my guests for this episode. We talk about Fred’s book “One Autumn Day” which covers his experiences of being diagnosed with osteosarcoma or bone cancer at 23, as well as his tale of recovery and survivorship, how having cancer affects your family and your perspective on life, and on a lighter note, our collective obsession with Homebase, Nigella Lawson and food.
This episode features quotes from the piano teaching community pertaining to teaching online, as well as my recent venture into livestreaming (eek!)
Get in touch at asitcomespodcast@gmail.com. Like and follow the pod on Facebook and Instagram @asitcomespod.
Mentioned in this episode:
Skeletal Cancer Trust: https://skeletalcancertrust.org/about/
Cancer Research UK: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/
@__lilyscott and @fredscottmusic