The Piano Pod - a global hub for innovation, education, and connection in classical piano music
The Piano Pod - a global hub for innovation, education, and connection in classical piano music

The Piano Pod - a global hub for innovation, education, and connection in classical piano music

Yukimi Song

Overview
Episodes

Details

...where tradition meets innovation. Together, we bring PIANO into the FUTURE.a global hub for innovation, education, and connection in classical piano musicHey, 🎹 enthusiasts out there! My name is Yukimi, a classical pianist and educator from NYC and executive producer of The Piano Pod. The Piano Pod🎙 is a one-of-a-kind podcast that delves deep into the fascinating world of classical music, with a specific focus on the 🎹 piano. In a biweekly format, the show explores intriguing discussions with guests breaking exciting new ground in the classical music industry. The Piano Pod aims to nurture a thriving community that embraces innovative approaches to ensure classical music's relevance and vitality in today's dynamic landscape."How can I present the beautiful tradition of classical music to the 21st-century audience in a fun, contemporary, and engaging way?"When I started building a piano studio in the trendy neighborhood of Downtown Manhattan in 2007 while in the NYU graduate program in piano studies, I began to ponder this question. I realized the stark difference in expectations toward classical music and music education between music professionals and the general public. Then, one of the NYU music department's professors suggested I start a podcast: the platform would allow classical musicians to address this disparity and spark conversations about audience engagement.Finally, fast forward to 10+ years later, The Piano Pod was born in the summer of 2020. Since then, I have had the privilege of interviewing A-listers in the classical music industry: international concert pianists, composers, arrangers, digital streamers/influencers, music educators, entrepreneurs, neurodiverse specialists, and performance psychologists.Through fascinating conversations, we have explored how classical music should continue to evolve to remain relevant to our lifestyle, society, and culture. Over the past three seasons, The Piano Pod has achieved remarkable success by reaching faithful listeners on audio platforms and viewers via YouTube.As the show is celebrating the past season's achievements and gearing toward the new season in the fall, my mission as the Executive Producer is crystal clear: to provide a platform for classical musicians and educators to reflect and discuss ways to keep our industry robust and meaningful in this ever-changing world and move it forward in the post-pandemic era.🔗Follow TPP on social media accounts to get the latest news about 🎹.Thanks for listening♥️🎹

Recent Episodes

Bells of Nagasaki — Anli Lin Tong on Faith, Lineage, and the Artist’s Callin
DEC 17, 2025
Bells of Nagasaki — Anli Lin Tong on Faith, Lineage, and the Artist’s Callin
<p>What does a piano recital have to do with war, faith, and forgiveness?</p><p>In this episode of <strong>The Piano Pod</strong>, pianist and educator <strong>Anli Lin Tong</strong> shares the story behind <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://easyreadernews.com/in-nagasaki-cathedral-bells-ring-again-after-80-years-st-john-fishers-church-marks-the-occasion-with-a-concert/"><strong>Bells of Nagasaki: Music for Contemplation</strong></a>—a profoundly moving concert created for the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki.</p><p>What began as a single song her father used to sing—<em>The Bells of Nagasaki</em>—became a powerful act of remembrance, shaped by the legacy of <strong>Dr. Takashi Nagai</strong>, a survivor who transformed unimaginable loss into a life devoted to peace.</p><p>This conversation moves beyond repertoire and performance into questions rarely asked in classical music:</p><p>• What responsibility does an artist carry when history is still unresolved? • How does sound hold memory when words fail?</p><p>From the history of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://chroniclet.com/news/441023/the-bomb-and-the-bell-a-story-of-two-tolls/"><strong>Urakami Cathedral’s bells</strong></a>, silenced for decades, to Anli’s own journey—moving to the U.S. alone as a child, studying with legendary teachers, and carrying artistic lineage forward—this episode reveals how music can become a moral witness.</p><p>It’s a conversation about remembrance, responsibility, and the quiet power of sound to hold history—and humanity—together.</p><p><strong>Learn More About Anli Lin Tong</strong></p><ul><li>📝 Read <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://open.substack.com/pub/thepianopod/p/meet-our-guest-anli-lin-tong-concert?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&amp;utm_medium=web">my blog </a>exploring Anli’s artistry and work</li><li>📰 <strong>Press Coverage: </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://easyreadernews.com/in-nagasaki-cathedral-bells-ring-again-after-80-years-st-john-fishers-church-marks-the-occasion-with-a-concert/"><strong><em>Bells of Nagasaki: Music for Contemplation</em></strong></a><strong><em> </em></strong></li><li>🎓 <strong>Juilliard Feature </strong>The Juilliard School highlights Anli’s writing on her teacher <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.juilliard.edu/news/143761/honoring-beloved-teacher"><strong>Mieczysław Munz</strong></a>: </li></ul><p><strong>🎹 THE PIANO POD</strong></p><ul><li>🎵 Subscribe to the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeBrJAY2RQ_uqBAHXTkMwM4nISe9vxvDa">Season 6 Piano Playlis</a>t — a collection of every piano work mentioned throughout the episodes: </li><li>💖 Become a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://thepianopod.substack.com">VIP Member</a> or unlock exclusive content: </li><li>📫 Join<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://thepianopod.substack.com/subscribe/"> our newsletter:</a></li><li>🌐 Website:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://thepianopod.com"> https://thepianopod.com </a>📱 IG: @thepianopod | FB: @thepianopod | TikTok: @thepianopod 🔗 Linktree:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://linktr.ee/thepianopod"> https://linktr.ee/thepianopod</a></li></ul>
play-circle icon
94 MIN
Official Trailer ✅: "Bells of Nagasaki" feat. Pianist/Educator, Anli Lin Tong
DEC 15, 2025
Official Trailer ✅: "Bells of Nagasaki" feat. Pianist/Educator, Anli Lin Tong
<p>The trailer for our upcoming episode is now live—and it offers a glimpse into one of the most reflective and quietly powerful conversations of this season.</p><p>In <strong>Season 6, Episode 8 of <em>The Piano Pod</em></strong>, I sit down with pianist and educator <strong>Anli Lin Tong</strong> for a deeply moving conversation about music as memory, faith, lineage, and moral witness.</p><p>At the heart of this episode is Anli’s recent project, <strong><em>Bells of Nagasaki: Music for Contemplation</em></strong>—a concert created to honor the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. What began as a song her father used to sing, <em>The Bells of Nagasaki</em>, became the seed for a project shaped by history, spiritual reckoning, and the life of <strong>Dr. Takashi Nagai</strong>, a survivor who devoted his life to forgiveness and peace.</p><p>Our conversation moves beyond repertoire and performance into questions that are rarely asked in classical music: <em>What role can music play in healing and forgiveness?</em> <em>What responsibility does an artist carry when history is still unresolved?</em></p><p>We also trace Anli’s artistic lineage—from early piano lessons guided by her father, to moving to the U.S. alone as a minor, to studying with legendary teachers and carrying their legacy forward through her work as a performer and educator.</p><p>This episode is a reflection on remembrance, responsibility, and the artist’s calling—and on the quiet power of music to hold history, faith, and humanity together.</p><p>✨ <strong>The full episode premieres Tuesday, December 16, at 8:00 PM ET</strong> on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://youtu.be/0LP0w9GWzas"><strong>YouTube</strong></a>, with the audio episode released simultaneously on all major podcast platforms.</p><p></p><p>📝 <strong>Learn more about Anli and her work </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://open.substack.com/pub/thepianopod/p/meet-our-guest-anli-lin-tong-concert"><strong>HERE</strong></a></p><p>— Yukimi</p>
play-circle icon
1 MIN
Between Worlds: Mirna Lekic on Cultural Crossings, Sonic Identity, and the Art of Connection
DEC 10, 2025
Between Worlds: Mirna Lekic on Cultural Crossings, Sonic Identity, and the Art of Connection
<p>In this episode, I sit down with pianist and educator <strong>Mirna Lekić</strong> for a conversation that spans continents, sound worlds, and the deeper layers of what music can mean in a human life.</p><p>Born and raised in Sarajevo during the Bosnian War and now based in New York City, Mirna brings a rare perspective to the piano — one shaped by resilience, migration, devotion, and an unshakable belief in music as a stabilizing, healing force.</p><p>We explore her acclaimed 2023 album <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://open.spotify.com/album/58SibrOpungxRAJnnZon0b?si=TXaMZxj8QnSGF0KKUD9Eqw"><strong>MIRAGE</strong></a>, a breathtaking collection of sonic illusions and cultural crossings that reimagines the piano as a global storyteller — moving from Azerbaijan to Spain, Armenia to Java, and beyond.</p><p>This episode dives into:</p><ul><li>how early musical experiences during war shaped Mirna’s artistic identity</li><li>the healing and stabilizing role music played during her family’s resettlement</li><li>the depth of Bosnian and Balkan musical influences</li><li>how cultural diversity becomes musical philosophy, not performance</li><li>MIRAGE and its groundbreaking approach to sound, resonance, and identity</li><li>collaborative work with living composers, shadow puppeteers, and multidisciplinary artists</li><li>how educators can guide young musicians toward authenticity in a rapidly changing world</li></ul><p>It’s a conversation about <strong>healing</strong>, <strong>devotion</strong>, <strong>heritage</strong>, and the power of sound to help us make sense of where we come from — and where we’re going.</p><p>🌟 <strong>SOUND BITES</strong></p><p>“Music was a healing presence.” “Music study demands devotion.” “Music can be a lifeline.”</p><p>🎧 <strong>FEATURED LINKS FROM MIRNA'S WORK</strong></p><p><strong>From the album <em>Masks</em>:</strong> </p><ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://youtu.be/0STZXD_cv8M?si=t1NcBkT6RGUycNd2">Debussy, <em>The Toybox</em> (opening</a>) </li><li>Villa-Lobos: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://youtu.be/D3WFfcjtyg0?si=ydGdD5RxSaYED1xR"><em>Negrinha</em>, No. 5 from <em>Baby’s Family</em> </a></li></ul><p><strong>From <em>MIRAGE</em>:</strong> </p><ul><li>Ali-Zadeh — <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://youtu.be/JAjhFodgAcE?si=V-QvAj6QTIp_uSoH"><em>Music for Piano</em></a> </li><li>Lachenmann — <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://youtu.be/D3GmwlPTNtc?si=EEoYgTtVk2t7JANq"><em>Guero</em></a> </li><li>Cowell — <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://youtu.be/w83pggzCN7o?si=C1nSHQRquFxyMySH"><em>Aeolian Harp</em></a> </li></ul><p><strong>From <em>Eastern Currents</em>:</strong> Ramin Heydarbeygi — <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://youtu.be/RoyXECB53bg?si=_MMIX4TkRIYBPI-6"><em>Aramesh</em> </a></p><p><strong>Mirna’s Shadow Puppetry Collaborations:</strong> </p><ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://youtu.be/V5Tj2ZHDGS8?si=Aa05gwPs0R0evO8r">https://youtu.be/V5Tj2ZHDGS8?si=Aa05gwPs0R0evO8r</a> </li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duMJtVPVOIs&amp;t=262s">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duMJtVPVOIs&amp;t=262s</a></li></ul><p>Read my review on Mirna's Album, MIRAGE on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://open.substack.com/pub/thepianopod/p/meet-our-guest-mirna-lekic?r=2q1iy3&amp;utm_campaign=post&amp;utm_medium=web">Substack</a></p>
play-circle icon
81 MIN
Official Trailer ✅ "Between Worlds" Mirna Lekić on Cultural Crossings, Sonic Identity, and the Art of Connection
DEC 7, 2025
Official Trailer ✅ "Between Worlds" Mirna Lekić on Cultural Crossings, Sonic Identity, and the Art of Connection
<p>Here is the <strong>TRAILER — Between Worlds: From Sarajevo to New York: A Conversation on Cultural Crossings, Sonic Identity, and the Art of Connection feat. Mirna Lekić</strong></p><p>This week on <em>The Piano Pod</em>, I sit down with pianist and champion of new music <strong>Mirna Lekić</strong> for a conversation that moves between cultures, sound worlds, and the deeper layers of artistic identity. From Sarajevo to New York, we explore cultural crossings, sonic imagination, and the power of music to connect and ground us.</p><p>✨ <strong>The full episode drops this Tuesday, December 9 at 8pm ET</strong> — and I’d love for you to join us.</p><p>📺 <strong>Set Reminder for </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://youtu.be/k4c2rTiXswQ?si=oMOP9kqoX_y2Ykhf"><strong>the YouTube Premiere</strong></a></p><p>🎧 <strong>Audio episode will be available </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://rss.com/podcasts/the-piano-pod/"><strong>everywhere</strong></a><strong> simultaneously</strong></p><p>📝 <strong>Learn more about Mirna and her album <em>MIRAGE</em> on </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://open.substack.com/pub/thepianopod/p/meet-our-guest-mirna-lekic?r=2q1iy3&amp;utm_campaign=post&amp;utm_medium=web"><strong>Substack</strong></a> </p><p>See you on Tuesday for a powerful conversation on cultural crossings, sonic identity, and the art of connection.</p>
play-circle icon
1 MIN
Bonus Episode: Introducing the Zainichi Music Project
NOV 23, 2025
Bonus Episode: Introducing the Zainichi Music Project
<p>Happy Thanksgiving! In this bonus episode, I’m sharing something deeply personal — a part of my identity I’ve rarely spoken about publicly. I am a third-generation Zainichi Korean, born and raised in Japan, and I’m finally stepping into that history through a new creative initiative called <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nyfa.org/projects/project-info/?id=YS2055"><strong>The Zainichi Music Project</strong></a>, now sponsored by the <strong>New York Foundation for the Arts</strong>.</p><p>This episode marks the beginning of that journey — a project that will grow into a living archive of research, new music commissions, recordings, interviews, and documentary work.</p><p><strong>In this episode, I talk about:</strong></p><ul><li>What the word <strong>Zainichi</strong> actually means,</li><li>How Japanese colonial rule — not immigration — brought our community into Japan,</li><li>How postwar restructuring and the San Francisco Peace Treaty left Zainichi Koreans stateless,</li><li>What it meant to be born and raised in a country that never fully recognized us as citizens,</li><li>And why this project is my way of honoring our history, resilience, and creative legacy.</li></ul><p>For those who want to go deeper, please read my Substack essay, <strong>“</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://thepianopod.substack.com/p/reclaiming-voice-through-sound"><strong>Behind the Mic: Reclaiming Voice Through Sound</strong></a><strong>,”</strong> where I share more about my experience growing up Zainichi.</p><p>Thank you for listening — and for being part of The Piano Pod community. If you’d like to follow this new project, you can subscribe to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://zainichimusicproject.substack.com/">Substack</a> and follow @zainichimusicproject on Instagram and TikTok.</p><p>More soon, and thank you for supporting this next chapter.</p>
play-circle icon
6 MIN