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

Sound Liberation: Joe Williams on Black Artistry, Legacy & Belonging in Concert Music
JUN 2, 2026
Sound Liberation: Joe Williams on Black Artistry, Legacy & Belonging in Concert Music
<p>What does it mean to become a "Sound Liberator"?</p><p>In this episode of The Piano Pod, pianist, composer, educator, filmmaker, scholar, and advocate <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://manoa.hawaii.edu/music/joe-williams-phd-music-student-receives-the-2026-vanguard-award-for-classical-innovation-and-community-impact/"><strong>Joe Williams</strong></a> joins host Yukimi Song for a wide-ranging conversation on artistry, legacy, belonging, improvisation, education, and the evolving landscape of concert music.</p><p>Currently pursuing a PhD in composition at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Williams has built a multifaceted career championing composers of African descent while developing his own distinctive creative voice. From premiering new works and producing documentary films to contributing scholarship on Florence Price and composing music rooted in liberation, spirituality, and human connection, Williams exemplifies what it means to be a 21st-century artist.</p><p>Throughout the episode, listeners will hear musical excerpts featuring works by Florence Price, Maria Thompson Corley, Richard Thompson, Brian Raphael Nabors, and Joe Williams himself.</p><p>🎹 <strong>Featured Music &amp; Performances</strong></p><ul><li>Brian Raphael Nabors – <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://youtu.be/LPl9PuDx8rE"><em>Piano Sonata No. 2</em></a> </li><li>Brian Raphael Nabors – <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6noWG2KT4GM"><em>Sonata for Cello and Piano</em></a> (Sterling Elliott, cello; Joseph Williams, piano)</li><li>Florence Price – <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBGxTu56IQw"><em>Fantasie Nègre in E Minor</em> </a></li><li>James Lee III - <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YavPST2SdU">Album for the Young at Heart</a><strong> </strong> </li><li>Maria Thompson Corley – <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giL1FhD6Ry8"><em>Lucid Dreaming</em> </a></li></ul><p>👤 <strong>Joe Williams</strong></p><p>Instagram: @soundliberator</p><p>🎙️ <strong>The Piano Pod</strong></p><ul><li>💖 Become a VIP Member / Unlock Exclusive Content<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://thepianopod.substack.com"> here</a></li><li>🎵 Season 6 Piano <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeBrJAY2RQ_uqBAHXTkMwM4nISe9vxvDa">Playlist</a></li><li>🎙 Nominate Guests for Season 7 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://forms.gle/z3Q78dtTBbe5hdYr9">HERE</a></li><li>📫 Join Our Newsletter <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://thepianopod.substack.com/subscribe">HERE</a></li><li>🌐 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://thepianopod.com">Website</a></li></ul><p>#JoeWilliams #ThePianoPod #FlorencePrice #BrianRaphaelNabors #MariaThompsonCorley #ConcertMusic #ContemporaryClassical #Juneteenth #PianoPodcast #ClassicalMusic</p>
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101 MIN
Beyond Borders: From Argentina to Poland to Texas—Oscar Macchioni reflects on a life in music
MAY 19, 2026
Beyond Borders: From Argentina to Poland to Texas—Oscar Macchioni reflects on a life in music
<p>In this episode of The Piano Pod, we are joined by Steinway Artist, pianist, and pedagogue Dr. Oscar Macchioni.</p><p>Born in Argentina, shaped by years of study in Poland, and now serving as Associate Professor of Piano Pedagogy at the University of North Texas, Macchioni reflects on a life in music that moves across borders — culturally, intellectually, and artistically.</p><p>A central focus of this conversation is his album <em>Mostly Tangos: Piano Music from the Americas</em>. But this episode goes far beyond tango itself.</p><p>Together, we explore artistic identity, the dangers of labels, concert programming, the evolution of tango into concert music, and how composers such as Astor Piazzolla, William Bolcom, and Karol Szymanowski shaped Macchioni’s artistic world. We also discuss his years teaching in the culturally rich border community of El Paso, Texas, his philosophy on piano pedagogy, and the role universities and artists can play in building meaningful human connection through music.</p><p>This episode offers a thoughtful reflection on artistry, cultural identity, education, and how music continues to travel across generations and borders.</p><p>🌐 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://oscarmacchioni.net/">Oscar Macchioni Website</a></p><p>🎬 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/@oscarmacchioni">Oscar Macchioni YouTube</a></p><p>🎹 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.borderlandchopincompetition.com/">Borderland Chopin International Competition</a></p><p>📖 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://open.substack.com/pub/thepianopod/p/meet-our-guest-dr-oscar-macchioni?r=2q1iy3&amp;utm_campaign=post&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;showWelcomeOnShare=true">Read the “Meet Our Guest” blog</a></p><p>💖 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://thepianopod.substack.com/">Become a VIP Member / Unlock Exclusive Content</a></p><p>🎵 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeBrJAY2RQ_uqBAHXTkMwM4nISe9vxvDa">Season 6 Piano Playlist</a></p><p>🎙 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://forms.gle/z3Q78dtTBbe5hdYr9">Nominate Guests for Season 7</a></p><p>📫 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://thepianopod.substack.com/subscribe">Join Our Newsletter</a></p><p>🌐 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://thepianopod.com/">The Piano Pod Website</a></p><p>📱 Follow The Piano Pod</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://instagram.com/thepianopod">Instagram</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://facebook.com/thepianopod">Facebook</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://tiktok.com/@thepianopod">TikTok</a></p><p>🔗 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://linktr.ee/thepianopod">All Links</a></p>
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108 MIN
Official Trailer: "Beyond Borders" feat. Oscar Macchioni, Steinway Artist & Pedagogue
MAY 18, 2026
Official Trailer: "Beyond Borders" feat. Oscar Macchioni, Steinway Artist & Pedagogue
<p>Here is the Trailer for: </p><p><em>Season 6 Episode 18: Beyond Borders: From Argentina to Poland to Texas—Oscar Macchioni Reflects on a Life in Music</em></p><p>In our upcoming episode, we welcome Steinway Artist and renowned piano pedagogue Dr. Oscar Macchioni.</p><p>This conversation goes far beyond tango.</p><p>Together, we explore: • tango as a universal concert genre • artistic labels and misconceptions • audience engagement and concert programming • Szymanowski and William Bolcom • music across borders and cultures • and the evolving role of classical music today</p><p>Born in Argentina, shaped by years of study in Poland, and now based in Texas, Macchioni reflects on a life in music rooted in curiosity, cultural connection, and artistic exploration.</p><p>🎧 Season 6, Episode 18 premieres tomorrow — Tuesday, May 19 at 8 PM ET on YouTube and all major audio platforms.</p><p>▶️ YouTube Premiere: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://youtu.be/_sDxpwSBb-k?si=npr-uxApcF1eieIF">https://youtu.be/_sDxpwSBb-k?si=npr-uxApcF1eieIF</a></p><p>🎙 Audio Platforms: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://rss.com/podcasts/the-piano-pod/">https://rss.com/podcasts/the-piano-pod/</a></p><p>📝 Meet Our Guest Blog: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://open.substack.com/pub/thepianopod/p/meet-our-guest-dr-oscar-macchioni?r=2q1iy3&amp;utm_campaign=post&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;showWelcomeOnShare=true">https://open.substack.com/pub/thepianopod/p/meet-our-guest-dr-oscar-macchioni?r=2q1iy3&amp;utm_campaign=post&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;showWelcomeOnShare=true</a></p><p>#ThePianoPod #OscarMacchioni #ClassicalMusic #Piano #Tango #KarolSzymanowski #WilliamBolcom #PianoPedagogy</p>
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1 MIN
Music As Witness feat. Concert Pianist, Anna Shelest
MAY 5, 2026
Music As Witness feat. Concert Pianist, Anna Shelest
<p>In this episode of <em>The Piano Pod</em>, we are joined by concert pianist <strong>Anna Shelest</strong>.</p><p>Her work spans major orchestral collaborations, recording projects, and repertoire advocacy — but this conversation centers on her latest album <em>A Romantic from Kharkiv; Music of Sergei Bortkiewicz</em> and the deeper artistic and cultural meaning behind it.</p><p>Together, we explore how music becomes a form of testimony — shaped by memory, identity, and history — and how Shelest’s connection to Kharkiv, Ukraine informs her interpretation of Bortkiewicz’s music. We also discuss her <em>Donna Voce</em> project, her collaboration with conductor Neeme Järvi on Anton Rubinstein’s piano concertos, and her work as part of the Shelest Piano Duo with her husband, Dmitri Shelest.</p><p>This episode is sponsored by the <a target="_new" rel="noopener" class="decorated-link" href="https://www.alexanderbuono.org/">Alexander &amp; Buono Foundation</a>, an organization dedicated to supporting classical musicians through performance opportunities, recordings, and artistic development.</p><p>This episode offers a powerful reflection on rediscovery, cultural heritage, and the role of classical music in today’s world.</p><p>📖 Read the blog (<em>Meet Our Guest</em>): <a target="_new" rel="noopener" class="decorated-link" href="https://open.substack.com/pub/thepianopod/p/meet-our-guest-anna-shelest-concert?r=2q1iy3&amp;utm_campaign=post&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;showWelcomeOnShare=true">Anna Shelest — Concert Pianist</a></p><p>🎧 Listen to Anna Shelest on <a target="_new" rel="noopener" class="decorated-link" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/3WZrfkz5agdwF3QLaKotgH?si=HzegZZhjQ82-oHA8PTAYvQ">Spotify</a></p><p>🎬 Explore more video clips on <a target="_new" rel="noopener" class="decorated-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=anna+shelest+piano">YouTube</a>💖 Become a VIP Member / Unlock Exclusive Content on <a target="_new" rel="noopener" class="decorated-link" href="https://thepianopod.substack.com">Substack</a></p><p>🎵 Listen to the <a target="_new" rel="noopener" class="decorated-link" href="https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeBrJAY2RQ_uqBAHXTkMwM4nISe9vxvDa">Season 6 Piano Playlist</a></p><p>NOMINATE GUESTS FOR SEASON 7: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://forms.gle/z3Q78dtTBbe5hdYr9">https://forms.gle/z3Q78dtTBbe5hdYr9</a></p><p>📫 Join our <a target="_new" rel="noopener" class="decorated-link" href="https://thepianopod.substack.com/subscribe">Newsletter</a></p><p>🌐 Visit our <a target="_new" rel="noopener" class="decorated-link" href="https://thepianopod.com">Website</a></p><p>📱 Follow <em>The Piano Pod</em> on <a target="_new" rel="noopener" class="decorated-link" href="https://instagram.com/thepianopod">Instagram</a>, <a target="_new" rel="noopener" class="decorated-link" href="https://facebook.com/thepianopod">Facebook</a>, and <a target="_new" rel="noopener" class="decorated-link" href="https://tiktok.com/@thepianopod">TikTok</a></p><p>🔗 Access all links via <a target="_new" rel="noopener" class="decorated-link" href="https://linktr.ee/thepianopod">Linktree</a></p><p>🎧 Available on YouTube and all podcast platforms. Subscribe for more conversations on creativity, artistry, and the future of classical music.</p>
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109 MIN