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

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

Written by: Yukimi Song
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...where tradition meets innovation. Together, we bring PIANO into the FUTURE.

a global hub for innovation, education, and connection in classical piano music

Hey, 🎹 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♥️🎹

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Episodes
  • Official Trailer: "Schubert Now" Ammiel Bushakevitz on Storytelling, Connection, and the Road to the 2028 Bicentennial

    Official Trailer: "Schubert Now" Ammiel Bushakevitz on Storytelling, Connection, and the Road to the 2028 Bicentennial
    Jan 12 2026

    🎬 OFFICIAL TRAILER

    Season 6, Episode 9 Schubert Now — Concert Pianist, Ammiel Bushakevitz on Storytelling, Connection, and the Road to the 2028 Bicentennial

    Why does Schubert still matter today?

    In our first episode of 2026, I sit down with concert pianist and recording artist Ammiel Bushakevitz for a wide-ranging conversation on Schubert, the German Lied tradition, and why intimacy — not scale — may shape the future of classical music.

    From his bold Schubert 200 project and the journey toward recording Schubert’s complete piano works by 2028, to the return of Schubertiaden and the power of music in small, human spaces, this episode explores what it means to listen deeply in the 21st century.

    This is a conversation about storytelling, connection, and why 19th-century music continues to speak with urgency today.

    ▶️ Join the premiere here on Tuesday, January 13:

    https://youtu.be/uWoq0paUvCc?si=ePQCYgqFTY361VOK

    🎧 Audio episode drops simultaneously: https://rss.com/podcasts/the-piano-pod/
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    2 mins
  • Bells of Nagasaki — Anli Lin Tong on Faith, Lineage, and the Artist’s Callin

    Bells of Nagasaki — Anli Lin Tong on Faith, Lineage, and the Artist’s Callin
    Dec 17 2025

    What does a piano recital have to do with war, faith, and forgiveness?

    In this episode of The Piano Pod, pianist and educator Anli Lin Tong shares the story behind Bells of Nagasaki: Music for Contemplation—a profoundly moving concert created for the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki.

    What began as a single song her father used to sing—The Bells of Nagasaki—became a powerful act of remembrance, shaped by the legacy of Dr. Takashi Nagai, a survivor who transformed unimaginable loss into a life devoted to peace.

    This conversation moves beyond repertoire and performance into questions rarely asked in classical music:

    • What responsibility does an artist carry when history is still unresolved? • How does sound hold memory when words fail?

    From the history of Urakami Cathedral’s bells, 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.

    It’s a conversation about remembrance, responsibility, and the quiet power of sound to hold history—and humanity—together.

    Learn More About Anli Lin Tong

    • 📝 Read my blog exploring Anli’s artistry and work
    • 📰 Press Coverage: Bells of Nagasaki: Music for Contemplation
    • 🎓 Juilliard Feature The Juilliard School highlights Anli’s writing on her teacher Mieczysław Munz:

    🎹 THE PIANO POD

    • 🎵 Subscribe to the Season 6 Piano Playlist — a collection of every piano work mentioned throughout the episodes:
    • 💖 Become a VIP Member or unlock exclusive content:
    • 📫 Join our newsletter:
    • 🌐 Website: https://thepianopod.com 📱 IG: @thepianopod | FB: @thepianopod | TikTok: @thepianopod 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/thepianopod
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    1 hr and 34 mins
  • Between Worlds: Mirna Lekic on Cultural Crossings, Sonic Identity, and the Art of Connection

    Between Worlds: Mirna Lekic on Cultural Crossings, Sonic Identity, and the Art of Connection
    Dec 10 2025

    In this episode, I sit down with pianist and educator Mirna Lekić for a conversation that spans continents, sound worlds, and the deeper layers of what music can mean in a human life.

    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.

    We explore her acclaimed 2023 album MIRAGE, 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.

    This episode dives into:

    • how early musical experiences during war shaped Mirna’s artistic identity
    • the healing and stabilizing role music played during her family’s resettlement
    • the depth of Bosnian and Balkan musical influences
    • how cultural diversity becomes musical philosophy, not performance
    • MIRAGE and its groundbreaking approach to sound, resonance, and identity
    • collaborative work with living composers, shadow puppeteers, and multidisciplinary artists
    • how educators can guide young musicians toward authenticity in a rapidly changing world

    It’s a conversation about healing, devotion, heritage, and the power of sound to help us make sense of where we come from — and where we’re going.

    🌟 SOUND BITES

    “Music was a healing presence.” “Music study demands devotion.” “Music can be a lifeline.”

    🎧 FEATURED LINKS FROM MIRNA'S WORK

    From the album Masks:

    • Debussy, The Toybox (opening)
    • Villa-Lobos: Negrinha, No. 5 from Baby’s Family

    From MIRAGE:

    • Ali-Zadeh — Music for Piano
    • Lachenmann — Guero
    • Cowell — Aeolian Harp

    From Eastern Currents: Ramin Heydarbeygi — Aramesh

    Mirna’s Shadow Puppetry Collaborations:

    • https://youtu.be/V5Tj2ZHDGS8?si=Aa05gwPs0R0evO8r
    • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duMJtVPVOIs&t=262s

    Read my review on Mirna's Album, MIRAGE on Substack
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    1 hr and 22 mins
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