Music Education EPISODES

Five years after her first appearance on Tapasya Loading, New York-based Dutch vocalist, composer, producer, educator and psychologist Vivienne Aerts returns as our first-ever guest to make a second reappearance. Her new album, Current, was created aboard a tiny wooden sailboat that Vivienne and her husband, Ted Steinebach, first bought during the pandemic. What began with a fascination for the acoustics of open water eventually became a floating studio, travelling from Leiden towards Amsterd...

There is an entire chapter of Indian music history that has shaped global music in unknown ways remains preserved only in the human memory of a select few. Sandhya Sanjana is one of those humans. Long before "world music" became a marketing category, she was part of a generation of home-grown South-Asian artists blurring the edges of jazz, global and Indian classical music by a trial and error met with genuine curiosity, rather than novelty. Co-founder one of India's earliest internatio...

(Rec. 23rd Oct 2025) Photo: © Peter Pavlov When a serendipitous turn of events resulted in Mahidhara's international debut being on one of the most visible stages of the world, the cascade of events that followed leading to an illustrious career that breaks multiple stereotypes in the arts industry by default, was not on a premeditated agenda, but a natural bi-product of a passionate and tenacious work ethic amply apparent even in her earlier formative years. We dig deeper to trace t...

Sæunn happens to be one of the most respected cellists in the world, performing with orchestras like the Los Angeles Philharmonic, BBC Symphony, and Iceland Symphony, and in venues like Carnegie Hall, Barbican, and Suntory Hall, to name just a few accolades. She’s basically one of the best out there, for those who find language like that easier to understand. But what makes Sæunn stand out beyond her accolades are the challenges she throws at accepted narratives both in the classical music wo...

In this episode, I reconnect with guitarist, educator, and fellow Effortless Mastery retreat graduate Corey Congilio—a musician whose presence in the Nashville scene is more than skill; it’s a standard. Corey’s work as a pioneering educator has shaped players across generations, with a roster of students that include the likes of artists like Seal and countless guitarists who’ve come to rely on his clarity, precision, and grounded musical wisdom. But beneath the technique and the résumé li...

In his third appearance on Tapasya Loading, guitarist, composer, and educator Rez Abbasi joins T.L. Mazumdar for a conversation that begins with music but doesn’t end there. Born in Karachi and raised in California, NYC-based guitarist Rez has long been a bridge between worlds: jazz, South Asian and urban traditions, intellect and instinct, virtuosic precision and play. Award-winning touring and recording artist and teacher at the New School in New York, he is known for a sound that is as ...

In the fast-paced world of independent artistry, the concept of "hustle" has evolved from a symbol of self-reliance to a relentless pressure to produce and promote without pause. This episode delves into the historical roots and modern implications of hustle culture, revealing how it has shifted from a tool for liberation to a potential trap that can erode an artist's inner life and creative joy. Free Training: artistmindmap.com Read the blog post. Join the first cohort of my Artist ...

Composer, sarodist, and cultural shapeshifter Soumik Datta joins T.L. Mazumdar for a conversation that goes far beyond the usual talk of craft and career. Born in Mumbai and raised in London, Soumik grew up between cultures, mentored by Pandit Buddhadev Das Gupta in Kolkata and later trained in composition at Trinity Laban. Today, he stands as one of the rare contemporary artists bridging heritage and innovation with equal devotion. His work spans collaborations with Beyoncé, Anoushka Shan...

What happens when social expectations collide with artistic vision? In this episode, vocalist, producer, and founder of Tamil Jazz Collective, Harini Iyer shares her journey of carving out a path beyond conventional definitions of success. With a diverse background including engineering and business analysis, and a Grammy nomination as part of a Berklee ensemble, Harini’s story bridges the worlds of structure and improvisation. From navigating the pressures of tradition, playing the quintessenti...

While the myth of sudden discovery and rapid success still tempts many artists, the reality is a system surprisingly young. And yet, one that continues to dominate artists' perceptions of success. The fascinating history of music as sacred ritual o the other hand, once a source of healing across cultures, has been transformed into a mass-produced entity under modern industry pressures. Free Training: artistmindmap.com Courses: https://holisticmusicianacademy.com/page/courses Co...

(Rec. 5th March 2025) Some revolutions begin in the mind of someone who never set out to be the loudest in the room. Graham Cochrane’s story is a reminder that the word “rockstar” doesn’t always mean what we were taught it does. When his bandmates in school abandoned the dream for law firms and investment banking, he chose the harder road, ignoring his counselor's insistence on focusing on that 'real job' in college applications. The result? A near-miss record deal in Nashville, the wei...

What does it take to sustain both a marriage and a creative partnership—without one overshadowing the other? In this long-awaited conversation, we sit down with Kiran Ahluwalia & Rez Abbasi, a powerhouse couple who have built extraordinary solo careers while seamlessly collaborating as partners in both life and music. From navigating creative differences to maintaining individuality within a shared artistic vision, Kiran and Rez open up about the complexities of working side by side in an ind...

NYC-based Hungarian drummer Ferenc Nemeth is a Grammy-award-winning musician and educator who continues to push the boundaries of jazz drumming, composition and education with his unique approach of self-development and artistry. Nemeth has been one of the most sought after drummers both, in Europe and the United States with a lineage from a musical family, lending him a unique dynamism and versatility fostered from a very early age. From his early days at the Berklee College of Music in Boston ...

Fireside chat with award-winning Pianist/Producer/Educator & Entrepreneur Charles Szczepanek. Watch the extended, unedited taping session here (includes additional footage and transcripts).

Guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, and composer Kavall explores space in his practice that transcends and expands both extrinsic and intrinsic representations of the same in what is arguably an unprecedented manner. Founder of the 'spatial guitar', his signature concert-performance-meets-art installation is an immersive musical experience that surrounds the audience with six, lit speakers connected to individual strings on his customized guitar as it processes tsunami-esque tapestries of emoti...

I’m excited to welcome Johannes Stange, a long-time friend and one of my most cherished collaborators on this episode. Johannes is a rare archetype—a multi-hyphenate artist whose standards of excellence continue to inspire me over the years, but also a man who leads a life deeply connected to the land, running a boutique organic farm from his home base in Mannheim, Germany. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with many gifted artists, but Johannes has always stood out for me part...

Canada-based Indian Jazz Vocalist Shruti Ramani speaks to T.L. Mazumdar

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Read the blog post here: https://www.tapasyaloading.com/blog/what-is-toxic-pedagogy/ Download my FREE 'Artist Mindmap'. A one-page mini-masterclass for independent musicians. Music and Audio Production: www.everynowheremusic.com Episode Notes / Text : www.tlwrites.com Music and Audio Production: www.everynowheremusic.com Episode Notes / Text : www.tlwrites.com

The importance of discerning between sensitivity and fragility.

How global musicians and artists can overcome toxic criticism and cultural biases.

Multi-instrumentalist & Composer Jens Gebel speaks to T.L. Mazumdar

Spanish-German Bassist, Composer-Producer & Educator talks to T.L. Mazumdar.

Guitarist and Solopreneur Corey Congilio speaks to T.L. Mazumdar