Crushing Classical

Jennet Ingle•crushingclassical.libsyn.com

Crushing Classical is a series of interviews with classical musicians who are forging unique paths with their talent, creating their own artistic fulfillment and financial comfort, and finding ways to thrive. I celebrate these brave people who are taking routes outside of traditional orchestral or academic employment! As always, I invite you to listen for your own sparks and breadcrumbs, and use these interviews to find the possibilities that exist in your own life.

Last refreshed: August 15th, 2025 at 3:13 PM ⓘ

Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.

Follow on

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

RSS

Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app

Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

Mark Rabideau: A Plan Unfolding Imperfectly Can Turn Into A Unique Career You Love

What you'll hear: Why and how a career in classical music doesn’t have to be as narrow and limited as Choice A or Choice B The most effective and powerful way to work through a personal or professional crisis How putting so much emphasis and effort on the “big” events and moments of your life actually *creates* failure The precarious spot you put yourself in when the only definition you have of yourself is “I’m a guy/gal who plays _______ (instrument)” (hint: you are so much more!) … and much mo...

Dec 07, 2017•1 hr 38 min

Fireside Chat #38: Being Social In An Arena Where Hiding Is Normal

What you'll hear: - The pitfalls of creating a public persona of peacocking, perfection and "having it all together" - Dialogue on using social to entice more of your friends and colleagues to show up at your performances - Digging into the elusive word "success" and how classical musicians define it uniquely - Approaching social media in an easier and far more achievable way ...and much more Join our upcoming Crushing Classical Starting Line Challenge! The 4-Day Challenge starts on 12/11/17 htt...

Dec 03, 2017•55 min

Jessica Meyer - Juilliard Graduates Don't Have It Easier: An Honest Conversation About Forging A Unique Career In NYC

- How being one of the "chosen few" to attend Juilliard doesn't match the REALITY of how life works (Hint: You don't get to escape the need to meet people, build relationships and show up - even when you're broke) - Why she ultimately stopped auditioning, the question she asked herself that turned out to be the deciding factor...and what she pursued instead - How self imposed "rules" caused her to stop writing music for a period of time (something she loved deeply) in an attempt to "be practical...

Nov 26, 2017•50 min

Steve Hackman: Evolving Classical Music By Embracing Who You Are As An Artist

What you'll hear: - Why you need to purposefully seek out the people who will support you and what that looks like in reality - How getting rejected from the Hollywood round of American Idol turned into a pivotal moment of clarity - Why convincing people that what you want to do never works (and what actually DOES work) - How the notion of "changing things" in any niche is counterproductive (and what intention to have your eye on instead) ...and much more Links for Steve Hackman, mentioned durin...

Nov 22, 2017•1 hr 2 min

Fireside Chat #37: The Most Important Training Is The Kind You Aren't Doing

What you'll hear: - The type of training business owners consistently engage in that multiplies their results (and ultimately their income) - Why "I just need to practice more" isn't solving all your problems (and never will) - The difference between a thinking problem and a money problem (this is why money always seems scarce) - Why you seem to end up repeating patterns and situations no matter how hard you try NOT to - How to change people's perception of you when you want to change directions...

Nov 19, 2017•1 hr 3 min

Fireside Chat #36: Evolving Your Career Before Your Career Demands Evolution

What you'll hear: - A conversation about completing a classical music career with a hat tip to Zeneba Bowers ("I'm planning on going out like Seinfeld, not like Happy Days") - Why you must CREATE discomfort...before it shows up at at time you least expect it (and don't want it) - What the ACTUAL "worst" time really is to make a change in your life (you'll recognize this) - The real purpose of Crushing Classical and specifically the podcast interviews as it relates to your career journey ...and m...

Nov 12, 2017•1 hr 1 min

Zeneba Bowers: A Professional Violinist's Journey To Little Roads Best Traveled

What you'll hear: - How a precarious orchestral employment situation triggered the birth of a passion filled income producing side hustle - Why classical musicians would be wise to draw inspiration from areas OUTSIDE music - How a massive rejection by a publisher turned into the greatest opportunity imaginable...and how to turn misfortune into your greatest blessing - The best way to avoid burnout in the the repetitive and competitive field of classical music - Why being willing to get rejected ...

Nov 09, 2017•1 hr 24 min

Fireside Chat #35: Defining Your Value In A World Where Resumes Are Secondary

What you'll hear: - The "truths" classical musicians live by that cut off possibility - The ONLY reason why a non-music employer can't see your value - What sells you and your value BETTER than a resume - A frank conversation about every classical musician's dream...a $150K salary - A fun little $150K game to expand your mind and imagination :) ...and much more Join the Crushing Classical 7 Day Starting Line Challenge! https://www.facebook.com/groups/crushingclassicalstartingline/ Starts MONDAY ...

Nov 05, 2017•1 hr 26 min

Fireside Chat #34: Games 2.0: Play By The Rules, Play To Win...or just PLAY

What you'll hear: - The what, how and why of "rules" and their impact on the classical world - How the Permission Triangle stops you from pursuing "Plan A" - The #1 reason why a unique career is actually EASIER to pursue than a job - Why you (and anyone) can be a public figure TODAY ...and much more Join the Crushing Classical Starting Line Challenge and explore what a unique career can look like for you. Whether you've started something already or you're not sure what to do, this is the place t...

Oct 29, 2017•1 hr 2 min

Hot Seat #6: Part 2: Amanda Chavis: A Conversation To Pursue and Implement Plan A

What you'll hear: - How to determine content design when creating a course, program, workshop or retreat - The exact question to ask yourself in order to know who is the "right" customer for whatever you are creating - Why your resume is the LAST thing you should rely on when trying to sell something (hint: there's something else people respond to much more readily) - A detailed walkthrough for how to conduct a sales conversation by phone (if you get nothing else from this conversation...this is...

Oct 26, 2017•46 min

Fireside Chat #33: Finding Purpose in a Challenge You Design Yourself

What you'll hear: - Invitation to join the upcoming 7-Day Starting Line Challenge on 11/6/17 - A recap of our most recent 30 day challenge and what we walked away with - The real reason we continue doing challenges (and an invitation for you to join us in them) - A conversation about purpose vs. goals and why it matters ...and more I want to thank Ficks Music for sponsoring Crushing Classical. When you’re looking for high quality sheet music, look no further than https://www.ficksmusic.com/ Orde...

Oct 22, 2017•1 hr 1 min

Hot Seat #6: Part 1: Amanda Chavis: A Conversation To Pursue and Implement Plan A

What you'll hear: - The #1 reason why people buy from you (for anyone who has ever considered selling a course, program, retreat, etc.) - The difference between marketing and selling a “hard topic” vs. a “soft topic” and why it matters - Why all the people who sell vague terminology like “success” are totally missing the mark - Why waiting until your thing is “perfect” before launching is a mistake...and what to have your eye on instead - The #1 thing your program or course must deliver on (it’s...

Oct 19, 2017•43 min

Fireside Chat #32: Money Minded Part 2: Keys To Freeing Yourself From The Money Trap

What you'll hear: - The greatest misunderstanding that exists concerning life insurance and how it tangibly impacts you (and your family if you have one) - Why how you THINK about money is infinitely more important than any financial vehicle you buy into - The top 4 things you should address in your will (yes, you need one and here's why) - Why being debt free and living on a cash basis should NOT be your ultimate goal (despite all you've heard, read and believe) ...and much more For more inform...

Oct 15, 2017•1 hr 17 min

Fireside Chat #31: Evolving Classical Music: A Conversation About Real World Viability

What you'll hear: - How to initially assess a unique career idea to determine if it's likely to "work" - The #1 thing you need to START doing if you truly want to evolve both classical music AND your career - Why moving classical music into a different venue (i.e. a bar or club) is backwards thinking - The biggest thing standing in the way of the evolution of classical music (hint: it's not the music ...and much more I want to thank Ficks Music for sponsoring Crushing Classical. When you’re look...

Oct 08, 2017•1 hr 8 min

Hot Seat #5: Part 2: Kyle Walker: The Social Media Woes of an Emerging Classical Music Activist

What you'll hear: Why your obsession with what you want to be “known as” in the world is actually a purpose killer AND a career killer What kinds of social media posts make you instantly valuable to your audience How to state your opinion and take a position publicly without starting a conflict or a fight with the audience A behind-the-scenes discussion about planning out your social media to hit the audience you’re intending ...and much more I want to thank Ficks Music for sponsoring Crushing C...

Oct 05, 2017•1 hr 3 min

Fireside Chat #30: Decisions Decisions: Navigating the World of Promises You Make... And Just Might Have To Break

What you'll hear: - A simple method to gauge whether or not a decision you're about to make is right for you - How to exit a situation gracefully, ease the burden of guilt and leave your reputation intact - What is actually MORE important than other people's opinions of you (this will likely surprise you) - The thing you need to stop doing if you truly want to get in tune with what you KNOW ...and much more Thank you to Ficks Music for sponsoring Crushing Classical. For high quality sheet music,...

Oct 01, 2017•55 min

Hot Seat #5: Part 1: Kyle Walker: The Social Media Woes of an Emerging Classical Music Activist

What you'll hear: A simple and practical method for furthering a particular point of view you have as a classical musician...without ruining your reputation in the process The real reason why selfies and instrument practice videos aren’t pulling an audience in your direction...and what you should be publishing instead What your audience is TRULY interested in when they find you for the first time (and every day thereafter) A straightforward method for establishing what kinds of content to post o...

Sep 28, 2017•50 min

Fireside Chat #29: Creativity Part 2: Generating Ideas and Promoting Yourself For The Clueless But Determined

What you'll hear: - The critical shift you have to make in your mind to begin building an audience...and why it matters even if you have a symphony job right now - The surefire solution for generating both ideas and content that works for ANYONE who wasn't blessed with the creativity gene (some of us simply aren't...Eileen included) - Why asking all your friends to like and follow your artist/band/business social media accounts is among the worst ideas you've ever had - Two totally unorthodox (y...

Sep 24, 2017•1 hr 6 min

← Prev

Hosted on Buzzsprout

For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android