Think Music

From Juilliard to Paris: Mosa Tsay on Fulbright, Groupmuse, and Music AdministrationJoin us in this intriguing episode featuring Mosa Tsay a Juilliard trained cellist and Groupmuse Executive. Mosa recounts her journey from studying environmental science and music at UC Berkeley to being awarded a Fulbright scholarship that granted her a transformative year in Paris. We delve into her deep reflections on the role of silence in music, her passion for house concerts through Groupmuse, and insights on overcoming challenges for musicians. Discover how Mosa navigates her multiple roles, including her work for the Groupmuse Foundation and The Juilliard School, all while balancing being a new parent.00:00 Introduction to the Fulbright Year in Paris00:11 Discovering Groupmuse00:33 A Conversation with Mosa01:23 Mosa’s Journey from Childhood to College03:06 The Intersection of Music and Environmental Science04:12 Exploring Silence in Music11:27 The Fulbright Experience in Paris18:27 Understanding Groupmuse25:12 Exploring Arts Administration25:41 The Concert Organizing Process27:52 How to host a Groupmuse 31:24 Groupmuse Foundation's Mission37:59 Challenges for Young Musicians43:09 Balancing Motherhood and Career45:47 Final Thoughts and Reflections

In this episode, Dr. Philip Lasser, a prominent music theorist and composer, shares his extensive journey through the realms of classical music and art. The conversation covers his early musical life, rigorous compositional training, and influential mentors from the Boulanger school. He discusses the concept of contrapuntal voices, the spiraling tapestry of music, and the delicate balance between knowledge and original voice in composition. Dr. Lasser also delves into his family's remarkable history of fleeing the Holocaust and their deep roots in the art world, enriching the discourse with poignant personal anecdotes. The episode concludes with reflections on tonality, the evolution of music, and the profound question of how much of ourselves we're willing to suspend to truly listen and connect through music.00:00 Introduction to Contrapuntal Voices00:37 Meet Dr. Philip Lasser01:04 Dr. Lasser's Musical Journey02:58 Influence of Nadia Boulanger07:05 The Rigorous Training of Composition11:42 Understanding Counterpoint and Harmony14:42 The Spiraling Tapestry and Dr. Lasser's Philosophy26:50 Demonstrating Contrapuntal Voices37:11 The Complexity of Schumann's Music38:55 Counterpoint vs. Harmony45:18 Conclusion and Moving Forward45:39 Exploring the Evolution of Musical Composition47:19 Influences and Individuality in Modern Composition49:48 The Impact of Recording on Composers50:54 Navigating Musical Styles and Isms52:33 Challenges for Young Composers Today01:02:57 The Role of Counterpoint and Harmony in Composition01:10:34 Collaborations and Inspirations01:27:23 Tonality and the Evolution of Musical Rules01:31:38 Understanding Tonality and Its Evolution01:32:31 The Rise of Chromaticism01:36:16 Schoenberg and the Emancipation of Dissonance01:48:46 A Personal Family History02:03:41 The Intersection of Art and Music02:10:31 Final Thoughts and Reflections

Charles Yang is a classically trained violinist, graduate of the Juilliard School and member of the Grammy winning ensemble Time for Three.In this episode we talked about how he found his way into playing with Time for Three, going against the grain as a classical violinist, musical inspirations, the journey to winning a Grammy, scoring music for film and more.00:00 Introduction and Early Struggles00:41 Welcome to Think Music01:07 Charles Yang's Musical Background02:03 Growing Up in Austin02:20 The Bird Scooter Incident03:59 Charles Yang Day06:34 Joining Time for Three12:56 The Role of Improvisation13:29 Family Influence and Musical Journey22:43 The Impact of Music24:01 Recording the Grammy-Winning Album45:44 Reflecting on the Grammy Nomination47:02 The Grammy Experience54:26 Scoring the Film 'Land'55:22 Creating Music During the Pandemic01:04:24 The Solo Album and Collaborations01:09:48 Challenges and Setbacks01:18:49 Musical Inspirations and Heroes01:22:15 Rapid Fire Questions and Fun Stories01:26:51 Closing Thoughts and Audience Question

Justin Abrams is a classically trained cellist, had a decade-long career in Marketing at Red Bull North America, and is the founder of Flagship, a software company that provides retail brands with a data science platform, helping them unlock millions of dollars of revenue by enriching their first-party data with machine learning algorithms.In this conversation we talk about growing up in New York City as a musician, Justin’s studies at McGill University as a Music Major, finding his way to RedBull, interning on Wall Street, Parallels between music and business, starting a company right before the world shut down, inventory as a problem to solve in retail, and how he discovered a solution in AI.00:00 Introduction and Early Musical Influences01:18 Family and Musical Upbringing02:48 Meadowmount and Musical Competitions09:03 Deciding Between Music and Business23:54 Red Bull and Transition to Business29:15 Skills from Music Applied to Business38:21 Starting a New Venture41:17 Making Decisions Right42:05 Bringing AI to Market42:38 Challenges in Inventory Planning45:54 The Role of Machine Learning49:45 Building a Successful AI Engine53:09 Finding Product-Market Fit01:04:35 The Importance of Networking01:19:52 Balancing Music and Business01:23:00 Final Thoughts and Advice

"Hosted by John-Henry Crawford, Think Music is where musicians, industry professionals, and passionate listeners come together to uncover the stories, struggles, and triumphs behind the music we love. Through deep conversations and actionable insights, we explore the evolving landscape of the music industry, the creative process, career paths, cultural impact, and the transformative power of music in life and education.Whether you're an artist honing your craft, an industry insider navigating the business, or a fan eager to understand the magic behind your favorite sounds, Think Music is your backstage pass to the heart of the music world. Here, we don’t just listen to music—we think, feel, and live it, empowering the entire music community to reach their full potential."Follow John-Henry: https://www.instagram.com/cellocrawford/