Great to hear you back on the podwaves, Roger! Happy New Not-2020-Anymore! Great interview with Crystal – what an amazing and fascinating musical journey. We really are lucky to have such interesting people in the CGC Academy, and their generosity in sharing their stories is very much appreciated. Well done again Roger, keep up the great work!
Roger, I hope you enjoyed your well-deserved break from the podcast. I’m really happy you’re back now. I don’t think I could handle the withdrawal symptoms much longer. It was great to hear from Simon, and your Easter egg was funny too (🍎🦇).
Crystal, I enjoyed listening to your story and learning more about you. You are the best saw player I’ve ever seen, so I’m glad you had a chance to talk about the inspiration for that performance during the duet member challenge.
Thank you, I have been waiting for this. Like Scott, I experienced withdrawal symptoms. It was great to hear your voice and also to know what was happening with our teacher Simon in Australia.
Crystal,
Thank you for sharing your very musical stories. I have a long list of musical instruments I want to touch and experience one day, including Cello and Ukulele (+ bagpipe, bandoneon, shamisen, etc. etc.), but never knew anything about Saw until I watched you play it in the member challenge. I also appreciated your story about your profession and how you cared about concert pianists’ needs. Take care, and best wishes for your guitar practice!
So glad to have you back, Roger! And what a way to come back! It was good to hear from Simon and what he’s been up to. And then Crystal’s interview! So very interesting! And what a varied musical career! From cello to saw to piano to guitar! She could be her own one-person band! I loved it! I’m looking forward to future CGC members and interviews!
Thank you Roger! Another excellent Podcast. They are always full of such great surprises and fascinating tales. Fruit bats and birds, maybe Simon can record our beloved Birds Flew Over The Spire.
How wonderful to hear Crystal’s interview. Any on edge pianist would be well served by such an engaging personality, I imagine Crystal has talked many a distraught pianist down and saved quite a few concerts just with her sunny presence. What a path from a rotting and haunted mansion to Dartmouth and Tanglewood and Marlborough, etc. The world seems like such a small place when you mention iconic names like the Serkins and Adolph Busch, Richard Goode, etc. What a fascinating and varied web of friends and acquaintances, tuning and maintaining the pianos of music lovers, piano owners, and professional musicians. Thank you for this happiness inducing Podcast!
Excellent podcast, Roger and Crystal. It accompanied me on my walk yesterday and inspired the dog and me to keep going extra distance as I listened. I especially enjoyed hearing about Crystal’s occupation. Before I gave up on the fantasy of learning piano during retirement, I read a lot of piano books — and one of my favorite was “A Romance on Three Legs: Glenn Gould’s Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Piano.” That’s where I first discovered there was such a thing as a piano technician and how significant this person is. Wow. It’s a fascinating story!
Hi everyone, thanks for your nice comments, and thank you especially to Roger @chariot0 for being such a wonderful podcast host and generally lovely human being! On the morning of the interview, Southern VT was being walloped with soft heavy snow, and the power had already gone out three times before our call. I think I tried to squeeze my whole life story in as quickly as possible before it happened again… but then the power stayed on, so you all got a very caffeinated edition!
I haven’t made it to all the member podcasts yet, but @sjbrandenberg and @jm960, I really enjoyed hearing both of your stories as well. Scott, after listening to yours I was inspired to look up your youtube channel. I found watching you solve the Terzaghi 1-D Consolidation Equation to be very comforting on a cellular level. You said in your interview something to the effect that in your line of work, you don’t necessarily want to be recognized– that definitely struck a chord for me! It’s always trouble if people like us are called out… though fortunately for me no buildings or bridges fall down?
Joseph, I loved hearing your stories about your path to the orchestra and all of your adventures there, what a life. I’ve also started some more serious adventures in tea lately and found your matcha video very interesting! I think everything you do is beautiful.
Aiko (@aiko), I always love reading your posts as well… you seem so organized and methodical, and do such good work. I saw the picture of your snowy land, it looks so beautiful! I’ve always wanted to travel in Japan, but have only been briefly, years ago. I’m trying to learn some Japanese on the eventuality that I’ll make it back– I don’t have a teacher so it’s going very slowly. I really hope you’ll try all of those instruments… shamisen, bandoneon! And I’ve always been interested in bagpipe too, maybe we can both get one and form a support group!
And to Matt @mg2306, Dave @davecoleman, and Bruce @bdonehoweryahoo-com, thank you for your comments too. Dave, I love your background photo… those rudbeckia are some of my favorite flowers. And Bruce, I also enjoyed A Romance on Three Legs… wow, imagine working for Glenn Gould. That one read like an adventure novel. All piano lit is required reading in my house… what others did you like? I don’t think you should give up on your fantasy– I still imagine I’ll get out those left-hand pieces someday.
Thanks everyone for listening, I hope I’ll get to meet you all someday!
Thanks for a very interesting, entertaining and informative podcast! Crystal, I think you’ve already had a lot of life experiences at such a young age which is serving you well. You already have enough material for a memoir combined with a lecture circuit, maybe some high level consulting or teaching work thrown in to boot.
Oh my Crystal what an absolutely uplifting informative interview. Isn’t Roger wonderful to work with? Thank you for the shout out! Joseph Said it best this was certainly a happy inducing podcast! My word you have accomplished a lot and have such an interesting circle of friends I’m not sure who said it but I definitely could see you talking a performer down from the cliff of anxiety that could occur from a malfunctioning instrument. You’re like 🎶Jim dandy to the rescue🎶 Once they see and hear you in action I’m sure they have total confidence. I like how Roger pointed that out, that we just don’t think of that part of the equation that goes into a fine piano performance …you are such a major part of that equation and you opened the window to let us see inside your world a little bit and I’m so grateful for that. On my bucket list is a field trip back to Honey Brook with Crystal Fielding before I leave this earth! We can visit our old digs and share stories! Thank you for sharing with us about what it’s like to be a piano technician. I’m sure you’re at the top of your field. With your ability to pay attention to minute detail and your disciplined and joyous approach to learning CGCA is a perfect learning community for you to both learn from and contribute to. Who knows one day maybe we will do a berimbau and saw duet! We can rehearse in a field in Honey Brook.
Welcome back Roger! Simon’s Fruit Bat insights remind me of visiting Sydney, they are huge! Crystal, it is a joy to hear your story. Your journey is a delight to learn about. My piano technician appreciation is new and full—wow! Thank you for sharing your experience.
Great to hear you back on the podwaves, Roger! Happy New Not-2020-Anymore! Great interview with Crystal – what an amazing and fascinating musical journey. We really are lucky to have such interesting people in the CGC Academy, and their generosity in sharing their stories is very much appreciated. Well done again Roger, keep up the great work!
Roger, I hope you enjoyed your well-deserved break from the podcast. I’m really happy you’re back now. I don’t think I could handle the withdrawal symptoms much longer. It was great to hear from Simon, and your Easter egg was funny too (🍎🦇).
Crystal, I enjoyed listening to your story and learning more about you. You are the best saw player I’ve ever seen, so I’m glad you had a chance to talk about the inspiration for that performance during the duet member challenge.
Roger,
You are back!!
Thank you, I have been waiting for this. Like Scott, I experienced withdrawal symptoms. It was great to hear your voice and also to know what was happening with our teacher Simon in Australia.
Crystal,
Thank you for sharing your very musical stories. I have a long list of musical instruments I want to touch and experience one day, including Cello and Ukulele (+ bagpipe, bandoneon, shamisen, etc. etc.), but never knew anything about Saw until I watched you play it in the member challenge. I also appreciated your story about your profession and how you cared about concert pianists’ needs. Take care, and best wishes for your guitar practice!
Aiko
So glad to have you back, Roger! And what a way to come back! It was good to hear from Simon and what he’s been up to. And then Crystal’s interview! So very interesting! And what a varied musical career! From cello to saw to piano to guitar! She could be her own one-person band! I loved it! I’m looking forward to future CGC members and interviews!
Thank you Roger! Another excellent Podcast. They are always full of such great surprises and fascinating tales. Fruit bats and birds, maybe Simon can record our beloved Birds Flew Over The Spire.
How wonderful to hear Crystal’s interview. Any on edge pianist would be well served by such an engaging personality, I imagine Crystal has talked many a distraught pianist down and saved quite a few concerts just with her sunny presence. What a path from a rotting and haunted mansion to Dartmouth and Tanglewood and Marlborough, etc. The world seems like such a small place when you mention iconic names like the Serkins and Adolph Busch, Richard Goode, etc. What a fascinating and varied web of friends and acquaintances, tuning and maintaining the pianos of music lovers, piano owners, and professional musicians. Thank you for this happiness inducing Podcast!
Excellent podcast, Roger and Crystal. It accompanied me on my walk yesterday and inspired the dog and me to keep going extra distance as I listened. I especially enjoyed hearing about Crystal’s occupation. Before I gave up on the fantasy of learning piano during retirement, I read a lot of piano books — and one of my favorite was “A Romance on Three Legs: Glenn Gould’s Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Piano.” That’s where I first discovered there was such a thing as a piano technician and how significant this person is. Wow. It’s a fascinating story!
Hi everyone, thanks for your nice comments, and thank you especially to Roger @chariot0 for being such a wonderful podcast host and generally lovely human being! On the morning of the interview, Southern VT was being walloped with soft heavy snow, and the power had already gone out three times before our call. I think I tried to squeeze my whole life story in as quickly as possible before it happened again… but then the power stayed on, so you all got a very caffeinated edition!
I haven’t made it to all the member podcasts yet, but @sjbrandenberg and @jm960, I really enjoyed hearing both of your stories as well. Scott, after listening to yours I was inspired to look up your youtube channel. I found watching you solve the Terzaghi 1-D Consolidation Equation to be very comforting on a cellular level. You said in your interview something to the effect that in your line of work, you don’t necessarily want to be recognized– that definitely struck a chord for me! It’s always trouble if people like us are called out… though fortunately for me no buildings or bridges fall down?
Joseph, I loved hearing your stories about your path to the orchestra and all of your adventures there, what a life. I’ve also started some more serious adventures in tea lately and found your matcha video very interesting! I think everything you do is beautiful.
Aiko (@aiko), I always love reading your posts as well… you seem so organized and methodical, and do such good work. I saw the picture of your snowy land, it looks so beautiful! I’ve always wanted to travel in Japan, but have only been briefly, years ago. I’m trying to learn some Japanese on the eventuality that I’ll make it back– I don’t have a teacher so it’s going very slowly. I really hope you’ll try all of those instruments… shamisen, bandoneon! And I’ve always been interested in bagpipe too, maybe we can both get one and form a support group!
And to Matt @mg2306, Dave @davecoleman, and Bruce @bdonehoweryahoo-com, thank you for your comments too. Dave, I love your background photo… those rudbeckia are some of my favorite flowers. And Bruce, I also enjoyed A Romance on Three Legs… wow, imagine working for Glenn Gould. That one read like an adventure novel. All piano lit is required reading in my house… what others did you like? I don’t think you should give up on your fantasy– I still imagine I’ll get out those left-hand pieces someday.
Thanks everyone for listening, I hope I’ll get to meet you all someday!
Hi Roger and Crystal,
Thanks for a very interesting, entertaining and informative podcast! Crystal, I think you’ve already had a lot of life experiences at such a young age which is serving you well. You already have enough material for a memoir combined with a lecture circuit, maybe some high level consulting or teaching work thrown in to boot.
Loved every minute!
Oh my Crystal what an absolutely uplifting informative interview. Isn’t Roger wonderful to work with? Thank you for the shout out! Joseph Said it best this was certainly a happy inducing podcast! My word you have accomplished a lot and have such an interesting circle of friends I’m not sure who said it but I definitely could see you talking a performer down from the cliff of anxiety that could occur from a malfunctioning instrument. You’re like 🎶Jim dandy to the rescue🎶 Once they see and hear you in action I’m sure they have total confidence. I like how Roger pointed that out, that we just don’t think of that part of the equation that goes into a fine piano performance …you are such a major part of that equation and you opened the window to let us see inside your world a little bit and I’m so grateful for that. On my bucket list is a field trip back to Honey Brook with Crystal Fielding before I leave this earth! We can visit our old digs and share stories! Thank you for sharing with us about what it’s like to be a piano technician. I’m sure you’re at the top of your field. With your ability to pay attention to minute detail and your disciplined and joyous approach to learning CGCA is a perfect learning community for you to both learn from and contribute to. Who knows one day maybe we will do a berimbau and saw duet! We can rehearse in a field in Honey Brook.
You made my Sunday!!!
Heidi Beth
Welcome back Roger! Simon’s Fruit Bat insights remind me of visiting Sydney, they are huge! Crystal, it is a joy to hear your story. Your journey is a delight to learn about. My piano technician appreciation is new and full—wow! Thank you for sharing your experience.
Roger! Welcome back! And such a great start to the New Year episodes!
Crystal, you have an amazing story! I loved your saw performance at the duet challenge!! You’re definitely multi-faceted!
Judy