Episodes

  • Ep. 209: Making Music Practice Easier – Support, Strategy, and Joy; with Barbie Wong

    Ep. 209: Making Music Practice Easier – Support, Strategy, and Joy; with Barbie Wong
    May 20 2025

    Wish your child loved practicing music—or at least didn’t dread it? Music educator Barbie Wong shares simple, research-backed strategies to make music practice easier, more joyful, and effective. Barbie is founder of Musical Nest, a vibrant community supporting teachers and parents in inspiring kids to make music. Access tips, tools, and solutions to nurture musical growth, foster motivation, and create joyful, engaging learning experiences for children.

    Links and notes related to this episode can be found at https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/episode209

    Connect with us:

    • Newsletter: https://mpetersonmusic.com/subscribe
    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EnhanceLifeMusic/
    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enhancelifemusic/
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpetersonpiano/
    • Twitter: https://twitter.com/musicenhances
    • Sponsorship information: https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/sponsor
    • Leave us a review on Podchaser.com! https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/enhance-life-with-music-909096
    • In-episode promo:
      • Sheet Music Direct https://www.sheetmusicdirect.com
      • Living Well with Dr. Michelle or use Coupon Code musicenhances10 for 10% off. (Or buy on Amazon.)
    Show More Show Less
    42 mins
  • Micro 34: Musical Adventures Beyond the Lesson – Creative Ways to Explore Music

    Micro 34: Musical Adventures Beyond the Lesson – Creative Ways to Explore Music
    May 13 2025
    Music learning takes place in many forms and contexts. Discover fun, diverse, unique ways to spark curiosity and creativity. From captivating books and movies to educational podcasts and interactive activities, this resource listing provides a foundation for your child’s (or your own!) unique musical journey while also inspiring you to come up with your own ideas for musical exploration. Every musical moment you create plants a seed that can grow for a lifetime!

    Links and notes related to this episode can be found at https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/micro34

    Connect with us:

    • Newsletter: https://mpetersonmusic.com/subscribe
    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EnhanceLifeMusic/
    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enhancelifemusic/
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpetersonpiano/
    • Twitter: https://twitter.com/musicenhances
    • Sponsorship information: https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/sponsor
    • Leave us a review on Podchaser.com! https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/enhance-life-with-music-909096
    Show More Show Less
    5 mins
  • Ep. 208: Choral Communities of Joy – Music, Belonging, and Living Well with Dementia; with Eyleen Braaten

    Ep. 208: Choral Communities of Joy – Music, Belonging, and Living Well with Dementia; with Eyleen Braaten
    May 6 2025

    What if a choir could do what medicine cannot? Learn how Giving Voice Initiative’s dementia-friendly choirs are transforming lives—bringing joy, purpose, and a deep sense of belonging to people living with dementia and their care partners. Discover the power of the universal instrument – the voice – to create connection, break stigma, and build community.

    Links and notes related to this episode can be found at https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/episode208

    Connect with us:

    • Newsletter: https://mpetersonmusic.com/subscribe
    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EnhanceLifeMusic/
    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enhancelifemusic/
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpetersonpiano/
    • Twitter: https://twitter.com/musicenhances
    • Sponsorship information: https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/sponsor
    • Leave us a review on Podchaser.com! https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/enhance-life-with-music-909096
    • In-episode promo: JAMBAR https://jambar.com/
    Show More Show Less
    51 mins
  • Micro 33: One Nation Under a Groove – A musical microadventure at NMAAM

    Micro 33: One Nation Under a Groove – A musical microadventure at NMAAM
    Apr 29 2025
    What if you could step inside a song — and history itself? A visit to Nashville’s National Museum of African American Music is a full-body, full-heart adventure into the sounds that shaped a nation. It’s a place where rhythm, resilience, and innovation come alive.

    Links and notes related to this episode can be found at https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/micro33

    Connect with us:

    • Newsletter: https://mpetersonmusic.com/subscribe
    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EnhanceLifeMusic/
    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enhancelifemusic/
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpetersonpiano/
    • Twitter: https://twitter.com/musicenhances
    • Sponsorship information: https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/sponsor
    • Leave us a review on Podchaser.com! https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/enhance-life-with-music-909096
    Show More Show Less
    4 mins
  • Ep. 207: Decoding Musical Taste – How Music, AI & Culture Shape What You Love to Listen To; with Nolan Gasser, PhD

    Ep. 207: Decoding Musical Taste – How Music, AI & Culture Shape What You Love to Listen To; with Nolan Gasser, PhD
    Apr 22 2025

    What makes you press play? Dr. Nolan Gasser—architect of Pandora’s Music Genome Project and music consultant for Google DeepMind—returns to reveal how human insight and AI are teaming up to unlock the secrets of musical taste. We dive into his new PBS special, “Why You Like It: Decoding Musical Taste,” an interactive experience that blends live music, science, and a one-of-a-kind app that generates personalized playlists using cutting-edge AI. Discover the art and science of musical taste – and how technology is reshaping the future of musical preference.

    Links and notes related to this episode can be found at https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/episode207

    Connect with us:

    • Newsletter: https://mpetersonmusic.com/subscribe
    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EnhanceLifeMusic/
    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enhancelifemusic/
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpetersonpiano/
    • Twitter: https://twitter.com/musicenhances
    • Sponsorship information: https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/sponsor
    • Leave us a review on Podchaser.com! https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/enhance-life-with-music-909096
    • In-episode promo:
      • Sheet Music Direct https://www.sheetmusicdirect.com
      • MIXX Assistive Audio Adaptive Ear Plugs (check them out at Amazon)
    Show More Show Less
    46 mins
  • Micro 32: Not Just Music: 5 Podcasts That Fuel My Whole Life

    Micro 32: Not Just Music: 5 Podcasts That Fuel My Whole Life
    Apr 15 2025
    This listener-inspired micro episode is a celebration of holistic cross-training—not for your muscles, but for your life. Just as music thrives on harmony and balance, so do we. I’m sharing my top 5 favorite podcasts across different areas of life—from health and spirituality to productivity and news—all of which support my personal rhythm and help me live more intentionally. Consider it a curated playlist for whole-life wellness.

    Links and notes related to this episode can be found at https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/micro32

    Connect with us:

    • Newsletter: https://mpetersonmusic.com/subscribe
    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EnhanceLifeMusic/
    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enhancelifemusic/
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpetersonpiano/
    • Twitter: https://twitter.com/musicenhances
    • Sponsorship information: https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/sponsor
    • Leave us a review on Podchaser.com! https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/enhance-life-with-music-909096
    • In-episode promo: Living Well with Dr. Michelle or use Coupon Code musicenhances10 for 10% off. (Or buy on Amazon.)
    Show More Show Less
    7 mins
  • Ep. 206: Re-Stitch the Soul – Using the creative process to heal and empower traumatized voices; with Darcy Ataman, M.S.C., O.M.

    Ep. 206: Re-Stitch the Soul – Using the creative process to heal and empower traumatized voices; with Darcy Ataman, M.S.C., O.M.
    Apr 8 2025

    Can music help heal the deepest wounds of trauma? Darcy Ataman, founder of Make Music Matter and creator of Healing in Harmony, shares how music therapy is transforming the lives of child soldiers, survivors of sexual violence, and those impacted by conflict. Discover how songwriting, recording, and advocacy empower individuals to reclaim their voices and rebuild their lives—one powerful note at a time.

    Links and notes related to this episode can be found at https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/episode206

    Connect with us:

    • Newsletter: https://mpetersonmusic.com/subscribe
    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EnhanceLifeMusic/
    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enhancelifemusic/
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpetersonpiano/
    • Twitter: https://twitter.com/musicenhances
    • Sponsorship information: https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/sponsor
    • Leave us a review on Podchaser.com! https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/enhance-life-with-music-909096
    • In-episode promo: JAMBAR https://jambar.com/
    Show More Show Less
    40 mins
  • Micro 31: House of David: How Music Shaped Ancient Lives – and Still Shapes Ours Today

    Micro 31: House of David: How Music Shaped Ancient Lives – and Still Shapes Ours Today
    Apr 1 2025
    What if music wasn’t just background sound but a powerful force shaping history? In Amazon Prime’s House of David, music isn’t just part of the story—it is the story. From battlefields to royal courts, grief to celebration, this ancient drama reveals music’s timeless role in human connection, healing, and transformation. Join me as we explore how this show brings to life some of the earliest recorded uses of music therapy—and why its impact still resonates today.

    Links and notes related to this episode can be found at https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/micro31

    Connect with us:

    • Newsletter: https://mpetersonmusic.com/subscribe
    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EnhanceLifeMusic/
    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enhancelifemusic/
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpetersonpiano/
    • Twitter: https://twitter.com/musicenhances
    • Sponsorship information: https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/sponsor
    • Leave us a review on Podchaser.com! https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/enhance-life-with-music-909096
    Show More Show Less
    2 mins