‘Wide-ranging and insightful’ - Guardian (pick of the week, January 2024)
A show for anyone who has ever listened to, played, improvised, written, or just enjoyed music and wanted to know more about these mysterious sounds. Are they 'auditory cheesecake' as cognitive scientist Steven Pinker claims, or actually a fundamental part of what has made us into modern humans?
With an enormous variety of guests ranging from well-known musicians, producers and industry figures through to those for whom music is central but who rarely have a voice, this show is unapologetically broad in scope.
In 'entertaining noises', Steve has musicians explain and demonstrate their instrument, giving fresh perspective on everything from the piano to modular synthesizers, via lesser-known folk instruments from around the world.
And in the flagship 'genre tombola' section, Steve is assigned a randomly-chosen genre from the list of 1334 music genres on Wikipedia, which he then goes away and researches, often talking to an expert in that music, before frequently attempting to make some music in that style... Whether he succeeds or not, there's lots of fascinating stuff to learn along the way!
As fun as it is thoughtful, this show aims to help you hear and appreciate music in new ways.
http://www.originofthepieces.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
‘Wide-ranging and insightful’ - Guardian (pick of the week, January 2024)
A show for anyone who has ever listened to, played, improvised, written, or just enjoyed music and wanted to know more about these mysterious sounds. Are they 'auditory cheesecake' as cognitive scientist Steven Pinker claims, or actually a fundamental part of what has made us into modern humans?
With an enormous variety of guests ranging from well-known musicians, producers and industry figures through to those for whom music is central but who rarely have a voice, this show is unapologetically broad in scope.
In 'entertaining noises', Steve has musicians explain and demonstrate their instrument, giving fresh perspective on everything from the piano to modular synthesizers, via lesser-known folk instruments from around the world.
And in the flagship 'genre tombola' section, Steve is assigned a randomly-chosen genre from the list of 1334 music genres on Wikipedia, which he then goes away and researches, often talking to an expert in that music, before frequently attempting to make some music in that style... Whether he succeeds or not, there's lots of fascinating stuff to learn along the way!
As fun as it is thoughtful, this show aims to help you hear and appreciate music in new ways.
http://www.originofthepieces.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week I speak to Kassandra e’Silva, a saxophonist, improviser and NHS music therapist. We caught up just before a gig at the Edinburgh Jazz Festival to talk about the power of music in care settings — from dementia wards and mental health clinics to the BBQ playlist at home.
We cover:
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00:00 – Intro – ALSO Festival, Nosferatu live score, and a conch bath update
03:00 – Edinburgh Jazz Festival – A tribute to The Jazz Bar and Bill Kyle
08:30 – Interview with Kassandra e’Silva – Backstage at the Spiegeltent
10:00 – What music therapy is – Presence, trauma, and non-verbal expression
13:30 – Lighting up the brain – Music as reconnection
16:00 – Music at both ends of life – Parenting and dementia
20:00 – Letting go of ‘good’ music – From jazz standards to egg shakers
23:10 – Rhythm as anchor – Repetition, stability, and mental health
25:40 – Creative expression – Instruments, blocks, and tambo-responsiveness
29:40 – Teaching vs therapy – When learning becomes part of healing
31:40 – Improvisation as diagnostic mirror – Sound as resistance
34:40 – Participation matters – Why passive listening isn’t enough
36:10 – What’s the point of music? – A beautiful closing answer
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🎶 Check out Resounding, co-written with Nicole Cassandra Smit, on Hackney Colliery Band – Collaborations: Volume Two
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Kassandra helped develop this practical guide for carers, families and practitioners.
Includes activity ideas, playlists, and real examples from NHS care.
Note: Kassandra’s views are her own, not those of NHS Lothian.
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🎧 Support the show:
☕ patreon.com/StevePrettyOnTheOriginofthePieces
#musictherapy #jazz #musicanddementia #improvisation #originofthepieces #kassandraesilva #stevepretty
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.