Traveling from vintage guitar shops in Brooklyn to iconic recording studios and legendary music venues around the world, guitar legend Alex Skolnick explores the work of renowned musicians through commentary, conversation, and live performance. Follow @moodsandmodes on Instagram for updates.
In this episode, Alex welcomes pianist, composer, and educator Kenny Werner, author of the landmark book Effortless Mastery. Kenny’s teachings have revolutionized the way musicians think about practice, performance, and creativity. Though widely respected for his playing, Werner's profound influence as a teacher has often eclipsed his musical output—something this episode sets out to correct.
Alex and Kenny dive deep into the philosophy behind Effortless Mastery, a system of learning and unlearning that helps musicians quiet their inner critics, accept where they are, and move forward with intention and ease. They also explore how spirituality, rhythm, and breathing all play essential roles in accessing “the space”—that elusive zone where creativity flows freely.
Follow Alex @alexskolnick and Moods & Modes @moodsandmodes
Moods & Modes is hosted and produced by Alex Skolnick. Executive Producer: Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Justin Thomas. Music by Alex Skolnick and the Alex Skolnick Trio. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Distributed by Studio Kairos.
Resources & Links:
Kenny Werner’s website & music: https://kennywerner.com
Effortless Mastery (book and courses): EffortlessMastery.com
Berklee’s Effortless Mastery Institute: Berklee.edu
Alex’s Patreon: patreon.com/alexskolnick
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21 Dec 2024
Moon Zappa
Alex welcomes Moon Zappa to discuss her book, Earth To Moon, which explores the complexities of growing up in families characterized by narcissism and fame. Alex and Moon reflect on the legacies of their fathers, the impact of parental influence on artistic expression, and the notion that genius does not always translate into practical life skills. Moon shares her experience of finding refuge in artistic expression during her upbringing, recounts her journey of self-discovery, and tells Alex about her latest creative projects.
Moon Unit Zappa is the daughter of legendary musician Frank Zappa and his second wife, Gail. At the age of fourteen, Moon appeared in Frank Zappa’s career defining music video, “Valley Girl,” which later helped jump-start her own career. Since then, Moon has worked as an actress, writer, comedian, artist, businesswoman, and podcaster.
Moods & Modes is hosted and produced by Alex Skolnick. Executive Producer: Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Justin Thomas. Music by Alex Skolnick and the Alex Skolnick Trio. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Distributed by Studio Kairos.
Follow Moon @iammoonunitzappa
Follow Alex @alexskolnick @moodsandmodes
25 Oct 2024
Borrowed Music, Volume 3
Welcome to Borrowed Music, Volume 3! Join Alex as he dives into another fascinating mix of music "inspired by" others, uncovering hidden connections across genres from classical and country to iconic film scores, TV themes, and radio hits we all know and love. Alex illustrates the threads binding songs and styles—hear how Nazareth and Heart share an unexpected arrangement, how Van Halen took a cover song to new heights, and how a classic TV theme inspired a reggae legend. As always, there are plenty of surprises!
Moods & Modes is hosted and produced by Alex Skolnick. Executive Producer: Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Justin Thomas. Music by Alex Skolnick and the Alex Skolnick Trio (and in this episode, PAKT). Episode cover photo by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Distributed by Studio Kairos. Cover photo by Alex Skolnick.
Podcast Authority Score: 51 / 100
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