Season 5 Episode 2: 'Between Keys & Creativity' feat. Jed Distler - Composer, Pianist, Radio Host

Curious which episode has the most name drops? Look no further—this one with Jed Distler takes the crown!

The Piano Pod had an exciting conversation with Jed Distler, composer, Steinway Artist, educator, and host of the renowned radio show Between the Keys.

In this episode, you will hear:

🔹Insider scoop on Between the Keys, Jed's 9-plus-year-running radio show on WWFM
🔹Jed’s wisdom on what makes a great recording and the importance of thoughtful programming
🔹His take on the future of CDs in the age of streaming
🔹His take on balancing personal achievement with building community and lasting relationships
🔹Exciting new ventures like The Piano Maven podcast and his ambitious project composing 1,827 Bagatelles to honor Beethoven’s 250th death anniversary in 2027

This conversation is packed with the names of brilliant yet under-appreciated composers of our time, along with wisdom, authenticity, and joy you won’t want to miss! 💫

💬 Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments and leave a review!

[About Jed Distler]

[Pieces Mentioned in the Episode]

🎹🎙️ ABOUT THE PIANO POD

🎬 Credits: Yukimi Song (Executive Producer/Writer & A/V Editor)

00:00:28 – “Loose Changes: II.” - a Movement for a Collection of 2-Piano Pieces Composed by Jed Distler
00:01:45 – Intro
00:07:22 – Origin Story: How the Inspiration to Jed’s 9-plus-year running radio show, "Between the Keys," Sparked
00:14:52 – Insider Scoop of “Between the Keys”: Passion, Content, and Listener Engagement
00:30:38 – Jed’s Take on What Makes a Great/Bad Recording: Technical Precision, Emotional Depth, or Something More Intangible? Common Pitfalls: Engineering Issues, Interpretation, or Programming?
00:38:34 – Jed’s Take on What Makes an Album Stand Out in the Digital Sphere
00:39:52 – Music Streaming Services/Technology: Accessibility vs. Revenue Loss for Artists and the Future of Musicians in the Digital Age
00:48:01 – Meet the Composer, Jed Distler: Backstory of "Loose Changes" – 2-Piano Pieces Commissioned for Renowned Duo "Quattro Mani"
00:51:17 – Jed’s First Musical Language: Jazz, Leading to Classical Music Out of "Should and Supposed To," Ultimately Giving Him a Solid Foundation
00:56:00 – Jed’s Methodically Curated Recital Program for Next Year: From Beethoven/Liszt to Cornelius Cardew, Frederic Rzewski, and Alvin Curran and the Importance of Thoughtful Programming
00:59:52 – Post-Pandemic Era: Performing Symphonic Repertoires in Piano 4-Hand Arrangements
01:05:08 – Jed’s Ambitious Initiatives, Including the Guinness World Record-Winning Project, through His Co-Founded New York-Based New Music Organization, ComposersCollaborative, Inc.
01:11:23 – Excerpt from Make Music New York 2013: Broken Record!
01:12:10 – 1827 Bagatelles Project: Composing 1,827 Piano Bagatelles for Premiere in 2026/7, Commemorating Beethoven’s 200th Anniversary
01:15:09 – Jed Distler as a Podcaster: His Newly Launched Show, "The Piano Maven with Jed Distler"
01:17:54 – The Importance of Attracting New Audiences to Classical Music: Engaging in a Welcoming Way, Without Arcane Language or Insider Jargon
01:19:56 – The Source of His Love for Music and People: Rooted in His Supportive Family and Community
01:25:40 – Pursuing Dreams and Building Community: Balancing Personal Achievement with Creating Steadfast Relationships for Artistic Gratification and Success
01:27:25 – The Role of Classical Musicians in Society: Exploring Purpose, Mission, and How to Find It as a Performing Artist
01:29:13 – Jed’s New Adventure: Artistic Director of the Salon Concert Series at Klavierhaus, NYC
01:31:03 – TPP Rapid Fire Questions!

[SeaDrive]

Another excellent show, Yukimi, thanks! And thank you for all the hard work you obviously put into the description box.

BTW, the "Connect with us:" link in the description box is missing a "d"; it should end with "thepianopodnyc", rather than "thepianoponyc"... 🙂