Musicianship Mastery with David Lane

Do you want to be a great musician? A well-rounded musician? Maybe you’re already a good musician, and you want to take that next step. To do that, you need to be able to sight-read well, play by ear, compose or improvise, understand the art of practice, and be versatile in many other ways. Musicianship Mastery (formerly known as The Musician Toolkit) explores these tools, how to improve them, and how you can apply them to a variety of gigs and musical careers whether you’re a professional musician or a committed artist who makes your income outside of music. Join us on a quest to improve your musicianship and to make you the most well-rounded musician you can be!

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Episodes

4 days ago

Have you ever heard that classical musicians only like classical music, or that composers are free spirits who are guided by the muse, or that they all love to stay up late at night and get up late in the morning?  Stereotypes are fun because each one is true for SOME musicians, but not for all and often not for most.  Sometimes musicians themselves may fit a stereotype and not realize that many other musicians aren't the same.  After you listen to these 10 stereotypes, let me know what you think I missed.
Musicianship Mastery is formerly known as The Musician Toolkit.
Let me know your thoughts on this episode as a voice message to possibly share on a future episode at https://www.speakpipe.com/MusicianToolkit
If you enjoyed this, please give it a rating and review on the podcast app of your choice.  You can find all episodes of this podcast at https://www.davidlanemusic.com/toolkit
You can follow David Lane AND the Musician Toolkit podcast on Facebook @DavidMLaneMusic, on Instagram and TikTok @DavidLaneMusic, and on YouTube @davidlanemusic1
This episode is sponsored by Fons, an online platform that helps music teachers with smooth, automated assistance such as securing timely automatic payments and scheduling.  Click here for more information or to begin your free trial.

Should You Major in Music?

Monday Mar 23, 2026

Monday Mar 23, 2026

If you or someone you know is looking ahead to college and thinking about possibly majoring in music, this is a very important episode to check out!  Let's talk about the 4 reasons why you shouldn't along with 4 reasons why you should. You can also hear what to expect going forward if you decide to major in music.  Finally, I give my candid feedback as a music major with 2 degrees how I feel about my past decisions.
Musicianship Mastery is formerly known as The Musician Toolkit.
Let me know your thoughts on this episode as a voice message to possibly share on a future episode at https://www.speakpipe.com/MusicianToolkit
If you enjoyed this, please give it a rating and review on the podcast app of your choice.  You can find all episodes of this podcast at https://www.davidlanemusic.com/toolkit
You can follow David Lane AND the Musician Toolkit podcast on Facebook @DavidMLaneMusic, on Instagram and TikTok @DavidLaneMusic, and on YouTube @davidlanemusic1
This episode is sponsored by Fons, an online platform that helps music teachers with smooth, automated assistance such as securing timely automatic payments and scheduling.  Click here for more information or to begin your free trial.

Monday Mar 16, 2026

Planning everything or having nothing but constraints without creative freedom is stifling and lifeless.  Creative freedom without regimen is chaos.  Great music and great musicians have always had both elements in their life.  This episode offers a few examples as to how you can present both elements in your practice.
Musicianship Mastery is formerly known as The Musician Toolkit.
Let me know your thoughts on this episode as a voice message to possibly share on a future episode at https://www.speakpipe.com/MusicianToolkit
If you enjoyed this, please give it a rating and review on the podcast app of your choice.  You can find all episodes of this podcast at https://www.davidlanemusic.com/toolkit
You can follow David Lane AND the Musician Toolkit podcast on Facebook @DavidMLaneMusic, on Instagram and TikTok @DavidLaneMusic, and on YouTube @davidlanemusic1
This episode is sponsored by Fons, an online platform that helps music teachers with smooth, automated assistance such as securing timely automatic payments and scheduling.  Click here for more information or to begin your free trial.

Monday Mar 09, 2026

Videos, books, and podcasts are all examples of ways to LEARN ABOUT music.  However, none of those will allow you to LEARN music.  Music isn't about what you know in your head.  It's about what you know with your hands or your voice or whatever touches your instrument.  Whether you're a performer or a composer, it's crucial that you understand this and practice your craft accordingly.
Referenced YouTube video about learning key signatures: https://youtu.be/58So6A22KJk
Musicianship Mastery is formerly known as The Musician Toolkit.
Let me know your thoughts on this episode as a voice message to possibly share on a future episode at https://www.speakpipe.com/MusicianToolkit
If you enjoyed this, please give it a rating and review on the podcast app of your choice.  You can find all episodes of this podcast at https://www.davidlanemusic.com/toolkit
You can follow David Lane AND the Musician Toolkit podcast on Facebook @DavidMLaneMusic, on Instagram and TikTok @DavidLaneMusic, and on YouTube @davidlanemusic1
This episode is sponsored by Fons, an online platform that helps music teachers with smooth, automated assistance such as securing timely automatic payments and scheduling.  Click here for more information or to begin your free trial.

Monday Mar 02, 2026

Today's episode talks about two challenges that musicians face.  The first is how to learn brand new music, not as in "new to me" but NEW...freshly composed just for you, with no precedent and no reference recording.  Secondly, we talk about the process of building a repertoire necessary to do a full-length recital.
My guest is Dr. Annie Jeng, an associate professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, as well as an international performer and educator, and a champion of new music.
Learn more about Annie at https://www.anniejeng.com/
Musicianship Mastery is formerly known as The Musician Toolkit.
Let me know your thoughts on this episode as a voice message to possibly share on a future episode at https://www.speakpipe.com/MusicianToolkit
If you enjoyed this, please give it a rating and review on the podcast app of your choice.  You can find all episodes of this podcast at https://www.davidlanemusic.com/toolkit
You can follow David Lane AND the Musician Toolkit podcast on Facebook @DavidMLaneMusic, on Instagram and TikTok @DavidLaneMusic, and on YouTube @davidlanemusic1
This episode is sponsored by Fons, an online platform that helps music teachers with smooth, automated assistance such as securing timely automatic payments and scheduling.  Click here for more information or to begin your free trial.

Monday Feb 23, 2026

Have you ever said or thought any of the following statements in your lesson? "I usually play better at home." "I don't know why I get so nervous in here". "I swear I practiced this better than this." This is a very common problem, performance anxiety in your lessons. However, it's not hard to fix.
This episode offers 5 simple suggestions that you can apply right away to gradually get more comfortable in your lessons and play in a way that truly resembles how you have been practicing.
Related Video: How To Play Confidently In Public (with Michelle Wachter)
Musicianship Mastery is formerly known as The Musician Toolkit.
Let me know your thoughts on this episode as a voice message to possibly share on a future episode at https://www.speakpipe.com/MusicianToolkit
If you enjoyed this, please give it a rating and review on the podcast app of your choice.  You can find all episodes of this podcast at https://www.davidlanemusic.com/toolkit
You can follow David Lane AND the Musician Toolkit podcast on Facebook @DavidMLaneMusic, on Instagram and TikTok @DavidLaneMusic, and on YouTube @davidlanemusic1
This episode is sponsored by Fons, an online platform that helps music teachers with smooth, automated assistance such as securing timely automatic payments and scheduling.  Click here for more information or to begin your free trial.

Monday Feb 16, 2026

This episode contains hard truth.  Most of you are probably not practicing enough to reach any goals of advanced repertoire, and there's a chance that you're going to be stuck on elementary music for a long time.  In this episode, let's look at what kind of results you get when you average as little as 15 minutes per day a few times per week all the way up to 4 hours per day everyday.  As you listen, take the time to evaluate how much time you really could put into practicing, and make sure your goals are aligning with the time and work you are able to do.
Musicianship Mastery is formerly known as The Musician Toolkit.
Let me know your thoughts on this episode as a voice message to possibly share on a future episode at https://www.speakpipe.com/MusicianToolkit
If you enjoyed this, please give it a rating and review on the podcast app of your choice.  You can find all episodes of this podcast at https://www.davidlanemusic.com/toolkit
You can follow David Lane AND the Musician Toolkit podcast on Facebook @DavidMLaneMusic, on Instagram and TikTok @DavidLaneMusic, and on YouTube @davidlanemusic1
This episode is sponsored by Fons, an online platform that helps music teachers with smooth, automated assistance such as securing timely automatic payments and scheduling.  Click here for more information or to begin your free trial.

Monday Feb 09, 2026

For anyone who wants to become truly great in any field, Robert Greene's book "Mastery", shows a process that has been used by some of the most successful people in history from art to science to literature to sports and, of course, in music. This episode summarizes the book in a way that musicians can apply partially to become better or wholly to become elite.
Musicianship Mastery is formerly known as The Musician Toolkit.
Let me know your thoughts on this episode as a voice message to possibly share on a future episode at https://www.speakpipe.com/MusicianToolkit
If you enjoyed this, please give it a rating and review on the podcast app of your choice.  You can find all episodes of this podcast at https://www.davidlanemusic.com/toolkit
You can follow David Lane AND the Musician Toolkit podcast on Facebook @DavidMLaneMusic, on Instagram and TikTok @DavidLaneMusic, and on YouTube @davidlanemusic1
This episode is sponsored by Fons, an online platform that helps music teachers with smooth, automated assistance such as securing timely automatic payments and scheduling.  Click here for more information or to begin your free trial.

Monday Feb 02, 2026

This is the final episode of a 5-part series going over all the concepts every musician should know about music theory.  This episode covers the trends that have developed in what we call classical music since 1900 from chords based on intervals other than 3rds, a wider variety of scales, atonal music, minimalism. and more.
Previous Episodes in the Series:
Music Theory Overview
Music Theory I: Basics and Fundamentals
Music Theory II: Harmonic Function and Analysis
Music Theory III: Harmonic Construction and Larger Structures
Inquire about private lessons on music theory by setting up a free first lesson here
For more on bi-tonality and a visual introduction to Hanson Analysis: watch this video here.
Let me know your thoughts on this episode as a voice message to possibly share on a future episode at https://www.speakpipe.com/MusicianToolkit
If you enjoyed this, please give it a rating and review on the podcast app of your choice.  You can find all episodes of this podcast at https://www.davidlanemusic.com/toolkit
You can follow David Lane AND the Musician Toolkit podcast on Facebook @DavidMLaneMusic, on Instagram and TikTok @DavidLaneMusic, and on YouTube @davidlanemusic1
This episode is sponsored by Fons, an online platform that helps music teachers with smooth, automated assistance such as securing timely automatic payments and scheduling.  Click here for more information or to begin your free trial.

Monday Jan 26, 2026

This is the 4th of a 5-part series going over all the concepts every musician should know about music theory.  This episode covers the guidelines for smooth voice leading when constructing notes in 4-parts. It also talks about the structure of larger forms such as Theme and Variations, Sonata Allegro, and more.
Previous Episodes in the Series:
Music Theory Overview
Music Theory I: Basics and Fundamentals
Music Theory II: Harmonic Function and Analysis
Inquire about private lessons on music theory by setting up a free first lesson here
Let me know your thoughts on this episode as a voice message to possibly share on a future episode at https://www.speakpipe.com/MusicianToolkit
If you enjoyed this, please give it a rating and review on the podcast app of your choice.  You can find all episodes of this podcast at https://www.davidlanemusic.com/toolkit
You can follow David Lane AND the Musician Toolkit podcast on Facebook @DavidMLaneMusic, on Instagram and TikTok @DavidLaneMusic, and on YouTube @davidlanemusic1
This episode is sponsored by Fons, an online platform that helps music teachers with smooth, automated assistance such as securing timely automatic payments and scheduling.  Click here for more information or to begin your free trial.

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You can also leave a voice message for possible inclusion on an episode at https://www.speakpipe.com/MusicianToolkit .  Please leave at least your first name and what your message is regarding.  Also feel free to say something about yourself if you're a musician and/or a teacher.

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