APRIL NEWSLETTER: Brains, Ragas, and Bold Voices
Two visionary artists reshaping how we think about practice, tradition, and musical expression: April on The Piano Pod
Welcome to the new edition of The Piano Pod's monthly newsletter! This spring, I had the pleasure of speaking with two extraordinary artists whose work challenges the status quo and offers bold new visions for what music can be.
🎧 First up is Dr. Molly Gebrian—violist, educator, and neuroscience researcher—who breaks down the science behind how we learn, retain, and perform music. Her episode is packed with insights that will change the way you approach the practice room, the stage, and even your rest.
🎹 Then, we welcome Charu Suri—pianist, composer, and creator of the genre Raga Jazz, a profoundly personal fusion of Indian ragas, jazz improvisation, and spiritual exploration. Her music is not only genre-defying but also a powerful expression of healing and identity.
Together, these conversations examine how knowledge and tradition can fuel innovation—and how music, at its finest, unites mind, heart, and soul.
Scroll down 👇 to explore bold ideas, fresh perspectives, and the voices shaping the future of music—only on The Piano Pod.
VERY RECENTLY RELEASED
Season 5 Episode 16 "Unlocking the Brain: Neuroscience in Music Practice"
featuring Dr. Molly Gebrian - Violist, Neuroscience Researcher, and Author of "Learn Faster, Perform Better: A Musician’s Guide to the Neuroscience of Practicing"
We’ve all been there—after hours in the practice room, things feel solid. But the next day? It’s like we never practiced at all.
In this powerful new episode of The Piano Pod, I sit down with Dr. Molly Gebrian—a violist, educator, and neuroscience researcher who is redefining how musicians think about practice. What if the key to faster progress and more confident performances isn’t more hours, but more innovative strategies based on how your brain learns?
Molly also shares why rest isn’t a reward—it’s part of the work. According to neuroscience, your brain does some of its most effective learning after you leave the piano bench.
We also touch on something that’s close to my heart: how music education often fails to support neurodivergent students. Molly speaks with clarity and compassion about why every brain learns differently—and how educators can better support that diversity with science-backed, student-centered approaches.
As someone who has spent the past few years reading about and independently studying the intersections of neuroscience, performance psychology, and classical music, I found Molly’s insights both refreshing and revolutionary. Her book Learn Faster, Perform Better is the resource I wish I had when I was a student—and the kind I now turn to as a teacher and performer.
📗 Read my personal reflection on this episode on my Substack page HERE.
🎙️ This episode is already live—and it might just change the way you think about practice, progress, and performance. Hit the play button below to dive into this episode 👇👇
🍎 Available as Audio Podcast
This episode is also available in audio format on your go-to podcasting platform.
Season 5 Episode 15 "Reimagining Raga and Jazz - Blending Indian Ragas, Jazz, and Classical Music"
featuring Charu Suri - Award-Winning Pianist, Composer, Recording Artist, & Raga-Jazz Pioneer
What happens when centuries-old Indian ragas meet the pulse of jazz and the discipline of Western classical music?
In this episode, I spoke with Charu Suri—an artist who is not only bridging these traditions, but transforming them. As one of the first female jazz artists of Indian origin to perform at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, Charu has carved out a sound that is entirely her own: Raga Jazz.
Charu's music is at once meditative and daring, spiritual and sophisticated—rooted in Indian classical modes, Sufi mysticism, and the improvisational language of jazz. But more than anything, it’s deeply human. Our conversation spans a wide arc: from her early classical training in India to discovering jazz in New Orleans, from the grief that inspired an entire album to her bold vision for reshaping the soundscape of contemporary jazz.
🎶 “Ragas, jazz, and classical music are like three languages—but for me, they share one heartbeat.”
Charu walks us through her musical evolution—from The Book of Ragas to Rags and Ragas—and what it means to return to a piece years later with a different soul, a different grief, and a deeper improvisational voice. She also shares how being a South Asian woman in jazz has shaped her purpose as both an artist and advocate, especially as a Recording Academy voting member pushing for greater visibility and representation.
🎙 This episode is already live! If you’ve ever felt the healing potential of music—or wondered how tradition and innovation can live in harmony—this episode is for you. Hit the play button below to dive into this episode 👇👇
🍎 Available as Audio Podcast
This episode is also available in audio format on your go-to podcasting platform. Please tap the button below to start listening!
UPCOMING EPISODES
In May, we invite you into the worlds of artists who breathe new life into the past: a transatlantic duo reviving the haunting beauty of Górecki’s piano works, and a visionary pianist reshaping how we hear—and play—Bach today.
Season 5 Episode 17: Anna Górecka & Jarred Dunn - Henryk Górecki’s Piano Legacy, Reawakened: A Transatlantic Duo in Dialogue
Season 5 Episode 18: Eleonor Bindman - From Cello Suites to Brandenburg Concertos: Reimagining Bach for Every Pianist
As we close out this month’s edition, I want to thank you—each listener, reader, supporter, and friend—for being part of The Piano Pod community. Your continued encouragement and curiosity are what keep this platform growing and evolving.
This April, we explored two powerful conversations—Dr. Molly Gebrian showed us how science can transform the way we practice, and Charu Suri reminded us that tradition and innovation can coexist beautifully in sound. Both episodes speak to a shared belief at the core of this podcast: that music is a living, breathing force for connection, growth, and healing.
And now, I’m thrilled to share a glimpse of what’s ahead…This fall, The Piano Pod goes live! On October 4, 2025, we are bringing the podcast to the stage with our very first in-person event in New York City: The Piano Pod: Live in Concert. This one-of-a-kind evening will feature four extraordinary trailblazers who are redefining the classical music industry through artistry, advocacy, and innovation. With live performances, candid conversations, and audience Q&A, it promises to be an unforgettable celebration of the voices shaping the future of our field—for both in-person and digital audiences. ✨ More details to come in the next edition of The Piano Pod's monthly newsletter—stay tuned!
Thank you for being an essential part of this community. Let’s keep lifting each other up, sharing meaningful conversations, and celebrating the ever-evolving world of music.
Here’s to what’s next—