Episode notes
WE’RE BACK! After a chaotic summer spent traveling and moving, we are so excited to be back with Season 2 of the pod. Today we’re sharing some personal life updates from the summer, as well as what we’re looking forward to this season and how we’re taking care of ourselves as both humans and artists. Thanks so much for listening as always; we’re glad to be back yapping in your headphones every week! Articles mentioned: Part one: The Strad - Why are musicians afraid to rest? Rethinking recovery in classical music performance | The Strad Part two: The Strad - Why recovery makes you a better…
Podcast
Notes From Backstage
Lydia Rhea and Sophie Kauer · Arts & Books · English
Hello and welcome to Notes from Backstage. We’re your hosts, Lydia and Sophie, two cellists that are redefining how we approach classical music. We talk about everything from mental health, music school, navigating our careers post-grad, and what it means to find your unique artistic voice. Join us
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S1 · E9 · 7 Jul 2026 · 43 min
Season Finale Q&A: balancing life & music, our relationship with toxic practicing, current playlists, and more
You asked, we answered: today’s episode is a Q&A before we sign off for the summer! We are so appreciative of every single comment and conversation we’ve had so far, and today we answer questions about our childhoods, finding motivation when you’re in a slump, advice we'd give soon-to-be music school graduates, and more. We’ll be back in the autumn for Season 2; until then, we hope you have a wonderful & music-filled summer!
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S1 · E8 · 30 Jun 2026 · 48 min
Why Are We Shushing ? (And Other Qualms With Live Classical Music Concerts)
Cost isn’t the only barrier to live classical music. The stigma surrounding concert hall etiquette and expectations is doing more harm than good, so what do we need to change to make everyone feel welcome? In this episode we talk about our own negative experiences in concert venues, what we want to change, and highlight artists, venues, and programs that are prioritizing the audience experience in new and exciting ways. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/apr/10/classicalmusicandopera.comment1
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S1 · E7 · 23 Jun 2026 · 38 min
Fitness and Physical Health for Musicians
How do we take care of our bodies in careers that don’t historically support physical health? If it’s a choice between practicing and working out, how do we make that choice? Today we talk about our own journeys with physical health, the injuries we’ve experienced when we’ve neglected it, and how we realistically incorporate fitness into our chaotic schedules. Study Mentioned: "From Mental Power to Muscle Power -Gaining Strength by Using the Mind" by Ranganathan, Siemionow, Liu, Sahgal & Yue…
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S1 · E6 · 16 Jun 2026 · 39 min
The Importance of Rest: Avoiding Burnout and Injury as a Musician
How do you avoid burnout as a musician? How do you take a hold of life before life takes a hold of you? And how do you find what actually brings you joy and inspires you as an artist? In this episode we’re talking about the importance of rest, how to realistically make time for rest in your life, and perspectives we’ve gained from spending time away from the instrument. Resources mentioned: Do Pause: You are not a To Do list by Robert Poynton Stolen Focus by Johan Hari Michelle Obama Has Advice Every Woman Needs to Hear on Baby, This is Keke Palmer Alysa Liu Olympic Gold Medal…
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S1 · E5 · 9 Jun 2026 · 54 min
Travelling With a Cello
Traveling with a cello is not for the faint of heart. It seems no matter what you do something will always go wrong, and there’s not one straightforward way to book tickets for the cello. In this episode we talk about our personal flying horror stories; which airlines to use and which ones to avoid; and a step-by-step guide to flying with a cello, from booking your ticket to takeoff.
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