The Power of Music Thinking

Deep listening with Sharon Stewart

This episode is about listening - deep listening. My guest today is Sharon Stewart -  creator of sound works, musician, poet, researcher, piano teacher and deep listener. 

We learn about the Center for Deep Listening at Rensselaer and the retreats that were held by composer Pauline Oliveros and the many ways to listen, for example like listening in dreams, embodied listening and that deep listening is about doing, writing, practising and experiencing.

We talk about text scores, guiding principles, and using this in a non-musical context. We also chat about the listening presence of leadership and that we all might benefit when this would shift from just ‘listening to’ to ‘listening with’.  

And Sharon shares with us her contribution to the ‘Listening guide for quarantine’ that was published at the beginning of the pandemic and an exercise of harmonious human interaction with sounding and listening that we also could do in a workshop situation.

• Connect with Sharon:
  https://www.linkedin.com/in/hopsharonstewart/  
• Download Homing inside out: A listening guide for home quarantine (2020 Soundtrack City, The Mystifiers, STEIM) https://soundtrackcity.net/homing-inside-out/ 
• Upcoming Deep Listening® Retreats https://www.ministryofmaat.org/deep-listening-retreat.html 
• The Center for Deep Listening® at RPI https://www.deeplistening.rpi.edu/ 
• Sonic works by Sharon Stewart https://soundcloud.com/sharonrstewart 
• Podcast miniseries on Deep Listening® https://studiumgenerale.artez.nl/nl/studies/all/podcast/2+deep+listening+pauline+oliveros+and+the+sonosphere/ 
• Journal of Sonic Studies Article on Deep Listening® https://www.researchcatalogue.net/view/261881/261882 
• Sharon can be reached at s.stewart@artez.nl
  

The Power of Music Thinking is brought to you by CREATIVE COMPANION

More about The Music Thinking Framework, the Jam Cards and the blog on musicthinking.com

Innovation patterns and improvisation in organisations with Wolfgang Stark

This episode is about Innovation patterns and improvisation in organisations. Today, my guest is Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Stark - teacher and researcher specialised in organisational and community psychology and visiting fellow at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. 

With natural sounds, like birds and wind in the background, we talk about how to co-create the sound of a company based on the processes of the organisation and how a jazz band can bring organisational scores to life. We also talk about the reactable an electronic table that can be played by non-musicians like an instrument to learn co-creation.

 

We also chat about the difference between learning and organising and the meaning of improvisation in business and society. And we learn how patterns of success translated to a card deck can be used in co-creation, innovation and change. In the end, we hear about the innovative invention of ‘the music box on a garden fence’ that started in corona times.

• Connect with Wolfgang: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wolfgang-stark-0786874/ 
• Contact via email: wolfgang.stark@stw.de
• Pattern Publishing: https://pattern-publishing.de/ 
• The New Bank for Community Ideas and Solutions: http://www.ecpa-online.com/new-bank/ 

The Power of Music Thinking is brought to you by CREATIVE COMPANION

More about The Music Thinking Framework, the Jam Cards and the blog on musicthinking.com

Nifemi Aluko, Music as a Catalyst for Change

We talk with Nifemi Aluko - Founder and CEO of kpakpakpa and author of the book Press Play, Music as a catalyst for change.

Nifemi is a traveller between California and Nigeria and - as he calls - a Youtube inspired bedroom producer. We talk about his journey from a chemical engineer to an advisor for companies that want to enter the African market.

We learn about the size and the diversity of Africa, the high energy of woman entrepreneurship and the many languages, dialects, and communication between people across the continent. 

And we chat about the different pace in doing business and establishing relationships, and how the technique of sampling can bring new styles of music and nurtures the ability to collaborate with people from different places. 

• Connect with Nifemi:
  https://www.linkedin.com/in/nifemi-aluko/
• Website kpakpakpa:
  https://kpakpakpa.com/
• His book Press Play: https://www.amazon.com/Press-Play-Music-Catalyst-Change/dp/1641375531/
• Soundcloud:
  https://soundcloud.com/naporepublic

The Power of Music Thinking is brought to you by CREATIVE COMPANION

Steve Keller, Blend sound science with sound art to make sound decisions

Today in the programme we have Steve Keller from Oakland California and we learn more about sound art, sound science and sound business.

Steve has a great title: Audio alchemist and Sonic Strategy Director, Studio Resonate at SXM Media. We talk about audio-only and audio first strategies in what he calls ‘the platinum age of audio’, how COVID has changed our listening habits, the rise of clubhouse and how leaders can foster the ability to listen inside their companies. We have a conversation about the relationship between visual and sonic identities and what brands with a conscience can do to use sound for sustainable business in a multisensory world. 

We learn about his research on sonic racism and he shares with us a little ritual that he uses before brainstorming sessions that matter.

• Connect with Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevekeller1/ 
• Sound first consultancy Studio Resonate | Pandora: https://www.sxmmedia.com/studio-resonate 
• Listening Builds Trust in a Time of Uncertainty https://www.adweek.com/partner-articles/listening-builds-trust-in-a-time-of-uncertainty/
• Brands can tackle sonic racism: https://www.warc.com/newsandopinion/news/brands-can-tackle-sonic-racism/44246
• Stand For Sonic Diversity website: https://www.standforsonicdiversity.com/

The Power of Music Thinking is brought to you by CREATIVE COMPANION

Michael Hendrix and Panos Panay, A mindset for entrepreneurship, leadership and design

Today on the show we are in Boston and in Cyprus, we talk with Michael Hendrix, Partner and Global Design Director at IDEO and with Panos Panay, Vice President for Strategy & Innovation at Berklee College of Music. Michael and Panos talk about their experience as entrepreneurs, leaders, and executives and the interviews they did with musicians like Björk, Justin Timberlake and many others. 

We speak about the creative mindset that designers and musicians share, the importance of emotional diligence and what David Bowie and Nokia have in common. We speak about what leadership can learn from music production, and that leaders in these times should rather look in the direction of a producer than a conductor. We hear that Design Thinking is less effective when used as a formula and that the musical mindset is applicable to everyone. And we talk about that the value of creative education and a musical mindset can have a great impact on business and innovation.

If this resonates with you, you should definitively check out their new book Two beats ahead. 

• Connect with Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rmichaelhendrix/ 
• Connect with Panos: https://www.linkedin.com/in/panospanay/ 
• Two Beats ahead website: https://twobeatsahead.com/
• IDEO: https://www.ideo.com/
• Berklee College of Music: https://www.berklee.edu/

The Power of Music Thinking is brought to you by CREATIVE COMPANION

Roy Scheerder, Blockchain Philosophy and Collaborative Transformation for Change

The Power of Music Thinking is brought to you by CREATIVE COMPANION

Today on the show we have  Roy Scheerder - co-founder of the dutch cooperative Faebric. In this episode we speak about Roy’s journey from hospitality to the lean and mean asset machine of the airline business and how to start as an entrepreneur with a cooperative. 

We talk about the blockchain philosophy, the concept of tokens and   starting a cooperative with a joint goal and purpose.

And we learn more about collaborative transformation, how to start a strategic change project and the value that the music thinking framework has for him in client projects and how he uses the Jam Cards in workshops.

Roy is the first interviewee of the power of music thinking podcast. 

• Connect with Roy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/royscheerder/
• More about collaborative transformation and the Faebric cooperative: https://www.faebric.com/
• Download the organizational change map that Faebric is using when starting a change project: https://www.faebric.com/organizational-change-map

Christof Zürn, Who, what and why this Podcast

In this very first episode of the brand new podcast The Power of Music Thinking, your host Christof Zürn will tell you about the background of this podcast. Who he is, why he started a podcast and what you can expect every two weeks.

Christof is a seasoned professional in accompanying individuals, teams and organisations to make the step from iteration to innovation and transformation. To find patterns and analogies between business and music is his passion and his mission is to combine these to meaningful collaboration in whatever field you are operating.

More from Music Thinking:

• What is Music Thinking Presentation: https://musicthinking.com/what-is-music-thinking/
• Music Thinking Jam Cards: https://musicthinking.com/jam-cards/
• Music Thinking website: www.musicthinking.com

Trailer - The Power of Music Thinking Podcast

The Power of Music Thinking with Christof Zürn takes you inside the minds of some of the world’s most exciting people AND Musicians. Professionals that in some or another way use music, musical principles, instruments and techniques to work meaningful together. Or in short, the podcast for People with a musical heart and a wicked job.