By Jennie Tao
Aficionados of classical music and other unique genres of music, such as World music and Middle Eastern music, struggle not to be overlooked by younger generations, who usually focus on what’s trending on the radio, such as rap and hip hop.
But Connor Long, operations manager and technical specialist at UC Santa Barbara, has launched a new podcast to showcase UCSB’s music department and highlight the diverse range of genres and programs it offers.
Long’s podcast Through My Ears features graduate students who sit down with their professors to ask them about their background and experiences with various and diverse musical forms.
Production and planning of the podcast began in the summer of 2019 and the first episode was released in February, featuring music department chair Robert Koenig. Two more episodes are airing this summer, at the start of each summer session. Faculty members Derek Katz and Stefanie Tcharos, both of musicology, have been interviewed.
Long hopes that making this podcast available on the popular music and podcast streaming site Spotify, will attract a younger audience who would otherwise not have an opportunity to learn about the beauty within different forms of music.
Connor Long, Producer for the podcast Through My Ears, photographed during a recent Zoom interview.
Q: What was your original intent in starting this podcast?
A: I was always very passionate about music. I wanted to hear people’s stories from different backgrounds, and discover how people from all walks of life approach music in their own way.
I also wanted to explore their motivations — why people do what they do. These professors are very skilled and talented, and it takes a lot of hard work to get to where they’re at. What drives them, and how they came to be who they are, highlights the music they create in a way that makes it even more beautiful.
Q: What was the most difficult part in the production of this podcast and how did you overcome that?
A: The most difficult part was finding the balance between letting the conversation go wherever it wanted to go and weaving in a narrative that touches upon some common themes. For example, there are a few questions that each interviewer has asked each guest. Other than that, however, I take a very hands-off approach in directing the podcast in effort to see where it goes.
Q: Most of the professors in our music department specialize in classical music and other genres such as World and Middle East music — a far cry from trendy hip hop and rap. Would you say that this podcast is your way of using modern technology to promote classical music to the younger generations?
A: Technology plays a huge role in giving younger audiences access to music that they might not listen to on a day-to-day basis. Sometimes, it just takes a little nudge for someone to start listening to something they wouldn't normally listen to.
This podcast is making people more aware of some different genres of music. I’m hoping it’s more effective to provide listeners with something like this, rather than hope they go and look it up for themselves. In addition to classical, or other traditional western forms, UCSB’s music department has very popular jazz, contemporary, and world music ensembles — a lot of stuff for students to explore and create new opportunities.
Q: Do you think the podcast might lead to other ways to educate younger students about the beauty of classical music? What are some ideas you have?
A: Our aim is to make people aware of the music department, including the concerts, recitals, and free shows we offer. We want to draw more interest to the wide range of music here. I imagine in the future, we have some sort of livestream account, where we can host a master class, or solo concert recitals online. Right now, we’re just getting the pieces in place. Maybe at the end of quarantine we can work with students to create a TikTok account for UCSB’s department of music. Also, in the future, I want to invite professors to play their instruments live while we record the podcast.
Q: Any last thoughts on why someone should tune in to this podcast?
A: It’s really interesting to hear what people are thinking about when they’re listening to music. Whether it’s listening critically to each aspect of sound quality such as depth, a sense of space, the lyrics, form, or just purely enjoying the art. There’s so much that goes on behind a piece of music that can really bring it to life in different ways, and make you appreciate it that much more.
Robert Koenig is the Chair of the Department of Music and is featured in the first episode of the podcast Through My Ears.
Jennie Tao is a graduating UC Santa Barbara student in economics and accounting, with a minor in professional writing. She wrote this piece for her Writing Program class, Journalism for Web and Social Media.