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The Musician's Shed Podcast

The Musician's Shed Podcast

By: Samar Newsome
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Real talk. Real musicians. Real growth.


Making great music is only part of the journey. This podcast exists to help musicians grow beyond the notes—through honest conversations with working professionals and expert advice from across the industry.

Each episode breaks down what it really takes to succeed: mindset, preparation, business, creativity, and resilience. You’ll hear stories, lessons, and strategies from musicians who’ve walked the path and learned what works—and what doesn’t.

If you’re ready to elevate your craft, strengthen your professionalism, and build a career with intention, this podcast was made for you.

© 2026 The Musician's Shed Podcast Music
Episodes
  • THE MUSICIANS SHED PODCAST: MARIEL BILDSTEN

    THE MUSICIANS SHED PODCAST: MARIEL BILDSTEN
    Jun 9 2026

    What does it take to leave a comfortable local music scene and completely reset your standard of excellence? In this episode of The Musician’s Shed, host Samar Newsome connects with the incredible New York-based trombonist and septet bandleader Mariel Bildsten.

    From her accidental start picking up the trombone at ten years old just to hang out with friends in Santa Barbara, California, Mariel charts her high-stakes leap of faith to study at The New School in New York City. She dives deep into the raw psychological realities of being an independent artist, sharing her personal "cliff-jumping" philosophy on taking massive creative risks and using every technical setback as a launchpad for a growth mindset.

    Samar and Mariel shred the toxic industry myth of the "isolated, lone-wolf musician," breaking down why learning to delegate, build a trusted team, and pass genuine structural ownership to your collaborators is the ultimate secret to career longevity. If you are an aspiring brass player, bandleader, or independent creative looking for a blueprint on how to handle business at home without burning out your artistic spark, step into the Shed for this essential masterclass.

    Key Highlights From This Session:

    • Embracing the Butt-Kicking: Why leaving a small-pond environment and stepping into highly demanding competitive circles is the fastest accelerator for your musicianship.
    • Micro-Shedding Architecture: Mariel’s exact blueprint for tearing down practice anxiety by isolating microscopic, slow harmonic goals instead of burning out on mechanical exercises.
    • The Harmony Hurdle: Transitioning a single-note melodic mindset into deep harmonic mastery by remaining a humble student and taking piano lessons from peers.
    • Standing Sturdy in Your Taste: Why your intuitive artistic compass is precious, and how protecting what you dig insulates you from peer pressure and standard industry box-checking.
    • Sneak Peek at the 2027 Septet Album: Exclusive details on her upcoming vocal-concept record—recorded during pregnancy—which explores the expressive, buttonless physical parallels between the trombone slide and the human voice.

    Connect with The Musician's Shed:

    • Host: Samar Newsome
    • Follow Guest: Mariel Bildsten (@marielbildsten)
    • Subscribe: Tap that follow button on your favorite RSS stream to lock in your weekly masterclass!

    Real Talk. Real Musicians. Real Growth.

    STAY Connected on YouTube , IG and Facebook.


    The Musician's Shed Podcast!

    • Subscribe to our video podcast on YouTube.
    • Follow us on IG and Facebook.
    • Engage by leaving a comment if you like what you hear!
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    31 mins
  • THE MUSICIANS SHED PODCAST: DR. WILLIAM FARLEY (PART 2)

    THE MUSICIANS SHED PODCAST: DR. WILLIAM FARLEY (PART 2)
    Jun 2 2026
    In this deeply emotional, full-circle second half of Episode 20, host Samar Newsome continues his conversation with his high school music teacher, mentor, and "music dad," Dr. William Y. Farley Jr. Transitioning from their early history, this session tackles the profound psychological, spiritual, and intellectual realities of running a music program.Dr. Farley peels back the layers on his graduate research regarding "monotone" singers, details the stark cultural shift from the testing-focused environments of Irvington to the AP-heavy pressures of West Orange, and candidly confesses to the introverted self-doubt and imposter syndrome he battled despite changing thousands of student lives. Samar and Dr. Farley celebrate the 25th anniversary of the award-winning West Orange step teams Dr. Farley founded, honor deceased alumni choir legends, and analyze why mastery is the ultimate magnet for cultivating excellence in the modern urban classroom.Key Discussion Highlights1. Music as an Intellectual AcceleratorSamar and Dr. Farley dive into the systemic barriers where modern students are pulled from music classes to accommodate heavy standardized testing cycles or aggressive Advanced Placement (AP) tracks. Samar advocates fiercely for the cognitive rigor of instrumental music, noting that reading and playing forces the brain to run high-level processing simultaneously across both hemispheres. Dr. Farley details how he leveraged this reality to protect his students:"When they're doing something they enjoy, it manifests in their other classes. They become better students. I had to talk the talk with guidance counselors and tell them: if they are in this music room, they are going to succeed everywhere else."2. Dr. Farley's Academic Research: Hymnals & Monotone SingersFor the first time on the podcast, Dr. Farley reveals the focus of his advanced academic degrees:The Master’s Thesis (Monotone Singers): A research study mapping out why "tone-deafness" is rarely a vocal disability, but rather a disconnect between the ear, the brain's audio processing centers, and vocal execution. Dr. Farley reinforces his belief that everyone possesses a voice and the inherent desire to sing, provided the neural dots can be trained to connect.The Doctoral Dissertation (The Disuse of the Hymnal): An investigation into modern church culture moving away from traditional hymnals, arguing for their intentional retention to preserve critical music literacy and theological history.3. The Introverted Master: Battling Self-DoubtIn one of the most transparent moments of the series, Dr. Farley admits that despite his staggering success, his introverted nature caused him to internally doubt his value.The Missing Confidence: Dr. Farley reflects that he spent years struggling to see himself the way his students saw him. He notes that if he had possessed more baseline faith in his early gifts, it would have fundamentally changed how he approached his classrooms.Providing a Blueprint: Samar counters by pouring flowers on his mentor, emphasizing that Dr. Farley served as a steady, visible, consistent icon of strong manhood and structural humility for thousands of urban youth who lacked present fathers or were inundated with degrading media stereotypes.4. Co-Teaching, Step Teams, and the West Orange HighlightsDr. Farley details his transition to West Orange, highlighting his artistic triumph in tackling elite choral works like Brahms’ Requiem and Pinkham’s Christmas Cantata alongside standard-setting band colleagues.The Reality of Co-Teaching: Dr. Farley notes that while co-teaching can provide excellent student support, a choir program ultimately needs one clear visionary director to prevent conflicting operational methodologies.A 25-Year Legacy: The duo celebrates the 25th anniversary of the West Orange High School Step Teams—originally founded as an extracurricular under Dr. Farley’s supervision—which recently won national recognition on the Sherri Shepard Show.5. Honoring Lost Voices & The Retirement ChapterThe episode takes a solemn, bittersweet turn as Samar and Dr. Farley remember iconic, generational vocal powerhouses who passed through Dr. Farley's programs but have since passed away, including Carlin, Katrina (remembered as one of the finest contralto voices in New Jersey history), and Malik Jones and Gemini.Host's Final Takeaway:"You were a historic blueprint for character, patience, humility, and consistency. In our community, simply showing up every single day and remaining a reliable anchor speaks volumes. You gave us the joy of music, and your impact is miles long." — Samar Newsome#TheMusiciansShed #MusicEducation #MusicPedagogy #MusicBusiness #MusicianLife #MusicTeacher #EarTraining #ChoirDirector #ChoralMusic #GospelMusicians #ClassicallyTrainedSTAY Connected on YouTube , IG and Facebook.The Musician's Shed Podcast!Subscribe to our video podcast on YouTube.Follow us on IG and Facebook.Engage by leaving a comment if ...
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    47 mins
  • THE MUSICIANS SHED PODCAST: DR. WILLIAM FARLEY (PART 1)

    THE MUSICIANS SHED PODCAST: DR. WILLIAM FARLEY (PART 1)
    May 26 2026

    In PART 1 of this incredibly special, full-circle episode of The Musician’s Shed, host Samar Newsome sits down with the man who served as the spark for his own musical and educational career: his high school mentor and "music dad," Dr. William Y. Farley.

    From growing up in a musical church household in South Jersey—likened to the "New Jersey Jacksons"—to a surprise five-year stint playing for multiple United States Navy bands, Dr. Farley's path to becoming a pillar of North Jersey music education is a masterclass in preparation meeting divine favor.

    In this intimate and nostalgic conversation, Samar and Dr. Farley look back at the history that shaped them. They pull back the curtain on Dr. Farley's historic decade building a legendary touring gospel choir program at Irvington High School, transitioning into the elite classical choral literature spaces of West Orange, and the distinct cultural differences between North and South Jersey music scenes. Whether you are an independent artist, a working music educator, or a student navigating your own creative path, this episode is packed with timeless wisdom on developing your craft, mastering the language of music, and learning when to let a season gracefully end.

    Key Highlights From This Session:

    • The Late-Blooming Spark: How a high school performance of Brahms' Requiem instantly turned a late-blooming junior into a lifelong classical and piano enthusiast.
    • The "Worst" Interview Ever: The hilarious story of how a quick performance of Amazing Grace bypassed standard teacher protocols and changed Irvington High School history on the spot.
    • Navy Bands & Mojave Deserts: Dr. Farley's journey navigating the intense jazz-reading auditions of the military to secure a rare, lifetime spot across concert, rock, and jazz ensembles.
    • The Anatomy of the Shift: A raw look at the bittersweet reality of educational budget cuts, charter school shifts, and the literal "fire" that signaled it was time to step into a new professional season.
    • Formal Education vs. On-The-Job Training: Why learning the "universal language" of all 12 keys unlocks the ability to communicate effortlessly across orchestral, jazz, and funk rooms alike.

    Connect with The Musician's Shed:

    • Host: Samar Newsome
    • Subscribe: Hit follow to ensure you never miss a weekly masterclass dropping real jewels for real musicians.

    Real Talk. Real Musicians. Real Growth.

    STAY Connected on YouTube , IG and Facebook.


    The Musician's Shed Podcast!

    • Subscribe to our video podcast on YouTube.
    • Follow us on IG and Facebook.
    • Engage by leaving a comment if you like what you hear!
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 4 mins
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