Practice, Perfected w/Dr. Molly Gebrian
In this episode of Piano Tech Radio Hour, host Eathan Janney welcomes Dr. Molly Gebrian, a professional violist, educator, and neuroscientist who merges music performance with cognitive science. As they gather over the July 4th weekend, they explore how musicians can transform their practice using brain-based strategies.
She shares her journey from early childhood lessons on the violin to a deep commitment to the viola, shaped by a serious injury that forced her to rethink her approach to music. Her academic path, spanning Oberlin College, the New England Conservatory, and Rice University, equips her with a rare combination of musical expertise and scientific insight.
Using relatable analogies, from stain removal to business meetings, our host and guest explore complex brain processes in ways that feel practical and intuitive. She also shares her current work at the New England Conservatory, where she teaches the science of practicing and coaches students one-on-one.
Dr Molly also discusses her new book, Learn Faster, Perform Better, and encourages listeners to explore her extensive library of videos, PDFs, and a concise newsletter—all designed to help musicians get more out of their practice time.
About:
Dr. Molly Gebrian
Dr. Molly Gebrian is a violist, educator, and author who bridges the worlds of classical music and neuroscience. They know her as a passionate advocate for musicians' health and effectiveness, grounded in both performance experience and cognitive research. With degrees from Oberlin College, New England Conservatory, and Rice University, she combines her scientific curiosity with artistry in a rare and refreshing way.
At New England Conservatory, she teaches courses in the science of practicing and music cognition, while also mentoring students one-on-one on practice strategies. She is widely recognized for championing underrepresented composers and for developing actionable, research-based tools that help musicians perform with confidence and clarity.
They follow her work through her book, Learn Faster, Perform Better: A Musician’s Guide to the Neuroscience of Practicing (Oxford University Press, 2024), her YouTube channel, and her website, which offers free downloadable resources and a quick, practical newsletter.
𝐉𝐎𝐈𝐍 𝐔𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓❗❗
Subscribe to radio hour for just $16/mo and get direct access to each weeks private zoom call, as well as all the archival recordings of hundreds of episodes in our member area. Join using by visiting https://bit.ly/joinptrh
Piano Tech Radio Hour is brought to you by Piano Technicians Master. We provide cutting-edge piano technology instruction from piano industry masters without leaving your home, featuring monthly subscriptions, conventions, single live streaming, and recorded masterclasses. Learn advanced skills:
- How to tune pianos.
- How to repair pianos.
- How to rebuild pianos.
- How to service concert pianos for the finest performers in the world.
Browse more masterclasses and lectures from Piano Tuning Pros here: https://www.pianotechniciansmasterclass.com/
Linktree - https://linktr.ee/pianotechmasterclass
Instagram - https://instagram.com/pianotechmasterclass
Twitter (X) - https://x.com/pianotechclass
Creators and Guests
Host
Eathan Janney
Eathan has 20 years of experience as a piano technician. He studied with Dave Miller, the staff piano technician for the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, New Jersey. Dave Carpenter, the inventor of the Verituner electronic tuning device, provided mentorship for Eathan in Chicago. Eathan also worked with Ken Eschete and Bill Schwarts, the staff piano technicians at Northwestern University in Chicago. In 2009, he founded Floating Piano Factory of New York, a company that allows piano technicians to move from Apprentice to Craftsman level while offering value pricing to clients as technicians progress toward mastery. In 2017 he founded Piano Technicians Masterclasses, an online project designed to offer cutting-edge instruction from piano industry masters to anyone on the globe with an internet connection.