Ben Laude, the DEFINITIVE CHOPIN EDUCATOR! | Ep. 35: This is the Legend Of Ben Laude

If you are a classical pianist, then you will know who he is.

That's right. Ben Laude, host of Chopin Talk at the Olympics/World Cup of Piano, the 2025 International Chopin Competition, joins the show!

Join Amos Vang as he and Ben reminisce on Ben's career, journey through academia, and journey to becoming one of the most recognizable online personalities in the YouTube piano space.

More importantly, Amos and Ben discuss various ideas and concepts for the future of classical piano competitions and careers that you'll hear for the first time right here!

Tomorrow by Scott Buckley – released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

Other music by Amos Vang

#benlaude #chopin #chopincompetition #chopinpiano #cliburn #vancliburn #fialkowska #piano #rubinstein #fialkowska

-- CHAPTERS --
0:00 – Introduction
3:04 – What inspired Ben Laude to pursue piano?
4:53 – What was the classical music culture like in Ben Laude’s community back in the day?
8:40 – Ben Laude almost LOST his passion for classical music at a young age?! The Internet saved it!
10:56 – What were the greatest challenges that Ben Laude faced when learning piano early on?
15:45 – Practice makes…INJURIES?!
17:23 – Chopin on practicing piano
20:00 – Most International Chopin Competition contestants may have grown up in musical families or well-structured state music systems
22:28 – Nicolas Namoradze’s research on music performance and sports performance
24:37 – Audition success, figure skating, gymnastics, and piano performance
31:46 – Lebron James looks at basketball differently. Is that how Martha Argerich looks at piano differently?
33:21 – Eye movement in sports and in music
36:22 – The top Chopin Competition prize winners don’t look the same, but they LOOK the same!
38:38 – What inspired Ben Laude to pursue a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance at Rice University?
44:27 – Somehow, Canada has been producing more great pianists per capita compared to the U.S. Yet, few Canadians know about these great Canadian pianists!
45:27 – Canada and the USSR are the only 2 countries that have at least 3 medallists in consecutive International Chopin Competition editions!
55:11 – The classical musical scene is still very insular. That contributed to Ben Laude’s YouTube rise!
57:50 – Amos Vang describes using sports terminology to promote classical music!
1:05:10 – Ben Laude analyzes and critiques the current classical music career landscape
1:10:28 – Can the sports exhibition match model become a good inspiration for classical music showcases?
1:13:25 – Amos Vang was an announcer of the 2016 NBA All-Star Challenge in Canada. Dunk contests and classical music showcases?
1:19:17 – Sports viewed negatively in the classical music world?
1:24:37 – HERE’S A FIRST: Ben Laude proposes his OWN PIANO COMPETITION FORMAT!
1:28:51 – How do you tell a story, in classical music?
1:39:37 – Visual storytelling in classical piano competitions
1:43:24 – Amos Vang, as a classical pianist AND sports announcer, explains how Ben Laude’s visual storytelling ideas are ALREADY DONE IN SPORTS BROADCASTING!
1:56:10 – What is musicality to Ben Laude?
2:02:13 – Who is Fryderyk Chopin to Ben Laude?
2:17:22 – Classical music may actually have a broader, more diverse emotional spectrum than most genres
2:23:38 – It’s ok to miss out on things. Embrace the JOY of missing out (JOMO)!
2:27:23 – What are the most rewarding things that Ben Laude has experienced in his career?
2:29:56 – Ben Laude addresses his fans and gives some professional advice on classical music careers!