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Oct 2026

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About the show

A podcast exploring why making art can be more practical than we think. Creatives from all around the world share their artistic journeys and explore the impact it has on their thinking and everyday lives. pianobuffs.substack.com

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54 recent

October 6, 20268 min

You are too old to play

These are mini episodes where I read articles that I publish on PianoBuffs Substack. I share essays, reflections, and research-informed insights on the pianist’s mind. In this episode, I revisit and draw insights from a contemporary art performance we created together with artists Anna Szalucka, Mark Liberman, and Marija Baranauskaite Liberman at the MO museum. We created a show called Summertime , depicting the interwar period of my hometown, Kaunas. Here, you can see a full documentary . Read the article - here Get full access to PianoBuffs at pianobuffs.substack.com/subscribe

September 8, 202610 min

Do you really want to remove friction from your life?

These are mini episodes where I read articles that I publish monthly on PianoBuffs Substack . I share essays, reflections, and research-informed insights on the pianist’s mind. A text about how life rewards us with friction and what can we learn from facing it instead of running from it or indulging in too many pleasures. A story about being a professional pianist, becoming a parent and creating a film in the Canadian forests. You’ll see how it is all connected! AI will send us back to the piano - read article Get full access to PianoBuffs at pianobuffs.substack.com/subscribe

August 7, 20266 min

What hunter-gatherers and children teach us about motivation

These are mini episodes where I read articles that I publish monthly on PianoBuffs Substack . I share essays, reflections, and research-informed insights on the pianist’s mind. I’ve discovered professor’s P. Gray writings on the importance of play for all humans no matter small or big ones and a text about motivation was born. If you want to dive deep into this, check Play Makes Us Human . Throughout my musical career, I've been deeply interested in the science behind piano playing and musical performance itself. If you are curious about how music can help develop your brain and broaden your worldview, visit our Substack . More information about PianoBuffs here . Get full access to PianoBuffs at pianobuffs.substack.com/subscribe

July 22, 20267 min

A text about nothing

These are mini episodes where I read articles that I publish monthly on PianoBuffs Substack . The Sisyphus legend tells a story of how Sisyphus cheated death, but after finally dying, he was sent to the underworld, and because of his deceptions to the Gods, he was punished to spend eternity pushing a huge rock up a steep hill, only to see it tumble back down just before reaching the top, forcing him to begin the task all over again. Isn't this a reflection of how many things in life feel?Throughout my musical career, I've been deeply interested in the science behind piano playing and musical performance itself. If you are curious about how music can help develop your brain and expand your perspective, visit our Substack . More information about PianoBuffs here . Get full access to PianoBuffs at pianobuffs.substack.com/subscribe Get full access to PianoBuffs at pianobuffs.substack.com/subscribe

June 30, 202611 min

AI will send us back to the piano

These are mini episodes where I read articles that I publish monthly on PianoBuffs Substack . I share essays, reflections, and research-informed insights on the pianist’s mind. In this essay, I argue that learning music reveals how the brain actually learns and may be one of the most valuable forms of cognitive training in the age of AI. Throughout my musical career, I've been deeply interested in the science behind piano playing and musical performance itself. If you are curious about how music can help develop your brain, visit our Substack . More information about PianoBuffs here . Get full access to PianoBuffs at pianobuffs.substack.com/subscribe

June 25, 20269 min

How playing piano makes you a better public speaker

These are mini episodes where I read articles that I publish monthly on PianoBuffs Substack . I share essays, reflections, and research-informed insights on the pianist’s mind. I wrote this after completing the Ultraspeaking course on public speaking. It was fascinating to discover how many similarities there are between making music and speaking in public. Throughout my musical career, I've been deeply interested in the science behind piano playing and musical performance itself. If you are curious about how music can help develop your brain, visit our Substack . More information about PianoBuffs here . Get full access to PianoBuffs at pianobuffs.substack.com/subscribe

June 17, 20267 min

If music was a Michelin-star experience or a McDonald’s burger

These are mini episodes where I read articles that I publish monthly on PianoBuffs Substack . I share essays, reflections, and research-informed insights on the pianist’s mind. The title says it all. This is a personal look at my thought process as I prepare for a concert. Throughout my musical career, I've been deeply interested in the science behind piano playing and musical performance itself. If you are curious about how music can help develop your brain, visit our Substack . More information about PianoBuffs here . Get full access to PianoBuffs at pianobuffs.substack.com/subscribe

June 10, 20266 min

C + ABC# = FLOW STATE

These are mini episodes where I read articles that I publish monthly on PianoBuffs Substack . I share essays, reflections, and research-informed insights on the pianist’s mind. In this article, I discuss the flow state, what it is, and how you can experience it. Throughout my musical career, I've been deeply interested in the science behind piano playing and musical performance itself. If you are curious about how music can help develop your brain, visit our Substack . More information about PianoBuffs here . Get full access to PianoBuffs at pianobuffs.substack.com/subscribe

June 3, 20264 min

How playing piano expands your ability to solve problems

These are mini episodes where I read articles that I publish monthly on PianoBuffs Substack . I share essays, reflections, and research-informed insights on the pianist’s mind. Here's another reading of my latest article about how learning an instrument can provide valuable life lessons and help develop problem-solving skills. Throughout my musical career, I've been deeply interested in the science behind piano playing and musical performance itself. If you are curious about how music can help develop your brain, visit our Substack . More information about PianoBuffs here . Get full access to PianoBuffs at pianobuffs.substack.com/subscribe

May 20, 20263 min

Piano: a gym for your brain

These are mini episodes where I read articles that I publish monthly on PianoBuffs Substack . I share essays, reflections, and research-informed insights on the pianist’s mind. I believe that piano practice can enrich us far beyond the keyboard. In this article, I talk about how learning piano can remind us of how long real learning takes and how changing our attitude towards learning can make us more resilient and curious. Throughout my musical career, I've been deeply interested in the science behind piano playing and musical performance itself. If you are interested in how music can help develop your brain, visit our Substack . More information about PianoBuffs here . Get full access to PianoBuffs at pianobuffs.substack.com/subscribe