The One-Handed Concert Pianist, Nicholas McCarthy (#174)

In “The 4-Hour Body” the Geek-to-Freak, and Occam’s Protocol chapters mention supplement regimens. Specifically, From Geek to Freak, you mention a supplement regimen you used in 2005 including NO-Xplode, Slo-Niacin, ChromeMate, BODYQUICK, Micellan, and others. You also suggest other supplements in other chapters, but you do not mention if they are taken daily, or only on work out days.

Also, in “Occam’s Protocol I – Occam’s Feeding” it is suggested to follow the Slow-Carb Diet, as well as adding additional starches such as brown rice and quinoa, but it does not state whether this is for every day or only training days as well.

Thanks in advance.

amazing story!

thanks for sharing

speaking of music, there is a sound engineer that has had huge success by applying the 4 Hour Workweek principles and his story is very interesting too. You might want to read it

http://www.businessinsider.com/graham-cochrane-recording-revolution-2015-6

Blogs like this change lives, keep up the good work Tim!

+ 1 for Martha Argerich. She’s unbelievable.

Great Podcast.

Thank you! I have been waiting for something like this for a long time. Kudos to you with your amazing network and great questions.

Classical musician here (pianist, performer, also teach music-history & -theory & -composition)–thanks for this terrific interview! Read an article on McCarthy in a recent issue of International Piano magazine, what an amazing musician and wonderful human being. I very much agree with his beliefs that some sort of classical music can appeal to everyone. Whether you agree or not, even William F. Buckley said something to the effect that if you love the Beatles then surely you would love J.S. Bach! And always please yes think outside the box–that’s what brought us classical music in the first place, and if you’re trying to make classical music stuffy and stuff it & the composers & performers into a neat little conventional & formulaic box, well, it’s far too late for that!

Argerich is one of my top three favorite pianists, the other two being her ex-husband (they still perform together) Steven Kovacevich who has been loved & derided for his unconventional interpretations, and the Russian pianist Evgeny Kissin who also did not carve out a conventional path never having entered a competition.

One of the most beautiful things about classical music is that every time on repeated listenings/hearings of any one piece, you can hear & discover something you’ve never heard before, such is the richness in complexity or the richness of elegant simplicity (I know that seems like a contradiction in terms) found in the genre. Yes, start with the so-called “war-horses” of classical music, for instance if you think you may like the nine Beethoven symphonies you Must listen to the recordings by the conductor Riccardo Muti with the Philadelphia Orchestra, they’ve been described as being like velvet on the ear. There are lists all over the internet of the standard pieces to listen to if you’re new to classical music.

Then quickly branch out to the lesser-knowns of different eras. For instance, to begin to explore more modern music you might begin with Ravel’s 2nd movement of his String Quartet in F made famous by the movie “The Royal Tenenbaums”, Poulenc (Movement Perpetual), Bartok (the “Game of Pairs movement of his Concerto for Orchestra), Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring” for pulse-pounding polyrhythms (& the sacrifice of a virgin to the god of spring), or if you can bear expressionist music try Alban Berg’s opera “Wozzeck”. If you like sometimes loud, sometimes bombastic, nearly always atonal music (if you’re into jazz, then think Coltrane) then try listening to some twelve-tone music. Then there are the lesser-knowns of Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical-era, and Romantic eras music, it truly never ends.

The topic of classical music is so vast that one of my very favorite things about being a classical musician is no matter how long I live, I–nor anyone else–can never know everything there is to know about the subject, so I’m still learning something new every day and can continue to do so every day for the rest of my life!

Thanks again, for (another) terrific interview, Tim!

the blind man story was really poignent … The idea that he created the illusion of two handed play was really striking ( i was going to say a real eye opener)

Nicholas, you are a fucking legend. Sorry about the language but thats literally the exact phrase that came to my mind and mouth. Biggest respect

Nicholas and this interview is worth 100 interviews with the individuals identified with the words ‘billionaire /tech/ start up’ Tim worships so often here 😉 would be grateful if this blog moves on permanently from the sillion droid valley & start up fetish and gets permanently plugged into the real world and real human beings of heart like our maestro Nicholas here 😉 we’re not all rich with comfortable easy lives – adversity brings so much to the learning table . not that Tim would disagree but certainly more diversity is needed here 🙂

Hey, Tim! So glad you’ve featured a Musician! We have more to offer the world than most would think.

So, you mentioned the issue with the world being structured around right handed people, and gave an example with dog training and walking with a dog.

In the States it has to do with walking with a dog on streets etc..etc…doesn’t it? You can’t walk against traffic with your dog on your right side, closest to the oncoming traffic, right?

Of course, a well trained dog, and human, would be able to have their dog be comfortable on either side, as I saw when I took my dog to puppy school in Berkeley at, I think, Sirius Dog Training. I remember them explaining the importance of walking with the pup on the left side for this very reason.

Anyhow, I’m sure it must be different in other countries according to the traffic moving in different directions on different sides of the roads. Or, perhaps it is, like you said, for a right handed world.

I hope you keep bringing Musicians on the show!

Thanks for doing such great work!

-james scott

Hello from Siberia, Russia!

I love your podcast and five bullet Fridays.

I’m an artist and creative director live in San Mateo.

I would love to meet you and work for you for free.

Thanks,

Paiman

Have you considered interviewing Doug Lemov? He is managing director at Uncommon Schools and have deconstructed expert teaching and and metalearning in his books Teach Like A Champion and Practice Perfect. He seems to follow a lot of the same principles you do, but goes more in detail.

Great interview.

I was also smiling because I couldn’t help thinking about this:

https://youtu.be/lbnkY1tBvMU

I was sure he was going to mention it.

I’ll bet the Japanese steak was Hokkaido Snow Beef. If you haven’t already, get to Metropolitan Grille next time you’re in Seattle. They usually have it on the menu. Like buttah! And I think Alexander’s, here, sometimes has it.

Another great guest and podcast! In the podcast Nicholas mentioned the numerous musical arrangements that exist only in his head. There is now music writing software available that could probably write it for him as he plays it. I say probably because his music is more complicated than what I have dealt with. I suggest Finale or Sibelius software. No doubt you have listeners more knowledgeable than I who could make additional suggestions.

Tim,

Is this interview with Nicholas McCarthy, you ponder why dogs are trained to be on the left side. I train dogs and really it doesn’t matter which side is chosen, but the preference for the left is because Rally (dog agility competitions) demand all dogs be on the left side. And so if trainers are exposed to Rally, that preference usually trickles down to general obedience classes.

I just listened to this today….and Nicholas has be my favourite of all your interviews. What an inspiring positive soul he is! His positive yet single minded determination is incredible. I would love to know where, who and how his mindset was shaped. Was he born with it, was it fostered by a parent in his ear telling him anything is possible, did he suffer only to become resilient? As a parent I would love to know…..