---
title: "Flutes Through Bassoons with Josh Plotner (Meghan Trainor, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Babylon)"

description: "Josh plays instruments from all around the world, and that’s how he’s on a crazy number of recordings, including live on Broadway and for anime series’ like Naruto or Avatar. We talk about building a wide set of skills, and how that curiosity and love of learning fits really well with the modern world."

status: complete

date: 2025-07-22

kind: guest

guestSlugs:
  - josh-plotner

listenUrl: "https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lovemusicmore/episodes/Flutes-Through-Bassoons-with-Josh-Plotner-Meghan-Trainor--The-Marvelous-Mrs--Maisel--Babylon-e35olk6"

lmwUrl: "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqBl4Nhas9k"
appleUrl: "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/flutes-through-bassoons-with-josh-plotner-meghan/id1567355195?i=1000718424696&uo=4"
spotifyUrl: "https://open.spotify.com/episode/663cJBkjaHrioYmZYkKI9F"
youtubeUrl: "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQRmHFNvVDE"

topicsDiscussed:
  - "Classical and orchestral music"
  - "Collaboration"
  - "The journey of a multi-instrumentalist"
  - "Broadway vs. modern recordings"
  - "The evolution of music learning"
  - "Cultural influences in music"
  - "Music as a tool for personal growth"
  - "Overcoming industry barriers"
  - "The role of technology in music education"
  - "Live performances and musical storytelling"
  - "Flute traditions across cultures"

hostNote: |
  **Josh Plotner** has played around 120 instruments, which is a number that sounds like marketing until he explains the logic: "It's easier to learn more once you know more." Each new instrument lowers the threshold for the next one. He wanted saxophone at age 3, fell in love with flute and clarinet in high school when orchestra clicked, and built from there into a career spanning Broadway, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Babylon, Meghan Trainor, and anime recordings including Naruto and Avatar.
  
  We talk through multi-instrumentalism as accumulative skill rather than novelty, what it actually looks like to build that range across a career, what non-western instruments add to the palette, and what music education looks like when it works. The thread is curiosity as a professional practice: the same instinct that sent him to saxophone at 3 is the same instinct that keeps adding instruments now.

selectedMoments:
  - label: "Josh's early love for music"
    startSec: 136
    note: "Josh recounts how his passion for playing saxophone started at a young age, highlighting the influence his mother had on his musical journey."
  - label: "Importance of learning multiple instruments"
    startSec: 378
    note: "Josh explains the strategic advantage of learning various woodwind instruments, particularly for artists seeking opportunities on Broadway."
  - label: "The thrill of non-western instruments"
    startSec: 590
    note: "Josh shares his experiences with learning and performing on diverse instruments from around the world, stressing how they expand one's musical vocabulary."
  - label: "The creativity in music education"
    startSec: 1134
    note: "Discussing his unconventional learning path, Josh emphasizes the value of personalized music education over formal degrees."
  - label: "The future of orchestras in popular media"
    startSec: 2359
    note: "Josh highlights the potential resurgence of orchestras through live concert events, merging classical music with modern storytelling."
  - label: "Integrating traditional and modern styles"
    startSec: 2440
    note: "He speaks about how modern interpretations of traditional world music can engage new audiences."

excerptQuotes:
  - text: "I wanted to play saxophone since I was three years old... my mom thought it was just a phase."
    startSec: 141
    reviewed: true
  - text: "I really fell in love with flute and clarinet in high school... because I started to see how cool orchestra stuff was."
    startSec: 297
    reviewed: true
  - text: "It’s easier to learn more once you know more... if I tell you I play 120 instruments, which is 20 more instruments you're like, wow, that's impressive."
    startSec: 626
    reviewed: true
  - text: "In music, if you make a mistake, you can't go back and fix it... you have to get over making a mistake and just keep going."
    startSec: 2847
    reviewed: true
  - text: "Music is a tool that makes life worth living... it’s satisfying to do something with my life that’s not very taxing on the environment."
    startSec: 2929
    reviewed: true

faq:
  - question: "What is Josh Plotner's musical background?"
    answer: "Josh Plotner is a versatile musician who plays a wide range of instruments, including woodwinds. He is known for his work on Broadway, as well as with various anime and television scores."
  - question: "How does Josh Plotner approach learning new instruments?"
    answer: "Josh emphasizes the importance of curiosity and personal exploration in learning music, often engaging with teachers across different styles to deepen his understanding."
  - question: "What are some projects Josh Plotner has worked on?"
    answer: "He has contributed to live performances for Broadway shows, and orchestrated music for series like Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel."

transcriptPublished: false

draft: false
---