Nolan speaks frequently at public, private, festival, and corporate events; his talks often include an element of live performance—piano solo or larger ensemble—in a supportive or more substantial way, depending on the nature / needs of the event. His talks cover a wide array of music-related topics, whether directly based on material from his book Why You Like It or more tangentially aligned. As he does with his musical performances, Nolan is uniquely able to tailor the themes and details of his talks to align with nature of the event, per the input of the organizers, etc. In all his talks, Nolan leaves his audiences inspired, provoked, enlightened, and entertained—and thinking differently about the relationship of music to their lives. An example lecture—his 2015 TEDx talk—is found below.
To discuss hiring Nolan for speaking engagements, contact: Julianne.Lewis@macmillan.com or cspadafore@wmeagency.com.
Here are a few of Nolan’s most popular lecture topics:
Why You Like the Music You Do
An overview of Nolan’s 2019 Macmillan book, Why You Like It: The Science and Culture of Musical Taste , on the sources, nature, and implications of our individual taste in music.
Unlocking Your Productivity Through Music
Nolan uses his extensive knowledge of music and its profound interactions with your brain, body, and psychology to provide prescriptive tools and motivations to increase your creativity, mindfulness, and productivity—individually and collectively.
Music & Technology: Pandora and the Wider Applications of Music Technology
An insider’s view of music technology and the ever-changing music business from the Architect of Pandora’s Music Genome Project—with insights into how learnings and applications from the music technology sector can benefit businesses of every kind.
Empowering Your Musical Taste
An inspiring discussion of the many ways you can enhance and activate your musical taste, on behalf of a richer, healthier, and happier life.
The History and Culture of XYZ Music
Any of dozens of potential topics that explore (via discussion, recordings, and performance) the origins, achievements, and influence of a given era, style, or individual figure of music history.