If you've ever wondered how playing bowls of water is related to traditional classical music, this is the episode for you. Cellist Ashley Bathgate (of Bang on a Can All-Stars fame) was classically trained at Yale University School of Music, educated in the structured musical worlds of Bach, Beethoven and Brahms. But today, she moves in a tangent universe of the classical music world, filled with effects pedals, prepared instruments, living composers, and sometimes members of indie rock bands. In this episode, she talks about what took her on this path, and in doing so, gives a legit primer on contemporary classical music [ Music in this episode: Special Thanks to Todd Reynolds for his music, Taskforce: Farmlab from Outerbourough.