Brad and Erin unpack their experience at the 2025 MMEA Midwinter Convention. It was three full days of concerts, professional development sessions, exhibits, networking, and fun! ATTEND YOUR STATE CONVENTION, regardless of how long you've been teaching, where you work, or what time of year it happens! GO LEARN AND GROW AND CONNECT! Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you find podcasts! Band is Everything - It's all about band and it's not about band at all! Bradley Mariska & Erin Holmes...
Feb 18, 2025•48 min•Season 3Ep. 68
A recent post of Brad's went viral for his thoughts about the music of James Swearingen. Plus, a short discussion of school budgets and cuts to music. WE'RE BACK, BABY!!!!
Jan 28, 2025•46 min•Ep. 67
Hang out with Brad and Erin as they discuss end of the school year routines IN NATURE! It's our first ever episode recorded OUTDOORS because it was literally the perfect day!
May 30, 2024•39 min•Season 2Ep. 66
We are so excited to chat with Dr. Roque Diaz from the Macphail Center for Music! Roque is the director of Macphail's diversity, equity, and inclusion program. He is also a first-generation Puerto Rican college graduate, a drum corps alumni (trumpet), community connector, general arts advocate, and a heck of a good dude. With a doctorate from the University of Minnesota, we are proud to now count Dr. Diaz as a true Minnesotan (he's lived here since 2016). If you don't know Roque, you need to! An...
Apr 06, 2024•49 min•Season 3Ep. 65
Hang out with Brad and Erin as they talk about their morning routines! Setting yourself up for a successful workday means having meaningful traditions each morning. Plus our "What's On Your Stand" segment, featuring music by John Williams and Frank Ticheli. Hosted by Bradley Mariska & Erin Holmes (Farmington High School, Farmington, Minnesota). The podcast that's all about band - and not about band at all!
Mar 07, 2024•41 min•Season 3Ep. 64
It's a whole episode previewing the 2024 MMEA Midwinter Convention, with special guest Dr. Adrian Davis, MMEA President! Join co-hosts Bradley Mariska and Erin Holmes (Farmington High School) to find out why everyone is so excited for our annual convention - and why YOU should join us in person!
Feb 06, 2024•44 min•Season 2Ep. 63
It's the middle of winter and we're talking about ways to beat the winter blues --- by talking movies, hockey, and lots of cool things happening here in the classroom! In our "What's On Your Stand" segment, we highlight the music of Yukiko Nishimura ("Flying Away" and "Northern Lights") as well as "Whirlwind" by Jodie Blackshaw. Thank you to our sponsors, Schmitt Music, ACDC Reeds, and GrandTours. Hosted by Bradley Mariska and Erin Holmes, Farmington High School....
Jan 24, 2024•39 min•Season 2Ep. 62
We are LIVE from Chicago at the Midwest Clinic 2023! This is a truly special episode! We interview FIVE amazing band composers ... folks who have made important contributions to band in general but who are also on the program for the Farmington High School Wind Ensemble's upcoming performance at the Minnesota Music Educators Association Midwinter Conference! We interview RANDALL STANDRIDGE, ERIKA SVANOE, VIET CUONG, MICHELE FERNÁNDEZ, AND BENJAMIN TAYLOR. Plus a bonus interview with Paul Kile, b...
Dec 22, 2023•33 min•Season 2Ep. 61
A special crossover episode with The Growing Band Director Podcast & host Kyle Smith! The majority of our episode focuses on workload, job expectations, and work/life balance. We also have a *CLASSICS* edition of "What's on Your Stand" featuring the music of Morton Gould (specifically, the arrangement by Douglas Wagner), Frank Erickson (Air for Band), and Karl King (The Iowa Band Law March). Join hosts Erin Holmes and Bradley Mariska, with guest Kyle Smith, as Band is Everything joins with T...
Dec 05, 2023•57 min•Season 2Ep. 60
Episode 59: THANKSGIVING SPECIAL (or “The One Where We Don’t Talk About Band At All”) It’s our first ever Thanksgiving Special! And we basically don’t talk about band at all! We talk about the things and people for which we are thankful - special colleagues, friends, students, and colleagues who have been supporting us in the past year. We also have thoughts about Flat Earthers and people who yell at each other at school board meetings. We talk about all things Thanksgiving-related: The Charlie ...
Nov 17, 2023•37 min•Season 2Ep. 59
This week we interview GIRL BOSS Laura Doebler !!! Laura teaches middle school band at Dakota Hills Middle School in Eagan, MN (Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan District 196), and has recently presented at the MMEA Midwinter Conference, The Midwest Clinic, and to Women Band Directors International. She's also included in an upcoming book from GIA entitled "Women in Wind Band"). She talks about growing up in Roseville, going to college at Gustavus Adolphus College, how her professional life has led h...
Oct 26, 2023•43 min•Season 2Ep. 58
Brad and Erin reflect on Homecoming, fall concerts, and how a general lack of empathy in society os reflected in the additional fees being charged by airlines (at least according to Erin!) We talk about unique percussion instruments (Brad has a dozen empty gallon milk jugs outside his office) and even get nerdy about All-State Band Audition Scales and how we rehearse them as an ensemble. And we celebrate passing 20,000 downloads! Join Bradley Mariska and Erin Holmes (Farmington High School, MN) ...
Oct 12, 2023•32 min•Season 2Ep. 57
Episode 56 - Middle School Principal Joe Sage Middle School is tough. Now imagine being the one person in charge of 900 middle schoolers. 900. ***WE HAVE QUESTIONS!!!*** We sit down with middle school principal Joe Sage , who talks about his philosophy of education and the influence of school music programs on his life (and why he hopes his young children will someday be a part of their school music programs). We ask how music teachers can best advocate for their programs and students, as well a...
Sep 27, 2023•32 min•Season 2Ep. 56
55. Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest? It’s fall and school is back in full swing! And, in what will come as a shock to nobody, things are absolutely CRAZY at Farmington High School. Brad and Erin share stories of insomnia and school struggles (shattered glass everywhere!!!). In a return of the “What’s on Your Stand?” segment, they also discuss the music of Michele Fernández, Elaine Hagenberg, and Preston Hazzard. Plus, a really fun and inspirational story about jazz band! Hang with Brad and Erin for...
Sep 14, 2023•33 min•Season 3Ep. 55
WE'RE BAAAAAAACK !!!!!!!!! The pod took a few months off and we are ready to get back at it!!! What we did this summer, what we're looking forward to this school year, and some big news about the podcast itself. Band is Everything (formerly Band in Minnesota), hosted by Bradley Mariska and Erin Holmes (Farmington High School MN).
Aug 22, 2023•22 min•Season 3Ep. 54
It's the end of the school year. And maybe the end of season 2 of this podcast? So spend a bit of time just hangin' with Brad and Erin. It will be good for your soul. --- Welcome to Band in Minnesota, a podcast that teaches life lessons for musicians and non-musicians alike. My name is Bradley Mariska, and along with my co-host Erin Holmes, we give you an inside look at life in our world through conversation, laughs, and insightful guest interviews. Please leave us a rating and review on Apple P...
May 31, 2023•51 min
We are so excited to welcome Jerry Luckhardt back to the Band in Minnesota Podcast! Jerry is the founder of Band in Minnesota and we spend time reminiscing about the origins of the program and learning about what he’s currently up to. Spoiler alert: he's super busy with all his duties at the University of Minnesota, and with both the Medalist Concert Band and the Encore Wind Ensemble! This episode features shout-outs to several amazing Minnesota band directors, including Brady Krusemark, Ryan An...
Apr 23, 2023•51 min•Season 2Ep. 51
It's (FINALLY) Spring Break for Erin and Brad! Farmington High School is taking some well-deserved time off, so we chat (a few days before break) about what we've been up to, what we're doing over break, and much more. If you love the "hangin' with Brad & Erin" content, this episode is for you! PleAZZZE leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find fine podcasts. Tell a friend. SHARE! And follow us on Instagram or Facebook!...
Apr 02, 2023•36 min•Season 2Ep. 50
It's our first ever podcast "swap" episode! Brad and Erin were recently asked to be guests on the podcast "Beyond Artless", a music education podcast hosted by Chris Gleason, Peter Haberman, and Phil Ostrander. Since basically nobody listens to their podcast (for good reason, the hosts themselves admit) we decided to help promote their show by streaming the complete episode here in our feed. If you're enjoying Band in Minnesota, please leave us a rating or review in your podcasting app - and be ...
Mar 26, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 49
This episode is completely dedicated to our colleagues who experience the difficulties (and joys!) of teaching in small schools and rural schools. Their experiences are full of unique social and educational challenges ... and it's important for college students, teachers in larger schools, and administrators, to understand these special circumstances. Brad and Erin are both both products of small-school music education programs. Our guest, Andy Nelson (Milaca Public Schools) had dedicated his li...
Mar 06, 2023•45 min•Season 2Ep. 48
Jim Baxter Charlie Moe Recorded at the Minnesota Music Educators Association Midwinter Convention 2023 Our best episode yet.
Feb 20, 2023•45 min•Season 2Ep. 47
We have some audio issues, but you probably won't even notice because the content is so... engaging? We discuss the Burger King theme song, the afterglow of concerts, resolving conflict in the classroom, and how excited we are for the upcoming MMEA Midwinter Convention. It's kind of like an episode of Seinfeld, a half hour of content about... well... nothing, really. (And, Erin, GET CLOSER TO YOUR MIC!) Also, even on our worst days, at least we're on Apple Podcasts. Yeah, we're looking at you Ch...
Feb 08, 2023•34 min
Eric Songer (Chaska Middle School West) is one of the state's most prominent band directors! He joins us to talk about his passion for teaching popular music through a variety of (for lack of a better term) "modern band" emphasis in his teaching. His school features a variety of bands including rock, hip hop, country and bluegrass, and much more. He teaches lessons in DJ technique, songwriting, music history, theory, and more. Of course, he also directs concert bands and jazz bands, too. Accordi...
Jan 24, 2023•51 min
What happens when BAND IN MINNESOTA travels to Chicago for the Midwest Clinic? Well, you're about to find out! This episode features three "live" segments of our time at the world's largest gathering of band and orchestra directors. And when 18,000 musicians gather for a single convention during the coldest week of the year, we have a lot of thoughts! Join us as we reminisce. Whether you were there or not ... whether you're a band director or not... and whether you're from Minnesota or not.... i...
Dec 23, 2022•36 min•Season 2Ep. 44
Brad and Erin chat with All-Star Band Director Scott Kummrow (Fergus Falls Public Schools) about educational philosophy, the joys of teaching middle school students, and so much more! PLEASE SUBSCRIBE!
Dec 12, 2022•49 min•Season 2Ep. 43
Listeners, we interview a BAND PARENT! Our guest, Megan Johnson is Erin's sister but not a musician (we recorded this over Thanksgiving, and isn't Thanksgiving all about spending time with family?). Megan has a couple *really* interesting perspectives and insights to share... 1) She joined band in 5th grade but QUIT after 10th grade. Does she regret it? We ask her. 2) She has two kids, a 6th grader and an 8th grader - they are both in band! What is their band experience like so far? What do they...
Nov 28, 2022•26 min•Season 2Ep. 42
A spontaneous, unscripted mini-episode live from NEWT’S in Apple Valley as we support Rosemount Marching Band and their upcoming appearance at the Rose Bowl Parade!!!
Nov 16, 2022•7 min•Season 2Ep. 41
We talk about "student agency" and a variety of other topics. A Saturday afternoon, a drink in hand, and reflecting upon life and education. >>>> This is our first ever, completely unedited podcast. <<<< Honestly - it's our best episode yet.
Nov 06, 2022•54 min•Season 2Ep. 40
We just passed the six-week mark of the school year and Brad and Erin have a lot of thoughts. Lots of laughs in this episode. And some hot takes. No guests. Just hanging' with Brad & Erin.
Oct 18, 2022•34 min•Season 2Ep. 39
As a band director, you’ve gotta have a good relationship with your football coach. But how do you make that connection? How can you work together to promote each others’ programs and jointly celebrate your school and community? We chat with coach Jon Pieper about football, life, and even the musical HAMILTON! Plus, Erin and Brad discuss the new Space Force theme, which they are currently rehearsing in preparation for Veteran’s Day.
Oct 05, 2022•25 min•Season 2Ep. 38
