Joe Allison joins me to talk about the marching arts, surrounding yourself with great people, and being open to learning from others. Topics: The Marching Roundtable Podcast and the importance and role of the marching arts in a comprehensive high school music program. Joe's incredibly diverse and unique background and how that has made him a better musician and teacher. The Marching Roundtable Judge's Academy. The importance of persistence and hard work to being a good teacher. Links: Joe Alliso...
Oct 30, 2017•52 min•Season 1Ep. 33
Mark Norman is the director of bands at the North Carolina School of the Arts, a professional tuba player, and owner of the Charlotte Music School and he brings his wonderfully varied experiences to the podcast in a conversation that takes some unexpectedly informative turns. Topics: Mark’s background, Karel Husa’s Music for Prague 1968, and the Selmer Musical Aptitude Test. Creating experiences for his ensembles and a story about David Maslanka. Mark’s time in the Navy Band and his journey to b...
Oct 23, 2017•59 min•Season 1Ep. 32
Emily Moss, music education professor and chair of the Department of music at California State University, Los Angeles talks about training young music teachers and not allowing our ego to get in the way of our growth. Topics: Emily’s background, her current position, and her early years growing up in a small town north of Seattle, Washington where she played last saxophone and bassoon. How an experience playing David Maslanka’s Symphony No. 4 changed Emily’s view of the wind ensemble. The influ...
Oct 16, 2017•42 min•Season 1Ep. 31
Middle school band director Aaron Given joins me for a conversation about his background, his career, and his belief that his passion for music influences everything that he does as a teacher. Topics: Aaron’s background and his current position as a middle school band director near Columbus, Ohio. Lessons learned from Ken Singleton at the University of Northern Colorado. Why it is so important to care about your students and the value of bringing that to the classroom. The use of electronics in ...
Oct 09, 2017•53 min•Season 1Ep. 30
In this episode I am joined by trumpeter Amy Cherry. Amy is currently the secretary of the International Women's Brass Conference (IWBC) and joins me to talk about that organization, tell her story, and offer some advice from her own career as a performer and teacher. Topics: Amy’s background and early years as a musician including being steered towards playing the flute even though she wanted to play the trumpet and how growing up in Fairfax County Virginia gave her great musical experiences. W...
Oct 02, 2017•47 min•Season 1Ep. 29
Chris Bernotas is passionate about teaching! He is infectiously energetic as he talks about his career and shares wisdom gained as a high school band director, a composers, and a co-author of three books in the Sound Innovations series. Topics: The Sound Innovations books, Chris’ background, and the lessons he learned from his high school band director that he still applies in his classroom. Insights into Chris’ compositional process, how he got his first piece published, and learning how to dea...
Sep 25, 2017•54 min•Season 1Ep. 28
I am thrilled to welcome conductor Jerry Junkin to the show for a conversation about his career, how every commission provides a new opportunity, and the importance of cultivating good relationships. Topics: Jerry’s background as the son of a high school band director and being prepared to take advantage of serendipitous opportunities that helped to shape his early career. Collaborating with other musicians and how to ask a composer to work with your group. The most important bit of advice that ...
Sep 18, 2017•59 min•Season 1Ep. 27
Giovanni Santos joins me to discuss social media, being selfless, and his willingness to take risks. Topics: Giovanni’s background including his time in college and his teaching stops including starting a band program in a new high school with some special challenges. The music program at La Sierra University and tips for building a program. The importance of being true to yourself. Do things the way that you think that they should be done. The value of having guest composers, conductors, and ot...
Sep 11, 2017•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 26
Composer and conductor Andrew Ardizzoia is the new director of instrumental studies at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He joins me to tell his story and share his thoughts about music and teaching. Topics: Andrew's background, education, and an influential early horn teacher. Studying conducting with Eric Hammer at the University of Pacific and then moving on to study composition at Arizona State and the Hartt School. Andrew’s new gig at Muhlenberg and his plans for the instrument...
Sep 04, 2017•48 min•Season 1Ep. 25
An interview with conductor Andy Pease of Hartwick college and author of the Wind Band Literature blog and Wind Band Symphony Archive. Topics: Andy's background through his time at Columbia University as well as lessons learned while studying with Gary Hill at Arizona State. His current position at Hartwick College, commissioning composers, and the value of "putting a face" to the music. Learning to take risks and to let go of inhibitions as a conductor and finding balance in your programming. L...
Aug 28, 2017•44 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Back to school! This past July I had the chance to watch Tiffany Hitz in action at the UNC-Greensboro summer band camps and she is an exceptionally energetic and passionate teacher. At that moment I knew I had to have her on the podcast to talk about teaching, band music, and what composers need to to better! Topics: The Fairfax County School system, Tiffany's early musical experiences, and the importance of knowing the difference between and English and French horn Finding your team, having a g...
Aug 21, 2017•56 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Michael O'Connor joins me for a fascinating discussion of 19th Century band music in the United States. Topics: Mike's musical background as a euphonium player The development of te American band in the early 1800's and the types of instruments used during the 19th Century Claudio Grafullo, Thomas Coates, Patrick Gilmore and the impact of the American Civil War on band music in America The Golden Age of band music in the 1870's-1890's Links: Palm Beach Atlantic University Newberry Victorian Corn...
Aug 14, 2017•57 min•Season 1Ep. 21
Composer Chris Stark joins me to reflect upon the legacy of David Maslanka. Chris studied with David for a year and shares some of his memories before discussing his own exciting career. Topics: David Maslanka as a teacher, composer, and man and the lessons that Chris learned while his student Chris' background in Montana and his thoughts about writing for wind ensemble Writing the music for the upcoming movie Novitiate and advice for young composers Links: Christopher Stark Washington Universit...
Aug 10, 2017•46 min•Season 1Ep. 21
Iconic American conductor Gerard Schwarz offers his insights about music and conducting gained from an illustrious career at the pinnacle of the classical music world. Topics: Maestro Schwarz' musical beginnings, the American Brass Quintet, and the New York Philharmonic Four steps to success: Talent, Hard Work, Say Yes, Stay Positive Tips for conductors including thoughts about becoming more artistic, even with young ensembles and score preparation The importance of listening to learn styles and...
Aug 07, 2017•54 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Composer and conductor Andrew Boysen Jr. joins me to discuss his career and offer his thoughts on music education. Topics: Andrew's background, early experiences as a teacher, and the transition when taking over a program Andrew's early start as a composer and the use of notation software to compose vs. pencil and paper The band program at the University of New Hampshire Thoughts and advice for young teachers and challenges facing music and music education Links: Andrew Boysen Jr. University of ...
Jul 31, 2017•40 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Formerly of the Boston Brass, Andrew Hitz is currently a freelance musician, clinician, podcaster, and speaker. In this episode he joins me for a discussion about tuba and offers his perspective on band, teaching, and the future of music education. Topics: Andrew's background and his new book series The Band Director's Guides Starting beginners on tuba and tips on posture and breathing. Having a characteristic sound for your instrument Thoughts about how music education needs to fight for surviv...
Jul 24, 2017•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 18
A legend in the state of Oregon, Patrick Vandehey joins me to discuss believing in music education with passion. Topics: Pat's background, including his time as a rock and roll musician and an anecdote about a very bad school administrator The importance of a strong performance background and how experience as a player was his most valuable asset for his success. His high school programs and then his time at George Fox University and his move to Portland State. Thoughts about the future of music...
Jul 17, 2017•48 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Texas composer Carol Brittin Chambers talks about writing marching band shows and the twists and turns of her fascinating musical career. Topics: Carol's background as a trumpet player and pianist Teaching good fundamentals and skills and teaching in Texas Moving from being a full time band director to a full time composer Writing marching shows Carol's concert band music and her creative process Links: Aspenwood Music Texas Lutheran University Carl Fischer Grainger: Lincolnshire Posy Copland: A...
Jul 10, 2017•52 min•Season 1Ep. 16
My special guest for my first Fourth of July episode is Michael Colburn, former director of the United States Marine Corps Band ("The President's Own") and current band director at Butler University. Mike joins me to discuss his time in the Marines, his current position at Butler, and the importance of being ready for any opportunity that might come your way. Topics: Mike's background as a euphonium player and son of a high school band director Performance vs music education degrees and the need...
Jul 03, 2017•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Retired band director Blair Smith joins the podcast to discuss building relationships and finding balance. Topics: Blair's background Commissioning composers, Sean O'Loughlin's pants, and the David Holsinger bedroom Networking and advice about how to properly use your state conference to build relationships Advice for young band directors Digital Performance Gear Parallels between golf and music Links: Digital Performance Gear Mahler/Reynolds - Finale from Symphony No. 3 Claude T. Smith - Entrad...
Jun 26, 2017•46 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Patrick Burns from Bandworks Publications joins me in a great conversation about his career, Bandworks publications, and he offers numerous insights for composers and teachers. Topics: Pat's background and music education Finishing an music education degree and not getting a doctorate in composition Pat's compositional inspiration... the alto clarinet. The Bloomfield Youth Band and the founding of Bandworks Publications What Pat looks for when selecting music for publication Advice for young com...
Jun 19, 2017•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 13
Gary Gackstatter is a composer, conductor, and artist with a wealth of teaching experience. He joins me this week to discuss his career and offer his thoughts about teaching and music education. Topics: Gary's background and teaching experience Advice for young teachers His career as a composer and thoughts about commissioning new works for band Creativity and being published Gary's forthcoming book The Spark: Notes from the Podium Band competitions and what we should be judging Thoughts about t...
Jun 12, 2017•48 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Jeff Girard, the band specialist at Midwest Sheet Music joins me to offer some thoughts about conducting, band music, and copyright law from the perspective of a music retailer. Topics: Jeff's background as a conductor and band specialist at Midwest Sheet Music Band Together The challenges and compromises of conducting a community band Interactions with composers and the music publishing industry from a retail perspective What qualities make Jeff recommended a band piece Lessons learned from Jef...
Jun 05, 2017•55 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Cynthia Johnston Turner from the University of Georgia shares her thoughts about the importance of finding your authentic self on the podium, gender issues in the band world, and ideas for programming music. Topics: Cynthia's background and the sense of belonging that band provides for young people Impostor syndrome and being your authentic self The band program at the University of Georgia Gender in the band world Working with composers Programming "new" music Technology in the band rehearsal P...
May 29, 2017•49 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Florida State University percussion professor John W. Parks IV is really passionate about the importance of teaching and learning the "right way" and this becomes a recurring theme throughout this remarkable conversation. Topics: John's musical background Trophy hunting in music education and putting the students first The type of students John brings to FSU and how he disarms "problem" students Use the local college to find a percussion teacher to come into your band room. Qualities necessary t...
May 22, 2017•50 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Just 23 years old, the enormously talented Jay Coles has already published several works for band through Carl Fischer, C.L. Barnhouse, and C. Alan Publications and is the author of a new novel inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement titled Tyler Jones was Here and scheduled to be released in 2018 by Little Brown, Children's . Topics: Jay's musical background and his young career Using social media to create opportunity Jay's first big break with the Kirankai High School Wind Ensemble in Wak...
May 15, 2017•42 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Mark Stickney, the conductor at Plymouth State University and of the Seacoast Wind Ensemble joins me for a wide ranging conversation that includes the value of being a lifelong learner, the band grading system, and the New England Band Director's institute. Topics: Plymouth State University, the Seacoast Wind Ensemble, and the Newport Music Festival Teaching a band a new piece of music Fear in the ensemble and how to help students overcome their fear Conducting honor bands The value of being a l...
May 08, 2017•52 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Renowned euphonium soloist and Samford University conductor Demondrae Thurman shares his story and offers a wealth of knowledge and advice on a variety of topics. Of special note is his advice about starting kids on the euphonium, tips for conductors on score preparation and rehearsal techniques, and the story of his collaboration with composer Anthony Barfield and the remarkable Heritage Concerto. Topics: Demondrae's early history and musical education The Sotto Voce Tuba Quartet Starting kids ...
May 01, 2017•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 6
Garrett Hope has done over 130 interviews with composers and music professionals for his own podcast The Portfolio Composer . Garrett brings a wealth of knowledge and insight about the business of music and shares his thoughts as a relative newcomer to the band world.
Apr 24, 2017•42 min•Season 1Ep. 5
I am joined by my good friend and outstanding oboist Karen Birch Blundell. Karen provides a wealth of information about the oboe including some practical advice about reeds and oboe tips for composers. Topics: Karen's early choice to play oboe Starting kids on the oboe right away Finding and making reeds The importance of good equipment Learning how to practice Taking relaxed breaths Tips for composers Building rests into oboe music High school band! The New Sousa Band Links: The International D...
Apr 17, 2017•35 min•Season 1Ep. 4
