For this special episode, I recorded live from the New Jersey Music Educators Association Conference in Atlantic City. During the conference, I had the opportunity to speak with seven music teachers in the state and asked them about community. A special thank you to Kaleidoscope Adventures for making this possible. Guests and Topics: Philip Aguglia of PaGu batons and a high school band director in Buffalo, New York talks about some of the ways he builds community in his program, leaving a footpr...
Mar 02, 2020•31 min•Season 4Ep. 151
Robert W. Smith is a prolific composer, educator, and publisher. He joins the show to tell his stories, share some advice, and talk about copyright. If you want to know the importance of making connections, then this is the episode for you! Topics: Robert’s background growing up in a military family and the story of an extraordinary piano teacher that had an indelible influence on Robert’s early music education. How music educators are keepers of knowledge for a long line of musicians that spans...
Feb 24, 2020•1 hr 20 min•Season 4Ep. 150
Amy Knopps is the Associate Director of Bands and the Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Missouri, Columbia. In this episode, Amy shares her story of growing up in the Kansas City area and how she found her way to her dream job as the director of the Marching Mizzou. Topics: Amy’s background growing up in Lee’s Summit through her college experience as a student at the University of Missouri. Amy’s first job, the connections that made her first teaching job in Kansas City so special,...
Feb 17, 2020•54 min•Season 4Ep. 149
Mary Kate McNally is the Director of Athletic bands at Ohio Wesleyan University, a co-founder of the And We Were Heard project, and a tireless advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the band community. Topics: The band program at Ohio Wesleyan University, Mary Kate’s musical origin story, and a high school band director that had a tremendous influence on her career. Gender stereotypes in musical instruments and what we can do to help our boys feel comfortable with playing any instrumen...
Feb 10, 2020•1 hr 16 min•Season 4Ep. 148
Larry Neeck has written or arranged over 150 works for C.L. Barnhouse and is now retired after a 32 year career as a middle school band director in Rochester, New York. Topics: Larry’s musical background growing up in Pennsylvania and how he passed on a chance to be a varsity quarterback to instead play bells in the band. Larry’s journey from cocktail hour pianist to middle school band director in Rochester, New York. The story of how Larry got his start as a composer writing jazz charts for his...
Feb 03, 2020•1 hr 29 min•Season 4Ep. 147
Jay Londgren is the band director at the Singapore American School, one of the largest international schools in the world. He joins the show to talk about teaching band abroad and shares stories of teaching in Venezuela, South Korea, and Singapore. Topics: Jay’s early years as a musician and some teachers who mentored him on his way to becoming a music teacher. Moving to Venezuela, teaching in that first job, and some anecdotes from that job. His move to the Korean International School (KIS), a ...
Jan 27, 2020•1 hr 21 min•Season 4Ep. 146
John Thomson enjoyed a hugely successful 40-year career as a band director at New Trier High School (IL) and East Allegheny High School (PA). He is also a contributing author to the Instrumentalist Magazine. Topics: John’s early career including playing trumpet duets with his father, how he got his first job at East Allegheny High School, and how he came to write reviews for the Instrumentalist. A discussion of his program at East Allegheny High School and his thoughts about selecting literature...
Jan 20, 2020•1 hr 8 min•Season 4Ep. 145
James David is a composer on the faculty of Colorado State University. He’s enjoyed a great deal of recent success with his composition for band and joins the show to tell his story. Topics: Jim’s background growing up in Southern Georgia and the importance of gospel and jazz in his musical development. Advice for young composers and what we can do as band directors and music teachers to help young, aspiring composers to realize their dreams. Commissioning music and some thoughts about commercia...
Jan 13, 2020•51 min•Season 4Ep. 144
Tim Heath is the Director of Athletic Bands at Wake Forest University. Topics: Tim’s background growing up in Eastern North Carolina playing trumpet in the high school band and drum set on the side and how he ended up becoming a music teacher. Tim’s early teaching jobs, his decision to go back to school to earn a doctorate, and why that led him to teaching middle school for a year. Thoughts about how to communicate the value of the arts. Being a doctoral student at the University of Alabama and ...
Jan 06, 2020•55 min•Season 4Ep. 143
On December 20th I had the honor to present a session at the 2019 Midwest Clinic titled "Podcast Pedagogy: Band Wisdom from 125 Composers, Conductors, and Performers." The holidays have made it difficult to schedule a guest, so instead I have recreated the session and am sharing it here. Normal episodes resume in 2020! Topics: A bit of podcast business. My story and how I arrived here as the host of the podcast. Common answers to the big questions. Valuable things for my listeners to remember. W...
Dec 30, 2019•33 min•Season 3Ep. 142
Brian Wis, the band director at St. Charles North High School in St. Charles, Illinois joins me for a discussion about booster groups, music literacy, and to share his thoughts about music education. Topics: Brian’s background growing up around the Cavaliers and how he got his instrumental start as a fourth grader on the bugle. Building strong relationships with your colleagues to create a shared philosophy and to join forces for the greater good. Booster groups and the importance of strong byla...
Dec 16, 2019•1 hr 18 min•Season 3Ep. 141
Bobby Lambert is the band director at Wando High School in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. He is also the host of "That Band Life" podcast and will be conducting the Wando Symphonic Band at the 2019 Midwest Clinic. Topics: Bobby’s background including the story of how he grew up in rural North Carolina and ended up as a student at Western Carolina and the drum major of the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band. The importance of concert band music and a deep dive into Irish Tune from County Derry...
Dec 09, 2019•1 hr 29 min•Season 3Ep. 140
Jonathan Grantham is the band director at Amador Valley High School in Pleasanton, California. The AVHS Wind Ensemble 1 is making its second appearance at the Midwest Clinic this month. Topics: Jonathan’s background growing up in rural Michigan and the band director who inspired him to a career as an educator. The story of Jonathan’s first job and the story of why he felt compelled to leave that job and take a break from teaching before moving to California. The culture shock of moving from teac...
Dec 02, 2019•58 min•Season 3Ep. 139
Keith Hodgson joined the music education faculty at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia in 2016 after a 26 year teaching career. Topics: Keith’s background growing up learning the piano and then percussion and the important influences on his decision to pursue music as a career. Finding opportunities outside of your formal studies to learn more about being a band director. Keith’s high school teaching career, the lessons he learned in his first five years, and his program at Mainland High...
Nov 25, 2019•59 min•Season 3Ep. 138
Jeff Herwig is a composer and the the Director of Bands at Mercer Area Middle-Senior High School in Mercer, Pennsylvania. Topics: Jeff’s background growing up including the story of his late start as a saxophone player and how he was inspired by the rock band Queen. The program at Mercer Area High School and the mistakes that Jeff made at his first position and the lessons he learned when he took on his current position. Jeff’s composing and how he got started and why he made the decision to be ...
Nov 18, 2019•57 min•Season 3Ep. 137
Keith Ozsvath is the band director at Rotolo Middle School in Batavia, Illinois and is the co-founder and coordinator for the Middle School Concert Band Camp at the Music for All Summer Symposium. Topics: Keith’s background including the story of how childhood organ lessons helped prepare him for a late start in band. The band program at Rotolo Middle School. Keith’s duties as Middle School Coordinator for the Music for All Summer Symposium. Why every band directors should try to connect with co...
Nov 11, 2019•57 min•Season 3Ep. 136
Jonathan Newman is a well-known composer and is the Director of Composition & Coordinator of New Music at the Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, Virginia. Topics: Jonathan’s background, how playing the trombone has helped his career, and important teachers in his life. How writing in a variety of genres helps him stay focused and the importance of exploring a plurality of styles as a composer. BCM International and how four friends found a way to have a booth at Midwest and launch their ...
Nov 04, 2019•1 hr 3 min•Season 3Ep. 135
Cynthia Wagoner taught middle school and high school band for 27 years in Indiana before going back to school and becoming a music education professor at East Carolina University. Topics: Cynthia’s background growing up in Terra Haute, Indiana in a musical family and the story of how she became and oboe player involved in both orchestra and band. The importance of mentors and some of the important teachers in Cindy’s life and the lessons that she learned from them. Her experience as a young fema...
Oct 28, 2019•1 hr 12 min•Season 3Ep. 134
Danny Mesa is an Army musician, conductor, and drum major for the 25th Infantry Division Band in Hawai’i. Topics: Danny’s background growing up in Miami and some early teachers that helped him get his start and the lessons that they taught him. His first teaching job out of college and the decision to join the Army after just two years as a teacher. Danny’s role at the Army Music School and the nature of that program and how military musicians are recruited and trained. The Army bands, the music...
Oct 21, 2019•47 min•Season 3Ep. 133
William Owens is a composer and music educator with over 200 works for band and 30 years of teaching experience. Topics: Willie’s background growing up in Gary, Indiana and the high school band teacher who changed his life. The story of how Willie ended up moving from Chicago to Brownsville, Texas and how that ended up shaping his entire career. How Willie got his start as a composer through arranging marching band music for a friend and how that grew into his terrific success as a composer. Wil...
Oct 14, 2019•1 hr 6 min•Season 3Ep. 132
Corey Pompey is the director of athletic bands and associate director of bands at the University of Wisconsin. Topics: Corey’s background and how he started with violin, switched to cello, then trumpet, and then finally the saxophone. Corey’s experiences as an undergraduate at the University of Alabama and as a member and drum major of the “Million Dollar Band.” Corey’s K-12 teaching experience and his doctorate at the University of Texas as a student of Jerry Junkin. The importance of marching ...
Oct 07, 2019•56 min•Season 3Ep. 131
Michael Hudson is Associate Professor of Music Education and serves as chair of the music education and music therapy division at the University of Kentucky. Topics: Michael’s background growing up in Florida and the influence of his middle school band director. The importance of music ensembles as a social place and community for adolescents. Coming back to music education after earning and undergraduate degree in trombone performance at Florida State University. Michael’s position and responsi...
Sep 30, 2019•56 min•Season 3Ep. 130
Darcy Vogt Williams is the head band director at Stiles Middle School in Leander, Texas. She is also a host of the After Sectionals podcast and the author or co-author of three books on education: Count Me In, Teaching Rhythm Logically and Pacing for Success: Beginner Band . Topics: Darcy’s superhero origin story as the daughter of two musicians who went to college to be an architect before discovering that music was her true calling. Teaching Rhythm Logically Darcy’s relationship with her fathe...
Sep 23, 2019•1 hr 16 min•Season 3Ep. 129
Heather Hoefle is a composer and longtime band director in the Chicagoland area. After years of arranging and rewriting music for her students, she recently began writing her own music, and has had terrific success with pieces published by RWS Music and Kjos Music. Topics: Heather’s teaching job in the suburbs of Chicago, her musical background growing up in the Indianapolis area, and the story of two influential teachers. What her first year teaching at seven different school each week taught H...
Sep 17, 2019•40 min•Season 3Ep. 128
Renee Todd is the band director at Ligon GT Magnet Middle School in Raleigh, North Carolina. In 2019-20 the Ligon Wind Ensemble was selected to perform in the Music For All National Concert Festival and the Jazz Ensemble at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. Topics: Renee’s background as a trumpet player and her studies at the University of Maryland. Renee’s first couple of teaching jobs and how she stayed patient until she ended up in her current position at Ligon GT Magnet Mi...
Sep 09, 2019•1 hr 1 min•Season 3Ep. 127
Matthew Arau is the Chair of the Music Education Department and Associate Director of Bands at the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music in Appleton, Wisconsin. He also teaches conducting at the American Band College and student leadership at numerous clinics and academies. Topics: How a tennis racket, some empty Baskin Robbins tubs, and a 6th grade Dixieland group launched a musical career. The tremendous program at Rio Americano High School in Sacramento, California and Matthew’s appearanc...
Sep 03, 2019•1 hr 15 min•Season 3Ep. 126
Patrick Dunnigan is the Director of Bands at Florida State University where he directs several concert bands and the Marching Chiefs. He also teaches courses in conducting, literature, and music education. Topics: The story of how Patrick got his start and how a guitar as a kid helped him develop some of the hearing and writing skills that have helped him throughout his career as a music educator. Patrick’s position at Florida State and a story of an empowering encounter with Phillip Glass. Thou...
Aug 26, 2019•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 125
Joseph Kreines is a legendary conductor in Florida and co-author of Music for Concert Band. Topics: Joseph’s background in music and how a Chicago Symphony Orchestra concert featuring Artur Rubinstein inspired his career as a musician. How he came to Florida as the Assistant Conductor of the Florida Orchestra and his first steps as a conductor and clinician for young bands and orchestras in the state. The story of how, as a young conductor he caught the attention of the faculty at Tanglewood, in...
Aug 19, 2019•47 min•Season 3Ep. 124
Wendy Higdon is the award winning Director of Bands at Creekside Middle School in Carmel, Indiana. Under her baton the Wind Symphony at Creekside has performed at numerous venues, including the Midwest Clinic. Wendy is also the creator and owner of the music education website “On and Off the Podium." Topics: Wendy’s background as a musician and her influences as a teacher. Some of the structures and procedures that Wendy uses in her classroom to achieve success and the importance of being yourse...
Aug 12, 2019•58 min•Season 3Ep. 123
Thomas Fraschillo was the longtime director of bands at the University of Southern Mississippi and is a past president of the American Bandmasters Association. Topics: Tom’s background growing in a small town in Northern Mississippi and the story of how he got a late start as a young musician. Some of the people who influenced his career and the wisdom he learned from those educators. The band programs at Meridien High School and the University of Southern Mississippi. Regionalism in school band...
Aug 05, 2019•1 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 122
