Band is Everything (formerly Band in Minnesota)

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 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!!!

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. 

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. 

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 rehearsi...

We hit "record" with no topic and no official guest.  And it was exactly what we needed. 

Brad and Erin talk about workshop week and the first week of school... while also learning tips, tricks, and funny stories about back-to-school from several of our listeners, including submissions from Michael Pearson, Reid Wixson, Willy Leafblad, Heidi Stodola, and Kimberly Lundak.  Whether you've been teaching for decades or a first-year teacher... whether you teach band or not... everyone...

Don’t make time... TAKE time!!! This week we talk about self-care, all the while trying to avoid the overused cliche phrase 'self-care' itself. Surround yourself with like-minded people. Spend time with family and friends. Enjoy nature. Read a book. Recorded on location in Duluth!

It's a special episode with both Jerry and Brad --- we're gearing up to attend the 2021 MMEA Virtual Midwinter Clinic Hear what we're excited about! We can't wait to see you all at the Midwinter Clinic - but be sure to take a listen before the conference begins on Thursday!

Brad sits downs with special guest Pete Guenther (Owatonna HS) to discuss the new Disney/Pixar movie, SOUL. And although the lead character is a middle school band director and jazz musician, we learn that the movie is about much, MUCH more than just music. Ring in the new year with a message of hope and life - join us for our reflections on SOUL.  If you enjoyed this interview, you can find...

OUR FINAL EPISODE OF SEASON ONE! Saxophonist & retired music educator Randy Lee talks music of the Arrowhead & North Shore. From Grand Rapids to Duluth to Grand Marais (and everywhere in between) he talks about the historic figures who shaped music-making in the region ... and those who continue the rich music culture there today.  STAY TUNED FOR EXCITING NEWS ABOUT WHAT'S COMING SOON...

Building community around any band programs is an important aspect of our work as band directors. We have two leaders from the Rosemount Band program that have a proven track record that can inspire us all. Leon Sieve joined the faculty of Rosemount High School, Rosemount, Minnesota in the fall of 2002 and is in his 27th year of teaching instrumental music. Leon received a Bachelor of Music Educat...

TAKEOVER EPISODE!!!  Erin Holmes (Director of Bands at Farmington High School) and Scott Agster (Adjunct Professor at Anoka Ramsey Community College & current All-State Jazz Director) discuss tools and strategies for starting off the Fall 2020 school year.  Scott guides you through devices and software to make recording from home practical.  Erin gives some insight into how Farm...

Erik Hermanson teaches 6-12 band in Cleveland, Minnesota. He has built a program over the past 27 years that has an incredible amount of administrative, community, parent, and student support. He has approximately 90% of the student population in the band program and also serves as his school’s football coach. Erik is a world class community builder, band director, and leader. We are happy to shar...

What if we asked a principal, “How can band directors best advocate for their program?” Now imagine if that principal was a musician and former band director! Kim Budde, Principal at Lakeville North HS, gives honest advice to band directors who may be considering a future in admin, reminding us of the unique skills all musicians have as potential leaders in their schools. She gives us hints and tr...

He's best known as Founder of the Dallas Brass, but Michael Levine has another passion: the Harmony Bridge Project, a flexible ensemble music method for middle school and HS students. We enjoy so many talented musicians in our state, but Levine is definitely one of Minnesota’s mavericks. He is originally from St. Louis Park, MN, and was a music major at the University of Minnesota before tran...

In 2020, Music Advocacy has never been more relevant or important. Today we sit down with Kristin Chase, advocacy co-chair of the Minnesota Music Educators Association. She shares vital information about how you can advocate for music education in your community! Kristin Chase is one of two advocacy co-chairs for the Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA).  She holds a Bachelor of...

If you’re a beginner band director or a general music specialist this is an episode for you. Building bridges with your elementary general music teacher has some real benefits for you and your students. Learn more about making these healthy connections. This is an episode specifically asked for by one of our listeners! Jennifer Jungwirth is an Elementary Music Specialist (K-5) at Five Hawks Elemen...

Facilities age and new schools are built. If you are a band director fortunate enough to be faced with new construction or renovations what so you do? Who do you turn to for information? Our two guests today have firsthand knowledge of the process. This conversation will provide you a check-list of things to do or think about for renovations or new construction of music facilities. Tark Katzenmeye...

This week: an important practical matter for band directors and arts administrators. A lack of instrument inventory to insure every child has access to instrumental music is not a new problem. With limited budgets, sharing instruments has long been a needed practice for many instrumental programs, especially larger instruments like tubas and baritone saxophones. With COVID-19 instrument shari...

Cait Nishimura & Salvador Jacobo - two young composers (both in their 20’s) who have already written several very popular pieces of band music. In particular, Cait’s “Chasing Sunlight” and Sal’s “Vuelo” have been programmed by many band directors in Minnesota in the past two years. We wanted to know what it’s like to be a young composer from a demographic that is typically underrepresented in...

Ellen Dinwiddie Smith has been a member of the Minnesota Orchestra since 1993 and currently serves as third horn. Smith is Adjunct Professor of Horn at the University of Minnesota and has served as Young-Artist-Program faculty at the Curtis Institute of Music Summerfest since 2015. Smith is a 1987 graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, where she studied with Myron Bloom and was a member o...

Spring Lake Park HS (MN) has a national reputation for innovation and inclusivity. Co-directors Nora Tycast and Brian Lukkasson have been featured on NPR, The Washington Post, and MPR thanks to their unyielding effort to program excellent music written by composers of diverse and underrepresented backgrounds. We are very proud of this week's episode, "Quality Music of Diversity" with Nora Tycast a...

A new Virtual Conductor’s Summit is being launched at the University of Minnesota led by Director of Bands, Dr. Emily Threinen. This virtual workshop will take place July 14-16, 2020. In this podcast we will learn more about this new initiative and how you can get involved. Dr. Emily Threinen currently serves as Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music at the University of Minnesota Scho...

This episode is directed toward high school students with the dream of pursuing music as a profession. That said, we believe this episode may also be helpful to parents of students thinking about music careers as well as band directors. To delve into this important topic, we are joined by Band faculty from Gustavus Adolphus College, Dr. James Patrick Miller and Dr. Heidi Johanna Miller. Show Timin...