Robert G. Hammerton

BandWagon

Music EN ↓ 77 episodes

What makes BANDWAGON different from other band-related podcasts? As much as it’s for band directors, it’s really meant for anybody who ever did band. And in a world where not everybody “gets” band, it can be a challenge for people who do. With news, commentary, and advocacy from the band world (concert and marching; scholastic, community, and service bands), and entertaining conversations with band leaders and participants alike ... this podcast aims to create community through band: to be a resource and a refuge for band geeks.

Author

Robert G. Hammerton

Episodes

Episode 73: "Footloose Redux" 25.05.2026 1:03:39

SHOW NOTES Episode 073 • May 25, 2026 FIRST & SECOND STRAIN News ‘n’ Notes: • School board bans high school band from performing “controversial” composition Reporting on the original school board band-repertoire vote plans: https://www.wpr.org/news/wisconsin-school-board-watertown-spring-band-concert-lgbtq-history Reporting on the May 12th school board meeting: https://www.wdtimes.co...

Episode 72: "World-Building -or- Marching Wildebeests" 02.03.2026 1:10:41

SHOW NOTES Episode 072 • March 2, 2026 FIRST/SECOND STRAIN News ‘n’ Notes: • DCI cuts ties with Marching Health Marching Health FB post: www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1532356162231361&id=100063709757614 Drum Corps Planet's post about DCI's statement: www.drumcorpsplanet.com/forums/index.php?/topic/183392-dci-ends-agreement-with-marching-health/ Funliner Productions' FB po...

Episode 71: "News Roundup" 27.10.2025 28:13

SHOW NOTES Episode 071 • October 27, 2025 FIRST STRAIN News ‘n’ Notes: • NC State’s oldest marcher enters second season https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article312274350.html https://www.youtube.com/shorts/30dEckYWZrk • Linde among Grammy award semifinalists https://cdn.grammymuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/09163920/130254940_2026_grammy_museum_x_mea_semifinalists_final....

Episode 70: "When Bad Things Happen to Good Bands" 06.10.2025 39:03

SHOW NOTES Episode 070 • October 6, 2025 FIRST STRAIN News ‘n’ Notes: • News item title: Jackson State band bows out of ESPN band competition hbcugameday.com/2025/09/22/jackson-state-university-band-wants-out-of-espn-rankings/ a1mediasports.com/2025/09/22/jackson-states-sonic-boom-of-the-south-steps-away-from-espn-rankings-sparks-hbcu-band-conversation/ SECOND STRAIN / TRIO Topic...

Episode 69: "Seek the Solo" 15.09.2025 1:07:06

SHOW NOTES Episode 069 • September 15, 2025 FIRST STRAIN News ‘n’ Notes: • LSU band gains 66-year-old freshman www.yahoo.com/news/articles/retired-accountant-hitting-high-note-013419407.html • Students and alumni dot the Ohio State “I” sports.yahoo.com/article/alumni-dotters-look-forward-returning-213000352.html www.yahoo.com/news/articles/ohio-state-band-dotter-script-213000328.ht...

Episode 68: "Transitions" 01.09.2025 58:31

SHOW NOTES Episode 068 • September 1, 2025 FIRST STRAIN News ‘n’ Notes: • Staten Island high school replaces marching band with music technology lab www.silive.com/education/2025/08/ending-decades-of-tradition-monsignor-farrell-hs-replacing-marching-band-with-tech-focused-music-program.html • University of Houston names new Assistant Director of Bands www.facebook.com/uhmooresschool/...

Episode 67: "J.A.G., Part 2" 18.08.2025 55:33

SHOW NOTES Episode 067 • August 18, 2025 FIRST STRAIN News ‘n’ Notes: • DCI Finals recap www.dci.org/scores/final-scores/2025-dci-all-age-class-championships/ www.drumcorpsplanet.com/2025/08/scores-2025-dci-open-class-world-championship-finals/ www.dci.org/scores/final-scores/2025-dci-world-championship-finals/ SECOND STRAIN Topic: Artificial intelligence, musical creation … an...

Episode 66: "J.A.G." 04.08.2025 54:55

SHOW NOTES Episode 066 • August 4, 2025 FIRST STRAIN News ‘n’ Notes: • Penn State names its first female drum major www.psucollegian.com/news/penn-state-blue-band-names-first-female-drum-major/article_2f8bfb25-bf66-4e7a-93c5-39b4267567d6.html www.statecollege.com/articles/psu-news/blue-band-makes-historic-selection-for-new-drum-major/ • “Rising Light” finds a Smithsonian home www.f...

Episode 65: "At Long Last, Guard" 21.07.2025 1:07:48

SHOW NOTES Episode 065 • July 21, 2025 INTRODUCTION Topic: Life as an NEBDI exhibitor www.nhbda.org/new-england-band-directors-institute FIRST STRAIN News ‘n’ Notes: • E.E. Smith band director retires after 28 years abc11.com/post/roosevelt-pratt-jr-fayetteville-band-director-calls-career-28-years-ee-smith-high-school/16909406/ • Beyonce marching band donation www.usatoday.co...

Episode 64: "Life Moves Pretty Fast" 30.06.2025 1:05:35

SHOW NOTES Episode 064 • June 30, 2025 FIRST STRAIN News ‘n’ Notes: • FAMU Marching 100 has its first female head drum major hbcugameday.com/2025/06/18/iconic-hbcu-band-names-first-woman-as-head-drum-major/ www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIaS800SPEM • Greenwich HS band director saved by student advocacy patch.com/connecticut/greenwich/music-students-make-impassioned-pleas-keep-beloved-ban...

Episode 63: "Rocks and Hard Places" 16.06.2025 36:25

SHOW NOTES Episode 063 • June 16, 2025 FIRST STRAIN News ‘n’ Notes: • Retiring Nebraska band director gets the “Mr. Holland’s Opus” treatment www.mnhsonline.com/news/a-bittersweet-goodbye/ www.wowt.com/2025/05/08/millard-north-alumni-return-send-off-band-director-with-surprise-performance/ • Southern University “Human Jukebox” documentary wins Emmy hbcugameday.com/2025/05/21/hbcu-s...

Episode 62a: "Navel Gazing" 02.06.2025 10:07

SHOW NOTES Episode 062a • June 2, 2025 In which our hero (at least temporarily) adjusts this podcast’s release schedule. FOLLOW US! BandWagon RSS feed: feed.podbean.com/heyband/feed.xml BandWagon website: heyband.podbean.com BandWagon on Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555170345309 BandWagon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhammerton1 BandWagon on BlueSky: bsky.app/profile/...

Episode 62: "Community Building and Leading" 26.05.2025 31:32

SHOW NOTES Episode 062 • May 26, 2025 FIRST STRAIN News ‘n’ Notes: • Indy 500 Festival Parade features 14 bands www.wthr.com/article/news/community/500-festival/14-marching-bands-selected-perform-aes-500-festival-parade-12-from-indiana/531-ac2a090d-31a7-4501-8a45-55a8d6bddcf6 500festival.com/parade/ • Green Valley Concert Band director Snavely retires www.kgun9.com/news/community-i...

Episode 61a: "Finding Your Tribe" 19.05.2025 13:11

SHOW NOTES Episode 061a • May 19, 2025 A micro-episode, thanks to the onset of Rob’s Wacky Week. A link to the Trekculture podcast episode I speak of in this episode: www.podbean.com/media/share/dir-35wip-25647df1?utm_campaign=w_share_ep&utm_medium=dlink&utm_source=w_share FOLLOW US! BandWagon RSS feed: feed.podbean.com/heyband/feed.xml BandWagon website: heyband.podbean.com Band...

Episode 61: "It Is an Honor..." 12.05.2025 54:45

SHOW NOTES Episode 061 • May 12, 2025 FIRST STRAIN News ‘n’ Notes: • New Metallica marching band competition prize opportunity www.metallicamarchingband.com/ bravewords.com/news/metallica-exciting-new-prize-announced-for-next-metallica-marching-band-winner/ • Texas high school band “opens” for Post Malone www.fox4news.com/news/post-malone-grapevine-hs-band SECOND STRAIN Topic...

Episode 60: "Strive to Do Our Utmost" 05.05.2025 52:25

SHOW NOTES Episode 060 • May 5, 2025 FIRST STRAIN News ‘n’ Notes: • Burbank Community Band celebrates 85 years outlooknewspapers.com/burbankleader/laurell-burbank-community-band-doesn-t-skip-a-beat/article_aaa73119-ea01-415c-b24c-82fb571328db.html • U. Of Texas-Arlington professor Doug Stotter passes away www.facebook.com/MusicUTA/posts/it-is-with-profound-sadness-we-share-the-news-t...

Episode 59: "It's Money That Matters" 28.04.2025 34:46

SHOW NOTES Episode 059 • April 28, 2025 FIRST STRAIN News ‘n’ Notes: • Windy Hill Symphonic Band faces extinction in college closing www.gmtoday.com/the_freeman/news/university-closing-means-taps-for-a-beloved-teacher-s-band/article_67665ecf-ed1a-54e1-9f66-1523d90c1e37.html • Nascent Simpson College marching band effort fails thesimpsonian.com/36775/news/to-be-or-not-to-be-simpsons-m...

Episode 58: "By a Rude Bridge" 21.04.2025 35:52

SHOW NOTES Episode 058 • April 21, 2025 FIRST STRAIN News ‘n’ Notes: • National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/event-the-national-cherry-blossom-festival-parade-presented-by-events-dc/ marching.com/events/national-cherry-blossom-festival-parade/ www.youtube.com/live/fWOjb1de4hg • First female drum major for Texas A&M band www.cbs19.tv/article...

Episode 57: "Class Notes" 14.04.2025 30:54

SHOW NOTES Episode 057 • April 14, 2025 FIRST STRAIN News ‘n’ Notes: • Multi-generational band concert www.gazettenet.com/BandPractice-hg-03262025-60288866 florencecommunityband.com/ florencecommunityband.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/FCB-Spring-Concert-poster-2025_B3c-1583x2048.jpg • News item title: “Severance” finale marching band track www.brooklynpaper.com/bk-marching-band-...

Episode 56: "Once Upon a Time in Band" 07.04.2025 32:21

SHOW NOTES Episode 056 • April 7, 2025 FIRST STRAIN News ‘n’ Notes: • News item title: School band hall destroyed in fire; community steps up www.koco.com/article/geary-high-school-fire-band-instruments-lost-replaced/64290950 www.news9.com/story/67e7f22cb31be03610aa4a92/yukon-band-holding-fundraiser-to-obtain-instruments-for-geary-high-school-band Instrument/equipment donation site:...

Episode 55: "Crossover Episode" 31.03.2025 1:07:32

SHOW NOTES Episode 055 • March 31, 2025 (w/ repaired Introduction segment) INTRODUCTION Topic: Another Wee Confession FIRST STRAIN News ‘n’ Notes: • Sousa’s March Mania 2025 results www.marineband.marines.mil/Educational/Sousas-March-Mania/ www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIEZNZBNKMA SECOND STRAIN Topic: US Dept. of Education commemorates Music in Our Schools Month www.facebook.com...

Episode 54: "Northern Exposure" 24.03.2025 55:42

SHOW NOTES Episode 054 • March 24, 2025 FIRST STRAIN News ‘n’ Notes: • News item title: Equity Arc band students stage alternate concert with military band vets www.cbsnews.com/news/concert-cancellation-trump-administration-dei-order-60-minutes-transcript/ symphony.org/following-trump-cancellation-of-dei-initiatives-veteran-military-musicians-step-in-to-perform-with-equity-arc-students...

Episode 53: "Rising Light" 17.03.2025 1:03:24

SHOW NOTES Episode 053 • March 17 , 202 5 FIRST STRAIN News ‘n’ Notes: • K ansas community creates pep band for director-less school district www.ksn.com/news/state-regional/community-steps-up-to-create-pep-band-with-no-band-teacher/ • Minnesota community musicians populate “second” school pep band www.northernnewsnow.com/2025/03/08/community-musicians-step-pep-band-hibbing-basketbal...

Episode 52: "Joy and Fear" 10.03.2025 15:18

SHOW NOTES Episode 052 • March 10, 2025 SECOND STRAIN Topic: Immigration raids on band trips? www.texastribune.org/2025/02/05/alice-texas-buses-students-citizenship-border-patrol/ www.mysanantonio.com/news/south-texas/article/alice-isd-texas-border-patrol-20151047.php klaq.com/border-patrol-new-mexico-school-bus/ www.koat.com/article/border-patrol-boards-bus-carrying-las-cruces-stude...

Episode 51: "A Big Deal" 03.03.2025 1:01:29

SHOW NOTES Episode 051 • March 3, 2025 FIRST STRAIN News ‘n’ Notes: • News item title: Marching band from Michigan plays for the Pope www.wsjm.com/2025/02/20/marching-band-from-michigan-plays-for-the-pope/ • News item title: Band practice facility approved by WVU Board of Governors www.dominionpost.com/2025/02/21/wvu-bog-selects-new-university-president-oks-start-of-construction-for-...