beyond ArtLess

Send us Fan Mail A giant leap across the pond to Germany for the podcast today with our guest, Matt Turek.  Matt has taught in just about every capacity one can - from elementary general and high school band in an urban environment to middle school suburban to now Grade 1-10 Music at an International School on the outskirts of Hamburg, Germany.  Matt is not afraid of teaching at any level!  Sadly,...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Beyond Artless , we sit down with Tony Boldt , a passionate educator and musician from Kasson-Mantorville Schools, whose leadership and creativity continue to shape the musical experiences of young performers in his community. Tony shares his journey as both a teacher and a performer—reflecting on how music shaped his life, what fuels his work in education, and...

Send us Fan Mail Fresh off the heels of our first — and let’s be honest, probably our only — live episode recording at the Wisconsin State Music Conference, we’re back and better than ever with an incredible guest: dynamic tuba artist and educator Deanna Swoboda . From her early inspirations to her innovative “Band Blast Off” program, Deanna takes us on a journey of how she’s brought the mighty tu...

Send us Fan Mail The losing battle for interesting banter continues this week.  Phil’s most interesting question is about fish fry.  Chris inches closer to a podcast sponsorship.  Peter details the finer points of Bismarck nightlife.  Kristen Kirch saves our hosts from themselves to talk about a life in music education and restaurant ownership.  Now director of both the middle and high school band...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Beyond Artless , we welcome the dynamic and delightfully down-to-earth Alli Mottaz, an instrumental music educator, percussionist, and all-around creative powerhouse from Waconia, Minnesota. Alli shares her journey from dreaming of playing for the WNBA to becoming an award-winning band director (with a soft spot for the Jonas Brothers and crocheting on the side). Now...

Send us Fan Mail With over 300 compositions to his credit, Willie Owens is a common name in music education. We sit down with Willie to chat about his 30 years of teaching band in Texas, his approach to honor bands, influential mentors, his recent honorary doctorate from VanderCook, presidential history, and corvettes. Peter brought not one but two beverages, Phil looked confused, and Chris contin...

Send us Fan Mail Commuter – nearly every one of you has either conducted or played a chart written by the great Dean Sorenson.  We get a chance to chat with Dean about subpar bus driving, almost missing a gig with Rosemary Clooney (George’s mom) and more.  Phil was prepared (but you would never know it), Chris sets the bar low with his first question and Peter develops his jazz hands skill set.  S...

Send us Fan Mail In this heartfelt episode of Beyond Artless , we shine a spotlight on Jennifer Rogholt — a dedicated band mom whose tireless support and advocacy for music education has made a lasting impact on students, directors, and entire school communities. Jennifer shares her perspective on what it means to be a parent, volunteer, and champion for the arts. From late-night band trips to org...

Send us Fan Mail We all know John McCallister for the incredible free resources he shares on his website—but there’s so much more to this remarkable human. Join us for an enlightening and joyful conversation with John, whose heart is even bigger than the treasure trove of materials he offers online. John McCallister AMAZING Website: https://www.johnmcallistermusic.com/ Watch: The Last Repair Shop...

Send us Fan Mail In mid-season stride, our guest Reid Wixson shares with us on arts advocacy, affording opportunities to all students and Mumbai, India.  Peter shares chewing ice cubes, Chris still distracted by the Packer game and Phil continues his quest for an articulate question (or really any coherent question).  See if you can guess Paul Kile's Band Buzzler!  Don’t forget - Beyond Artle...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Beyond Artless , we welcome Jason Caslor , conductor, educator, and Director of Bands at Arizona State University. Known for his innovative programming and collaborative spirit, Jason brings a unique perspective to the world of wind band conducting and music-making. Jason opens up about the art of leading ensembles, the importance of creating meaningful musical...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a music teacher decides to meet students where they are and to develop new ways to engage all learners through music? You get Bob Habersat, owner and author of Shed The Music, who is part teacher, part tech wizard, and potentially a hand model. In this episode, Bob dives into: His relentless drive to find new ways to support and connect with his students His amaz...

Send us Fan Mail This day is a long time coming.  After one year teaching, our guest Lauren Buss speaks more intelligently and inspirationally than our hosts combined.  Lauren enlightens us on how to play a piano with a sledgehammer, the fine art of crochet and the puzzle of “jeans on” hot-tubbing.  Peter, Phil and Chris are blessedly quiet in this episode that introduces all of us to a fabulous f...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Beyond Artless , Peter brings us the extraordinary saxophonist, composer, and educator Russell Peterson , professor of saxophone, bassoon, and jazz at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. Russell shares his journey as a multifaceted musician—spanning classical, jazz, and contemporary performance—while offering insights into the art of balancing tradition wi...

Send us Fan Mail Season 1 - "Hope" Season 2 - "Return of the Jackasses" Season 3 - "The FCC Strikes Back" Season 4 - "Still Unfunded, Still Unfunny"  - Episode one drops Saturday, Aug 30. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail You've heard the phrase, "needs no introduction." Well, our final guest of Season 3 truly fits the bill—Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser joins us for an inspiring conversation about leading through turbulent times, serving others, and making the most of every moment. If you’re only tuning in for one episode this season (and we know that’s a real possibility), this is the one t...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when you get three Gleasons who play tuba in the same ArtLess episode? Chaos. Pure, brass-fueled chaos. Fortunately, we’re joined by the ever-talented Matt Pivec, who brings not only his impressive musical accomplishments but also a touchdown story you truly have to hear to believe. Matt shares insights on balancing multiple interests, pushing back against the pressur...

Send us Fan Mail Show Notes: A week late, you say? So is our comedic and musical timing. You know who does have great timing? Dr. John Lynch, Director of Bands at UW-Stevens Point. It was a real treat to hear about his musical journey—one that’s taken him all around the globe (literally). In this episode, Dr. Lynch shares his perspective on cultural differences between Australia and the U.S., the...

Send us Fan Mail There are leaders and there are followers. Thankfully, Fran Kick joins us this week to lead us through a delightful conversation. Granted, Peter, Phil and Chris DO get lost multiple times but Fran gracefully get us back on track. Check out Fran's amazing videos, resources, and books including the "Have to, Get to, Want to" video and article in the show notes! Show N...

Send us Fan Mail We saved the best for last. Enjoy our final interview from our Midwest 2024 booth. This interview features our good friend Owen. Where is he from? Don't know. What does he do? Not sure? What does he look like? Don't have a picture. Was he fun to interview? YES - in fact, he was amazing! Too bad you won't get to hear it.  We know we continue to meet, and perhaps, sur...

Send us Fan Mail This Beyond ArtLess Short was captured during our live recording sessions at the 2024 Midwest Clinic. A heartfelt thank you to Eric Songer and John Stewart for stepping in as guest hosts for several episodes. We’re especially grateful to everyone who willingly stopped by to participate in an interview—and to those who accidentally wandered down the wrong aisle and found themselves...

Send us Fan Mail Phil asked one truly insightful question—alongside a few not-so-great ones—but we’re incredibly proud of how much he’s grown. Peter made an impressive comeback in PPTD, while Chris continues to meet challenges head-on (bless his heart). This week’s guest is the complete opposite of your usual hosts—thoughtful, intelligent, kind, and wildly creative. What a joy it was to chat with...

Send us Fan Mail Maybe Chris should learn how to take notes.  Maybe Peter should learn how to arrange travel for guests.  Maybe Phil should learn how to interview.  Our guest Dr. Laura Dunbar can do all of these things better than our hosts and is also a world class educator!  Dr. Dunbar is head of music education studies at UW Eau Claire and also coordinates the Chippewa Valley Youth Choirs and d...

Send us Fan Mail It’s hard to mess up a podcast when you have a guest like Omar Thomas. In this episode, we talk with Omar about his incredibly busy and creative schedule, the release of his new album Griot Songs , and the behind-the-scenes process of recording it with the Omar Thomas Large Ensemble. Omar reflects on his compositional approach, the art of crossing genres, and the importance of tea...

Send us Fan Mail March Madness is in full swing and our guest is providing us all the knowledge our commuter will ever need about Gonzaga basketball.  Bill Drury shares with us about his career as Associate Director of Wind Ensembles at New England Conservatory.  And also his journey to NEC by way of the railroad, parking valet attendant and more.  Not to forget his parallel career as a military s...