Everything Band Podcast

Matt Koperniak of Riverwatch Middle School in Georgia joins the show to talk about his school's upcoming performance at the 2017 Midwest Clinic. He also shares his thoughts about music education and tips for other teachers in this very informative episode. Topics: The story of Riverwatch being accepted to the Midwest Clinic from the application process to breaking the news to the kids and selectin...

Mary Land joins me to share 29 years of experience as a middle school band director. Also discussed is her role on the Midwest Board of Directors, finding balance as a band director, and her recent transition to college professor. Topics: The program at Young Harris College and how Mary made the transition from a 29 year career as a middle school band director to a college band director. "You can...

Kenny Hansen of Blue Springs South High School joins me to discuss his award winning program, the importance of expecting excellence, the value of marches, and the story behind his band's exceptional YouTube channel. Topics: Kenny's background and the program at Blue Springs South High School. Blue Springs South's recent run to to the BOA finals in Indianapolis and the value of the marching progra...

Former director of bands at Eastern Illinois University and current CEO and founder of the non-profit Music Guerrilla, Milt Allen joins me to speak about his own career and his views of music education and the band world. Topics: The problem of elitism in music and the need to eliminate placing value judgments on different genres of music. A discussion of the value of self-publishing versus commer...

Joe Parisi is a professor of music education at UMKC and the director of the Fountain City Brass Band. He joins me to talk about music education, brass band, and how music gives us a sense of belonging. Topics: Joe's background and current position as a music professor at the University of Missouri Kansas City. Teaching students to love music through band and the importance of creating lifelong le...

Joshua Gailey is a PhD candidate in musicology at Yale University and his dissertation focuses on the factors that influenced the development of the school band movement during the Progressive Era. The fact that this episode falls on the birthday of John Philip Sousa is a happy coincidence! Topics: The institutionalization and standardization of the concert band in the early years of the 20th Cent...

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 Jud...

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 f...

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 exp...

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 t...

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...

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. Insig...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 im...

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...

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 u...

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 artis...

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 yo...

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...

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...

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...

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 euphoni...