Everything Band Podcast

Retired band director Blair Smith joins the podcast to discuss building relationships and finding balance. Topics: Blair's background Commissioning composers, Sean O'Loughlin's pants, and the David Holsinger bedroom Networking and advice about how to properly use your state conference to build relationships Advice for young band directors Digital Performance Gear Parallels between golf and music L...

Patrick Burns from Bandworks Publications joins me in a great conversation about his career, Bandworks publications, and he offers numerous insights for composers and teachers. Topics: Pat's background and music education Finishing an music education degree and not getting a doctorate in composition Pat's compositional inspiration... the alto clarinet. The Bloomfield Youth Band and the founding of...

Gary Gackstatter is a composer, conductor, and artist with a wealth of teaching experience. He joins me this week to discuss his career and offer his thoughts about teaching and music education. Topics: Gary's background and teaching experience Advice for young teachers His career as a composer and thoughts about commissioning new works for band Creativity and being published Gary's forthcoming bo...

Jeff Girard, the band specialist at Midwest Sheet Music joins me to offer some thoughts about conducting, band music, and copyright law from the perspective of a music retailer. Topics: Jeff's background as a conductor and band specialist at Midwest Sheet Music Band Together The challenges and compromises of conducting a community band Interactions with composers and the music publishing industry...

Cynthia Johnston Turner from the University of Georgia shares her thoughts about the importance of finding your authentic self on the podium, gender issues in the band world, and ideas for programming music. Topics: Cynthia's background and the sense of belonging that band provides for young people Impostor syndrome and being your authentic self The band program at the University of Georgia Gender...

Florida State University percussion professor John W. Parks IV is really passionate about the importance of teaching and learning the "right way" and this becomes a recurring theme throughout this remarkable conversation. Topics: John's musical background Trophy hunting in music education and putting the students first The type of students John brings to FSU and how he disarms "problem" students U...

Just 23 years old, the enormously talented Jay Coles has already published several works for band through Carl Fischer, C.L. Barnhouse, and C. Alan Publications and is the author of a new novel inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement titled Tyler Jones was Here and scheduled to be released in 2018 by Little Brown, Children's . Topics: Jay's musical background and his young career Using social...

Mark Stickney, the conductor at Plymouth State University and of the Seacoast Wind Ensemble joins me for a wide ranging conversation that includes the value of being a lifelong learner, the band grading system, and the New England Band Director's institute. Topics: Plymouth State University, the Seacoast Wind Ensemble, and the Newport Music Festival Teaching a band a new piece of music Fear in the...

Renowned euphonium soloist and Samford University conductor Demondrae Thurman shares his story and offers a wealth of knowledge and advice on a variety of topics. Of special note is his advice about starting kids on the euphonium, tips for conductors on score preparation and rehearsal techniques, and the story of his collaboration with composer Anthony Barfield and the remarkable Heritage Concerto...

Garrett Hope has done over 130 interviews with composers and music professionals for his own podcast  The Portfolio Composer . Garrett brings a wealth of knowledge and insight about the business of music and shares his thoughts as a relative newcomer to the band world.

I am joined by my good friend and outstanding oboist Karen Birch Blundell. Karen provides a wealth of information about the oboe including some practical advice about reeds and oboe tips for composers. Topics: Karen's early choice to play oboe Starting kids on the oboe right away Finding and making reeds The importance of good equipment Learning how to practice Taking relaxed breaths Tips for comp...

I welcome conductor Matthew Salvaggio to the show for a conversation about his experiences as an oboist and conductor of the wind ensemble at Hiram College. Highlights include excellent advice for studying scores and working with composers. Topics: Matt's background as an oboist The importance of personal connections Having opportunities as a young musician The wind ensemble at Hiram College and v...

Composer Scott Watson is my guest on this episode. Scott has over 60 published works, mostly through by Alfred Music. In this diverse episode we discuss Scott's impressive career including his musical background, his compositional process, acquiring commissions and using consortiums, guest conducting, technology in the classroom, project based learning, graded band music, learning one instrument v...

Cleveland composer and conductor John Pasternak joins the podcast as my inaugural guest. In this episode we discuss John's early influences in music and then launch on a discussion of composing for band, publishing, and the importance of humility. Links: John Pasternak's Website Pasternak: Battle Cry of Freedom James Barnes: Valor Brandon Nelson, composer Biography: John M. Pasternak has been an a...