skills-and-bones' podcast

This was a fun episode to record as we go back to our Jax State days with a bunch of trombone players studying with Dr. Roberts, having fun, and trying to figure out our next steps. Lt. Anderson has created a great life for himself in the Navy Fleet Bands and gives some life lessons and advice about a career in music. 

You know it, we have found some gold with this episode of Skills and Bones. Meet Kevin Hicks and learn about all the amazing things he is up to. You will learn about his cool technology with the Trombone Visualizer, publications, and recordings. Make sure to check him out here on his website: https://www.khicksmusic.com/  

On this episode you will get to meet John Covelli out of St. Louis. He works in a 9-5 job and like many trombone players or musicians keeps at it. He continues to learn in the practice shed and his love of the trombone has brought us a new app through the assistance of technology and apps. We learn more about how and why the app was developed.  Also, we get to know John and what it's like working...

Mike Lake shares some nice stories about his journey and how the alto trombone suits him as a musician. Make sure  to check out all of his products such as method books, originial compositions and many talks with some of the jazz greats.  https://musicsavvy.com/  

This episode Christopher Bassett, the bass trombonist of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, talks about being a musician first. He gives great advice about being the best version of yourself while being a musician and playing whatever instrument you play. As always if you have something to share here on this platform please contact us at skillsbones9@gmail.com   Check out all of the great thing...

Happy Holidays everyone!  During the pandemic musicians were able to meet more online and it made for a challenging time, but also fruitful time to make connections that otherwise may not have happened if we were all in our everyday lives of working or being students. Our guest today falls in this category. I was looking personally for works by women composers for a recital I was working on and fo...

This episode features trombonist Hillary Simms. She has accomplished a lot in a short time and I personally look up to her. She has so many pedagogical ideas that she shares with us and on her social media platforms. A side note; I was feeling cheeky when introducing her because I had been teaching a young euphonium student that likes to play the Canada National anthem, so forgive me for not being...

I went back to my roots on this one - going solo and talking one on one with a trombone friend. Meet Dr. Anthony Williams as he speaks about some of his major influences as a musician. He shares some pedagogical views about trombone, being a musician, and takes us into what it might be like studying in his studio at the University of Northern Iowa. He is passionate about commissioning and playing...

This episode has been in the works for a little over 3 years now. My original intention was to meet the members of Brass Against and talk to the brass players about the band and all kinds of other topics. I followed up on the message about 2-3 months ago and I received a response. (I was one happy camper) They said, "Frank will do it!" So then I began researching Frank Cohen. After falling into th...

Do you ever come across an artist or person not in your field and just think very highly of them? For me there are some athletes, motivational speakers, teachers, maybe a few actors, and for this particular episode is Hailey Brinnel. When I first listened to her albums, I was extremely impressed with her trombone playing, singing, and songwriting. I was instantly a fan. It is these types of interv...

This is the first episode with a co-host. Bruce Faske from episode one of this season has agreed to join me on the search for trombone treasures during season 5. Here is our first collaboration interviewing trombonist, educator, and entreprenuer, Nikki Abissi. We learn about Nikki growing up with tips she's learned along the way about trombone, teaching, and life in general. I hope you enjoy! Nikk...

Season 5 is here. Enjoy the first episode with Dr. Bruce Faske, the new trombone professor at the University of Alabama. Plus you just might be hearing more from with on this podcast as the season unfolds. His life experiences early on brings a unique prospective to his teaching strategies. Take a listen!

On this episode of Skills and Bones we get to know Dr. Jonathan Allen and discuss injury comebacks. The first injury was an old shoulder injury and has some tips about what he did during his time off the horn. Allen also opens up about his struggles with focal dysonia and the steps and therapies to get back to playing shape. https://iowatrombones.com/ https://www.fariastechnique.com/

Meet Dr. Jessica Butler, Associate Professor of Practice, Low Brass & Music History at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. You will learn about Littin Trombones and the Littin Trombone Quartet Competition. There are so many neat things happening in the world of trombone from performing and teaching to superb craftsmanship. Maybe you are a student looking for a great place to start your underg...

Recorded live at East Carolina University on March 23, 2024. This was the third year in a row for the event and second with a podcast episode recorded in front of a live audience. The interview is based on the questions the students asked for trombonist - Myles Blakemore and composer - Pete Strohm. We discussed careers in the Navy, composing, to a life and career in music.  I thorouhgly enjoyed th...

Learn the story behind Trombone 101 and the great trombone teacher and musician, Sean Reusch. Make sure to check out his webpage: https://www.trombone101.com/ with many resources for students and teachers alike.

Meet the Vox Cor Trio! Listen and learn about their mission and music they perform. Follow them on Instagram to keep up with the latest.

Jose Leon talks about his new book, life experiences and more. Listen and get to know this amazing person, trombonist, and now author. 

The brass and trombone community are quite amazing with all the resources we have to offer from pedagogical minds all over the world. Just to name a few of the great trombone pedagogical minds with great resources for you to devour for your own practice or studios are Joseph Alessi and the Alessi Music Studios. Brad Edwards has a plethora of resources and texts about the trombone written, created,...

Two great trombonists and friends team up for a power duo of trombone music and micro-brews. Meet the Brews Brothers, Jemmie Robertson and Bill Mann. We discuss the duo's name, commission projects, and future performances. 

There are many trombone treasures to discover in this interview! Get to know Dr. Joseph Jefferson a bit in this episode. We learn about his musical influences from growing up going to church to his trombone professors instilling a great work ethic and the eagerness to continue to grow as a person and musician. 

Meet the bass trombonist and composer William Pagan-Perez. It's an exciting discussion about growing up in Puerto Rico playing trombone and finding his voice as a composer through writing his first composition for his recital in graduate school at the University of Utah. (If you hear a dog barking you're not going crazy, my dog lost her mind during the recording.)

Listen to this episode with Katy Jones, Principal Trombone of the Hallé Orchestra. We chat some about her life and background through becoming a pharmacist to principal trombone of major symphony orchestras in the UK. We go into great detail about the breathing technique, Buteyko. If you want to learn more about this take a listen and also visit her website with many details and resources about Bu...

On one HOT day in July in Salt Lake City at the International Trombone Festival I had the pleasure to catch up and meet Mark Davidson, We chatted about his latest album and he shares some new information hot off the press. Very exciting to sit down and learn a thing or two about his life and trombone - the best combination. 

On this episode of Skills and Bones you will hear from Dr. Tony Baker, Professor of Trombone at the University of North Texas. We discuss his journey to success on both sides of the horn, classical and jazz, with a few other tidbits you may not get from some of his other interviews.