@ Percussion Podcast

Joining us for Episode 150 - can you believe it?! - is Drew Tucker: musician, educator, and social entrepreneur.  He advocates for the arts in underserved areas of South Florida.  In addition, he has gained notoriety for jazz-influenced twists on modern pop standards.  His teaching covers all realms, including drum corps, and he can often be seen wearing one of his signature "IT'S NOT A XYLOPHONE" t-shirts. Watch here. Listen below.  If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 intro and hello 1:10 MalletLab Summer Camp 8:40 Story behind "It's not a xylophone"?  Using branding and social media.13:40 Any short comings of the social media culture?17:03 Ben: Mike Mainieri 28:10 Casey: what's the sound? 37:00 Upcomming plans for MalletLab?40:42 Thoughts on majoring in music education and public school  teaching 43:20 Advice on starting a career in performance. 48:55 Musicality and technique.

This episode was recorded during the ToCALO Tucson Chamber Percussion Seminar, where Casey was a guest artist.  The week in Tuscon consisted of several world premiere performances, masterclasses, and other activities for participants, all organized by Artistic Director Morris Palter.This interview features Casey, Morris, Bill Cahn, Tiffeny Johnson, Michael Pratt, Jacob Ransom, and others from Tocalo Tucson.Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 Intro and hello2:10 Morris:  The name "Tocalo Tucson"?  4:50 Bill:  The history of Nexus and use of improvisation?24:23 Morris's interest in refurbishing  and selling Rogers drums.39:38 Theatrical/gestural current in new percussion pieces55:15 Are there roles that the Nexus members played in the  ensemble?1:02:18 Nexus Ragtime album

Joining us this week is percussionist, composer, and regular guest host: Caleb Pickering.  His works are often performed by high schools in his home state of Texas, and he is regularly commissioned for ensemble and solo works. Currently, he is at work on a collection of intermediate snare solos.A current DMA student at James Madison University, he is a wonderful addition to the percussion faculty.Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 Intro and Hello.  Westworld banter4:08 Caleb's ensemble writing and style11:25 Writing for varying student abilities/levels in percussion ensembles.16:56 Casey: What's the sound?23:36 Facebook question from Jade Hails: Balancing your academic life with a performance/composing career?28:21 Laurel: When/why humans develop recognition of emotion in music, a study in China.45:55 Ben: Four musical solo works that are gesture based.  Thierry de Mey, "Silence Must Be!"; Mark Applebaum, "Aph

Joining us this week is Norm Weinberg, recently retired from the University of Arizona.  He's an educator, writer (270 articles), composer, and still an active player - in orchestral and chamber realms.  He's played under the baton of such greats as Luciano Berio, Kryzystof Penderecki, Lukas Foss, and Leonard Bernstein.  He also created and established the World Percussion Network, which later became "pas.org."Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 Intro and hello 1:05 "Yanny" vs "Laurel" explained, Diana Deutsch experiments/sound illusions (ep.125) 4:30 Guest introduction6:20 Lately? Retirement8:15 Playing under Leonard Bernstein? 11:50 Do conductors think of percussionists differently today? Percussionists the "butt of the joke"23:31 Ben: Askell Masson 33:50 Boards and page turns...44:00 Ricardo Flores as a student? 48:00 Brian Calhoon: Genre combustion. Marimba Cabaret 56:35 Norm's article, technological ad

This week's guest, Brian Blume, is the Assistant Professor of Percussion at Southeastern University, where he teaches applied percussion, percussion techniques, music theory, world music, and the school's first ever drumline.  Brian is also a composer who has performed as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral player, and studio percussionist, with groups such as the Carmel Symphony Orchestra, Terra Haute Symphony Orchestra, Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, and BluHill Percussion Duo.Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 Intro and Hello2:30 Starting the drumline at Southeastern University?7:50 Performance requests for university drumlines, choirs, steel band etc...13:50 Concert and DCI melding together and studying with Tony Cirone21:00 Casey: What's the Sound?24:20 Laurel: Top 10 Brain Boosting Foods - Andy Harnsberger29:09 Considering food intake and performance?34:30 Brain's blog: "Percussionist-Composer"43:52 BlueHill P

This week we sat down with percussionist and educator Lauren Teel. Lauren is currently the Adjunct Instructor of Percussion for the University of North Alabama, Adjunct Instructor of Percussion for the University of Montevallo, and the Percussion Caption Head for the DCI World Class Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps.Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 Intro and Hello1:12 Working at UNA and Tracy Wiggins.  Teaching.9:40 Advice for teaching WGI?12:50 Balance of the marching activity and university studies.26:50 Casey: What's the sound?  "Flamboyant" and Richard E Rogers Jr.43:50 Megan: Article, "Diversifying the Orchestra"51:40 Matt Marks, thank you and R.I.P.1:02:30 Facebook questions:  Dog?  1:04:17 Brandon Arvay: Male dominated community, thoughts?

Casey was again part of the faculty for TAPS, this time in Long Beach. He sat down with the other faculty: John Parks, Nick Mancini, Ted Atkatz, Shaun Tilburg, and Tim Jones, as well as students for this episode.Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 Intro and hello0:49 Comments on Don Greene’s class5:24 Bailey: What is the most important skill to have as a professional musician that’s not directly related to the actual act of playing or performing?15:46 Ted’s book “The Regimen” and self-publishing22:20 Milton: When did you realize you should be practicing for your own benefit to make yourself better so you can progress in the long-term and not so much just for school requirements?34:46 Greg: What are your personal stories about sponsorships?42:30 What’s your most embarrassing moment on stage during a performance and how did you recover from it?52:23 Emily: Here at TAPS we’ve been working on excerpts to prepare for a mock auditi

In addition to teaching at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Terry Longshore currently heads up three chamber groups: Left Edge, Caballito Negro, and Duo Flamenco.  He's equal parts contemporary and world music.Topics: passing of Remo Belli, percussion music of Mark Applebaum including Composition Machine no.1 (Terry's commission)Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 Intro and hello2:30 Current projects, Max MSP, collaboration6:38 PASIC 2014 Focus Day12:09 Ben: Remo Belli25:39 Jared Brown: How did your business training roll into music?32:06 Left Edge / performing with our students34:56 Ted Jackson: When Mark Applebaum was on the show, he stated that he had learned a lot about writing for percussion from Terry Longshore. Could you explain your process of working with Mark Applebaum?37:08 Composition Machine #144:06 Mark Applebaum’s music47:25 Jared Brown: With the internet and readily available software, anyone can do

While traveling in Texas this spring, Ben sat with a previous teacher from UNT: Poovalur Sriji.  Sriji specializes in the Indian drum mrindangam, which he began studying at a young age.  At UNT he teaches a course that introduces Indian music traditions to students, culminating in a concert of new compositions created throughout the course.We really enjoyed chatting with Sriji, and would love to chat with him again soon.Topics: Indian music, thoughts on teaching, "Are you too Hard on Yourself?" from mindful - the "should," "shouldn't," and "perfectionism"Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 Intro and hello1:21 South Indian Course and Bridge Ensemble11:44 Sriji’s musical training, math, and early career20:04 Indian music in the U.S.23:11 Laurel: the word “should,” “shouldn’t,” and “perfectionism”38:37 Emotional attachment to student successes55:18 Megan’s experience playing on an A.R. Rahman concert in Chennai, India1

Megan snagged NY percussionist Amy Garapic for this week's episode.  The two share similar experiences, and Amy is known for her involvement in the TIGUE Percussion Trio and organization of large-scale performances like John Luther Adams' Inuksuit. We talk about her recent concerts, community/inner city drumlines, Brooklyn United, PICK (Pushing Inner City Kids), ORCHKids.Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 Intro and hello1:47 Megan and Amy’s friendship4:14 Tigue at Sofar Sounds7:15 Formation of Tigue, Robert Honstein’s “Index of Possibility”13:04 Job announcements16:44 Balancing teaching with performing and administration / NY and NH21:13 Micah Detweiller: What’s the composition process like for Tigue? Is it collaborative? Is anything notated?28:27 Alan Lange: What are some tips you would give a person who is starting out in their own producing career? What did you do to get started on that portion of your own career?42:

Composer Baljinder Sekhon joined us from Tampa, FL for this episode.  He serves as an Assistant Professor of Composition at the University of South Florida.  Baljinder's music has been performed worldwide, and there's even a special link on his website that directs straight to the percussion works.Topics: Baljinder's music, "The Next Rembrandt" replication project, David Cope's music replication projects, and the sound/art installation GamelatronWatch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 Intro and hello1:13 “Gradient” and “Gradient 2.0”6:34 Chopsticks, Andy Akiho, Foundry, and “Passageways”10:33 Casey: “The Next Rembrandt” replication project / David Cope’s music replication41:59 Megan: Gamelatron – Sonic Kinetic Sculptures / Robotic gamelan orchestra53:15 Baljinder’s recent projects1:03:02 Wrap

This episode was recorded during TAPS East Coast held at Snow Pond - the facilities of the New England Music Camp (NEMC).  We managed to include everyone, both faculty and participants, in this episode. Ted Atkatz and Shaun Tilburg are familiar faces, and we're lucky that Fiona Bryan, Director of Outreach and Communications of Snow Pond, could join us too. She's a trained violinist, and with all of our Bach conversation, she had some really interesting points to make.Topics: NEMC, TAPS, Julia Cameron's Walking in This World, adapting Bach to marimba, orchestral auditionsWatch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 Intro and hello1:40 History of Snow Pond Music Festival / New England Music Camp8:58 Bringing TAPS to SPMF10:45 Collaborating with the composition seminar14:18 Faculty at TAPS16:28 Touring the Vic Firth factory, Ted’s sticks, stick-making process and aesthetics25:37 Sean Tilburg’s stick/gear preferences29:38 Laurel: Ju

Joining us this week is Rob Knopper: creator of auditionhacker and percussionhacker, as well as percussionist with the Met Opera Orchestra.  We talk a lot about auditions and the meaning of "perfect time."Topics: Delecluse, auditions, blogging, Alan Abel, symphony vs opera playingWatch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 Intro and hello2:12 Current projects and the upcoming Met season6:05 Ted Jackson: Would you talk about your schooling and how you developed a passion for orchestral playing?9:05 State of orchestras in the U.S.13:02 Coldplay and Dudamel / Pop vs. Classical music20:25 Ben: Alan Abel27:22 Rob’s blog32:45 Delecluse project40:10 Individualized plan of study vs. generic / supplemental blogs47:59 Eli Geruschat: It’s one thing to win a job, but what was it like when you stepped into your first rehearsal with the Met? Can you tell us a little about this first experience and how those early rehearsals helped shape

Ben Fraley, part of the faculty at Troy University, joined us this week.  What could have been a pessimistic chat about the rise of adjunct positions proved more positive than anything. His passions for frame drumming and John Luther Adams' Inuksuit are bookends to this episode.Topics: Inuksuit, various viewpoints on adjunct teaching, frame drumming, MakeMusic.org, from Walking in This World: allocating and budgeting your creative energyWatch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 Intro and hello1:35 John Luther Adams’ “Inuksuit” in Boston17:37 Adjunct teaching44:03 Megan: Make Music Day / La fete de la Musique55:10 Laurel: Walking in this World / Discovering a Sense of Personal Territory1:14:39 Frame drumming and composing1:19:56 Wrap

Here's the milestone 50th episode!Who else to showcase but someone like Fernando Meza, whose passion for percussion is surpassed only by the great energy and warmth he brings to every project and person lucky enough to cross his path. At the time of this interview, we caught him at home in Minnesota between international engagements.Topics: YOA, Keiko Abe, maintaining high energy, plagiarism in pop music, Biolley instruments, Nebojsa Jovan Zivkovic, 2010 Marimba FestivalWatch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 Intro and hello1:57 Current projects with the Minnesota Orchestra4:05 YOA - Orchestra of the Americas / Global Leaders Program6:52 Rosendo Suarez: What is your experience with Venezuelan students?8:45 Brad Broomfield: You performed with the original Lion King cast, performed with Keiko Abe, were the former principal percussionist of the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica, arranged one of the greatest marimba gathering

George Barrett, CEO of Innovative Percussion and First Vice President of PAS, joined us this week from his office in Nashville, TN.  We're so glad he was able to make room for us in his busy schedule.Topics: PAS, mentor example of UT Women's Head Coach Pat Summit, history of Innovative Percussion, industryWatch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 Intro and hello1:27 Current events at IP and leadership restructure of PAS9:34 Why join PAS?13:17 PASIC exhibit hall17:41 New IP products19:17 Laurel: Patricia Summit, late coach emeritus of U. of Tennessee26:35 Ben: Erik Johnson, president of Innovative Percussion38:20 The process of designing mallets46:06 Hand wrapped vs. machine wrapped mallets47:44 Changes in the percussion industry51:51 Endorsement relationships57:01 Responsibilities of a CEO of a percussion company58:34 Caleb Pickering: Percussion companies seem to come and go in waves. What helped IP stand the test of time and

During her residence at Avaloch Farm, Megan sat down with Mike Compitello, part of New Morse Code, the cello/perc duo that coordinates Avaloch Farm's New Music Initiative.  Mike is an active chamber and orchestral player, and teaches at the University of Kansas. Topics: artist retreats, scientific research about the "chills" when you listen to musicWatch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 Intro and hello1:03 Avaloch Farms – chamber ensemble residency5:13 Megan: listing and review of additional artist retreats14:20 Benefits of Avaloch and other artist residencies21:17 Facilities and focus at Avaloch28:25 Playing Baroque timpani32:26 Laurel: Frisson – the science behind the ‘chills’ you get when listening to music52:36 New Morse Code – cello and percussion duo58:26 Professional websites1:00:45 University interview process and advice1:16:11 Wrap

Michigan State professor Gwendolyn Dease joined us for this episode.  We asked her about her upcoming CD, Ben told us about Robert van Sice, Laurel gives a book review of The Social Psychology of Musicianship, and Megan fills us in on the DCI Finals results.Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 Intro and hello1:37 Gwen’s cd projects3:36 Ted Jackson: Can you please describe the process of arranging the Cello Suites for marimba? I really love the way you add certain harmonies into the recording.7:10 Studying and arranging Bach9:15 Ted Jackson: What was it like receiving an education at Eastman, Peabody, and Yale? What were the similarities and differences you experienced?12:54 Interlochen Arts Academy14:32 Ben: Robert Van Sice19:13 Studying James Wood and more with Van Sice23:24 Laurel: The Social Psychology of Musicianship by Robert Henley Woody37:07 Playing in Time Travelers (percussion quartet)40:09 Balancing personal/pro

During her tenure at Interlochen, Megan sat down with Jeff Irving, another percussion faculty member.  Jeff resides in NYC, freelances as a contemporary, orchestral, and Broadway player, and co-owns New York Percussion Service, a percussion instrument rental company.Topics: Interlochen, freelancing, blogging, Jan WilliamsWatch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 Intro and hello2:27 Interlochen Arts Camp5:00 Brett Morris: In your success in acquiring performance opportunities, what’s the balance between your musical skills, networking, and knowing people who can help in job placement?10:12 Building connections in school13:54 Ben: Jan Williams19:33 Megan: High school percussion camps25:57 Jeff’s experience at Interlochen Arts Academy34:08 New York Percussion Service38:57 Life as a freelancer in NYC42:10 Ted Jackson: Could you explain how you have crafted your career out of many different opportunities? I love how you are able to

While in Lombardy, Italy for the International Percussion Festival, Casey sat down with fellow judges Nanae Mimura, Theo Milkov, and Andrei Puskarev for an interview. They talk about many things, one being their affinity (or lack there of) for the judging process.Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 Intro and hello0:35 Theodore Milkov’s fundraiser to play PASIC concert6:34 Nanae Mimura’s influences of Buddhism and Japanese art10:56 Nanae’s new CD –  her fourth solo album17:01 Theodore Milkov – current projects, producing videos vs. CDs20:45 Thoughts on judging from Nanae, Theo, and Casey40:27 Nanae’s marimba camp in Japan44:06 Thoughts on the state of marimba repertoire59:22 Creating a global agency for percussionists1:04:58 Percussion is still in its infancy, creating beginner/intermediate rep1:11:50 Wrap