@ Percussion Podcast

Patti Niemi has been a member of the percussion section of the San Francisco Opera Orchestra since 1992.  She has several recordings to her credit, from opera productions to chamber percussion works. Recently published in her memoir Sticking it Out. About it, author Kevin Smokler writes: "Sharp like a flam, resonant like the end of a roll, Sticking it Out is everything you want a music memoir to be: funny, honest and memorable."Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 intro and hello2:43 Why write Sticking It Out? The process of writing this?6:11 Julliard, at the time.10:20 Deciding boundaries of what to share in the book? Sexual harassment18:45 "Can't be done by a woman" ?!24:20 Long term anxiety?27:45 Auditions today, tenure.30:28 Bringing a bad attitude33:43 Laurel: International Women's Brass Conference. Four rolls women fill45:10 Happening lately in the Opera?49:02 Favorite Opera hits?52:47 How has the book changed thing

Joining us this week is Todd Meehan, creator of Liquidrum.  Despite gaining notoriety with a variety of satirical videos alongside an active teaching, performing, and commissioning career, he describes himself as "not funny."  He maintains an active website, blog, video presence, the Baylor percussion studio, all while balancing family life between.Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 intro and hello1:30 Todd's comedy & Liquidrum3:50 "Fast Hands" challenge and the value of Play13:50 Brian Blume: Why Liquidrum?  The name?  How has it influenced your playing and teaching?20:00 Advertising, branding, marketing27:40 From Todd's blog38:05 Ben & Todd: Health46:15 Casey: What's the sound? Diana Deutsch experiments  57:15 Scott Charvet: Any negative reception on the Liquidrum videos?

Joining us this week are the founders of Artifact Percussion: Lexie Fiorini and Aaron Trumbore.  Established in 2014, they aim to produce quality percussion products by hand using methods, packaging, and practices that are sustainable and non-damaging to the planet.  They made their first trip to the PASIC Exhibition Hall in 2017.Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 intro and hello4:30 How important is it to go to PASIC?  9:50 Facebook questions:  Starting Artifact, background, business.  15:43 PAS Rhythm Discovery Center20:40 Business skills you learned?    25:50 What products are next?39:10 Megan: The Halo company58:00 What ways do you hope to give back to the percussion community?

Escape 10 joins us for this episode.  Made of Annie Stevens and Andrea Venet, the duo has made a name for themselves as commissioners, performers, and presenters of new keyboard-centric percussion duos.  Their first tour was in 2011, and since they have released an album, recorded another, and performed in Showcase Concert at PASIC 2016.Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00  Intro and hello4:14  Long distance duo?  10:30  The Escape 10 name?12:05  Putting pieces together long distance.16:45  Relationship with Malletech and KPP?19:57  Sponsorships in general  22:03  Casey: What's the sound?  Hint: Alvin Lucier36:40  Charlotte Mabrey:  Memorizing and retaining music?  41:30  Megan: Silk Road Ensemble51:15  Ben: Working with composers?

Joint Venture Percussion Duo, consisting of Rachel Zhang and Laurent Warnier, joined us all the way from Amsterdam for this week's episode.  Rachel and Laurent are a husband/wife team, and in addition to their performance careers teach at the Conservatory in Amsterdam (Rachel) and the Conservatory in Luxembourg (Laurent).Joint Venture was the first percussion group to win the Vriendenkrans Competition of Amsterdam's Concertgebouw in 2011, resulting in a tour of some of Europe's most prestigious concert halls.  For that tour and ever since, the duo actively commissions and adapts new works to enhance their repertoire.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 intro and welcome to Laurent Warnier & Rachel Zhang5:04 The trio, Joint Venture and Piano, arranging, programming15:45 Ben: Jacob TV28:05 Upcoming performances in North America?31:20 Laurel: a study on rhythm and language59:00 How does family/ma

This week's guest is Eric Willie, Director of Percussion Studies at UNC Greensboro, active PAS committee chair, performer, and commissioner of new music. He also has extensive marching experience, spending bits of each summer with different corps of DCI.Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00  intro and hello1:07  How was the Moscow Drum Fest.?  3:00  How was the competition different?  9:35  PASIC 17.  Percussion Ensemble Competitions  17:40  Thoughts from Megan's Pedagogy panel at PASIC25:00  Casey: what's the sound?31:37  Laurel: TN football and marching band  56:10  Working with John Mackey on "Drum Music"?

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!Joining us this week is Mark Ford: educator, performer, and composer, who probably needs no introduction.  In addition to running the percussion program at The University of North Texas, he tours as a solo artist and composer.  He is also the Artistic Director for the annual Drum Fest Marimba/Vibraphone Competition in Opole, Poland.Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00  intro and hello4:55  Happenings in Poland?  Casey's Marimba Concerto7:15  Naoko Takada: How do you manage/juggle so much?  Family & career?9:37  A bit on the University of North Texas percusssion program12:40  How you've been so successful in helping students win jobs.16:11  Your experience with Keiko Abe.24:30  Ben: Eric Sammutt33:40  Kaipo:  Your experience as our PAS President?39:20  Casey: What's the sound44:13  Mark, your composition process?  A

Joining us this week is drummer, feminist, social activist and Creator and Publisher of Tom Tom Magazine: Mindy Seegal Abovitz.Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00  intro and hello2:20  Gender bias4:33  Why so few female drummers?  Tom Tom Magazine11:27  What made you start Tom Tom Magazine and the Hit Like a  Girl contest?14:10  The "sexy" drummer girls?23:06  The need for Tom Tom and the gender gap/gender  inequality33:33  The painted drumhead?37:14  Casey: What's the sound?  Conlon Nancarrow & Disney.  Black Midi.45:40  Ben: Sheila E.50:30  Mindy's experience with Sheila E.55:00  More on gender1:05:52  Megan:  The Tariro Organization1:15:25  Marcia McCants: Finding your niche in a male dominated  field?  Getting yourself out there?

Joining us this week is renowned soloist and "Ambassadress of Polish Percussion Art:" Katarzyna Mycka.  She travels the world frequently, performing, adjudicating, and teaching.  In addition to teaching in Stuttgart, Germany, she is the Artistic Director of her own academy: International Katarzyna Mycka Marimba Academy, founded in 2003.Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00  intro and hello1:10  Our top PASIC recommendations10:00  Intro to Katarzyna Mycka11:45  Fernando Meza: How is the marimba received today by  professional concert organizations?  13:20  The first CD - Marimba Spiritual16:33  Favorite CD of yours?19:20  Tracy: When picking rep., what are the traits you look for in those pieces?21:30  Ben: Working with Anna Ignatowicz?28:50  Laurel: Would it help the rep. if marimbas decided a  standard size?  32:42  Relationship with Marimba One an

With Megan at Mizzou is Patience Munjeri, one of the only acclaimed female mbira players in the world.  She's in the middle of a very long US tour, taking her all over the country as a performer, lecturer, and coach for college ensembles.  It was so interesting to hear of the spiritual aspect of the instrument, as well as some of her personal stories coming of age as a woman who felt called to play the instrument.We have a slightly different format this week, with two recorded interviews as our content for you all.  With us at JMU is Rob Sanderl, who presented his class on Basel drumming for our students.  You can see the same thing at PASIC! He intentionally focuses more on aspects of playing than of cultural history.Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 intro and hello1:20 Can you please tell us about this tour?4:17 Coming to the US to work and why.5:40 The mbira choosing you8:25 The physical challenge of

Part 2 of our conversation that began on in episode 115, recorded on October 8th 2017. Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:19 Megan/Casey: Diversity and "safe space"23:40 Mike Spiro: speech, diversity, "safe space"31:20 Laurel: The Highly Sensitive Person43:20 Your experience with cultural appropriation?52:10 Dealing with traveling to Cuba?56:30 Final thoughts on the CD

Joining us this week are the creators of the cd BAKINI: En el Nuevo Mundo: Michael Spiro, Mike Mixtacki, and Joe Galvin.  Mixtacki provides some vocals for the album, while Spiro and Galvin play on every track.There's much to say about their expertise and what we learned chatting with them - so much that we needed two complete episodes to share it with you! Here's part 1. Part 2 coming next week.Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00  intro and hello2:45  Why such a pedagogical approach to the CD?  Great liner notes6:40  Beginning as an educator?10:55  How did you three get together?15:28  Mike D'Angelo and Mike Spiro at IU18:10  Term from the glossary: Oricha21:53  Your feelings on the current state of Ethnomusicolgy?44:11  Cross-culture collaborations & style collaborations.

Well, we made it to 100 episodes! And we haven't run out of guests or things to talk about. In this episode we recap a little, talk about our favorite moments, and wax poetic on music, art, and life.Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 intro and hello2:40 Has the podcast been what you initially expected?7:50 Casey and Laurel in Taiwan: Gongs, TIPC Convention and competition23:40 Ben preparing new rep. this summer25:35 Megan travelling this summer, visiting the Marimba One factory32:06 Laurel at New Music Gathering45:50 Casey writing this summer49:01 Favorite segments?55:12 Stats of bookings, topics, etc...1:04:40 Criticism

This week's guest, Gene Koshinski, is a performer, composer and educator, teaching at The University of Minnesota Duluth.  He has performed worldwide, receiving awards as player and composer throughout his career.Recent notable publications are his method book TWO, a guide to two-mallet technique and practice, and his Concerto for Marimba and Choir.  He has also commissioned great composers such as John Luther Adams, Alejandro Vinao, Stuart Saunders Smith, and others.Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 intro and hello1:30 Summer, projects, kids.5:25 Maximizing practice time8:00 Gene's book, "TWO" currently10:57 Some favorite two-mallet rep.?13:33 Gene's new snare drum solo16:20 Ben: "When Snare Drum gets Weird" 5 orchestra pieces that use snare drum in unusual ways.22:03 How to "get started" composing?30:15 Writing for other instruments and the unfamiliar?33:45 Quey Duo39:00 Megan: Make Music NY Day45:07 State of Mi

We're joined this week by the hilarious and talented (hilariously talented?) Morris Palter.  His contributions to the modern rep of percussion are numerous, and his approach to work, hard work, and dedication are welcome and needed.He's currently teaching at the University of Arizona after building a great program at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks.Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 intro and hello7:08 Working with Pierre Boulez11:14 Why release the new album on vinyl only? Rags?21:50 John Conway's "Game of Life"31:07 New Music Committee at PAS?44:50 Laurel: Victor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning"51:45 Value of interest1:08:10 Corigliano's Percussion Concerto1:12:33 Vinko Globokar's "Toucher"1:16:30 Studying at UCSD and Steven Schick?1:22:13 Biking in AZ vs AK?

For anyone wondering about the day-to-day experiences of a public school teacher and administrator, this is the episode for you.  Dr. Alli Martin, vice-president at a middle school in Utah, speaks to some of the challenges facing teachers today that are not present in training.She recently finished a dissertation on the balance of inclusion of LGBTQ students (to prevent episodes of depression, anxiety, and suicide) with others who claim such actions are directly offensive to them, due to their own religious beliefs or preferences.  Alli is also Casey's older sister.Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00  Intro and hello3:20  Brandon Arvay: It appears as though student success is now outsourced completely to teachers. With parents putting the responsibility on teachers to teach student behavior management and problem solving and students mandating that teachers prove the educational value of school subjects, w

Joining us this week is Sherry Rubins, director of the percussion program at The University of Texas at San Antonio.  She is also Principal Percussionist of the San Antonio Opera and Principal Timpanist and Percussionist of the Mid Texas Symphony.  On top of this, she has also been a fitness instructor for many years.Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00  Intro and hello4:45  Your relationship to the orchestra jobs?6:25  As a Fitness Instructor8:35  PAS Health and Wellness Committee9:55  Parents as their kids' private music teachers12:00  Casey: Ms. Count Metronome App19:40  New push to promote more women and diversity in PAS33:20  Megan: New Music USA project awardees43:20  Mom, Professor, and Fitness Instructor. How?!48:40  Ben: Percussion works of Eric Ewazen55:30  Sherry on the orchestra gig1:00:10  Studio structures, budget1:03:40  How is the percus

Joining us this week is Corps and Programs Director for Santa Clara Vanguard, and owner of the NY-based company Gallant Entertainment: Shaun Gallant.  He's the youngest Program Director for SCV, and we're glad to release this episode just in time for DCI finals! Good luck to all!Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00  intro and hello2:00  Shaun's company, Gallant Entertainment7:55  The audition process?11:45  Still playing much?12:53  Corporate gigs are good! Corporate audience vs other16:44  Megan: Extravagant DCI uniforms20:56  The new Santa Clara Vangaurd uniforms?25:53  Special secret cotton shirt28:00  How did you become Corps Director the SCV?29:40  Casey: Streaming payout and tricking sites like Spotify49:53  Licensing in drum corps55:09  Any upcoming projects, Shaun? How has DCI membership changed?

Joining us this week are violist Molly Gebrian and pianist/percussionist Danny Holt.  They've just released their first album titled Trios for Two, which opens with a piece by our very own Casey Cangelosi.Danny has another piano/percussion project, commissioning and premiering solo works for the mixed instrumentation.Molly teaches at UW-Eau Claire, and has a background in neuroscience, which she incorporates into her teaching via practice strategies.  Check out her website for some free documents about it!Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00  intro and hello1:35  Molly's practice techniques list.8:05  Being in a long-distance duo?10:40  Danny's Piano Percussion project14:46  Practicality of Danny's projects?  Percussion logistics.28:50  Casey: What's the sound?    32:00  Trios for Two CD.  Picking the composers?  Recording.45:30  Megan: Per Norgard, Sun

Jason Ginter, faculty at the University of San Diego and renown timpanist. joins us for this episode.  He's been Principal Timpanist with several orchestras, and owns the company JGPercussion, which specializes in quality mallets and other percussion products.Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00  intro and hello3:40  JG Percussion?  7:00  Casey:  Newport Music Series fail15:05  Calculated Risks22:45  New products on the horizon?  New wood mallet.24:20  Connections and meeting our people.27:22  Your Dave Herbert series, and signature artists.34:09  Casey: What's the sound?42:57  How can you make the non-percussionists on a committee  "hear" the other parts of an excerpt?45:15  San Diago Percussion Festival?47:20  Megan: Wula Drum & Dance Retreat56:35  Balance business and playing?  "Pathologically busy"58:50  Favorite timpani part