Everything Band Podcast

Eric Jimenez is a co-host of The Score podcast and assistant band director at Prairie View A&M University. He joins the show for an exceptional conversation about his career, being a Latino band director, and ways that we can create more culturally responsive classrooms. Topics: The score podcast and the story of Eric’s music journey, including the story of being a student at Prairie View A & M, the HBCU traditions, and his early career as a band director. Band director turnover in Title 1 schools and some advice for teachers. Eric’s decision to leave high school teaching to pursue his doctorate and the story of how he ended up back at Prairie View A&M. The lack of representation of Latinx composers and band directors in the band community. Culturally responsive teaching, avoiding appropriation, and teaching music authentically. Links: Eric Jimenez The Score Podcast: An Urban Music Education Podcast Fitzpatrick-Harnish: Urban Music Education: A Practical Guide for Teachers Huapango, arr. A. Ra

Theresa Hoover Ducassoux is the band director at Dorothy Hamm Middle School in Arlington, Virginia and co-author of a forthcoming book titled Pass the Baton: Empowering All Music Students Topics: Theresa tells the story of how she turned her piano skills into an instrumental music education track despite not playing a traditional band instrument. Following in the footsteps of a legend for her first job and the trials and tribulations of that experience. Using Solfege to teach students sound to sight and a timely discussion about technology for band directors in anticipation of at least partial remote learning for next year. Building relationships with students in an online environment. Empowering students and Theresa’s new book Pass the Baton: Empowering All Music Students Links: Theresa Hoover Ducassoux/Off the Beaten Path Cole: 32 Chorales for Band Pass the Baton Tacet for Teachers Reed: La Fiesta Mexicana Biography: Theresa Hoover Ducassoux is a music educator, speaker, and writer. She is an advocate f

Justin McClean is a band director in Houston, Texas and co-host of the “The Score”, which is an urban music education podcast. He joins the show for a very remarkable conversation about how we build a better band community. Topics: Justin’s background story growing up in Texas and the role of the church in his background and why the church is so relevant to so many African-American musicians. Making connections to kids with the music that they listen to and some lessons that Justin took from his own high school band director. Justin’s thoughts about attending an HBCU (Historically Black College or University) and the important role that HBCU’s play in the music education community. A broad discussion about race in music and the band community and what we can do as band directors to communicate better and build a more inclusive profession. Links: The Score: An Urban Music Education Podcast Ijeoma Olua: So You Want to Talk about Race? Holsinger: A Childhood Hymn Biography: Justin McLean is currently the Pe

Major Joseph Hansen is the commander and conductor of the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West based at Travis Air Force Base in Northern California. Topics: Joseph’s early career growing up in Western Colorado and attending Brigham Young University. His early career as a teacher and the story of how he transitioned from teaching in Colorado Springs to joining the Air Force. A broad discussion of the Air Force Bands including careers in the Air Force, the organization the Air Force bands, and the overall mission of the units. Joseph’s career in the Air Force and a brief rundown of his assignments and deployments. Some of the resources provided by the Air Force Bands that are available to music educators. Links: Air Force Band of the Golden West Brahms: Symphony No. 3 Schuman: New England Triptych: Chester Williams: E.T. the Extraterrestrial Soundtrack Miller: In the Mood Biography: Major Joseph S. Hansen serves as the Commander and Conductor of the United States Air Force Band of the Golden We

Cheryl Floyd has taught middle school band in Austin, TX for over 30 years and is one of the most highly regarded middle school band directors in the country. She is the recipient of numerous awards and honors and has commissioned or been part of the consortium for 14 works for band. Topics: Cheryl's background growing up in Texas, going to Baylor University and starting her career as a teacher. The importance of encouraging students and giving them the type of positive feedback that keeps them playing. The background stories of a few of the 14 works that she has been a part of commissioning. Peer leadership in the middle school band. Teaching in Texas and the power of sound to sight teaching. A general discussion about teaching beginners and middle school band. An anecdote about George Steinbrenner. Links: Cheryl Floyd at Music for All 204 Progressive Sight Reading Tunes Bernstein: Suite from "Candide" Mozart: Serenade for 13 Winds in B-flat major, K. 361 "Gran Partita" Biography: Cheryl Floyd completed

Richard Floyd has been involved in music education for 58 years. His accolades and achievements are too numerous to list and he is a legendary name not only in Texas, but throughout the entire band community. Topics: Richard’s background growing up in the Dallas area, his early band experiences, marching in Eisenhower’s inauguration, and how he got involved in music education. Thoughts about building connections and growing during your career. The Texas band tradition and the University Interscholastic League (UIL). Links: Richard Floyd at Music for All University Interscholastic League Sousa: Daughters of Texas Austin Symphonic Band Mozart: Serenade for 13 Winds in B-flat major, K. 361 "Gran Partita" Dahl: Sinfonietta Biography: Richard Floyd is presently in his 57th year of active involvement as a conductor, music educator and administrator. He has enjoyed a distinguished and highly successful career at virtually every level of wind band performance from beginning band programs through high school and u

Andrew David Perkins is a band director and composer. He joins the show and offers a very clear-eyed view of our profession and offers some wisdom and advice earned from his own career. Topics: Andy’s background, his early high school teaching experiences and how being in Phantom Regiment and the Michigan State Marching Band helped to shape his success teaching a marching band. The balance between over programming and under programming and how it can set students up for success or failure. Moving from teaching high school to middle school and the experience of having your 18th year as a teacher be your first to teach beginners. Andy’s growing composition career, how he got his start writing music, and music publishing models. Links: Andrew David Perkins Grainger: Children’s March Respighi: Pines of Rome Williams: ET Bicycle Race Biography: Composer, conductor, three-time ASCAP+ Award recipient, and GRAMMY® nominated music educator Andrew David Perkins (b.1978) holds a specialist certificate in Orchestrati

Robert Ambrose is the director of bands at Georgia State University, the conductor of the Atlanta Chamber Winds and the National Chamber Winds, founder of the Digital Director's Lounge, and is the chair of the CBDNA Covid-19 Response Committee. Topics: Robert’s journey from guitarist to college band director and all of the people who took an interest in his career and helped to push him along. Having the courage to ask for what you want and a brief discussion of impostor syndrome. The band program at Georgia State, the Atlanta Chamber Winds, and the National Chamber Winds. The CBDNA Covid-19 Response Committee and the Digital Director’s Lounge. Links: Robert Ambrose CBDNA Covid-19 Committee Report Atlanta Chamber Winds National Chamber Winds Mozart: Serenade for 13 Winds in B-flat major, K. 361 "Gran Partita" Maslanka: Symphony no. 4 Biography:  Conductor Robert J. Ambrose is a versatile musician who pursues a wide range of professional activities. Ambrose currently serves as Director of Bands at Georgia

Aaron Perrine is a composer and two-time winner of the American Bandmasters Association Sousa/Ostwald Award. He joins the show to talk about his career and shares some remarkable anecdotes from his journey so far. Topics: Aaron’s daughter and keeping kids motivated during the period of online learning. Aaron’s background in music and growing up in Minnesota as the grandson and son of band directors. Aaron’s experiences at the University of Minnesota Morris and the importance of jazz in his musical development. A brave decision by a studio teacher that helped Aaron be successful in his music degree an also helped to kick off his composition career. Aaron’s decision to leave college teaching to become a full-time composer and advice for anyone thinking about starting to write music. Links: Aaron Perrine Schneider: Winter Morning Walks Bon Iver: 22, A Million Brahms: Intermezzo in A, Op. 118, no. 2 Colgrass: Winds of Nagual Maslanka: A Child's Garden of Dreams Perrine: Only Light Biography: With works in

Oscar Dames is a music educator in Nassau, Bahamas where he serves as a lecturer at the University of the Bahamas after recently retiring as the band director of C.R. Walker Senior High School. He has a fascinating story and is also the author of book titled Oscar's A+ Band Director Guide: A Veteran Band Teacher's Guide to Teaching Music. Topics: The unique logistical challenges of living and teaching in the Bahamas and the nature of the school situation in the islands. Oscar’s background growing up and how he started on percussion, switched to clarinet, joined the Defense Force band, and eventually got his degree in music and began teaching. The story of how Oscar built a terrific music program at C.R. Walker Senior High School, including the a marching band to serve the Bahamian culture. Oscar has done it all as a band director, arranger, performer, instrument repairman, etc. and he’s written a book about it! Links: Oscar Dames Oscar's A+ Band Director Guide: A Veteran Band Teacher's Guide to Teaching M

Travis Cross is the director of the wind ensemble and the Chair of Music at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. He is a champion for greater diversity in the band community and an especially strong advocate for Asian composers, conductors, and teachers. Topics: Adopted from Korea as a baby, Travis grew up in a middle class home in the middle of Iowa. He tells the story of how his choir teacher pushed him to take a trip to see Starlight Express in Des Moines and how it changed his life. How he ended up at St. Olaf for his undergraduate degree, his first job, his doctorate, and his two college jobs all in one big answer! Banding in the great state of Iowa and how our success is often built with others and why we should be grateful for that support. Representation and diversity in music. Studying at Northwestern with Mallory Thompson and two important bits of advice he received from her. “Move in a way that coaches, influences, and instigates the players to move the air and their fingers and their bodies in a

Adrian Barnes is a music education professor at Rowan University. He joins the show for a discussion about his career and culturally responsive teaching. Topics: How hip hop and growing up playing music in the church were foundational experiences to Adrian’s musical career and how an important teacher helped him put it all together. Adrian’s experiences at Bethune-Cookman and Florida State University before his first job in Manatee County, Florida. Going back to earn his doctorate at Texas Tech University with a Promise Neighborhood Grant. Culturally responsive teaching and and advice for teachers to help reach students from a variety of different backgrounds. Links: Adrian Barnes Bethune-Cookman University Music Florida State University Promise Neighborhood Grants Dvořák: Symphony No 9 in E minor "From The New World" Biography: Adrian D. Barnes began his teaching career in a Title I school in Bradenton, Florida (grades 6-8) as a band and orchestra director. While in Florida, he served as an assistant di

Julie Giroux joins the show to talk about her remarkable career as a composer and orchestrator as well as her generosity, love of video games, and diversity in music.  Topics: Julie’s background growing up in Louisiana and how she went from playing the piano by ear to Los Angeles orchestrating for one of the biggest mini-series of the 1980’s just days after her graduation from LSU. Some stories and anecdotes from her time writing for film and television, including the why she stopped playing her French horn. The importance of orchestration and how it is the most crucial learned skill for composers. Julie’s love of role-playing video games and how they help her be creative, the video game industry, and what games we’re playing right now during the pandemic. Julie’s generosity and how the person that is doing the giving benefits the most. Julie gives me a composition tip that I really needed to hear and just when I think the interview is over we end up talking for 20 more minutes about women and diversity in m

Craig Kirchhoff is emeritus professor of conducting at the University of Minnesota. He joins the show to offer advice about conducting and teaching, and to discuss a career that included working with Frederick Fennell and the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra. Topics: Craig’s lakefront cabin on the Canadian border and the legacy of Jim Croft. Craig’s background and training growing up in Milwaukee, some early teachers that influenced his career, and his first teaching jobs. Thoughts about teacher preparation and what young teachers need to be successful. Meeting Frederick Fennell, some thoughts about the great conductor, and how that changed the course of Craig’s career. Working with the Tokyo Kosei Wind Ensemble. Conducting skills and advice for young band directors who want to become better at their craft as conductors. The 80/20 rule. Links: Craig Kirchhoff Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra Mozart: Serenade No. 10 "Gran Partita" Holst: First Suite in E-flat Schwantner: Sparrows Biography: Craig Kirchhoff is professo

Colonel Jason K. Fettig is the 28th Director of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. In this episode we discuss his career, the Marine Band, and even talk performance practice for Sousa marches. Topics: Jason’s background growing up as a clarinet player and what are some of the important early lessons he learned. The audition process for the Marine Band and the story of how he almost didn’t go to the audition and how he was able to finish up his student teaching after winning that gig. Jason’s rise through the ranks of the Marine Band and some thoughts about leadership. An interesting bit of history about the instrumentation of the band and some not to be missed stories and anecdotes from Jason’s time as Director the Marine Band. Performance practice and Sousa marches and yes, it is okay to slow down right before the final strain! Links: Colonel Jason Fettig “The President’s Own” Marine Band The Complete Marches of John Philip Sousa Mozart: Serenade for 13 Winds in B-flat major, K. 361 "Gran P

Randall Coleman is the Associate Director of Bands at the University of Alabama and the director of the exceptional Alabama Winds. Topics: Randall’s background growing up just north of Birmingham, Alabama and his journey back to the University of Alabama. The impact of that the football success of Nick Saban has had on the music program and Alabama’s Million Dollar Band. The Alabama Winds and the their stunning performance at the 2017 Midwest Clinic. Good advice about communication with administrators, owning one’s mistakes, and encouragement for young band directors. Links: Randall Coleman University of Alabama "Million Dollar Band" Alabama Winds Grant: Best of Rooms Giroux: In My Father's Eyes Biography: Randall Coleman is currently the associate director of bands and associate professor of music at The University of Alabama, where he serves as the conductor of the Alabama Symphonic Band, the Associate Conductor of the Alabama Wind Ensemble, and the co-director of the Million Dollar Band. He also teache

Mickey Smith Jr. is as inspirational a music educator as you will ever meet. He is a middle school band director in Louisiana and the most recent recipient of the Grammy Music Educator Award. Topics: Growing up in a “forgotten town” in Louisiana and how he started out practicing his saxophone outside in the forest and how it took him out of that town and into a career. “You can con a con, fool a fool, but you can never kid a kid” - A conversation on perspective. “First Days, Lasting Ways” and the “GPS for Success” - Mickey’s plan for the first days of school. A conversation about teaching our own children music and how to make sure that we deposit more than we withdraw when working with our students. Be a S.O.U.N.D. adult = See yourself beyond yourself, Operate with optimism and excellence, Utilize all available resources, Nourish relationships, and Don’t stop. Links: Mickey Smith Jr. Grammy Music Educator Award Wong & Wong: First Days of School Balmages: Moscow 1941 Biography: The name Mickey Smith,

Anthony Mazzaferro was the band director at Fullerton College for 29 years. He joins the show to talk about his current career and his current gig at the Orange County School of the Arts. Topics: Anthony’s background and the story of how he ended up with a Navy surplus tuba and a career was born. Studying conducting with John Paynter at Northwestern and some tips for score study. Earning his doctorate at Arizona State University and studying tuba with Dan Perantoni and conducting with Richard Strange. Teaching elementary music in Palo Alto, California and the move to Southern California to teach at Fullerton College. Links: Orange County School of the Arts Bennett: Symphonic Songs for Band LoPresti: Elegy for a Young American Reed: Armenian Dances Biography: Dr. Anthony Mazzaferro was born and raised in San Francisco. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from San Francisco State University. During his undergraduate years, he served as the Principal Tubist in the Symphonic Band and Symphony Orchestra.

David Biedenbender is an Assistant Professor of Composition at Michigan State and a member of the Blue Dot Collective. He joins the show to talk about his music and share his thoughts about composing for band. Topics: David’s background growing up in Michigan and learning music by watching his mother play organ, and how a high school band director gave him his first big break that led to him studying music. Studying at Central Michigan University and how he didn’t write a single band piece while studying with David Gillingham The story of how he wrote Melodius Thunk and bringing in popular elements such as jazz and rock and roll into the concert band medium. Influences on his compositional style, a conversation about development in band music, and why he self-publishes his music and distributes it through Murphy Music Press. Links: David Biedenbender Murphy Music Press Biedenbender: Melodious Thunk Beidenbender: Cyclotron Abide With Me Biography: David Biedenbender (b. 1984, Waukesha, Wisconsin) is a comp

Damien Crutcher is the founder of Crescendo Detroit and the conductor of the Farmington Community Band, Civic Concert Band, and the Detroit Community Concert Band. He joins the show to share the stories of the remarkable people in his life and the decisions to help make his home city of Detroit an even better better musical place. Topics: Damien’s early story growing up in Detroit including going to the legendary Cass Technical High School and meeting a horn teacher that changed the course of his career. The story of why Damien decided to become a music teacher and how he ended up at Michigan State for his undergraduate. How an act of kindness from a graduate student at Michigan State helped Damien become a better conductor. Studying with H. Robert Reynolds at the University of Michigan and the lessons that he learned. How the decisions to not pursue a doctorate and to leave his high school job ultimately found the remarkable Crescendo Detroit. Damien’s ensembles. Links: Damien Crutcher Crescendo Detroit F