Everything Band Podcast

Former director of bands at Eastern Illinois University and current CEO and founder of the non-profit Music Guerrilla, Milt Allen joins me to speak about his own career and his views of music education and the band world. Topics: The problem of elitism in music and the need to eliminate placing value judgments on different genres of music. A discussion of the value of self-publishing versus commercial publishing for composers. Milt’s background growing up in Salina, Kansas and the lessons that he learned as a young musician including the importance of having a mentor. Why being vulnerable is unavoidable for all musicians. Quality is attracted to quality and raising the level and expectations of the music making as they key to building a program. "Unless you have the heart of a child and the soul of a musician you should never be in front of students." Suggestions for improving music teacher training in music education programs. Why conducting is the most important rehearsal tool that every band director has