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To quote Aldous Huxley, "Experience teaches only the teachable." Once we decide we know it all, we won't grow any further. In this episode, Mike Lunney encourages us all to remain teachable, to remain coachable. None of us have all the answers, but there are people who can help us if we let them. 

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Listen, no one wants to believe their child is the problem child, and most of the time they aren't, it was just a problem with the child. Then there are those parent meetings where you realize, "This makes much more sense now." Mike Lunney shares his thoughts on the best way to handle the parent(s) who just can't fathom the idea that their child would ever be at fault. 

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As the saying goes, "Some days are diamonds, and some days...well, aren't." Recorded live from a contest venue, Mike Lunney and Derrick Killam consider healthy ways to accept a contest rating, whether it's the best or not what you hoped for. Join the discussion as we Ask Mike, "Where do we go from here?"

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You're almost there, the target is in sight... so why are your kids slowing down? In this episode, Mike Lunney encourages educators to remember that when your group has been working hard for a few months toward your performance, there will be some tired moments of resistance. How do we motivate our group when they seem to be hitting a plateau? Great ideas to change up the rehearsals and reword the message to get your group motivated and back on the track to their best possible performance! 

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This episode welcomes friend Eric Baker! We discuss DCI, Trumpets Mic'd Up, and the great things going on at the University of Texas Permian Basin! Great episode to help get your high school musicians connected with a college or university, helping them to keep making the music they love!

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Again, discussing marching bands as we rush toward contest season at the speed of sound! Some call it "phasing," some call it "a tear in the tempo." Either way it can be frustrating to pinpoint the source and install the fix. You are in luck! Mike Lunney applies the laws of physics and geometry to help you fix this common problem. Sound complicated? Nah! It's as easy as lobbing tennis balls!

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This episode the guys consider the benefits of marching festivals. And discuss how to determine which festival is right for your group. They even ponder the question, how many festivals are enough? Are there enough? Listen to Mike Lunney educate Derrick Killam on all things festivals!

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Sometimes student teachers and/or first year younger teachers have a hard time navigating their relationships with students AND with those they are working with or for. Not the head director, not a student in the program. How can we help them get their best experiences and teach them great foundations for classroom management? Fortunately, Mike Lunney has been there! A great episode for the experienced teacher with a student teacher, and for the student teacher wanting to get the most from their time.

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In this episode of Ask Mike, Mr. Lunney revisits the concept of student leadership and pushes it further to consider the culture of an organization. Is this something that happens organically? Can we as music educators help shape this elusive and fickle aspect of music programs? Sure glad we can Ask Mike!

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Are we being efficient in our Marching Rehearsals? Do we even rehearse the things that need to be rehearsed? Listen to Mike Lunney share his best practices and how he eliminated time wasters and things that were stealing from his rehearsals.