BandWagon

BandWagon

By Robert G. HammertonArtsMusicPerforming Arts
Download on the App Store

BandWagon episodes

  • Episode 6: "No Kidding"

    Episode 006 • April 1, 2024

     

     

    FIRST STRAIN

     

    News ‘n’ Notes:

     

    • Sousa’s March Mania – we have a winner!

     

    https://www.marineband.marines.mil/Educational/Sousas-March-Mania/

     

     

    SECOND STRAIN

     

    Topic: The 10th anniversary of the miracle 2013 Iron Bowl finish – and a tale of keeping your head

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgQjW4B_5c8

     

     

    TRIO

     

    This week’s interview guest: MIKE NICHOLSON

     

    https://www.gardner-ma.gov/427/Mayors-Office

    https://www.youtube.com/@CityofGardnerMassachusetts/videos

     

     

    DOGFIGHT

     

    https://www.nashobavalleyconcertband.org/join

     

     

    FOLLOW US!

     

    BandWagon RSS feed: feed.podbean.com/heyband/feed.xml

    BandWagon website: heyband.podbean.com

    BandWagon on Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555170345309

    Rob ("HammertonMedia") on Facebook: facebook.com/HammertonMedia

    Rob on X/Twitter: twitter.com/DrRob8487

     

    SUBSCRIBE TO BANDWAGON!

     

    https://www.podbean.com/site/podcatcher/index/blog/eg706GUVzixV

     

    SEND US YOUR FEEDBACK!

     

    Voicemail: speakpipe.com/HeyBandWagon

    59 min
  • Episode 5: "Circling Back"

    Episode 005 • March 25, 2024

     

     

    FIRST STRAIN

     

    News ‘n’ Notes:

     

    • Penn State gift:

     

     

     

    SECOND STRAIN

     

    Topic: What’s in a Name? The link between Star Trek and band.

     

     

    TRIO

     

    This week’s interview guest: BETH AYN CURTIS

     

     

     

    Episode artwork photo credit: Eric Berlin

     

     

     

     

    DOGFIGHT

     

    Topic: So much UMass, so much George Parks:

     

    About George N. Parks:

     

    About the UMass Minuteman Marching Band:

     

    UMass Band Alumni:

     

    About the George N. Parks Drum Major Academy:

     

     

    CODA

     

    April Fool’s Day CTA: tell us your favorite humorous band story!

     

     

    FOLLOW US!

     

    BandWagon RSS feed: feed.podbean.com/heyband/feed.xml

    BandWagon website: heyband.podbean.com

    BandWagon on Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555170345309

    Rob ("HammertonMedia") on Facebook: facebook.com/HammertonMedia

    Rob on X/Twitter: twitter.com/DrRob8487

     

    SUBSCRIBE TO BANDWAGON!

     

    https://www.podbean.com/site/podcatcher/index/blog/eg706GUVzixV

     

    SEND US YOUR FEEDBACK!

     

    Voicemail: speakpipe.com/HeyBandWagon

    50 min
  • Episode 4: "Making the Best of a Good Situation"

    Episode 004 • March 18, 2024 • “Making the Best of a Good Situation”

     

    FIRST STRAIN: News ‘n’ Notes

    • Alumni of The Sonic Boom of the South tours with Drake and J. Cole

    https://www.blackenterprise.com/jsu-sonic-boom-alumni-band-touring-with-drake-and-j-cole/

    https://www.jsumsnews.com/its-all-a-blur-jsu-sonic-boom-of-the-south-alumni-band-touring-with-rap-icon-drake/

    https://sites.jsums.edu/sonicboom/

     

    • The UConn Pep Band launches a Pep Band Showcase

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/5472488222?multi_permalinks=10161723613293223

     

    SECOND STRAIN: Donnie Jenness, 15 years later

    A remembrance from my ancient blog, of color guard designer/instructor Donnie Jenness. He led indoor guards up and down the eastern seaboard, and was the guard instructor at Temple University and the University of Delaware. He was “tough love” personified. He passed away on March 21, 2009, at the age of 46 – fifteen years ago, this Friday.

    https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/southofboston-enterprise/name/donald-jenness-obituary?id=24323281

     

    TRIO: Interview with JAMES SHETLER

    • https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmsshetler/

    • https://sites.google.com/view/jsvoiceover/home

    • https://www.youtube.com/@jamesshetler8150

    • linktree?

     

    DOGFIGHT: Internet Rabbit Hole of the Week: United States Marine Band’s Digital Rehearsal Hall

    A video playlist on The Marine Band’s YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2cXE2sU3q4&list=PLA7no0L9zTk6QWWAcyD3CG2MT-VruU7lX

     

    CODA

    Our first vox-populi response to an audience call-to-action question: what got you into, and kept you in, band? Starring a voice that some podcast listeners may recognize.

     

    FOLLOW US!

    BandWagon RSS feed: feed.podbean.com/heyband/feed.xml

    BandWagon website: heyband.podbean.com

    BandWagon on Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555170345309

    Rob ("HammertonMedia") on Facebook: facebook.com/HammertonMedia

    Rob on X/Twitter: twitter.com/DrRob8487

     

    SUBSCRIBE TO BANDWAGON!

    https://www.podbean.com/site/podcatcher/index/blog/eg706GUVzixV

     

    SEND US YOUR FEEDBACK!

    Voicemail: speakpipe.com/HeyBandWagon

    52 min
  • Episode 3: "Enjoy (Band) Life"

    Episode 003 • March 11, 2024 • “Enjoy (Band) Life”

     

    FIRST STRAIN: News ‘n’ Notes

    • West Virginia University band practice facility controversy:

    https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/wvu-marching-band-alumni-disappointed-over-universitys-new-plan-build-practice-field-off-campus/6P2VERYPGNB4HGFTFXSOTDCJ6E/

    https://www.wboy.com/news/monongalia/west-virginia-university/wvu-addresses-transportation-community-use-concerns-regarding-new-band-facility/

    https://bands.wvu.edu/ensembles/mountaineer-marching-band/pride-practice-facility/pride-practice-facility-faq?

    https://www.wvuf.org/news-publications/news/2019/11/11/wvu-seeks-to-build-pride-of-west-virginia-practice-facility

    https://arts.wvu.edu/news/2023/10/24/ppff-deans-letter

     

    SECOND STRAIN: a Twitter tweet about studying literature and the arts, and STEM, and community bands

     

    TRIO: Interview with EVREN GUNDUZ, CEO and co-founder of Enjoy Life Education, Inc.

     

    Evren on LinkedIn:

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/evrengunduz/

     

    Enjoy Life Education, Inc.:

    https://www.enjoylifeeducation.org/

     

    UMass Marching Band performing “Madonna Medley”:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivJn3oJVKs0&pp=ygUkdW1hc3MgbWFyY2hpbmcgYmFuZCBtYWRvbm5hIG1pY2hpZ2Fu

     

    DOGFIGHT: A new Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Delaware

     

     

    CODA

     

     

    FOLLOW US!

    BandWagon RSS feed: feed.podbean.com/heyband/feed.xml

    BandWagon website: heyband.podbean.com

    BandWagon on Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555170345309

    Rob ("HammertonMedia") on Facebook: facebook.com/HammertonMedia

    Rob on X/Twitter: twitter.com/DrRob8487

     

    SUBSCRIBE TO BANDWAGON!

    https://www.podbean.com/site/podcatcher/index/blog/eg706GUVzixV

     

    SEND US YOUR FEEDBACK!

    Voicemail: speakpipe.com/HeyBandWagon

    51 min
  • Episode 2: "Culture Before Technique"

    Episode 002 • March 4, 2024 • “Culture Before Technique”

     

    FIRST STRAIN: News ‘n’ Notes

    • Ralph Yarl makes Missouri All-State Band a year after being mistaken for an intruder and shot:

    https://abcnews.go.com/US/ralph-yarl-named-missouri-state-band-months-after/story?id=106232534

    • University of Arizona marching band wins 2023 Sudler Trophy:

    https://news.arizona.edu/story/pride-arizona-marching-band-wins-prestigious-sudler-trophy

    https://sousafoundation.net/sub_menu_items/1

     

    SECOND STRAIN: Do What You Love: A Lesson About Band from a Journalism Professor

    Howard M. Ziff:

    https://rhammerton1.wordpress.com/2012/04/11/gotta-love-it/

    http://www.gazettenet.com/2012/04/11/venerated-journalist-professor-ziff-dies

     

    TRIO: interview with Zoe Stinson

    She’s a music teacher, she’s a researcher, she’s a salsa band baritone saxophonist! … and if you’ve been in western Massachusetts in the last several years, you also may have seen her, possibly on the podium in front of some outfit called the Minuteman Marching Band, or behind the wheel of a Pioneer Valley Transit Authority bus. Renaissance person? Or just casting her net really wide?

     

    A chat about a beginner-band teaching strategy which Ms. Stinson piloted at her East Windsor (Connecticut) teaching gig, which she calls “Culture Before Technique”.

     

    STINSON BIO:

    Zoe Stinson is a music educator and instrumentalist originally from the Capitol Region of New York, and currently teaches grade 5-8 Band, Chorus, and General Music at East Windsor (CT) Middle School. Zoe grew up studying saxophone, cello, and voice, but always gravitated towards saxophone. In 2016, Zoe was selected to perform at NYSSMA Conference All-State, and to perform in the International Performance Series at Carnegie Hall. Zoe furthered her saxophone studies at Eastman, Crane, Hartt, and University of Oklahoma summer programs throughout high school and college, and has performed in masterclasses for virtuosos such as Arno Bornkamp, Chien-Kwan Lin, and Christopher Creviston.

    In 2017, Zoe attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst for Saxophone Performance. While she studied at UMass, Zoe was heavily involved in numerous activities as a student musician. Zoe was initiated into Tau Beta Sigma, National Honorary Sorority for Collegiate Bands, and has since become a life member. Zoe performed in the University Wind Ensemble, Symphony Band, University Choral, Chapel Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble I, Marimba Bands, and the University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band, for which she served as a Drum Major for two seasons.

    Aside from larger ensembles, Zoe was also associated with several notable chamber ensembles including the 4/4ths Saxophone Quartet, and the Rebel Saxophone Quartet, which traveled to Virginia for the Navy Band Saxophone Symposium in 2019 with their tour program.

    As a soloist, Zoe has performed multiple solo recitals and been invited as a guest performer at many others. Her most recent recital, “A Showcase of the Baritone Saxophone”, was performed entirely on the baritone saxophone in effort to legitimize the instrument in the classical medium. Zoe was also a concerto competition winner at UMass in Spring 2020 performing Rhapsody by Andre Waignein on the alto saxophone.

    Zoe has recently begun her professional career as a music educator, and is a member of the Gordon Institute for Music Learning. Specializing in instrumental instruction, Zoe applies Music Learning Theory in her classroom with a focus on ear training.

    Outside of the classroom, Zoe still enjoys playing her cello to this day, and plays baritone saxophone with recreational ensembles such as the “Salsa Train” salsa band in Springfield, and “The Onlys,” her fusion rock trio in New York. On the weekends, she occasionally likes to hop into the driver seat and drive for PVTA in Amherst, MA.

    (text courtesy The Valley Winds website: valley-winds.org/ensemble-member/zoe-stinson/)

     

    DOGFIGHT: Internet Rabbit Hole of the Week: Balkan Paradise Orchestra

    Their website: https://bpo.cat/en/biography/

    Your gateway to their performances: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5b5KzDHUSY

     

    FOLLOW US!

    BandWagon RSS feed: feed.podbean.com/heyband/feed.xml

    BandWagon website: heyband.podbean.com

    BandWagon on Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555170345309

    Rob ("HammertonMedia") on Facebook: facebook.com/HammertonMedia

    Rob on X/Twitter: twitter.com/DrRob8487

     

    SUBSCRIBE TO BANDWAGON!

    https://www.podbean.com/site/podcatcher/index/blog/eg706GUVzixV

     

    SEND US YOUR FEEDBACK!

    Voicemail: speakpipe.com/HeyBandWagon

    54 min
  • Episode 1: "Every Podcast Has An Origin Story"

     

    Episode 001 • March 4, 2024 • “Every Podcast Has An Origin Story”

    INTRODUCTION

    Wondering how to start a podcast?  Rob is, even as the trailer and first two episodes of his podcast drop.  The difference is, he's got help.
     After listening to this episode, you’ll have some insight into why this podcast is off and running ... and you'll laugh.  A lot.  So why wait?  Press play and let’s get started!

    FIRST STRAIN: what's this podcast about?

    There are a few podcasts out there that get into the wind band subject.  But the majority of them are focused on the music education side of things.  What I didn’t find were podcasts that seemed meant for the larger audience: anybody who ever did band.
    Out in the big world where not everybody “gets” band, it can be a tougher environment in which to outwardly revel in our band geek-ness.  So one important goal for this program will be to build community through band – to be a resource *and a refuge* for band geeks!
    I’m looking forward to having conversations with people who know about topics that either you wondered about, or you never really thought about before, but which are part of the Band Thing.  Such as: band conducting; band directing; community bands; band arranging and composition; the college drum major experience; marching percussion; color guard instruction and design; adjudication; drum corps; young music educators; band director burnout; band alumni organization; service groups like Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma; pipe bands; mummers bands; student leadership; writing and blogging about band; videography; as well as conversations which will be unique and defy categorization.
    But we'll also focus on the “extra-musical” elements of the band experience.  Because great heavens, there are stories.
    So.  A resource, and a refuge.  For all of us who inhabit this particular corner of the world, who share this particular curious interest.

    SECOND STRAIN: Who is this Hammerton fellow?

    Why does Rob think he’s qualified to run a band podcast?  Right: I very often have that nagging feeling ... while I’ve spent the majority of my life and certainly my entire adult life IN BAND, I still feel like I don’t know as much as I want to know.  This podcast is my opportunity to pick the brains of band people who know more about band than I do, so we can get better informed about this activity we love so much.

    TRIO: Glen Adsit obituary

    Glen Adsit, director of bands at the University of Hartford’s Hartt School of Music, died suddenly, back in January.  An appreciation, and a remembrance of my meeting with him at last summer’s New England Band Directors Institute (NEBDI), organized by the New Hampshire Band Directors Association (NHBDA).
    https://www.glenadsit.com/
    https://www.hartford.edu/directory/hartt/adsit-glen.aspx

    DOGFIGHT: Internet Rabbit Hole of the Week: the Bands of His Majesty’s Royal Marines

    The analogous organization to the bands of the US Marine Corps ... but with differences!
    Their website: https://www.royalmarinesbands.co.uk/
    Your gateway to their performances: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYJEr-MUBV0

    CODA

    Like the pilot episode of any TV show, I'm finding my way here.  I’m excited to talk to more wise people about their areas of expertise, AND to talk to YOU about YOUR band experience.  Again, what is band but a community of like-minded friends?

    FOLLOW US!

    BandWagon RSS feed: feed.podbean.com/heyband/feed.xml
    BandWagon website: heyband.podbean.com
    BandWagon on Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555170345309
    Rob ("HammertonMedia") on Facebook: facebook.com/HammertonMedia
    Rob on X/Twitter: twitter.com/DrRob8487

    SUBSCRIBE TO BANDWAGON!

    https://www.podbean.com/site/podcatcher/index/blog/eg706GUVzixV

    SEND US YOUR FEEDBACK!

    Voicemail: speakpipe.com/HeyBandWagon

    21 min
  • BandWagon Trailer

    Hey band!

    That means people involved with marching bands, concert bands, wind ensembles … school bands, community bands, service bands … People who enjoy band music. People who enjoy band life.

    Being a person who “gets” band can be a challenge in a world full of people who don’t.

    We have to support each other. We have to create our own little BANDWAGON.

    That's this podcast.  A resource and a refuge for band geeks.

    2 min

About BandWagon

From the publisher's feed

What makes BANDWAGON different from other band-related podcasts?