Send us Fan Mail

Peter's back! However, that doesn't mean the quality of the show is any better. What does help is that Dr. Nat Dickey from Concordia College shares some time with us to talk about his background as an educator, musician, department chair, and low brass specialist. We chat about his start and journey in music, two of Phil's craziest performances, Harvard, the group "Post Traumatic Funk Syndrome", Victor Wooten, Cory Wong, the Cerebral Chair Cortex, Peter's new office dreams, salmon shirts with a special vocal performance of Rochut #4.

Click here to learn more about Nat
Want to find out more about the Beyond The Notes Festival or ComMission Possible Project? Click here to learn more.
Got a question or comment?  Submit it here.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Is it possible to do a show without Peter? The answer is "yes." In fact, not only is it possible it shaved off at least 10 minutes of pointless rambling.  Today's guest is the amazing Dr. Emily Threinen who is an Associate Professor of Music and serves as Director of Bands at the University of Minnesota School of Music in the Twin Cities. We talk about the influence the "The Little Mermaid" had on her musical career, walking into her first interview, the impact of the pandemic on high school and collegiate music programs, the shift in job security, commissions and more! It was a great interview but we indeed missed our dear friend who was taking care of his dad.
Learn more about Emily here
Thank you Disney for the clip of "The Little Mermaid" and Arturo Sandoval for the National Anthem (that was NOT Peter)
Skillet Mac-n-cheese and pulled pork picture (let me know if you want the recipe)

Want to ask us a question for find out more about the Beyond The Notes Festival or ComMission Possible Project? Click here to learn more. 

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

What does the intersection of math and music education look like? Meet Dr. Josh Hertel, Associate Professor of Math and Statistics at UW-LaCrosse. Josh is not only a great musician and mathematician but also responsible for two musicals and the creation of a board game convention! Our conversation covers stinger mutes, double stand racks, silos, trombone ensemble trip to Ithaca to stay with Phil's mom after hitting a skunk but prior to Phil proposing (now that's a story), ChatGPT, knowledge versus skill, and the unwritten musical about the "Longitudinal Prize".

Links:
Video about the Longitudinal Prize
Josh Hertel's Bio
Coulee Con (Board Game Convention & more)
Hirschman Chicago Stinger Mute
Link to Submit Question for Phil, Peter & Chris
BTN Website including ComMission Possible 2024 Project

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Talk about wearing many hats! Our guest today is the one and only, Patrick Sheridan. Many know him as a virtuoso tuba performer, former member of the President's Own United States Marine Band, and co-author of The Breathing Gym . Yet, in this episode we learn about the scope and variety of things the Patrick is involved in. We also take time to hear about his start as a musician and his lessons with legendary teachers such as Harvey Phillips, Philip Farkas (Uncle Phil), and Jerry Young (to name a few). Don't worry - we still find time to play a pointless game and to make fun of each other. 

• To read more about Patrick or to order his publications head to his website: https://patricksheridan.com/
• Thanks to the President's Own Marine Band for the Stars and Stripes "stinger"
• BASSically Brass Photo Ravenna, Ohio
• Patrick's Name Interlochen Tuba Hut
• Sailing Gone Wrong

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

It is universal. This week's guest is loved by all who are fortunate enough to know him. Dr. Jerry Young is a world-renown educator, mentor, musician, and human. His wit and humor more than made up for the lack of those two things by the hosts. We chatted about failed retirements, new projects, tuba quartets, The Ravenna Ohio Saga, his start in music, two key tips to help your tuba players, his questionable judgment in hiring both Phil and Peter and his new book with Dr. Scott Watson. We even play a game quizzing Jerry Young about Young M.C.

Click here to order a copy of the book mentioned A Practical Guide to Studio Teaching in Higher Education

Also! Arban Complete Method for Tuba trans. Jerry Young & Wesley Jacobs

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

This episode puts on full display how one educator team works seamlessly together for the benefit of learners while another team struggles to be in the same room. Music educators, Bradley Mariska and Erin Holmes, are the highly successful and brilliant team from Farmington High School joining us this week. We talk about failed introductions, shoes, pep band voice, Hamilton the class, sharing Margie (the hair stylist), a Gottwig in your repair kit, "I can't play that" story,  passion projects, music selection, radical trust and student agency, and the genesis of their fantastic podcast Band In Minnesota.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

We are now equal to the Star Wars Saga! (Well only in the number of episodes....) This week we welcome Schmitt Music's 2023 Educator of the Year, Eric Songer! Eric shares with us stories about a fire diving con man, coaching kindergarten and 1st graders in bowling, teaching modern band, "Rocket" magazine, limited memory capacity, joining Chicago, the School of Rock's influence, 17 hour work days, curling, the Valleyfair hole, RBIs, flute proficiency, kidney stones, Eric's new book, and a lot of talk about the 80s. 

To learn more about Eric and his amazing teaching check out his website: https://songerstudio.wordpress.com/ or follow him on Twitter @ericsonger

Many thanks to the following recordings used in this episode:
Girls Just Want to Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
E.T. the Extra-terrestial Soundgrack - John Williams
Tusk by Fleetwood Mac performed by USC Marching Band
School of Rock Movie starring Jack Black, Paramount Pictures 2003
El Siquisiri by Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlan
Material Girl by Madonna
Crazy for You by Madonna
Great Balls of Fire by Jerry Lee Lewis arr. Vinson

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

In this week's episode Allison finds out that Phil is making this podcast, some of Peter's students stop by to communicate their appreciation for his teaching, and a young composer named Paco Van Bernsteinsky (aka- Brian Balmages) hopes to finally launch his career. Our conversations will encompass Beethoven's daily routine, moving to Alfred, Kyiv 2022, Brian's father teaching his spouse, professional underwater basketweaving, Disney All-American Orchestra, accidents involving police cars, silent coyote, and wiggly fingers. 

• Learn more about Brian and his music here: https://www.brianbalmages.com/
• If you haven't seen this performance of "Love & Light" it is a MUST SEE: https://youtu.be/uZpGVgfJx7U
• Would you like to be involved in a commission with Brian (grade 2.5-3 work for band due Feb 1, 2024)? You CAN for only $125 and receive more than just the music! Check it out here: https://www.btnmusicfestival.com/commissionpossible.html
  
  

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

In this week's episode we reflect on Peter’s recent tour with the Concordia Band and Elliot Ostrander’s (Phil and Allison’s Son) review of one of the performances prior to introducing our esteemed guest, composer, music educator and amazing human, Andrew Boysen Jr. We talk about his start as a composer, his composition style and process, Myron Welch,  Nick Orovich, and Timothy Mahr. The conversation goes well until Phil shares a story about his brush with death at his first gig with the Portland Symphony in Maine.

Learn more about Andy's music here: https://www.andrewboysenjr.com/

"Iowa Fight Song" is performed by the University of Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band.
Northwestern Fight Song performed by the Northwestern University Marching Band.
Mahler 5 performed by Boston Symphony Orchestra, Seiji Ozawa

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Talk about the ultimate mashup! Talented composer and musician, Jocelyn Hagen, known for her amazing mashups (and much more) joins the ArtLess fellas for an intriguing discussion about Jocelyn's soon to premiere and SOLD OUT opera, The Song Poet.  Described as "The first Hmong story adapted for the operatic stage, St. Paul writer Kao Kalia Yang’s memoir The Song Poet comes to life in this world premiere. It tells the story of Yang’s family and her song poet father as war drives them from the mountains of Laos into a Thai refugee camp and ultimately on to the challenging world of life as a refugee. With his poetry, Kalia’s father inspires hope in his family, polishing their reality so that they might shine."

We also talk about Medusa, depth, The A Team, music artificial intelligence, lack of intelligence by the hosts, ComMission Possible, and our children.

The Song Poet
Jocelyn's Website
ComMission Possible 2024

Support the show