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This week’s guest is like a rare gem; she is multifaceted and priceless! Alex Shapiro is an amazing composer, photographer, speaker, author, activist, naturalist, former python breeder, and member of the herpetological society. (Read that last part again.) This is the only music podcast that contains a “Snake Q & A Session.” Not only will you learn about what snakes eat, but you will also hear a splendid conversation regarding Alex’s Second Symphony, her compositional process, electric-acoustic music, her upbringing in New York, seeing whales from her window, and so much more! As a bonus, Chris is not on this episode.

Alex Shapiro's Website

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Finally.  A guest that delivers some honest and thoughtful feedback about improving the podcast.  One would think that our hosts would be able to operate a stopwatch, but apparently not.  This operates under the assumption that our hosts are interested in making improvements.  Or intelligent enough to make improvements to the podcast.

 What exactly does improvement mean?

Well, our guest this week has made lives of countless music teachers and students lives better as dean of the Ithaca College School of Music for 22 years.  The fee this guest imposed was quite steep, but we managed to talk him down by promising him grandchild time.  Actually, I think we agreed that he paid ten years of Phil’s college tuition to be on the podcast.

Art Ostrander (Phil’s Dad) attended Don Larsen’s world series perfect game on his birthday on October 8, 1956!  He had some pretty fun stories about Limerick, Ireland, too.

Most important, this guest is Phil’s hero.

 https://web2.ithaca.edu/icview/stories/3962/index.html

 https://www.ithaca.edu/icnews/vol19/19-07/hinote.htm

 https://books.google.com/books/about/Contemporary_Choral_Arranging.html?id=HNQ7AQAAIAAJ

Bill Bell & His Tuba Recording
Bach Mass In B Minor Recording
Holiday Road - Lindsey Buckingham Recording  

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Finally, an episode that has it all.  Phil finally has some articulate questions, but is ridiculed anyways.  Three Disney All-American College Band alumni at once.  Mystery corn sprouting from the fields of Lake Geneva. 

The wife/husband team of Beth and Steve Peterson have educated countless band students at both the University of Illinois and Ithaca College.  Beth has two books to prove the point!  Steve just has his experience as assistant to John Paynter at Northwestern University – no book there.  Both of these teachers have dedicated their lives to mentoring and championing great music making.  On this podcast, you’ll even get to hear how they met at NU, began dating and broke the news to John Paynter!

And of course, an underwhelming speed round courtesy of Chris.

 Stephen’s Bio

Beth’s Bio

Peterson Press

Beth’s Fabulous Books

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In today's episode, we chat with Wisconsin legend Glenn Hayes. Glenn is in his 37th year as Director of Bands at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. We had the opportunity to learn more about his start in music, current educational changes, influential mentors, his amazing family, what he does to unwind, and an unbelievable story regarding COVID and Carnegie Hall. Glenn's wit, humor, thoughtfulness, and passion shine through in this episode.

Links:
Glenn's "Why I Teach" video
More About Glenn Here
About Christine Hayes Here
About Lauren Hayes Here

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Commuters, the answers to your teaching and learning conundrums are in this episode.  Without a doubt our guest has more brain power that Peter, Phil and Chris combined.  Hear guest Molly Gebrian quickly debunk Chris’ myths about the brain in a tight 20 seconds.  Peter and Phil’s collective brains were always a myth anyways.  Molly Gebrian is professor of viola and chamber music at the University of Arizona, but is also an expert in neuroscience.  She answers questions about dolphins, practicing, myelin and children (of all ages).

https://www.mollygebrian.com/music-and-the-brain

Books Referenced:

• Neuroscience for Teachers by Churches
• How The Brain Learns by Sousa
• Of Sound Mind - Nina Kraus

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Just in time for Halloween, this episode is sure to both scare and surprise you. Have you ever wondered what it might be like to transition from a profession like music education to let’s say, the state patrol? Well, this week you get to find out as our guest is the one and only Tony Mazzone. Tony not only shares about his career and current gigs as a professional drummer, but also delves into the long history he shares with Chris having attended the same middle school, high school, and college. As an added bonus(?), the long lost footage of the 1994 ValleyFair Beach Band has been found and included below. Consider this perfect music to scare any visitors on Halloween!

Tony’s Band

1994 ValleyFair Beach Band

State Patrol Officer Mazzone School Visit

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This week we gather 'round for tales and insights from a musical maestro, Allen Vizzutti. A man who swam with sharks, danced through the weird and twisted world of professional music, and even dodged Hollywood's most eccentric moments. He's never been in prison or parachuted from a plane, but he's leapt headfirst into a life filled with melodies and harmonies that will leave you speechless.

The world-famous trumpet virtuoso shares insights on how his journey into the professional music world started, how to encourage creativity and direction in your students, and what it takes to maintain a career in music like no other. A soloist with the top jazz and classic ensembles in the world, this educator, composer, and performer brings humor, honesty, and humility to our show…things we usually struggle with.

So, commuter, buckle up for a podcast like no other. Join us in welcoming the one, the only, the extraordinary Allen Vizzutti!

Allen Vizzutti's Website

Wisconsin Arts Celebration Project

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This week, we find Phil BACK in the closet, Peter hiding in his Mother-in-law's bedroom, and Chris relegated to the kitchen where someone continued to make food throughout the podcast…what else would you expect? The only good news is we visited with the amazing, young, and award-winning composer Kelijah Dunton about non-traditional paths through music, passion projects, and compositional process. Every piece, even the first one, has been published, and his career is only getting started. We talk about mentorship, learning everyone else's part, jazz and hip-hop influences in his writing, his recent works about Nelson Mandela, his curiosity about the intersection of smell and sound, and his upcoming visit to Madison for the 2023 Wisconsin State Music Conference, Oct 25-28. Join us and take a moment to learn more about this deep-thinking, old soul of a composer!

Wisconsin State Music Conference Registration
Kelijah Dunton Website

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Coming soon - ComMission Possible 2025! (Hint…JJ)

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Our guest this week is the GOAT and he also has goats. Matt Tiller, instrumental music educator at Bloomer, joins us to talk about his goats named Johnnie and Otis. Ok, we cover more than just goats but you will be impressed by the amount of time we explore this topic. We eventually move on to talk about his journey that led him to Bloomer and what it is like teaching in a small, rural school. Chris and Matt share stories about their band director father’s Rick and Jerry. We also talk about Matt’s prowess as an athlete and how it helps him as an educator. Matt discusses the “Tillery” aspects of the band camp he organizes at Camp Manitou for his students. We reflect on Phil’s decision to take his first UWEC trombone ensemble (which included a high school-aged Matt Tiller) in vans across the country to perform at the International Trombone Festival. We also recall “The Lesson” story where Matt impersonated Phil. We wrap things up with another speed round that is not speedy but really good!

Matt Tiller in the news 

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Coming soon - ComMission Possible 2025! (Hint…JJ & JH)

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Is it possible to do this show with just one host? The answer is yes. Did it help to produce a better show. The answer is no. Why? For most of the episode it was just Chris. To be honest, our guest this week didn’t even need a host. He brought with him energy, wit, wisdom, and passion. Scott Lang is an entrepreneur, author, educator, and speaker. We discussed teacher burnout, glutes, Taylor Swift, passion versus pedagogy, rebound from COVID, aftershocks, “Music FUNdations”, and Shakespeare in Latin with costume changes. While all three hosts did eventually find their way to the podcast, it is evident that all it takes is one great guest to make it all work. 

Scott Lang Links:
Music FUNdations
Be Part Of The Music
Scott Lang Leadership (join his blog, get his books)

Music Credits
"Rolling Thunder" & "Bones, Trombone"- Fillmore, performed by Eastman Wind Ensemble conducted by Fredrick Fennell "Screamers" album.
Rocket audio from Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2"

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

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Coming soon - ComMission Possible 2025!!

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