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This week’s guest is our dear friend Dr. John Stewart, Director of Bands at UW-Eau Claire. It is only fitting that the person missing from this discussion is his colleague, Phil Ostrander. The result? One of our best episodes brimming with rich, deep, meaningful conversation. 

Learn about John’s approach to repertoire, the archival project he is working on, Frank Ticheli coming to UWEC, life-work balance, and more. John will go down in history as the only guest to successful enter the podcast without it crashing. This podcast also represents Phil's most significant contribution yet.

Learn more about John Stewart here

Learn more about the UWEC Bands and upcoming events here.

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

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Finally. The episode that everyone has been waiting for. Poor young adult Christmas Tree decisions, narrating tuba duets with rutabaga filled sousaphones, green jello, mouth clapping and more.

There are no preludes or postludes, just pure music teaching mastery and comedic genius. When you are a middle schooler at heart, it’s not really teaching, it’s just spending time with people who have the same sense of humor you do.

The man (and family) with ENORMOUS heart and capacity to help our most treasured resource– children. He knows how to play a wicked jazz trombone solo and also can swing like crazy behind a drumset. He’s the fabulous, brilliant, one of a kind Adam Bever. Lucky us to spend the next hour with him!

Links:
Bever In The News

Adam Bever is band director at Rice Lake Middle School in Wisconsin. He taught previously at Unity High School. He has performed with many professional acts including the Glen Miller Orchestra and the Temptations.

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

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One of the world's brilliant young composers, Viet Cuong stops in for a few minutes to chat. We cover some ground beginning with one of his first band compositions, Sound and Smoke and concluding with his new work for young band called Inland Oceans. We talk composition style, “wet” orchestration, texture, and supper clubs. That’s right….supper clubs. Viet shares his experiences visiting Chequamegon Schools, the brilliant Kristen Kirch and her amazing students in Northern Wisconsin this past spring for the world premiere of Inland Oceans.

We also had a chance to talk about the emotion behind the premiere of Vital Sines and the loss of his father.  It is a short episode, but hey, no one is asking to listen to the three of us talk more so enjoy!

Viet’s Website: https://vietcuongmusic.com/

Inland Oceans Premiere: https://www.btnmusicfestival.com/commission-possible-2023-viet-cuong.html

Premiere Photos: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MOhM91wLqHF6hNmeFRq4MBkmAYJq_mAG?usp=sharing

Vital Sines Video & Audio: https://youtu.be/kHMabYCLKrI?si=yl6JOQM05MKaWUnv

Check out the Butternut Lake Lodge! It is amazing!! Ask for Wendy!  https://butternutlakelodge.net/

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.

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Hold onto your baton, folks, because we're back with a splash of sophistication (the guest of course) and a whole lot of crazy in our second season opener! We've wrangled none other than the extraordinary music educator Dr. Scott Jones from The Ohio State University to join our oblivious hosts Chris, Phil, and Peter.

Never fear, Chris still cannot figure out how to use the technology, includes too many sound effects, and often is distracted. Peter asks questions that are too wordy and interrupts often, and Phil is yet to have his parent’s support for a life in music.

What happens when you combine Dr. Jones’ profound insights on music, education, and collaboration with the irreverent banter of our trio? Join us as we venture into magic shows, neck ruffles, practice cards, teaching rhythm, a collaborative rehearsal approach, connecting the audience and your musicians, and how gratitude can change our lives.

Links:    

Scott Jones: https://music.osu.edu/people/jones.4371

A Collaborative Rehearsal Blog: https://u.osu.edu/symphonicband/presentation-at-2014-midwest-international-band-and-orchestra-clinic/

Émile: https://emilerhythm.com/

Barnett Center for Integrated Arts and Enterprise: https://barnettcenter.osu.edu/

Orpheus Chamber Orchestra: https://orpheusnyc.org/

James Froseth flashcards: https://www.giamusic.com/store/resource/rhythm-flashcards-60-cards-with-cd-set-two-instrumentaccessory-gm423

Billy Ireland Cartoon Library: https://cartoons.osu.edu/

Completing the Circle: https://www.giamusic.com/store/resource/completing-the-circle-book-g8766

People mentioned:

Doug Henning, Michelle Obama, and Dan Forrest

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

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Talk about how to wrap up a season; this week, Lt. Col. Jason Fettig, 28th Director of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band drops in for a chat. What did we discuss? Growing up in a "fish bowl" in New Hampshire, I early teachers and mentors, auditioning for the Marine Band on a whim, the American Wind Symphony with Bob Boudreau, and the "barge band," finding lightning in a bottle, an open audition for an assistant director, nine years as the director of a 225-year-old institution, the real challenge beyond the programming and conducting, being the representative for a full honors funeral, performances at gold star events at the White House, the state funeral of President, George H.W. Bush performance, inaugurations, and the role music plays in all of it. Behind the scenes at an inauguration and Lady Gaga wants to be "part of the band," Marine Band educational outreach, "Go Bears" on the photo, a return to MidWest, the best advice he's received, lonely hot tub, playing from the roof of the White House, creating ensembles to perform music, authentically from various cultures and communities across the globe, a look back on his career thus far including stories about re-recording all 130 Sousa Marches (it took seven years) AND Col Fettig shares some of his favorite Sousa marches. So yeah, a few things!

Thanks for joining us each week. We will see you for Season 2 coming out in the Fall. 

State Funeral Video of President George H.W, Bush

Lt. Col. Jason Fettig biography

 Signed Photo referenced in the podcast

Want to find out more about the Beyond The Notes Festival or ComMission Possible Project? Click here to learn more.  (Deadline is August 1st!)

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Peter and Chris try to make do without Phil for a portion of the podcast in our penultimate show of this first season. Thankfully we have the excellent Dr. Shanti Simon as a guest. We discussed her unique path, including positions with the United States Air Force Band and the United States Air Force Academy Band, which ultimately led her to be the Director of Bands at the University of Oklahoma. She shares stories about conducting on stage with President Obama, The First Lady, and Kermit the Frog, the Air Force Training Story including the question "What If The Flutes Are Late?" and the Want to Build a Snowman? Story - all classics! Our time also includes a great discussion about how to engage audiences at concerts, Bud Beyer, and how to empower students in rehearsals. Oh, and we also talk about mini ponies.

Credits:
Frozen - Do You Want to Build a Snowman? (Piano Cover by Riyandi Kusuma)
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine - US President's Own Marine Band
National Emblem - US President's Own Marine Band
Air Force Theme Song - US Air Force Band

Book Mentioned:
Completing The Circle - Bud Beyer

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

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It is summer so we decided to provide you with the longest Beyond ArtLess podcast to date! What better way to fill your precious time during than the summer than 70 minutes of Beyond ArtLess! Well...the good news is that most of it is spent with the magnificent Dr. Arris Golden,  Michigan State University Assistant Professor of Music, Assistant Director of Bands, and Associate Director of the Spartan Marching Band. We cover her upbringing, mentors, work at MSU, behind the scenes at NCAA collegiate basketball games, commission projects, upcoming projects, GoldenEye, Bond, Axe body spray and so much more. 

Credits
Beach Boys - Surfin' USA
Billy Joel - Piano Man
US "The President's Own" Marine Band - Stars and Stripes Forever Stinger

Beyond ArtLess Shirt (sold nowhere.....yet..maybe)

Mentioned in this episode (our apologies for dragging you into this) - Tim Gleason, Sean Conway, Wendy Higdon, Rachel Maxwell, Tiffany Hitz, Kevin Sedatole, Corey Pompey, Alexander Gomez, Scott Teeple, Mike Markowski, Brian Balmages, Brian Wis, Keith Ozvath, and more. 

• Want to find out more about the Beyond The Notes Festival or ComMission Possible Project? Click here to learn more.
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Phil, Peter, and Chris reflect on the UWEC Centennial Band Celebration for a few minutes prior to Peter introducing his surprise guests, and it doesn't get much better than this! Prof. Craig Kirchhoff and Dr. Elizabeth Jackson Kirchhoff join us this week to talk about retirement, sailing, horses, mentors, teaching and life. You will not want to miss the "back row story", Craig's student teaching evaluation encouraging him to work on his conducting, and the "I got her a chainsaw" story. This episode is chocked full of great stories but also amazing wisdom. Enjoy!

Audio Credits:
US Presidents Own Marine Band: Holst 1st Suite in Eb
John Williams (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack): Harry Potter Main Theme

Link to photos mentioned

• Want to find out more about the Beyond The Notes Festival or ComMission Possible Project? Click here to learn more.
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Short and sweet episode! Actually, the only thing sweet is our guest, UWEC music education major and expert button pusher, Aleah Vincent. Enjoy a quick glimpse into this year's festival. Many thanks to the volunteers, staff, clinicians, teachers, and nearly 4,000 students who attended! Registration for the 2024 BTN Festival takes place this Thursday, June 1st at 8:00 PM (CDT) on the Beyond The Notes Website. Hope you can join us!

PS - YES...those ARE Beyond ArtLess tshirts! It says, "45 minutes you'll never get back".  Might sell them online at some point. They are great for waxing your car. 😜

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