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Who else do you have as a guest on Mother's Day but your mothers? And in this case, all three of our mothers! We first talk about fruit and then stories about Sweet Jimmy as an introverted child. Sweet Mama Habs also talks about driving, moving the hassock, mailboxes, dogs, and an experience with a train trestle bridge. Phil's momma, Carrie, talks about him only wanting to play Superman as a child and secretively dropping his engineering degree. Chris' mom, Karen, talks about Chris hating t-ball, loving the tuba, playing with the Beach Boys (close...but not really), and a horn kick in church with a cat. We take editorial suggestions from the mothers, including a rebuttal to Jeremy Kondrat and a note from all three mothers to get Sweet Jimmy his office. Don't miss the goalpost story, forgotten emergency brake story, "Peter's responsible for mowing the grass," and a speed round for the ages—special guest appearance by Peter's wife Erica and mother-in-law Julie. 

Great quotes from the episode:
 "I want you to eat, but not at my table" - Mama O 
"So those are my favorite high school memories of you Peter - you with all of your lady friends. " - Mama H
"You came home and said, 'today I played goalpost'" - Mama G
"I could not have caught DO in a butterfly net." - Mama O

• 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.

Credits: 
Tuba Tracks - "Ride of the Valkyries" - Gene Pokorny
Sounds of Summer - "Surfin' USA" - Beach Boys

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On this week's show we have Phil's close friend, best man at his wedding, and amazing music educator Jeremy Kondrat. When we were not roasting Phil (and I'd say 90% of the podcast IS the roasting) we talk about Eastman, music education in Texas, Cudahy, teaching creativity, mentoring young teachers, "Developing Musicianship Through Improvisation" by Chris Azzara, the connection between Maslanka 4 and Mary Had A Little Lamb, mentoring, ski trips with the Ostranders, "Hey Buddy", bullseye focus on kids and music, pandemic in Texas, Drive by Dan Pink, and more.   

• Learn more about Jeremy Kondrat Here
• Contact Jeremy here: [email protected]
• "Developing Musicianship through Improvisation" book - Christopher Azzara
• Chris Azzara TEDx Talk
• Register for the Drive: Book Study & Classroom Application VanderCook Summer Online Course here
• "Drive" by Dan Pink
• 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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Remember how Phil kept this podcast a secret from his spouse Allison? Heck, he even secretly recorded an episode from a hot closet in his home. Peter works his magic and convinces Allison to join us as the surprise guest, and was it ever a surprise! After the shock wears off, we talk about the multifaceted role Allison has as a professional musician, string players' disdain for brass players in an orchestra, trombones as weapons, the official Allison and Phil love story, toilet paper delivery, hitting curbs, mentors, grit, deep practice, "He's not going anywhere," what makes a good conductor, losing children in the lazy river, inspiring youth, and Phil's health directive. Yup, we cover it all! Enjoy!

Meet Shawn Gudmunsen
Paul Kile do more research for us
Check out this performance by Allison Ostrander
Learn more about Allison here
Watch Phil at Disney here.
Thank you Gene Pokorny for the "Partita in a minor" from Tuba Tracks 

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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.

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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. 

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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