Directors Circle

This podcast episode features my interview with Dr. Christopher Kiver. Dr. Kiver is the Director of Choral Activities at Penn State University where he directs the concert choir and glee club. In addition to discussing the importance of music and quality repertoire, Dr. Kiver also gives insight into the role that gender plays in a comprehensive music program.

This episode features my interview with leadership expert, Scott Lang. Scott is an internationally known speaker and advocate for music education. As a lead author and contributor to publications like “Leader Of The Band” and “Be Part Of The Music”, Scott has helped in leading thousands of students in start their adventures in music.

In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Mr. Frank Battisti about his views on music and music education. Known affectionately to many of his students as “Mr. B”, Battisti has led a prolific career as an educator at Ithaca High School (NY) and the New England Conservatory. Bonus features of this episode include ideas on the importance of music to the human experience and a remarkable story of an impromptu performance featuring Benny Goodman playing a student’s clarinet.

In this episode, I chat with Dr. Derrick Fox from the University of Nebraska-Omaha on what it’s like to have a background in instrumental music and leading a renowned collegiate choral program.

This episode features Dr. Stephen Gage from Youngstown State University. In this interview, he shares his thoughts on a wide array of subjects ranging from imagination to repertoire selection.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like having a career as a renowned performer and music education training specialist? In this episode, I speak with Dr. Brenda Brenner from Indiana University to discuss her roles as a professional musician, studio instructor, and professor of music education. She also talks about her work with the Fairview Violin Project, a program in which every first and second grader in an underserved school is taught violin as part of the curriculum.

This episode features my interview with the acclaimed author and music educator, Scott Rush. Mr. Rush is widely known for his Habits of Success book series as well as being a renowned band director in South Carolina. Scott shares stories about his career, work as an author, and his current role working in administration.

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Christopher Cicconi from Towson, MD. Cicconi shares how he conducts his band and orchestra programs at Towson University. Also being a professor of music education, Cicconi shares how he prepares his students as they enter the workforce.

In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Len Lavelle from Pittsburgh, PA. If you are from PA, you are sure to be familiar with Len’s work with his bands at North Hills High School. If you are not from the Keystone State, make sure to check out this episode featuring one of the best in the business as he shares ideas on inspiration, teaching, and music education.

Frank Parker is the director of bands at Quakertown High School in Quakertown, PA. In this episode, Frank talks about how he approaches building success in a program, avoiding burnout, and people who have been influential in his life.