Matt Penland and Tyler Sammons discuss their journey from drum corps performers to educators and leaders within Phantom Regiment’s percussion program. They share the mentors, musical experiences, and teaching philosophies that shaped their careers while reflecting on Phantom Regiment’s evolving musical identity and the future of the marching arts.

In this episode of The Marching Roundtable, host Neil Larrivee welcomes Matt Penland and Tyler Sammons for an engaging conversation about the experiences that led them from performers to respected educators, arrangers, and designers. Along the way, they reflect on discovering drum corps, developing a broad musical foundation, and the mentors whose guidance continues to influence their teaching and creative work.

The discussion explores the evolution of Phantom Regiment’s musical identity, the art of arranging for today’s performers, the important role directors play in shaping successful ensembles, and why building genuine relationships with students and staff is essential to long-term success. Matt and Tyler also offer encouragement and practical advice for young musicians who hope to pursue drum corps and careers in music education.

Whether you’re a band director, percussion instructor, performer, arranger, or fan of the marching arts, this episode provides an insightful look at the people, philosophies, and passion behind one of drum corps’ most respected percussion programs.

In this episode:

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This episode is proudly sponsored by Fred J. Miller, Inc.

Podcast length: 1:06:45

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What separates a good program from a championship-caliber one? In this conversation, Boston Crusaders percussion staff members Colin McNutt and Iain Moyer share the philosophies that have shaped one of drum corps’ premier organizations. From developing a strong culture and designing for performers to refining rehearsal strategies and embracing continual growth, they offer practical insights that apply to programs of every size and experience level.

Whether you’re a band director, designer, or instructor, this episode is a thoughtful look at the long-term decisions that help transform great ideas into lasting success.

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Podcast length: 1:17:10

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Four member leaders from Spirit of Atlanta sat down with us in the middle of dinner during week two of spring training, laptop getting passed around, bad WiFi, corps life going on all around them.  We came in expecting a conversation about leadership roles: drum major, section leaders, horn sergeant.  We left with something else.

They talked about learning to flip the switch between being someone’s friend and being in charge of them on the field.  Managing a week of rain with no idea where rehearsal was even going to happen.  Helping teammates who’ve hit a wall in the heat.  Figuring out who you can lean on when you’re the one having a rough day.

Nobody talked about titles much. They talked about trust, culture, belonging, and taking care of each other, and described Spirit as family, not because it sounds good, but because that’s how they actually experience it.

This is what spring training really looks like, not the polished ten minutes everybody sees later.

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Podcast length: 25:18

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In this episode, Tim Hinton and Marc Whitlock sit down with Kelly Couvelaire to explore the story behind the Phantom Regiment Alumni Corps — the passion, the responsibility, and the remarkable effort it takes to bring something like this back to life. What emerges is a conversation about far more than putting a corps back on the field. It’s about reconnecting people with something that helped shape who they are — their identity, their friendships, and their sense of belonging within the activity. This one is pure drum corps soul.

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Podcast length: 32:22

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Matt Harloff of Avon HS and Carolina Crown shares advice on doing great work, building culture,  and having a successful career.

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Podcast length: 54:33

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Boston Crusaders Go “Boom!” Artistic Director Keith Potter takes us behind-the-scenes, explaining the concepts that created this uniquely stylized show.

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Podcast length: 54:08

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Tim and Mary talk with Bill Register who is taking over the podcast and resources.

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Podcast length: 12:57

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Advice for visual instructors, band directors who work with them, and those who become Visual Caption Head of their team. With Wes Pendergrass, Ryan H. Turner, and Victor Pezzola

This episode is sponsored by Drill Design Solutions

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Podcast length: 1:12:01

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Build your community through digital communication, and make it professional!  With Laura Rivera

This episode is sponsored by Fred J Miller, Inc.

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Podcast length: 26:41

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The podcast, website, webinars, videos, courses, newsletter, and YouTube channel are available.

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Podcast length: 11:21

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STATEMENT ABOUT SALE FROM TIM HINTON

After many years of some of the most enjoyable experiences producing The Marching Roundtable podcast and Marching Arts Education website and its resources, it is time for me to step away and move to a different chapter in my life.  As a result, The Marching Roundtable and Marching Arts Education websites are available for purchase.  This sale is for all the assets of each site, including the website, podcasts, webinars, video interviews, courses, newsletter, and YouTube channel.  See the attached PDF for more specific information about the valuable resources now available for sale.

Since releasing its first podcast in February, 2011, The Marching Roundtable earned a reputation in our activity as a premier source of news and information. Since it came into existence in February, 2017, Marching Arts Education has become a leading collection of comprehensive educational resources with over 1300 podcasts and over 630 videos and webinars.  Perhaps the greatest asset of both websites is the good will their content has fostered in the marching arts community.  The websites’ reputation in the activity allows performers, educators, and anyone interested in these activities to trust the content. For well over a decade professionals, educators, adjudicators, support staff, and participants from the most basic level to the pinnacle of the marching arts world have been willing to share their knowledge, expertise, and experiences on these two platforms.

My goal is to pass on this wealth of information and good reputation to a buyer who is willing and able to carry on the tradition of excellence I established for these websites over the past 15 years. Because these websites mean so much to me I will carefully assess and screen potential buyers to ensure these assets will remain available to the marching arts community and will be maintained with the same care and attention I have given them. The ultimate decision of whether to accept any purchase offer will remain exclusively with me.

If interested, please contact Tim Hinton ([email protected]) with your ideas on a purchase value, a realistic timeline for completing the sale, and a description of the buyer’s intended plans for the use of the content.

Time is of the essence.  Inquires must be received by October 31, 2025 and if a suitable buyer is identified, the sale must be completed by December 31, 2025.