Philadelphia-based Educator, Drumset Artist, Content Creator and Freelancer Nick Costa stops by to talk about his PASIC50 Presentation (with Marc Dicciani) on effective drumset practicing (04:45), his work as a classroom music teacher, teaching group drum lessons, being a member of the PAS Drumset Committee, and creating content on TikTok and YouTube on drumset performance and restoration (19:45), his freelancing career and working within the drumset industry (41:00), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on getting away from the “tyranny of tradition”, great movies and books, cars, and Philadelphia sports and food (01:22:40).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2012 film The Master (01:53:40).

Nick Costa links:

Nick Costa’s website

Nick Costa’s YouTube page

Nick Costa’s TikTok page

Previous Podcast Guest mentioned:

Sarah Hagan in 2019

Other Links:

Marc Dicciani

Buddy Rich

Vinnie Colaiuta

“Undone: The Sweater Song” - Weezer

Dave Elitch

“Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” - AC/DC

Practically Single

That Thing You Do! trailer

Modern Suits

American Idiot at the 2010 Tony’s

Brian Frasier-Moore

George “Spanky” McCurdy

Lil John Roberts

Christian McBride

Villanova 2018 men’s basketball

Marci Major

Chris Hanning

Bruce Jacoby

Tommy Aldridge

Mike Packer

Joey Jordison

Alex Van Halen

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1990 trailer

My Cousin Vinny trailer

Goodfellas trailer

Breath - James Nestor

Wim Hof Method

Allen Iverson highlights

2017 Eagles Super Bowl

Angelo’s Pizzeria South Philly

Reading Terminal Market

Alpen Rose

Pinocchio’s Restaurant

Catching The Big Fish - David Lynch

Raves:

The Master trailer

Kutztown University (PA) Percussion Director and Department Chair Frank Kumor stops by to talk about his PASIC50 New Music/Research Day performance of Jennifer Stasack’s “Six Elegies Dancing” and his longtime connection to the piece (03:55), his job at Kutztown University, the connections to the Center for Mallet Research at the school, his percussion staff, and the odd path to his job becoming tenure-track (24:40), growing up in Wilkes-Barre (PA), his beginnings in percussion, and his keyboard and organ experiences growing up (57:15), his undergrad and graduate percussion work at Kutztown, Duquesne (PA), and the University of Kentucky, and his work in the music industry after his doctorate (01:09:40), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on providing percussion ensemble experiences to young percussionists, David Sedaris, great performances, and the Art Institute of Chicago (01:33:15).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2025 film Bugonia (01:47:15).

Frank Kumor links:

Frank Kumor’s Kutztown University page

Frank Kumor’s Remo Drums page

Frank Kumor’s Paiste page

Frank Kumor’s Yamaha page

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:

Allen Otte in 2024

Scott Herring in 2022

William Moersch in 2019

Matthew Coley in 2021

Rebecca Kite in 2018

Julie Spencer in 2021

Neil Grover in 2023

Other Links:

David Stock

Jennifer Stasack

“Velocities” - Joseph Schwantner

“Two Mexican Dances” - Gordon Stout

Michael Rosen

The Allentown Band

Will Rapp

Angel Frette

Puerto Rico Festival de Percusiôn

Frédéric Macarez

Brett Dietz

Tambor Fantasma

Ballet Mechanique - George Antheil

Steve Weiss

Dana Kimble

The Wells-Rapp Center for Mallet Percussion Research

“Merlin” - Andrew Thomas

Dan Armstrong

Lee Hinkle

Andy Thierauf

Sherrie Maricle

Quey Percussion Duo

Chris Hanning

Dan Moore

Valerie Naranjo

Tony Miceli

Leigh Howard Stevens

Gordon Stout

Bill Cahn

George Hamilton Green

Dave Samuels

Keiko Abe

Vida Chenoweth

Steve Fidyk

Thom Hannum

“Muskrat Love” - Captain and Tennille

“Run to the Hills” - Iron Maiden

“Fooled Around and Fell in Love” - Elvin Bishop

Stanley Leonard

Andrew Reamer

James Campbell

Rande Sanderbeck

Joseph Wilcox Jenkins

Martin Weir

Lost in Translation trailer

Twister trailer

David Sedaris

Ramsey’s Diner

Run to the Light - Ivan Trevino

The Art Institute of Chicago

Raves:

Bugonia trailer

After talking about some of his experiences at PASIC50, McMaster University (ON) Percussion and Music Cognition Professor Michael Schutz stops by to talk about his PASIC50 Scholarly Research Presentation on Xylophone Music (06:00), his job at McMaster, the percussion ensemble program there, the Canadian Percussion Network, the city of Hamilton, and cold weather (20:55), growing up in Northern Virginia, his musical background , and his years as a soccer goalie (40:55), attending Penn State for undergrad and studying under Dan Armstrong and Giff Howarth (48:05), his master’s degree time at Northwestern (IL), studying with Michael Burritt and being in school with lots of outstanding percussionists (57:20), teaching percussion in Virginia and getting his Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of Virginia (01:08:35), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on musicality, great books, the Toronto Blue Jays, and great food in many cities (01:20:40).

Finishing with a Rave on a recent performance by the American Ballet Theater (01:42:50).

Michael Schutz links:

Michael Schutz Homepage

Michael Schutz’s McMaster page

Previous Podcast Guests Mentioned:

Shawn Mativetsky in 2023

Victoria Sparks in 2018

Nicholas Papador in 2024

Gifford Howarth in 2024

David Skidmore in 2025

Sean Connors in 2025

Peter Martin in 2025

Robert Dillon in 2025

Matthew Coley in 2021

Eric Hollenbeck in 2025

Cory Hills in 2024

Jeff Barudin in 2018

Raves:

American Ballet Theatre

PASIC 2025 IS HERE! Here’s Part 2 of our annual PASIC Preview Episodes (for the 50th PASIC)! Included today are conversations with presenters who will be appearing Thursday and Friday during the conference. Discussions are with Nick Costa (02:00), Kassandra Kocoshis (18:15), Lamon Lawhorn (34:45), and Michael Schutz (59:45).

The podcast closes with a shoutout to nearly 10 years of Previous Podcast Guests who are going to be presenting at the 2025 PASIC - thanks and congrats everyone! (01:15:00)

Links:

Nick Costa

Kassandra Kocoshis

M’Boom

Michael Schutz

PASIC 2025 is here! Let’s preview some of the presentations that you’ll be able to see. Today’s podcast focuses on those taking part in the Thursday New Music/Research Focus Day. You’ll get to hear from Francis Favis (02:20), Liz Soflin (18:00), Drew Tucker (31:00), Kristie Ibrahim, Gina Ryan, and Victoria Sparks of Triolet (50:00), and Frank Kumor (01:09:30).

Links:

Francis Favis

Liz Soflin

Drew Tucker

Triolet

Frank Kumor

Acadia University (NS) Percussion Professor, as well as Freelancer, Composer, and Researcher Ken Shorley stops by to talk about his unusual faculty position at Acadia, his Freelancing career, traveling and studying musics of the world, and forming a performing duo with his wife (03:40), the Canadian Percussion Network and The Space Between conferences (43:25), growing up in Southern Ontario, along with discussions of his musical and literary influences (52:40), attending York University (ON) for undergrad and sticking around Toronto after graduation before moving to Nova Scotia (01:05:25), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments about physicality in percussion performance, classic movies, the author Helen Humphreys, and memorable live performances (01:20:15).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2025 film One Battle After Another (01:39:40).

Ken Shorley links:

Ken Shorley’s homepage

Ken Shorley’s YouTube page

Previous Podcast Guests Mentioned:

Shawn Mativetsky from 2023

Other Links:

Sahara Jane

Folk Music Ontario

Nova Scotia Music Week

Neil Peart

Trichy Sankaran

John Brownell

“Within You Without You” - The Beatles

Everygreen Club Contemporary Gamelan

Simon Cook

Novation Launchpad series

TorQ Percussion Quartet

Thelonious Monk

John Coltrane

Blue Rodeo

The Tragically Hip

The Indigo Girls

Raves:

One Battle After Another trailer

University of Tennessee-Knoxville Adjunct Professor of Percussion Mike Mixtacki stops by to talk about his new gig, his many jobs in the college world so far, and connecting to the Eastern Tennessee percussion community (02:10), growing up in Madison (WI), his percussion and piano background, earning his Eagle Scout badge, and playing in lots of bands in his early years (21:15), attending the University of Wisconsin for undergrad and Indiana University for his master’s (39:10), working at Northern Illinois University (01:02:50), the University of Texas at San Antonio (01:10:40), his years at Texas Tech University and the importance of having regular life and job discussions with one’s partner (01:17:30), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on cooking situations, bad action movies, Star Wars culture, Culver’s, current events podcasts, and reflecting on the life of Alan Shinn (01:31:30).

Finishing with a Rave on the Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel Wicked (01:57:50).

Mike Mixtacki Links:

Mike Mixtacki’s website

Mike Mixtacki’s Innovative Percussion website

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:

Andy Bliss from 2023

Erin Walker Bliss from 2024

Liam Teague from 2025

Sherry Rubins from 2016

Ben Wahlund from 2025

Lisa Rogers from 2017

Alan Shinn from 2021

Other Links:

Kevin Zetina

Keith Brown

Robert Chappell

Anthony Di Sanza

Vicki Jenks

“Down with the Sickness” - Disturbed

“Psychosocial” - Slipknot

“Bacalao Con Pan” - Irakere

Chucho Valdés Tiny Desk Concert

“Quimbara” - Celia Cruz & The Fania All Stars

Tito Puente on Sesame Street

Michael Spiro

Birch Creek Music Performance Center

Eugene Novotney

Joe Galvin

Brian Mueller

Steve Houghton

Jamie Ryan

Jesus Diaz

Raul Pineda

Ed Smith

Graeme Francis

Jesse Willis

Jonathan Tomasello

Ten Summoners Tales - Sting

Severance trailer

Andor trailer

Jason Statham

Liam Neeson

Zero Day trailer

Cuba and its Music - Ned Sublette

Culver’s

Mehdi Hasan and Mark Ruffalo

The Ezra Klein Show

Raves:

Wicked - Gregory Maguire

New York City-based freelancing percussionist and educator Shelby Blezinger-McCay stops by to talk about her job activities, moving to NY from grad school, and her experiences work with So Percussion (03:00), subbing for Broadway shows, NYC transit, and visiting Long Island (23:00), growing up near Dallas, her DCI years, and playing tennis (37:50), her undergrad years at Auburn University (AL) and her experiences of the Alabama-Auburn rivalry (52:15), her grad school years at the University of North Texas and her year performing with the World Percussion Group (01:08:25), and settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including discussions of intense opinions, being a woman in the percussion field, horror movies, cycling and tennis, and composer Heather Christian (01:30:15).

Finishing with a Rave on the recent collaboration between Marching Mizzou and His Majesty’s Royal Marines (01:56:15).

Shelby Blezinger-McCay links:

Shelby’s Maestra website

Previous Podcast Links:

Brian Zator in 2017

Mark Ford in 2023

She-e Wu in 2025

Raychel Taylor in 2020

Pauline Roberts in 2024

Other Links:

So Percussion

World Percussion Group

Valerie Naranjo

Ed Smith

“INUKSUIT” - John Luther Adams

Minot State University (ND) Percussion Professor Mariah Taller stops by to talk about her job and getting acclimated to the community there (02:35), her doctoral research on Julie Spencer (21:35), growing up in South Bend (IN), her early experiences in large ensembles, learning marimba concerti, and swimming in high school (32:00), attending Depauw University (IN) for undergrad (44:20), Stephen F. Austin State University (TX) for her master’s (56:30), Texas Tech University for her doctorate (01:08:20), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on triangle technique, making pizza, Bridesmaids, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Taylor Swift, and the Chicago White Sox (01:23:00).

Finishing with a Rave on a recent concert by Mariachi Los Portillos (01:48:45).

Mariah Taller links:

Mariah Taller’s Minot State webpage

Previous Podcast Guests Mentioned:

Julie Spencer in 2021

Lisa Rogers in 2017

Brad Meyer in 2021

Bonnie Whiting in 2020

Kathleen Kastner in 2017

Lamon Lawhorn in 2020

Ben Tomlinson in 2023

Other Links:

Julie Spencer on the @Percussion Podcast

Garwood Whaley

Concertino for Marimba and Orchestra - Paul Creston

Marimba Concerto No. 2 - Ney Rosauro'

Ming-Hui Kuo

“Cold Pressed” - Dave Hollinden

“Canned Heat” - Eckhard Kopetzki

Suite for Marimba - Alfred Fissinger

“Psappha” - Iannis Xenakis

Bridesmaids trailer

Jurassic World Dominion trailer

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants trailer

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - Ann Brashares

Ken Kwapis

“Let’s Go Crazy” - Prince

Red - Taylor Swift

2005 Chicago White Sox highlights

Hacienda Restaurant

Politos South Bend

Late Night with Seth Meyers

Raves:

Mariachi Los Portillos - NW Arkansas

Nicholls State University (LA) Percussion Professor Gustavo Miranda stops by to talk about his job and his freelancing in the Louisiana area (02:35), the Ninkasi Quartet (18:10), growing up in Brazil, his early music background on guitar, his experiences playing soccer and surfing, and heavy metal (26:10), his undergrad musical experiences in Brazil and his interactions with many in the percussion community at the time (58:35), his master’s and doctoral degree time at LSU with Brett Dietz (01:11:20), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on inspiring literature choices, impressions, Fogo de Châo, and the video game Destiny (01:29:00).

Finishing with a Rave on Al Pacino’s memoir Sonny Boy and his 2024 appearance on WTF with Marc Maron (02:00:00).

Gustavo Miranda Links:

Gustavo Miranda’s Nicholls State page

Gustavo Miranda’s Pearl Drum page

Ninkasi Percussion Group

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:

Oliver Molina in 2021

Joe W. Moore III in 2017

Jeff Barudin in 2018

William Moersch in 2019

Tom Burritt in 2021

Jeff Moore in 2023

Mark Ford in 2023

Other Links:

Brett Dietz

Lonny Benoit

Jeff Prosperie

Guy Gauthreaux

American Suite - Guy Gauthreaux

Greg Lyons

Marc Mellits

Hymns for Ninkasi - Brett Dietz

Susan Powell

“Saëta” - Elliott Carter

“Run to the Hills” - Iron Maiden

“Arise” - Sepultura

“Spain” - Chick Corea

“Tornado” - Mitch Markovich

“Yellow After the Rain” - Mitchell Peters

Anthony Cirone

“Teardrops” - Mitchell Peters

“Two Mexican Dances” - Gordon Stout

Ney Rosauro

David Stock

“Merlin” - Andrew Thomas

Fogo de Chåo

Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring trailer

Thor: Love and Thunder trailer

Breaking Bad trailer

The Office trailer

Game of Thrones trailer

Angels & Demons - Robert Langdon

Destiny video game series

Raves:

Sonny Boy - Al Pacino

WTF with Marc Maron - Al Pacino