VJC Q&T podcast host Russell Schmidt shares questions and tangents with classical artist/teacher Nancy Buck (Arizona State University Associate Professor of Viola; Artistic Director and Co-Founder of the Arizona Violacademy). They have shared a journey together in music education since they first met in 1995 at Bowling Green State University’s new faculty orientation, and have maintained a joyous partnership on and off the concert stage for more than 20 years. In this first of two podcasts together, they discuss the pervasive impact a great mentor teacher can have, the factors that shifted her path from violinist to violist, and even the unexpected benefits that may fall to the first student of the day to get a lesson.