The Mikes just recorded a few pieces (to be released…sometime)! Have you ever completed a recording session and thought “Did I do this right? Does anyone else feel the same way as I did?” 

The Mikes break down their session and get into some deep philosophical topics about the recording process.  

The Mikes really like talking big pictures with the occasional fun detail. If you’re like the Mikes, this episode is for you! We get into the nitty-gritty about organizing all those pesky sticks, mallets and music (both physical and digital). 

Have you ever questioned your organization? Compare yours against the Mikes. YouTube provides the bonus of some beneficial visual aids!

3:45 - How did you acquire all your sticks?

6:40 - How do you choose timp mallets for students?

12:07 - MC storage of mallets

28:43 - Big concepts - why does it matter?  

24:20 - What about storing in multiple locations?

41:30 - timpani, tam, bass drum mallet storage

(derailed)

53:20 - Traveling with instruments

58:50 - How do we organize our music (digital and IRL

1:04:35 - Mike T.’s Paper Music Organization

1:21:25 - Is it worth it to invest in being organized? 

Links: 

https://www.miketruesdell.com/blog/gig-bags

The Mikes lead up to a rousing discussion of their favorite recordings, starting in classical music and reaching far beyond. Enjoy the ride!

MikeDrop is Mikes Compitello and Truesdell

In this episode, the Mikes talk with Four/Ten Media about their favorite past projects, filming techniques, how to be a great client, nostalgic memories, and of course, what is up with that sound in TENET??

MikeDrop is Mikes Compitello and Truesdell

Four/Ten Media is Kevin Eikenberg and Evan Chapman

www.fourtenmedia.net

Aphasia is by Mark Applebaum

Mark Applebaum is a musical inventor whose music combines the unrelenting rigor of post-war European Modernism with ridiculousness and whimsy borne of zooming obsessively and exactingly close to the mundane. Mike and Mike break down how they learned Mark Applebaum’s iconic solo work *Aphasia.* “Eat sandwich,” “smell grapefruit,” “open beer,” “close window,” “fasten seatbelt”!

Topics include:

- Prior experience with Applebaum’s music

- Practicing slow and fast

- Memorizing new repertoire

- Being specific in theatrical repertoire

Mike C’s video of Aphasia with Four/Ten Media https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2YLoqIYEUI

MikeDrop is Mikes Compitello and Truesdell

Mike and Mike go behind the screen for a first, second, and final round on orchestral excerpts, an essential part of classical musical training. Or are they? In addition to tips and tricks for organizing, learning, and refining excerpts, the Mikes discuss:

Why learn excerpts, beyond winning a job? How to learn them? How to teach them as part of a balanced diet? What are other practical considerations when learning and deploying tiny nuggets of musical goodness?

The Mikes sharpen their knives and wits and go head-to-head to discuss music competitions. What does it take to prepare for a competition? Do they offer benefits other than winning?

From reframing the competition as a personal growth opportunity to the role of judges in shaping the future of our art, the Mikes volley and trade broadsides on the positives, negatives, ins, and outs of individual performance contests.

Also featured: Mike C and T continue to develop a comprehensive taxonomy of sporting events.

MikeDrop is Mike Compitello and Mike Truesdell

Making a video, and want visible Mikes but not visible mics? We’ve got you covered. The Mikes discuss the various types of videos classical musicians are deploying and peel back the gild from their own video-making experiences, covering ideation, execution, and collaboration, particularly with the astonishing Four/Ten Media. Diners, swimming pools, isolated wooded areas, smoke machines: let’s go!

MikeDrop’s recording of Retrouvailles, by George Aperghis

Mike T’s video of An Elemental Thing, by Liza Lim

Mike C and Hannah Collins’ video of Down Down Baby, by Robert Honstein

Four/Ten Media

MikeDrop finds a method (book) to the madness of instructional percussion books, sharing their go-to texts while quizzing one another about George Hamilton Green’s rules for practice and hatred of glancing blows.

Audio wizard: Rebecca Moore