The Musical Trequartista

In this episode I talk about what I've been up to this summer, what I've learned, some things it made me think about, and why there weren't any episodes in August. 

The phrase "Lead by example" has been corporatized, marked, and perverted into a cliche that people put on resumes because they think it will help them fit in in the business world. In reality it is one of the most important, difficult, humble, and brave things you can pursue. 

In this episode I reflect on what it takes to be the change that you want to see, where to look for inspiration, and how, in my experience, it will help you grow a more fruitful life.

See what else I'm up to here!

https://www.mcgowanmusic.com

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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbSMiCS-aaadCTKdE943JJQ

Doctor Brendan Ige, a native of Pearl City, Hawaii, is the instructor of tuba and euphonium at Eastern Michigan University's School of Music & Dance. Brendan earned his master’s degrees in tuba performance and chamber music from the University of Michigan, and his undergraduate degree at Bowling Green State University. Brendan performs regularly on tuba and euphonium, composes, and teaches low brass in the Michigan and Ohio area. Brendan has performed with the Toledo Symphony, Toledo Symphony Concert Band, Adrian Symphony, Akron Symphony, Perrysburg Symphony, The Royal Hawaiian Band, and the Cedar Point Beach Band.

See what else I'm up to here!

https://www.mcgowanmusic.com

https://www.instagram.com/musicmcgowan/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbSMiCS-aaadCTKdE943JJQ

As I assessed my commitments going into this summer I made the critical error of assuming I had more time than I did--or rather that I could do more in less time. It's funny, but it all comes back to priorities. Just because you have a goal doesn't mean you have the bandwidth to start right now. What would it look like to really take things one step at a time? Can being so focused on taking one step at a time turn every step into a destination that you miss the journey of?

In this episode I reflect on how I feel like my summers often feel like a time of preparation and training rather than relaxing, how I'd like to change that, and I go off on several targets about how to foster your creative thinking.

See what else I'm up to here!

https://www.mcgowanmusic.com

https://www.instagram.com/musicmcgowan/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbSMiCS-aaadCTKdE943JJQ

This last weekend I attended the Midwest Regional Tuba and Euphonium Conference at University of Kentucky in Lexington. It was one of the best conferences I've ever been to! I met so many incredible musicians, reconnected with some friends, and made a load of new ones. The recitals and masterclasses were of the highest calibre and consistency I've ever seen at a tuba conference. It was sensational!

In this episode I reflect on some things a learned and some convictions I've realized I have including skills musicians should develop and what it takes to get there, how to find an instrument that's a good fit for you, what the tuba and euphonium repertoire is missing, and the seedlings for my doctoral project--a mathematically proven optimal state of physical wellness for musicians and other non-athletic, high intensity performers.

See what else I'm up to here!

https://www.mcgowanmusic.com

https://www.instagram.com/musicmcgowan/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbSMiCS-aaadCTKdE943JJQ

On May 1st 2022 I said some tearful goodbyes to an immense teacher and a number of amazing colleagues. Before our final concert together I reflected on the power of one of my favorite composers, and how, when he passed away in 2017, I wasn't capable of grieving in an emotionally accessible way, but this performance allowed me a second chance. In this episode I reflect on the power of emotional contrast, how it is rooted in our humanity mentally, physiologically, and spiritually, and how that is showcased by the great works in classical music but especially a work I have come to know very intimately--David Maslanka's Symphony No. 4.

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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbSMiCS-aaadCTKdE943JJQ

On March 14th I sustained a sports injury that would have hospitalized most people. When I recorded this episode just 16 days later, I'm almost back to 100% fitness with no pain and minimal discomfort. In this episode I reflect on the context of my injury, explore the anatomy and physiology of injury recovery, break down the factors that led to my fast recovery, explain how these pillars contribute to a better learning and growing experience, and share where I draw inspiration from to maintain this mentality consistently.

https://www.mcgowanmusic.com

https://www.instagram.com/musicmcgowan/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbSMiCS-aaadCTKdE943JJQ

Taking Care of Yourself is Underrated

In order to develop true relentless progression, it is essential that we invest the entirety of ourselves into to the project/process. This is impossible if we don’t take care of ourselves. If you neglect care for the mechanism you should expect diminishing returns. It doesn’t matter if it’s your car, your kitchen knives, your instrument, or—especially—your body.

In this episode Andrew breaks down a few things he prioritizes to ensure that he feels like he’s always progressing. He discusses why these pillars of his life are important, how they can help you get the most out of your body, and he moves through them from most to least important in order to help changes feel more accessible.

https://www.mcgowanmusic.com

https://www.instagram.com/musicmcgowan/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbSMiCS-aaadCTKdE943JJQ

Taking projects one at a time is underrated.

Living in a “go, go, go“ mentality is taxing, and it’s important to make sure our output is sustainable when we want it to be. What does that look like? How can we implement that? What does a relentless lifestyle feel like? Ironically, literally taking one thing at a time isn’t always the case.

In this episode Andrew discusses how taking projects one at a time makes a difference in the intensity he’s able to leverage in his work, how it helps his work/life balance, his new philosophy on creativity, and how he leveraged these mechanisms over the last two months.

Afterwards he discusses his fugue project, how it helps him hone his writing and creative productivity, and then ties it into the one at a time mentality.

https://www.mcgowanmusic.com

https://www.instagram.com/musicmcgowan/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbSMiCS-aaadCTKdE943JJQ

Sustainability is Underrated.

There’s a problem with the implementation of the “New year, New me“ philosophy.

Almost everything about it is based around a quick fix. The unfortunate truth is that anything you hope to achieve and then maintain only comes after a long journey, but when you make that commitment to sustained change, you can watch your life flourish before your eyes.

This episode serves as a convenient bridge between the old and new iterations of the podcast. In this entry Andrew discusses the ethics, influences, costs, and insustainability behind this methodology, and then outlines what the difference is between a sustainable and unsustainable approach with in-depth examples and a way for you to tell what’s helpful and what’s not.

https://www.mcgowanmusic.com

https://www.instagram.com/musicmcgowan/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbSMiCS-aaadCTKdE943JJQ