Mark Sawatsky is a band teacher at Elmwood High School in Winnipeg, Manitoba as well as a freelance drummer.  Mark and I go way back to 1991 when we met as "first years" at the U of M School of Music.  He is a MONSTER on the drum kit and a wonderful music educator.  Enjoy!

ORIGINALLY FROM MY YOUTUBE INTERVIEW SERIES: 

This episode features Greg Crowe, a band teacher at Springfield High School in Oakbank, Manitoba.  Greg is one of the most authentically kind,  wonderful, and wise people that I have ever met in my life and I always learn something new when we get a chance to talk.  

P.S.  In case you're wondering what the comment at the end of the interview is about, this was one of my first interviews on Youtube when I was trying to get to 100 subscribers and when I got there I would cut all of my hair off :) 

Enjoy!

Hi everyone, this is the intro to my first ever podcast series.  The focus for the most part is on the people that I have met in my musical journey (so far) that have been influential, inspirational, and motivational.  I started this out of necessity to feel connection with my band world once we needed to be teaching remotely here in Manitoba.  It has been the sunshine in many of my days when I've been feeling low, and has been such a wonderful way to re-connect with friends from long ago.  It has helped me to slow down and talk with meaning and purpose in such a normally busy world. 

The concert band community here in Manitoba is very strong and I am proud to be a middle years band teacher.  In this podcast you will find people who are in their first few years of teaching all the way to retired music educators.  You will find Juno winning performers, songwriters, and people who make music because it's such an amazing thing to do.  Music brings us together in so many ways.  And it is a safe place for so many people.  My goal is to continue to build community through this series and to hopefully connect people that need to know one another in their own musical journeys.  

All the best,

Mama K

This is my interview with my teaching partner, Trevor Tsui.  He and I teach grade 6-8 band at Leila North Community School in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  He also runs the jazz band and a music technology/composition course.  Enjoy!