The @Percussion Podcast - Episode 39 Jason Haaheim

039 - Jason Haaheim

Jason took a roundabout but awe-inspiring route to his seat as the Principal Timpanist for the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.  Not only is he a thoughtful musician, but a multi-patented nanotechnologist to boot.  We talk science, timpani, auditions, and more in this episode.

Topics: The Met, Elliot Carter pieces for timpani, James Levine, Star Trek

 

0:00 Intro and hello

1:02 Current operas at the Met

3:20 Nanotechnology

6:28 Strass’ “Elektra”

8:41 Lucas Garner: Following the news of Maestro Levine’s retirement from the orchestra due to health issues, can you speak on what it was like to work with him?

14:23 Jade Hails: What’s the difference between playing timpani in a symphony versus playing timpani in an opera?

22:30 Elliott Carter’s “Eight Pieces for Four Timpani”

35:14 Jason’s unorthodox path to a career in the Met

39:55 Solo timpani repertoire … or not

46:22 Deliberate practice

53:14 Recording as a method of deliberate practice

1:02:33 Hobbies 

1:05:27 Nanolithography

1:07:38 Wrap