The @Percussion Podcast

The @Percussion - Episode 132 - Svet Stoyanov

132 - Svet Stoyanov

Praised by the New York Times for his "understated but unmistakable virtuosity," Svet Stoyanov is one of the leading percussion soloists of our day. He has appeared at the Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and the Kennedy Center, and has performed under the baton of Pierre Boulez, Marin Alsop, and Gerard Schwarz. As an advocate for contemporary music, he has premiered works by Andy Akiho, Mason Bates, and Paul Lansky. He serves as the Director of Percussion Studies at the University of Miami Frost School of Music.

Watch here. Listen below.

0:00 Intro and hello 
1:45 Ben's teacher?! 
4:00 Current projects? 
7:50 New audio/video series  
13:30 On pushing it, "being a little uncomfortable".  Do as I say not as I do
21:20 Megan: Border Percussion story - Inuksuit performed across the Mexico/US border
43:35 Ben: Alejandro Vinao
1:00:37 Marco Schirripa: Your stage presence?  
1:03:25 Will Marinelli:  Premiering the Phillip Glass two-timpani concerto at such a young age?

The @Percussion - Episode 131 - Ming-Hui Kuo

131 - Ming-Hui Kuo

We are joined this week by Dr. Ming-Hui Kuo. Dr. Kuo was an intern performing member of Ju Percussion Group from 1993 to 2002. During her time with JPG, she performed in over 500 concerts and hundreds of  music related activities including the Annual seasonal concerts at Taiwan National Concert Hall. 
          Dr. Kuo formerly was Adjunct Professor of Percussion at Morehead State University in Morehead, KY from 2007 to 2014. She is currently a Part-time Assistant Professor of Percussion at DePauw University.

Watch here. Listen below.

0:00 Intro and hello
3:25 Working/practicing with kids?  
5:38 Finding practice time as a university professor
10:20 Starting percussion in Taiwan?  Ju Percussion Group  commissions.
23:50 Ben: Toru Takemitsu
44:00 The Wave -Keiko Abe
52:40 Getting to Moorhead State, then on to DePauw.  Brian Mason

The @Percussion - Episode 130 - SO Percussion

130 - SO Percussion

In January 2018 JMU was fortunate to host SO Percussion for a feature concert and masterclass.  During their residency on campus, Caleb Pickering, a frequent guest co-host on the podcast, conducted an hour interview with them.  Many thanks to Caleb, as well as the guys in SO Percussion.

Watch here. Listen below.

0:00 Intro and hello
1:10  So...Todd Meehan?  
2:58  Why so serious?
6:32 "Sometimes Music"
12:30 Performing different styles and genres    
19:44 Collaborating with the band, The National
33:12 15 years collaboration  
34:21 Little missed joke at PASIC
36:16 Mixed performance art pieces, your large programmatic works
49:21 Advice to young percussionists who would like to create  their own performing group?

The @Percussion - Episode 129 - Justin Alexander and Luis Rivera

129 - Novus Percutere Duo: Justin Alexander and Luis Rivera

This week we are joined by Justin Alexander (Virginia Commonwealth University) and Luis Rivera (University of South Alabama) of the Novus Percutere duo! NP aims to perform and commission works that appeal to their similar tastes in contemporary, rock, pop, and classical music. In addition to performing concerts around the United States, they released their first full length album entitled "symmetry | reflection" in 2015.

Watch here. Listen below.

0:00 Intro and hello
2:12 Upcoming projects?  
4:50 Being in a long-distance duo?  
13:14 Laurel/Ben: Goal setting with a sense of realism, and
psychology of unrealistic goals
bullet journals, action based and goal based.  
24:45 Plans to preserve practice time.
27:55 The new album and commissions?
37:09 Camber music competition / Costa Rica
47:30 Diversity and the John Mackey Midwest booth

The @Percussion - Episode 128 - Ayano Katoaka

128 - Ayano Katoaka

Ayano Katoaka is the Associate Professor of Percussion at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She is renowned for her interpretations of modern percussion repertoire, including works of Stuart Saunders Smith, Iannis Xenakis, Andy Akiho, and Steve Reich. She has collaborated with Yo-Yo Ma and Emanuel Ax, and is a former student of legendary pedagogue Robert Van Sice.

Watch here. Listen below.

0:00 Intro and hello
2:25 Relationship with the Smiths (Stewart Saunders & Sylvia).  "And Points North"
11:00 Thoughts on complex rhythms in Stewart Sanuders Smith's pieces.
15:55 Introducing students to advanced contemporary music
21:30 Casey: What's the sound?
30:40 Minoru Miki
37:22 Ben: Taiko drums and history
48:00 Xenakis - Rebonds and memorization
55:20 performing with Yo Yo Ma and Emanuel Ax?

The @Percussion - Episode 127 - She- Wu

127 - She-e Wu

Despite coming off a worldwide tour of concerts and teaching, She-e Wu was gracious enough to join us for this episode on her one day off between travel and resuming teaching at Northwestern.  We talk about the soloist-travel life, about developing technique, and the future of our rep.

Watch here. Listen below.

0:00 Intro and hello
3:10 She-e and the Ewazen Concerto
7:45 Larry Lawless: time balance and schedule?  
12:20 Horn collaboration and CD
14:00 Touring and emotions that follow
23:45 Teaching vs performing full-time?
26:27 Getting started, Doc (Robert Schietroma) from UNT, Mr. Ju, coming to UNT from Taiwan
35:20 Troy Hall: favorite memory of UNT drumline?
38:25 Boston Globe article - Boston Symphony and more calls
for more diverse composers
51:00 She-e as a composer
55:00 Will Marinelli: how can we continue to advance marimba literature and performance?
59:47 William Brown: building chops without damaging your hands?  
1:06:02 AJ Covey: your thoughts on the barrier system?

The @Percussion - Episode 126 - Stockton Helbing

126 - Stockton Helbing

Joining us this week is drummer Stockton Helbing.  He has accomplished much to be so young: several albums of his own music, countless tours with big name artists, and studying under then teaching beside Ed Soph at UNT.  We really enjoyed our time with Stockton and learned a lot about the history of drum set and recorded music - he's a well-informed, articulate speaker.

Watch here. Listen below.

0:00 intro and hello
2:40 Background
6:55 Lessons learned from Ed Soph?  
16:16 Your composition style?  
19:50 Ben:  Baby Dodds & some drumset history
42:00 Scott Charvet: What are the things you like to see from incoming students?
48:30 How has the market changed in creating albums?
53:10 Your approach to recording drums?
57:00 Upcoming projects?
59:15 Your name?

The @Percussion - Episode 125 - Todd Meehan

125 - Todd Meehan

Joining us this week is Todd Meehan, creator of Liquidrum.  Despite gaining notoriety with a variety of satirical videos alongside an active teaching, performing, and commissioning career, he describes himself as "not funny."  He maintains an active website, blog, video presence, the Baylor percussion studio, all while balancing family life between.

Watch here. Listen below.

0:00 intro and hello
1:30 Todd's comedy & Liquidrum
3:50 "Fast Hands" challenge and the value of Play
13:50 Brian Blume: Why Liquidrum?  The name?  How has it influenced your playing and teaching?
20:00 Advertising, branding, marketing
27:40 From Todd's blog
38:05 Ben & Todd: Health
46:15 Casey: What's the sound? Diana Deutsch experiments  
57:15 Scott Charvet: Any negative reception on the Liquidrum videos?

The @Percussion - Episode 124 - Artifact Percussion

124 - Lexie Fiorini and Aaron Trumbore

Joining us this week are the founders of Artifact Percussion: Lexie Fiorini and Aaron Trumbore.  Established in 2014, they aim to produce quality percussion products by hand using methods, packaging, and practices that are sustainable and non-damaging to the planet.  They made their first trip to the PASIC Exhibition Hall in 2017.

Watch here. Listen below.

0:00 intro and hello
4:30 How important is it to go to PASIC?  
9:50 Facebook questions:  Starting Artifact, background, business.  
15:43 PAS Rhythm Discovery Center
20:40 Business skills you learned?    
25:50 What products are next?
39:10 Megan: The Halo company
58:00 What ways do you hope to give back to the percussion community?

The @Percussion - Episode 123 - Escape 10

123 - Escape 10: Annie Stevens and Andrea Venet

Escape 10 joins us for this episode.  Made of Annie Stevens and Andrea Venet, the duo has made a name for themselves as commissioners, performers, and presenters of new keyboard-centric percussion duos.  Their first tour was in 2011, and since they have released an album, recorded another, and performed in Showcase Concert at PASIC 2016.

Watch here. Listen below.

0:00  Intro and hello
4:14  Long distance duo?  
10:30  The Escape 10 name?
12:05  Putting pieces together long distance.
16:45  Relationship with Malletech and KPP?
19:57  Sponsorships in general  
22:03  Casey: What's the sound?  Hint: Alvin Lucier
36:40  Charlotte Mabrey:  Memorizing and retaining music?  
41:30  Megan: Silk Road Ensemble
51:15  Ben: Working with composers?