The @Percussion Podcast

The @Percussion Podcast - Episode 24 - TAPS - Part 1

024 - Special Edition: Ted Atkatz, Tim Jones, and TAPS OZ

Recorded on location in Adelaide, South Australia during the Ted Atkatz Percussion Seminar (TAPS OZ).  We are joined by Ted, Tim Jones, Andrew Wiering, and some of the participants of the seminar.

This info-filled episode appears in two parts.

Part 1: self-publication, big publishing houses, streaming, music for free?

Part 2: looking for grad schools, views of music education in the US, brevity in composition, and of course some really attempts at Australian accents.

0:00  Intro and hello
1:04  Favorite things about TAPS
2:06  Ted’s new duo “Turnkey Hotel”
9:07  Major publishers vs. Self-publishing 1
1:51  Tim Jones’ “Rock ‘n’ Roll: Its Origins and Innovators”
16:03  Streaming music vs. purchasing CDs
21:07  Active listening vs. passive listening
23:59  Napster and devaluing music
31:38  Make a CD or not?
37:04  New releases for NYCO
41:15  Wrap

The @Percussion Podcast - Episode 23 - David Arns and Rob Dillon

023 - David Arns and Robert Dillon 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This episode was recorded over the 2015 holidays, hence why we are all in different locations than normal!  Megan's dad is a professor of marketing, and Robert Dillon is one of the brains behind Third Coast Percussion.  They both joined us to create a great episode about grant writing, filling a niche, and the basics of marketing to an audience.

Other topics are the strengths of introversion/extroversion in music and The Beatles go streaming.

0:00  Intro and hello
1:41  The Beatles, advent of streaming services, vinyl
13:11  Ted Jackson: What are the basic rules and strategies of marketing?
16:54  Ted Jackson: How does Third Coast continue to grow while already being one of the premiere chamber groups, and how do you plan your concerts, trips, and residencies throughout the year?
19:45  Joe Charles: Is it better to focus your marketing on narrow perspective and increase your focus over time, or market more generally and narrow your focus as you find niches. For example, do you cast a single lure to attract a certain type of fish or cast a wide net and take what you can get?
30:00  Laurel: Introvert vs. Extrovert (based on “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephan Covey, “Mastery of Music” by Barry Green, and “Quiet” by Susan Cane)
41:35  Rodney Rote Jr: I’ve had mentors tell me that as a musician I must sell myself. What are your thoughts on that and would you suggest a student to “get out there” while they’re a student or focus on developing their skills while in school?
49:24  Grant writing (experience from the Lewis & Clark Fife and Drums Corps and Third Coast Percussion)
1:00:08  Value-added marketing
1:06:14  Wrap

The @Percussion Podcast - Episode 22 - Jeff Mulvihill

022 - Jeff Mulvihill

 

 

Joining us is Jeff Mulvihill, freelance percussionist and Majestic/Mapex Product Manager.

Other topics are the Deagan company, Jan Swafford's new Beethoven biography, sponsorships, internships, and the industry.

0:00  Intro and hello
1:07  Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic and KHS presence at other trade shows
3:49  Will Marinelli: What are some unique aspects of your job at Majestic that people may not know about?
7:32  Developing concert percussion instruments
13:45  Preparing for a job in the percussion industry
17:38  Ben: John Calhoun Deagan
28:14  Thomas Rossing’s “The Science of Percussion Instruments” and PAS’s Research Journals
37:03  Laurel: Beethoven
53:02  Megan: Internships in the Percussion Industry
58:25  Advice from Jeff regarding internships in the percussion industry
1:02:48  How do I get sponsored?
1:08:20  Audio format update and wrap

The @Percussion Podcast - Episode 21 - Excelsis Percussion Quartet

021 - Excelsis Percussion Quartet

Excelsis Percussion is a new quartet in NYC. 
We sat down with two of its members: Mariana Ramirez and Marcelina Suchocka.

Topics: Vida Chenoweth and Valarie Naranjo.

 

0:00 Intro and hello
1:37  Excelsis Percussion Quartet formation
5:33  Coordinating percussion logistics in New York City
9:23  From the Top program and grant for instruments
13:05  Ben: Vida Chenoweth
21:36  Scott Schumann: As a group with a wide diversity of backgrounds, were or are there any cultural barriers or any other difficulties that you have had to overcome when working together in terms of practicing, selecting repertoire, and/or performing, etc.?
24:54  Carlos Johnson: Mariana, how are female percussionists treated in Mexico and how does it differ from your experience in the US?
27:43  Ted Jackson: Aside from percussion, what do you all like to do?
29:54  Megan: Valerie Naranjo, Ayodele Drum & Dance, and Nimbaya
36:27  Sexism and gender inequality in the music/percussion worlds
42:28  Carol Arns: What inspired you to play percussion?
48:25  Paul Lansky’s “Threads”
52:26  Carlos Johnson: Is there an expected CD and is there going to be another Call for Scores?
53:45  Tippet Rise Music Festival and Marcelina’s upcoming recital
55:52  Future of the quartet
59:23  Wrap

The @Percussion Podcast - Episode 20 - Julie Hill

020 - Julie Hill

PAS President and Professor at UT, Martin took time out of her super busy schedule to join us for this episode.  Check out our great conversation with Dr. Julie Hill.

Topics: Russel Peck's Glory and Grandeur percussion concerto trio, PASIC, applying to PASIC, PAS, Slate article "Sonata-Allegro Snooze" by Bryan Lowder

0:00  Intro and hello
1:36  Being PAS President and UT-M Department Chair
4:45  Ted Jackson: How does PASIC happen? How many moving pieces are there in PAS?
8:10  Why go to PASIC?
9:50  Regional PASICs / Days of Percussion
13:45  Spotlight Chapter: Utah
16:57  Ben: Russel Peck’s “The Glory and the Grandeur” percussion concerto trio
22:54  The health of our percussion repertoire
27:21  Levels of Appeal
34:49  Laurel: "Sonata-Allegro Snooze" by Bryan Lowder in Slate Magazine
47:29  Caleb Pickering: Being PAS President seems like a heavy duty. What are some of the things you did or didn’t expect getting into? Were there any parallels or oppositions in needed skills from your current job teaching and being interim chair?
54:32  X4 Quartet
57:26  Charlotte Mabary: What does it take to get accepted as an artist or presenter at PASIC?
1:04:28  What do you like to do for fun?
1:07:06  Julie’s PAS Cover Story about Brazilian Music
1:08:36  Wrap

The @Percussion Podcast - Episode 19 - John Parks, IV

019 - John Parks, IV

Professor at FSU and owner of Garnet House Productions John W. Parks, IV joins us this week to talk about his recently published document about higher ed jobs, among other things. 

Topics: Recording, applying/interviewing for university jobs, David Maslanka's "Crown of Thorns"

0:00  Intro and hello
1:03  “Ten Windows” FSU Percussion Studio CD
1:47  Garnet House Productions and its inception in the FSU Percussion Studio
6:06  Recording class at FSU, prescreening videos
7:50   Ted Jackson: What were your initial intentions when you first began to pursue your interest in recording, and how have your intentions changed? (student advancements, pre-screenings, etc.)
8:19  Thoughts on prescreening applicants
15:25  Alan Lang: For a musician just starting out in the recording process, what are some helpful tips you would recommend to go about the whole ordeal?
19:44  Will James project
21:33  Importance of keeping up with technology
23:18   Sabbatical Project: Recording Webinar
26:23  The University Position from the Percussionist’s Point of View
38:25  Preparing for collegiate percussion position interviews
47:36   Laurel: Stephen Covey’s “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” - Public Victories, Think Win-Win
56:25   Carlos Johnson: Regarding percussion curriculums, some of which are dated back to 50 years ago, how do you prepare students with a curriculum considering the new job market, the business side, and the technological side?
1:01:16  Ben: David Maslanka's "Crown of Thorns"
1:11:20   Health of the job market
1:19:31  Will Marinelli: How has recording changed the way you play percussion?
1:20:20  Brian Blume: From your perspective, what sets apart the best and most successful students from those who struggle to make a career in percussion or music?
1:21:06  Wrap

The @Percussion Podcast - Episode 18 - Francesca Santangelo

018 - Francesca Santangelo

Joining us this week is Italian percussionist Francesca Santangelo.  She currently teaches in Germany, but is one of the directors of the Italy PAS Competition and Festival, which is going 13 years strong.  

Topics: Italy PAS and the Broadway Alzheimer's iPod Drive

0:00 Intro and hello
2:04 Background being a 4th generation percussionist
6:08 Italy PAS competition, cultural exchange
11:06 Planning the next event, new online duo/ensemble contest
13:54 Past guest artists
15:20 Matthew Crane: You’ve had masterclasses with practically everyone. What differences in playing do you encounter from different musicians in different areas of the world? I know that brass players would find a huge difference.
18:50 Megan: Broadway Alzheimer's iPod Drive
26:53 Music education in Europe
32:57 Availability of studying with teachers in other countries
37:14 Speaking multiple languages
41:38 Teaching styles in Europe vs. America
49:34 Weaknesses of American and Italian styles
56:20 Influence of Italy PAS on the percussion scene in Italy
1:00:52 Italian composers writing for percussion
1:03:25 Activities outside music
1:05:32 Wrap

The @Percussion Podcast - Episode 17 - PASIC Review

017 - PASIC Review

We talk about what we saw, heard, and loved at PASIC 2015 in San Antonio.  Megan and Ben had percussion ensemble concerts just a few days before, and Megan talks about the student activism at Mizzou.

 

0:00 Intro and hello, first live session
1:05 Megan’s percussion ensemble concert at MU
4:09 Protests at Mizzou, Bernstein quote
15:04 Ben’s percussion ensemble concert at FAU
17:43 PASIC Focus Day - Time in Motion: The Art of Percussive Gesture, Casey’s concert
19:44 Notating gestural pieces
25:24 Laurel’s Health & Wellness presentation - Body Mapping
32:43 Megan’s panel discussion – University Committee: Graduate Recruitment
46:05 When was your first PASIC?
52:38 PASIC All-Star Ensemble
59:20 Wrap

The @Percussion Podcast - Episode 16 - Transient Canvas

016 - Transient Canvas

Made up of Matt Sharrock and Amy Advocat, Transient Canvas is a new marimba/[bass]clarinet duo grounded in Boston.  To only be a few years established, 40 premieres is rather impressive.

Topics: Insomnia, Historically Black Colleges and Universities 
(H.B.C.U.) drumline competitions, Kevin Puts - And Legions Will Rise trio for clarinet, violin, and marimba

0:00 Intro and hello
2:53 Transient Canvas commissions
4:38 Megan: HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) Drumlines
17:05 EQ Ensemble
17:56 Laurel: Insomnia
30:05 Choosing composers to commission
33:31 Committing to performances and recordings
36:16 Limiting instrumentation
38:51 Workshopping with composers, Avaloch Music Farm Institute
43:49 Repertoire and programming
46:30 Venues, instrumentation
49:50 Ben: Kroumata disbanding, Delecluse passing, Kevin Puts’ “And Legions Will Rise”
59:42 Future projects
59:04 Wrap

The @Percussion Podcast - Episode 15 - Gordon Stout

015 - Gordon Stout

Gordon Stout needs no introduction from us, but in case you don't know him, he teaches at Ithaca, is one of the great composer/percussionists, and - as we learned in talking to him - a truly wonderful person.

Topics: Creativity, the first PASIC, and many Facebook questions for Gordon

0:00  Intro and hello

3:18  Ben: History of the Percussive Arts Society (PAS) and Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC)
7:12  Gordon’s performance at the first PASIC and “Two Mexican Dances”
9:58  Ted Jackson: How exactly did you come up with your four-mallet grip and how do you achieve smaller intervals using it?
13:04  Will Marinelli / Ben: What kind of changes have you seen in our field over the years?
15:28  Carlos Johnson: What are your thoughts on the evolution of marimba mallets?
18:30  Carlos Johnson: What is your stance on Rosewood conservation?
21:18  Creating many sounds via one mallet vs. having many mallet choices
23:45  Laurel: Thoughts on "Creativity" by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi part 2, personal creativity
38:23  Chris Scarberry: Has your performance of your older works evolved since the first publishing and how so? For example, do you still perform “Two Mexican Dances” the way you used to?
42:25  Paul Mollette: What is your process of composing and how has your compositional style changed over the years, if at all?
43:50  Advice for young percussionists interested in starting to compose
46:27  Lucas Garner: What do think about the current state of solo marimba repertoire? There are a large and still growing number of marimba solos being written all the time, yet it seems like only a few majors composers are still writing for the instrument. For example, Alejandro Vinao, Paul Lansky, Steve Mackey, and maybe just a few others.
53:18  Commissioning new works
57:35  Chamber works with marimba
1:03:10  Upcoming Musser Marimba Festival in Kuntztown, PA
1:04:50  Wrap