Fort Hays State (KS) Director of Percussion Studies Luke Helker stops by to talk about the FHSU job and about recruiting to a small regional college (02:45), his recent presentation at the Canadian Percussion Network’s annual conference and its beginnings (17:05), growing up in Pennsylvania, his vast array of musical influences and experiences, getting to travel with family, and his years of undergrad at Millersville University (PA) studying percussion and audio production (25:50), his grad school years at the University of Kansas, his time as a wedding DJ, studying under Mike Compitello and Sam Um, and his early teaching experiences (49:10), and then Luke settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including segments on marching vs. concert percussion, great and terrible movies, John Steinbeck, metal music, Philly sports, and the artist Alphonse Mucha (01:11:30).
Finishing with a Rave on the book and movie versions of The Odyssey (01:48:05).
Luke Helker Links:
Luke Helker’s Fort Hays State website
Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:
Other Links:
“The Ice is Talking” - Vivian Fung
“Allegro ma non troppo” - Unsuk Chin
Stick Control - George L. Stone
Toccata for Percussion Instruments - Carlos Chavez
Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture - PI Tchaikovsky
Symphony No. 2 - Jean Sibelius
“I Loved Her First” - Heartland
“Celebration” - Kool and the Gang
“Turn Down for What” - DJ Snake and Lil Jon
Reflections on the Nature of Water - Jacob Druckman
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift trailer
The Winter of Our Discontent - John Steinbeck
Eagles vs. Patriots Super Bowl LII
“Friends in Low Places” - Garth Brooks
Alphonse Mucha - Nelson Atkins Museum
Raves: