Percussion (and other things)
PASIC Week is here! Let’s preview some of the clinics, performances, and presentations you can see this year. Presenting on Thursday are I-Jen Fang (02:20), Tim Feerst (11:45), Shawn Mativetsky (25:45), Gifford Howarth (42:45) and Karen Yu (01:02:50).
Links:
University of Oklahoma Chair of the Percussion Area Andrew Richardson stops by to talk about his job, the OU-Texas football rivalry, and the OU Percussion Press (03:40), growing up in Northern Virginia and playing in jazz band and marching band (24:15), getting his undergrad degree from James Madison University (VA) and playing in a pop/punk band in high school (34:20), returning to JMU for his masters (49:05), heading to OU for his doctorate and his dissertation research on the marimba music of Raymond Helble (59:35), and stays for the Random Ass Questions, including segments on the OKC Thunder, Oklahoma tornados, What-A-Burger, and local concerts (01:14:25).
Finishing with a Rave about attending a recent Samara Joy concert (01:28:30).
Andrew Richardson Links:
Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:
Other Links:
“Crown of Thorns” - David Maslanka
“Palace of Nine Perfections” - Eric Ewazen
“Debris Field” - Jessica Flanigan
“Stained Glass” - David Gillingham
“The Final Countdown” - Europe
The Go-Go’s documentary trailer
End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones documentary trailer
Teaching Percussion - Gary Cook
“Diabolic Variations” - Raymond Helble
“Limerick Daydreams” - Nathan Daughtrey
“Sharpened Stick” - Brett Dietz
“Sculpture in Wood” - Rudiger Pawassar
Modern School for Xylophone, Vibraphone, and Marimba - Morris Goldenberg
“Preludes 1-5” - Michael Burritt
“Der Provokateur” - Leander Kaiser
“The Worried Drummer” - Adolf Schreiner
“Nagoya Marimbas” - Steve Reich
“Beads of Glass” - Gordon Stout
Raves:
Sam Houston State University (TX) Director of Percussion Studies John Lane stops by to talk about his job and the journey to get there (03:00), the social justice collaborative project The Innocents with Al Otte (22:30), his podcast Standing in the Stream (31:40), growing up in central Texas, music within his family, and his time in DCI (41:30), going to Stephen F. Austin State University (TX) for undergrad and becoming more serious about his physical fitness as an adult (50:20), his Masters at North Texas, teaching in Wyoming, and going to Cincinnati Conservatory of Music (OH) for his doctorate (01:01:25), and finishing with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on composers of percussion music, his love of cooking, Oppenheimer, and Susan Neiman (01:15:40).
Finishing with a Rave on the 4K re-release of the 1984 concert film Stop Making Sense (01:46:50).
John Lane Links:
Standing in the Stream: Conversations with Creatives podcast
Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:
Raves:
East Central University (OK) Director of Bands and Director of Percussion Studies Nick Meyers stops by to talk about his school, recruiting to the university, and the alumni donor network he’s cultivated (03:20), his composition background, being on Percussive Arts Society committees, and incorporating composition and improvisation into his teaching (17:20), growing up in Augusta (GA), The Masters Golf tournament, getting into music, and working outside of music (30:50), getting lots of different experiences in percussion during his undergrad at Augusta State (GA) (45:00), going to the University of Tennessee for his master’s (56:00), teaching for the next 7 years, moving to North Dakota State University for his doctorate, the NDSU football juggernaut, and his research on timpani teaching and performance (01:06:30), and finishing with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on the Indiana Jones movies, traveling throughout Europe, and the Expressionist work of Edvard Munch (01:20:30).
Finishing with a Rave on the 2007 documentary Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story (01:42:30).
Nick Meyers links:
Nick Meyers’ East Central University homepage
Previous Podcast Guests Mentioned:
Other links:
“You Make My Dreams (Come True)” - Hall and Oates
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark trailer
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade trailer
Rick Steves’ Churches of France
Raves:
Percussionist, bandleader, fitness instructor, Human Design Specialist and author Jen Hoeft stops by to talk about her life as a freelancer in Nashville, leading “The Jenerators”, being involved in bands “nearly” making it, and fitness instruction (02:50), her human design work, getting started in Nashville, following one’s curiosity and finding one’s passion (26:20), growing up in Pennsylvania and Virginia, getting in rudimental drumming, and different styles of learning (42:00), her undergrad years at James Madison University (VA), eventually getting a masters degree at the University of Arizona, teaching high school, and connecting to others through drums (01:00:15), and finishing with the Random Ass Questions segment (01:16:20).
Finishing with a Rave on reunions (01:40:30).
Links:
FUNdamental Fitness - Jen Hoeft
“The Right Time” - Ray Charles
“Don’t Take the Girl” - Tim McGraw
“Come Unto Me” - The Mavericks
“If Loving You is Wrong” - Barbara Mandrell
Eat, Pray, Love - Elizabeth Gilbert
“Achy Breaky Heart” - Billy Ray Cyrus
Barbie (2023) - Ken Plays Guitar
Violin Concerto - Camille Saint-Saëns
Guitarists playing Giant slugs
University of Tennessee-Knoxville Percussion Professor Andy Bliss returns to talk about growing up in the Quad Cities (IL and IA), his piano background, performing in DCI, playing and umpiring baseball, and collecting baseball cards (03:15), his undergrad years at Northern Illinois University and performing in a PASIC showcase concert as an undergrad with the Base4 Percussion Quartet (21:10), going to the University of Kentucky for his masters and doctorate (29:30), and finishing with the Random Ass Questions, including discussions on creating complete percussionists, great books, liking (nearly) every movie, Lego’s, great pizza, and Peter McKinnon’s YouTube channel (39:30).
Finishing with a Rave on the 1988 film Shag (01:07:25).
Pete’s 2023 Percussion Recital YouTube link
Andy Bliss Links:
Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:
Other links:
“Ogoun Badagris” - Christopher Rouse
Guardians of the Galaxy 3 trailer
Justin Timberlake and the Tennessee Kids trailer
Raves:
University of Tennessee-Knoxville Percussion Professor and Founder and Music Director of Nief-Norf Andy Bliss stops by to talk about getting the UTK job late in the first semester and the challenges of taking over (02:30), getting his system in place, installing group applied lessons, and the transition into a School of Music there (17:50), and talks about the beginnings of Nief-Norf, the importance of Entrepreneurship, and discussions of musicianship and storytelling (42:10).
Finishing with a Rave on the Mizzou-Kansas State football game and a Marching Mizzou special guest (01:07:45).
Andy Bliss Links:
Andy’s University of Tennessee-Knoxville homepage
Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:
Other Links:
“Reflections on the Nature of Water” - Jacob Druckman
“King of Denmark” - Morton Feldman
Raves:
University of North Texas (UNT) Coordinator of Percussion Studies Mark Ford returns to talk about getting his undergrad music education degree from East Carolina University (ECU) (03:00), getting his Master’s Degree from UNT and following with teaching stints at Murray State (KY) and Middle Tennessee State (10:10), his years teaching at ECU, working with Christopher Deane, the high level NC programs being built in the 1980s and 1990s, and developing Musicon Publications after acquiring the musical rights to Innovative Percussion’s catalog (31:30), and finishing with the Random Ass Questions, with segments on new percussion literature, great films, classics of Polish literature, the Green Bay Packers, and driving the wrong direction in California for PASIC (48:35).
Finishing with a Rave on the 1993 film Dazed and Confused and the 2018 podcast The Rewatchables: Dazed and Confused (01:20:30).
Mark Ford Links:
Mark Ford’s Innovative Percussion Webpage
Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:
Other Links:
“Sonata for Timpani” - John H. Beck
“Two Movements for Marimba” - Toshimitsu Tanaka
“Two Mexican Dances” - Gordon Stout
Concertino for Marimba and Orchestra - Paul Creston
Concerto for Marimba - Robert Kurka
“Etude for a Quiet Hall” - Christopher Deane
And There Was Light - Jon Meachem
Learning to Listen: The Jazz Journey of Gary Burton - An Autobiography - Gary Burton
Keiko Abe: A Virtuosic Life - Rebecca Kite
Raves:
University of North Texas Coordinator of Percussion Studies Mark Ford stops by to talk about meeting folks at PASIC, his percussion responsibilities and the challenges of the job, how Grad Assistants factor in, and dealing with over 200 juries (03:05), getting into composing and the “Head Talk” pretuned heads (25:20), his time as Percussive Arts Society President, moving headquarters to Indianapolis, and “Jocks vs. Drummers” (37:40), and growing up in Virginia, his marching background and coming from a family of artists (46:00).
Finishing with a Rave on the TV Series Origins of Hip Hop (59:30).
Mark Ford Links:
Mark’s Innovative Percussion page
Previous podcast guests mentioned:
Other links:
Paul Rennick and Santa Clara Vanguard
Concerto for Marimba and Wind Ensemble - Mark Ford
“Stubernic Fantasy” - Mark Ford
“ESPN Bows to Offended Drummers” - NPR
Raves:
Huntington Beach High School Academy for the Performing Arts (CA) Director of Pop Music Studies and Music Media Entertainment Technology Chair Danielle Collins stops by to talk about her job there (02:05), her work with WGI group Pulse Percussion (26:30), growing up in Rancho Cucamonga, CA (44:00), studying percussion at Cal State-Fullerton and Cal State-Long Beach for undergrad, teaching high school band and orchestra, and transitioning to her new career (51:05), and finishing with the Random Ass Questions, including sections on navigating the band world as a woman, terrible movies, Atomic Habits, Formula One Racing, and the Street Art Museum in Amsterdam (01:08:40).
Finishing with a Rave on the 2023 film Afire (01:27:30).
Danielle Collins Links:
Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:
Other Links:
“Stars and Stripes Forever” - John Philip Sousa
“Superstition” - Stevie Wonder
“Surfer Girl” - The Beach Boys
Pulse Percussion on America’s Got Talent
Formula 1: Drive to Survive trailer
Happiness for Beginners trailer
Raves:
University of Central Florida Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities Jeff Moore stops by to talk about his job at UCF, the massive growth of the school, growing the program, and bringing on other faculty (03:30), discussions of motivation and drive (35:35), his administrative career there (42:10), growing up in California, his early percussion encounters and years in DCI, and his time in Mock Trial and Mock Congress in high school (01:01:35), more about his time at North Texas and Wisconsin-Madison (01:24:00) and finishing with the Random Ass Questions, including discussions of the challenging nature of higher education finance, great books, playing Steve Reich’s “Nagoya Marimbas” for elementary school students, and taking in great music in Europe (01:40:00).
Finishing with a Rave on Beyoncé’s 2023 Renaissance tour (02:05:00).
Links:
Previous Podcast Guests Mentioned:
Other Topics/Folks Mentioned:
“Malagueña” - Madison Scouts 1988
Like Water for Chocolate trailer
“Nagoya Marimbas” - Steve Reich
The Flying Dutchman Overture - Richard Wagner
The Four Seasons - Antonio Vivaldi
Macbeth Overture - Giuseppi Verdi
The Last Supper - Leonardo da Vinci
Raves:
Percussionist, Educator and Entrepreneur Mariana Ramirez stops by to talk about freelancing in New York City, working on Broadway, and her experiences with the COVID shutdown (03:05), all things Excelsis Percussion (16:15), growing up in Mexico City, her late entry into studying music full-time, her extracurricular activities, and the vast size of her hometown (31:15), studying at Rutgers University (NJ) and the challenging transition to a new country (54:15), her life post-undergrad, revving up her freelancing career, and managing her mental health (01:05:25), and finishing with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on students taking on too much, her experiences as a woman in the percussion world, Mexico-U.S. Soccer relations, the greatness of Mexican food, and the musical Hadestown (01:17:30).
Finishing with a Rave on the 2022 documentary Is That Black Enough For You?!? (01:41:50).
Links:
Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:
Other Links:
Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations
“Hyperballad” - Björk (performed by Excelsis Percussion)
Conservatorio Nacional de Musica
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring trailer
“Whenever, Wherever” - Shakira
Raves:
University of South Carolina’s Assistant Professor of Jazz Colleen Clark returns to discuss her time at Ithaca College (NY) for undergrad (02:10), more about her time at SUNY-Purchase for her Master’s and the University of North Texas for her doctorate (11:55), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including discussions of incorporating drumset and jazz into traditional methods and history courses, scatting, her loves of tennis, soccer and basketball, New England Pizza and driving, and Jackson Pollock (19:00).
Finishing with a Rave on the 2023 film Oppenheimer (01:05:35).
Colleen’s Links:
Previous Podcast Guest Links:
Other Links:
Greene Street United Methodist Church
Thelonious Monk - Robin D.G. Kelley
The Thelonious Monk Orchestra Live at Town Hall
The Bob’s Burgers Movie trailer
Sophisticated Giant - Maxine Gordon
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson
Bad Mexicans - Kelly Lyle Hernández
Look: The Story of Kenny Clarke - Mike Hennessey
Ella Fitzgerald - syllabic choice in Scat Singing - Justin Binek
Raves:
University of South Carolina (USC) Assistant Professor of Jazz Colleen Clark stops by to talk briefly about Art Blakey (02:10), her responsibilities at USC and getting the job (05:15), her composing and arranging career, creating Jazz Girls Day, women who play instrumental jazz, “cats”, and getting prepared for the job market (32:00), and growing up in Connecticut, her early years playing jazz and making connections, and her youth sports careers in cross country and equestrian show jumping (01:04:40).
Finishing with a Rave on the 2023 film Barbie (01:24:20).
Links:
Previous Podcast folks:
Other links:
Brevard Music Center Jazz Institute
Corridos of the Mexican Revolution
International Sweethearts of Rhythm
Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz
“Twilight World” - Marian McPartland
Sophisticated Giant - Maxine Gordon
Thelonious Monk - Robin D.G. Kelley
Raves:
Percussionist, Educator, Freelancer, Steel Pan Artist, and Santa Margarita High School (CA) Director of Percussion Studies Amanda Duncan returns to talk about her undergrad at CSU-Long Beach (03:00), her master’s degree from Northern Illinois (10:20), moving back to CA to start her career, and waiting tables (31:40), and finishing with the Random Ass Questions, including portions discussing Respect for Steel Pan, Dolly Parton, Harry Potter, cooking, and SIX The Musical (42:50).
Finishing with a Rave on the 2023 film Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning – Part One (01:02:20).
Links:
Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:
Other Links:
“Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” - steel pan arrangement
“Northern Lights” - Eric Ewazen
The All-American Drummer - Charley Wilcoxon
Mission Vista Steel Drum Program
E.T. The Extra Terrestrial trailer
Silver Stars Steel Band (Trinidad)
Raves:
Percussionist, Educator, Freelancer, Steel Pan Artist, and Santa Margarita Catholic High School (CA) Director of Percussion Studies Amanda Duncan stops by to talk about her job responsibilities (and the challenging situation she took over there), freelancing in CA, and the teaching of high school steel band and drumset (02:00), her involvement with PAN ROCKS! (29:40), and growing up in Long Beach (CA), her interests in tennis, gaming, and musical theater, and her beginnings in percussion (35:45).
Finishing with a Rave on the 2005 book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin (01:06:20).
Guest Links:
Links to previous podcast folks mentioned:
Other Links:
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
“Pretty Fly for a White Guy” - The Offspring
Sheila E.’s Drum solo from Sign O’ The Times
“Cello Suite No. 1 - Prelude” - J.S. Bach
Raves:
Percussionist, Educator, and Founder/Director of The Percussion Conservatory Joshua Vonderheide returns to talk about getting his Master’s Degree at Juilliard (NY) and Artist’s Diploma from Rice University (TX) (01:35) before settling into the Random Ass Questions segment, including portions on good mentorship, challenging life situations, The Matrix, great books and sports performers, South Asian food, and A.I. art (15:15).
Finishing with a Rave on the 2023 film Past Lives (01:02:00).
Links:
Part 1 with Joshua Vonderheide
The Percussion Conservatory Website
Ender’s Game - Orson Scott Card
The Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkien
Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra - Benjamin Britten
Raves
Percussionist, Educator, and creator of the Percussion Conservatory Joshua Vonderheide stops by to talk about his professional symphony experiences with the Malaysian Philharmonic and the Houston Symphony (03:15), the origins and operations of the Percussion Conservatory (22:05), growing up outside Houston (TX), his beginnings in percussion, and his experiences as a competitive swimmer (42:00), and his undergrad years of at Juilliard (NY) (01:04:00).
Finishing with a Rave on the 2022 film Monica (01:26:50).
Links to Previous Podcast Episodes:
Other Links:
Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra
Ethiopia’s Shadow in America - Florence Price
“Cortege” from Mlada - Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Scheherazade - Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Symphony No. 5 - Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Juilliard Summer Percussion Seminar
Music for 18 Musicians - Steve Reich
Raves:
Recent Mizzou Masters of Music Graduate in Percussion Performance Jeremiah Ingram stops by talk about his 2022 Masters recital (02:15), his responsibilities as Graduate Teaching Assistant with Marching Mizzou’s drumline, staying for a third year, the saturation of the music field, and heading to the University of Kentucky to start his doctorate in the Fall (08:00), growing up in Opelika, Alabama, being a first-generation college student, his high school percussion experiences, and being part of the Future Business Leaders of America (27:45), attending Auburn University (AL) for undergrad (43:45), his process of auditioning and preparing to come to Mizzou (01:04:15), and settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including the challenges of attending Primarily White Institutions (PWIs), great movies, the Boston Celtics, and great books and poetry (01:14:10).
Finishing with a Rave on the 2023 film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (01:40:30).
Links:
Guests from Previous Podcast Episodes mentioned:
Other Links:
“Over the Rainbow” - Robert Oetomo
“Eight on 3 and Nine on 2” - Robert Marino
Future Business Leaders of America
“The Kick 6” - Auburn vs. Alabama 2013
Mizzou vs. Auburn 2022 college football
“Transformation of Pachelbel’s Canon” - arr. Nanae Mimura
The Talent Code - Daniel Coyle
The Inner Game of Music - Tim Gallwey and Barry Green
A Return to Love - Marianne Williamson
Raves:
Capital University (OH) Director of Percussion Activities Julie Licata returns to talk about teaching post-undergrad in Columbus, taking a break from school, doing her master’s at the University of South Carolina, and teaching at 8AM (01:20), going to the University of North Texas for her doctorate and getting the SUNY-Oneonta job (17:10), and finishing with the Random Ass Questions, with sections on being a woman in academia, biking, cooking, great books, her Italian heritage, and the tambourine parts in the music of Motown (33:20).
Finishing with a Rave on the Fletch films (01:11:20).
Links:
Previous Podcast Episodes Mentioned:
Other Links:
The Percussionist’s Art - Steven Schick
Sheila E. drum solo from Sign O’ The Times
Printer scene from Office Space
The Overstory - Richard Powers
The Invention of Solitude - Paul Auster
Pete Sampras vs. Andre Agassi 2001 U.S. Open
Ain’t Too Proud musical selections
Standing in the Shadows of Motown - tambourine
Raves:
