@ Percussion Podcast

We are joined this week by Danish percussionist and composer Kai Stensgaard.  Kai is also the inventor of the aluphone, author of books and pieces about his 6-mallet technique, and founder of several chamber music projects combining marimba with other instruments.Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 Intro and hello2:17 Discovering marimba, early experience and teachers6:40 Where is marimba literature is going10:35 6-mallets, Dean Gronemeier20:15 Ben: 6-mallets (overview and some history)30:50 Casey/Laurel: What's the sound?  Synesthesia paintings43:43 Use of improvisation in your pieces and study?45:10 Latin influence in your music?46:50 Duo and body percussion group?48:00 Upcoming?49:55 Aluphone instrument

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. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 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 do21:20 Megan: Border Percussion story - Inuksuit performed across the Mexico/US border43:35 Ben: Alejandro Vinao1:00:37 Marco Schirripa: Your stage presence?  1:03:25 Will Marinelli:

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. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 Intro and hello3:25 Working/practicing with kids?  5:38 Finding practice time as a university professor10:20 Starting percussion in Taiwan?  Ju Percussion Group  commissions.23:50 Ben: Toru Takemitsu44:00 The Wave -Keiko Abe52:40 Getting to Moorhead State, then on to DePauw.  Brian Mason

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. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 Intro and hello1:10  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 National33:12 15 years collaboration  34:21 Little missed joke at PASIC36:16 Mixed performance art pieces, your large programmatic works49:21 Advice to young percussionists who would like to create  their own performing group?

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. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 Intro and hello2:12 Upcoming projects?  4:50 Being in a long-distance duo?  13:14 Laurel/Ben: Goal setting with a sense of realism, andpsychology of unrealistic goalsbullet 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 Rica47:30 Diversity and the John Mackey Midwest booth

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. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 Intro and hello2:25 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 music21:30 Casey: What's the sound?30:40 Minoru Miki37:22 Ben: Taiko drums and history48:00 Xenakis - Rebonds and memorization55:20 performing with Yo Yo Ma and Emanuel Ax?

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. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 Intro and hello3:10 She-e and the Ewazen Concerto7:45 Larry Lawless: time balance and schedule?  12:20 Horn collaboration and CD14:00 Touring and emotions that follow23:45 Teaching vs performing full-time?26:27 Getting started, Doc (Robert Schietroma) from UNT, Mr. Ju, coming to UNT from Taiwan35:20 Troy Hall: favorite memory of UNT drumline?38:25 Boston Globe article - Boston Symphony and more callsfor more diverse composers51:00 She-e as a composer55:00 Will Marinelli: how can we continue to advance marimba literature and performance?59:47 William Brown: building chops without damaging your hands?&

Tony Cirone was kind enough to join us for this episode of @ percussion.  He's not only the author of Portraits in Rhythm and its many "sequels," but also a distinguished orchestral player, performing with the San Francisco Symphony for nearly 40 years.  We were particularly excited to hear his take on the orchestra strikes in Pennsylvania, which began just before taping this episode.Topics: his new book, Buster Bailey, inner workings of being in an orchestra, the PA strikesWatch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 Intro and hello1:20 “Portraits in Rhythm” 50th Anniversary7:18 “The Logic of It All”8:45 Mike Cerreto: How did self-confidence in yourself as a performer and person help you overcome professional challenges in your long, distinguished career?12:52 Orchestra members gaining control of auditions17:45 The changing audition scene21:40 Caleb Pickering: Can you and the panel share your thoughts about w

Laurel and this week's guest, Jeremy Smith, were once studio-mates at the University of Tennessee before moving up north to continue musical studies.  Now a graduate of Juilliard, Jeremy has made a name for himself as a specialist in hand percussion from many cultures.You can find him on Instagram at jpsnycTopics: 2016 International Percussion Festival in Seoul, Korea; ideas of pedagogy for maraca playing, Laurel's discovery of research in the field of embodiment theories of emotionWatch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 Intro and hello2:26 Percussion Festival in Seoul, South Korea4:03 Chat window5:17 Venezuelan maraca playing6:51 Javier Alvarez’s Temezcal15:18 Brooklyn Nomads17:45 Laurel: Your iPhone is Ruining Your Posture – And Your Mood33:46 Aesthetics of Performance43:36 Jeremy’s Influences48:04 Silk Road Global Musician Workshop52:41 Intersection of Classical and World Music58:03 Studying what you are interested in and

They're the marimba power couple of Schumann-ian proportions: Pius Chueng and Eriko Daimo.In addition to being teachers (in Oregon and NY) and internationally known performers, they are also our dear friends.  Their dog, Partita, makes a few cameo appearances in this episode.Topics: Nancy Zeltsman and her teaching style, finding satisfaction in playing, Facebook questionsWatch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 Marimba dog0:15 Intro and hello1:28 Recent travels and projects4:37 Heyston Yu: Will you talk more about orchestration in your music? How do you connect thoughts between playing piano and playing marimba? And when will you both consider publishing your next album?9:24 Ted Jackson: I really love Professor Chang’s book “Colors.” Would you mind explaining how it came about?10:45 Michael Cerreto: How does your own self-evaluation and self-criticism help you continually advance as an artist? How does the same self-judgement

We had a great chat with jazz vibraphonist Ed Smith, faculty member at the University of North Texas and SMU.  Ben was able to meet with him in person for this interview.Topics: Gamelan, jazz vibes, the Malletech Love vibe, John Cage, Gamelan WanitaWatch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 Intro and hello1:40 Ed’s current projects and relationship with Ben4:46 Malletech Love Vibe and pedaling technique13:09 “Neptune” and vibrato notation15:58 Mason: “How did you first get interested in gamelan and decide to bring it to UNT?”20:02 Shadow Puppetry and Gender Wayang24:33 Transcribing Balinese music27:28 Establishing a gamelan at UNT29:50 Dance and Martha Graham33:03 Megan: Gamelan Wanita38:22 Composing for Gamelan Gong Kebyar40:54 Gamelan Beleganjur42:36 Working with John Cage44:44 Ben: John Cage, part 155:27 Working with Stuart Copland58:16 Ted Jackson: What is the most important thing you want your students to know by the time

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. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 intro and hello2:40 Background6:55 Lessons learned from Ed Soph?  16:16 Your composition style?  19:50 Ben:  Baby Dodds & some drumset history42:00 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?

We were stoked to hang out with composer Steven Snowden for this episode.We cover a variety of topics, including his compositional inspiration and practice, including electronics, and focus on specific works, such as Looner Eclipse.  Megan presents an article called "Decolonizing Our Music," and Laurel starts a new, quick weekly segment which highlights one musically relevant quote and its speaker.Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 Intro and welcome3:20 Creative Inspiration5:20 Taos Hum7:43 Podcasts10:15 Sound creation13:20 Why electronics? 26:00 Performing background 30:30 "Looner Eclipse"32:45 "Decolonizing Our Music" article. Distribution, money, mainstream. 54:00 Electronic influence on tradition 1:00:06 Formal composition training or no? 1:10:33 Laurel's quote

Joining us for Episode 71 is Brandon Arvay: educator, percussionist, and curator of an active blog and website.We talk about blogging strategies, skills musicians need besides just playing, the cross-discipline tradition and why on earth we don't do it anymore, and Ben presents on drummer Steve Gadd.Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 hello2:04 Brandon Arvay and Blogging 14:28 Steve Gadd21:18 Cross studies tradition/why don't we tapdance anymore?!!28:00 What other skills musicians need

 And now for something completely different! Casey came across the podcast Listening to Ladies in November 2016 and was curious to know more about it - and we're so glad its founder and host, Elisabeth Blair, could find the time to record an episode with us.With Elisabeth we chat about her reasons and work for the Listening to Ladies podcast and how to balance its demands with the rest of life.  Women-specific composition festivals and opportunities are mentioned, as well as the current diversity between the sexes in the world of percussion. Closing quotes from Robert Schumann on Clara's music, and Sofia Gubaidulina.Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 intro and hello1:40 Listening to Ladies 4:03 LtL - Call for Scores4:36 Why create LtL?22:58 The work behind LtL29:37 Time and balance 34:20 TomTom Magazine feature40:44 Women Composer's Hartford festival42:57 Women

The illustrious and profound Steven Schick needs no introduction from us; we were all too eager to sit with him for an hour or so.In this episode Steven answers several Facebook questions (Thanks to Fernando, Caleb, Diego, Theo, and Shaun for submissions!), his relationship with longtime friend David Lang, learning Ferneyhough and Xenakis, commissioning, our increasingly specialized field, and the pitfalls of "overtraining."Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 hello1:33 wrapping up the semester 3:10 facebook questions:3:25 Fernando Meza: What, in your opinion, is the most valuable aspect of contemporary music in a society besieged by musical alternatives and how can we as practitioners, best contribute to its appreciation amongst non-musicians?13:05 collaborations outside of music14:15 The Schick Machine15:16 Caleb Pickering: If you were to create an addendum to your book,

Hello, 2017!  To start off this new year we are joined by Tom Burritt, Director of Percussion Studies at UT, Austin.  Tom is known as a marimba soloist and percussionist for the twice GRAMMY-nominated choir Conspirare.  Additionally, his video-based episodic Axiom TV was one of the first dives into the combination of classical percussion and new technology.We talk about the details of his IP mallets, Joseph Schwantner, the "10,000 hour rule" of mastery, being a student for life, and "grit;" he also answers several questions from Facebook.Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 hello 3:25 Ted Jackson: Tom's new mallets from IP? 12:00 Joseph Schwantner 22:00 Gordon Stout: Your overall philosophy of teaching? 28:20 Micah Detweiler: Performing with vocal ensembles? 31:22 Caleb Pickering: Music in three dimensions? 38:50 Ben: Studying with Gordon Stout? 42:02 Tony Kirk: Time and balance? 45:54 10,000 hour "rule", "S

Joining us this week is Tracy Wiggins, coordinator of the percussion program at The University of North Alabama.  His interests and experiences are varied, ranging from principle timpanist for several orchestras, to a tuba-percussion duo called Peruba, to playing in the pit for numerous operas and musicals.Topics: Mariah Carey's year-ending performance, hearing protection and decibel results from PASIC 2016, music programming debates, and John Cage's Third ConstructionWatch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 Hello and Happy New Year 10:33 Hearing protection and PASIC 2016 decibel tests results33:31 Quote from Andrew Normam on NewMusicBox.org on why we should program new music54:15 John Cage 3rd Construction - form and "Square Root" formula

Joining us this is new PAS President and Director of Percussion at Texas A&M Univ.-Commerce: Brian Zator.  Naturally, PAS is a big topic of discussion, as well as his experience in Japan with Keiko Abe.Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 Intro and hello2:47 What are you most excited about, being the new PAS President? 4:35 Are there significant changes with different PAS Presidents?8:30 What do you hope to accomplish in the next two years with PAS? Group memberships, university library subscription, fund raising, 13:00 PAS Keiko Abe commission15:34 Website issues?19:55 Minoru Miki, "Marimba Spiritual", recording "Time"34:45 How did you come to study with Keiko Abe in Japan? 37:50 As her student, what has been Keiko Abe's greatest impact on you?39:50 Traditional grip? 44:30 What do you do outside of music?47:50 Other projects? Makoto Nakura 50:00 PAS with art as a whole?55:25 Becoming Presiden

Joining us is Director of Percussion at SFA: Dr. Brad Meyer. He's also the chair of the Health and Wellness Committee. Naturally, we talk about some of Brad's articles and clinics, as well as the tips and traps for those first college teaching jobs.We're also joined by a host from the Sublist - Brandon Arvay, and two Tag-Along Hosts: Ana Provo (with Megan) and Caleb Pickering (with Casey).Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 Intro and hello3:30 What's new with Brad? New consortium7:10 The "Side Hussle"19:10 Big degrees and so few jobs28:00 From 1-year position to tenure track33:56 Saying yes to too much - "Burn Out"