Minneapolis (MN)-based freelance percussionist and educator Eri Isomura stops by to discuss her freelancing work, 10th Wave Music, networking, and the amount of planning needed to put it all together (03:40), her responsibilities when she taught at St. Olaf (MN), changes in her life once she became a mom, and the “Three M’s of Freelancing” (22:30),…

Allen Otte returns to talk about getting to Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, taking over the percussion program, establishing the Percussion Group Cincinnati at the school, and building a program (01:40), the changing personnel of PGC, commissioning composers, performing with students, being the “institutional memory”, and his decision to retire (…

Retired Cincinnati Conservatory of Music Professor, co-founder of BlackEarth Percussion Group and the Percussion Group Cincinnati, and performing percussionist Allen Otte stops by to talk about his current work with an early music improvisational group and The Innocents Project with John Lane (03:50), growing up in Sheboygan, WI, playing in church …

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Music Professor Bill Sallak stops by to talk about his job and dual role as director of percussion and audio engineering, working previously at Kent State (OH), Akros Percussion Collective, and manufacturing his own percussion items (03:20), growing up near Buffalo (NY), his interests in science and math, and watch…

Denver-based sound bath specialist and freelance percussionist Arin Levy returns to talk about getting their DMA from Alabama, falling out of interest in getting a teaching job, and their personalized dissertation (01:35), getting into sound baths, moving to Denver, and working for MakeMusic (19:25), and settles in for the Random Ass Questions segm…

Denver (CO)-based percussionist Arin Levy stops by to talk about Enso Sounds, gong selection, dealing with logistics, and the business of sound baths (03:15), growing up in Canton (OH), drum corps, playing trombone, and their involvement in theater (26:40), their undergrad years at Ohio University (36:55), going to Eastern Kentucky for master’s and…

High Point University (NC) Professor of Percussion, Theory and Composition Louis Raymond-Kolker stops by to chat about HPU, North Carolina, and teaching at Appalachian State and Winston-Salem State (02:25), getting into composing and the art of teaching composition (26:05), growing up in Austin, TX and getting into all things percussion (37:40), hi…

Percussionist, Band Leader, and Podcaster Blair Helsing stops by to talk about his life and a percussionist, band leader and percussion enthusiast (02:30), his work with the PAS Diversity Alliance and his career in Information Technology (17:25), growing up in Chicago and California (26:40), moving to the Bay Area in college, playing in bands regul…

Grand Valley State University (MI) Visiting Professor of Music Theory, Composer, Educator and Percussionist Olivia Kieffer returns to talk about heading to Georgia State for her percussion masters degree, working with Chix with Stix, and teaching and freelancing in the Atlanta area (02:45), making the decision to pursue grad degrees in composition …

Grand Valley State University (MI) Professor of Music Theory Olivia Kieffer stops by to talk about her job responsibilities at GVSU and some of her past experiences that led her to that particular place (04:10), her work on the PAS Diversity Alliance and the 2023 PASIC panel she moderated (21:20), growing up in Wisconsin, getting involved in percus…

Percussionist, Educator, Freelancer, and Composer/Arranger Pablo Rieppi returns in Part 2 to discuss growing up in Northern Virginia (after being born in Uruguay), getting into percussion, improvising in classical music and jazz, and getting better at focused listening (01:40), going to George Mason University (VA) for undergrad (22:30), attending …

Percussionist, Educator, and Composer/Arranger Pablo Rieppi stops by to talk about his roles with the New York City Ballet Orchestra, subbing with the New York Philharmonic, Percussion on the Sound (P.O.T.S.), The Nutcracker, and playing the same repertoire over and over (03:00), the teaching portion of his career and pivoting to take younger percu…

Owner and Creator of SplatBoomBang! Percussive Storytelling and Los Angeles-based Freelancing Percussionist Cory Hills stops by to discuss his PASIC 2023 presentation and getting into Percussive Storytelling (02:00), living in Los Angeles, Freelancing, and making Percussive Storytelling a business (22:00), his experiences with the Los Angeles Percu…

Bloomsburg University (Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania) Percussion Professor and Band Director Gifford Howarth stops by to talk about the PASIC 2023 Keyboard Committee Panel he moderated on Front Ensemble Rehearsal Engagement (05:35), his percussion activities at Bloomsburg, his adjudication responsibilities and being an artist/clinician (2…

Percussionist, Composer, Educator, and Creator and Lead Performer of Ideas Not Theories Reynaliz Herrera stops by to talk about her recent PASIC 2023 panel appearance with the PAS Diversity Alliance on Neurodivergent Percussionists (03:10), Ideas Not Theories, writing music for bicycle, and how she works theatrically and musically with her group (1…

Sound Art Curator, Co-Founder of the Upstrike Project, and Freelancing Percussionist Karen Yu stops by to talk about her PASIC 2023 performance in the New Music Research Sessions and the piece’s relationship to Hong Kong today (03:10), her work as a Freelancing Percussionist in Hong Kong with the HK New Music Ensemble and the UpStrike Project (16:0…

Percussionist, Tabla Player, Freelancer, Author, and College Professor Shawn Mativetsky stops by to talk about his recent PASIC 2023 presentation on playing tabla with effects pedals (03:10), his percussion activities and responsibilities in Montreal and at McGill University (CA), teaching tabla ensemble, his book Rudimentaal , and his regular ense…

University of Virginia Associate Professor of Percussion and Principal Timpanist and Percussionist for the Charlottesville Symphony I-Jen Fang stops by [after Pete learns how to say her name at (03:00)] to discuss her recent PASIC 2023 performance for the New Music Research day with Greg Beyer (04:00), her percussion responsibilities at UVA and Cha…

University of Northern Colorado Percussion Professor Tim Feerst returns to discuss his recent PASIC 2023 clinic on Multi-Percussion FUNdamentals (03:20), his new job at UNC, the playing opportunities in the Denver area, and the change of scenery from Texas (18:30), and a shorter version of the Random Ass Questions, including segments on rewatching …

University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) Director of Percussion Studies Matt Henry returns to the podcast to talk about his PASIC 2023 presentation, “Settling the Score” (03:20), Matt’s career before and since 2017, and changes in the music department at UMSL (23:40), SpecDrum and the importance of belonging (34:35), and an updated Random Ass Questi…

PASIC Week is here! Part 2 of the Annual 2023 PASIC Preview is here, featuring interviews with presenters Cory Hills (01:30), Reynaliz Herrera (24:25), and Matthew Henry (35:45). Links: 2023 PASIC Preview Part 1 Cory Hills Reynaliz Herrerra Matthew Henryโดย Pete's Percussion Podcast

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: I-Jen Fang Tim Feerst Shawn Mativetsky Gifford Howarth Karen Yu…

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 i…

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), go…

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 teachin…

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 on…

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 undergr…

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 tal…

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, workin…

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 So…

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…

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 …

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 …

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 drums…

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 u…

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 A…

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…

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 Matr…

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 hi…

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 …

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 fini…

Capital University (OH) Percussion Professor Julie Licata stops by to talk about her job there, teaching previously at SUNY-Oneonta, being bold in job interviews, and forming a work-life balance (02:20), her research work with Psychology Professor Michael Faber on performing (25:15), growing up in Ohio, learning organ and percussion, lifting weight…

Wake Forest University (NC) new Director of Bands Tim Heath stops by to talk WFU and the challenges of recruiting there, the “shared experience” for students outside the university, and teaching during the pandemic (02:40), growing up outside Greenville, NC, getting into drumset playing and various bands, his early college years, and his sports bac…

Following a brief mention of #tenurejosh…Composer, Conductor, and Professor of Composition at Lehman College (NY) Jennifer Jolley stops by to talk about her Fulbright Scholarship in Egypt, her teaching schedule there, Ramadan, and names (04:25), her receiving the Opera America Grant, her previous attempts at writing opera, getting commissioned, and…

University of Michigan Percussion Professor Ian Antonio stops by to talk about all aspects of teaching at the school (02:00), his extensive chamber career with Wet Ink, Zs, Talujon, and Yarn/Wire (18:50), growing up in Albany (NY), having music teacher parents, taking lessons locally, and the Empire State Youth Orchestra (33:00), going to the Manha…

Palen Music Educational Representative Kent Lineberry stops by to talk about his job with Palen Music in the Kansas City area (02:30), growing up in Jefferson City (MO), getting into band and percussion, the beginnings of his DCI experience, and playing in a garage band (15:45), his experiences at the University of Central Missouri and Truman State…

Percussion Educator, Performer and Composer Angela Kepley stops by to chat about running her own private studio in the Chicago area, how she’s incorporated percussion ensemble into the private studio experience, and making it all work with billing and equipment (04:05), fitting composing in to her activities (24:00), taking and teaching fitness cla…

University of Windsor (ON) Associate Professor of Kinesiology Dr. Nadia Azar stops by to talk about her teaching and research job at Windsor (02:45), her research on drumset players, what she’s learned so far, and related research she’s interested in pursuing in the future (13:10), the town of Windsor and more about the university (41:20), growing …

VanderCook College of Music (IL) Percussion Professor James Yakas stops by to talk about his job, its unusual components, and teaching music education students of all ages (02:15), growing up in the Detroit (MI) area, learning drumset and getting into marching band, and his baseball background and Detroit Tigers fandom (28:05), going to the Univers…

University of Toronto Percussion Professor Aiyun Huang returns to talk about coming to North America and studying with NEXUS and the challenges of moving and being a student in Canada (02:10), studying at the University of Toronto for undergrad (10:10), going to Paris to study theatrical percussion (21:15), going to the University of California-San…