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The Brass Junkies

The Brass Junkies, hosted by former Boston Brass tuba player Andrew Hitz and a rotating cast of characters, features interviews with the best and brightest brass players in the world. Subject matter includes everything from the serious to the ridiculous, just like the music business.
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Now displaying: June, 2018
Jun 26, 2018

TBJ88: St. Louis Symphony trumpeter Jeff Strong on preparation, playing with the Marine Band and having an air blowing epiphany.

Jeffrey Strong of the St. Louis Symphony and formerly of the “President’s Own” US Marine Band, joined Andrew & Lance to detail his current gig, playing Taps in inclement weather and what he learned from Chris Martin.

In this fun and lively conversation, we cover:

  • Blitzstein opera, Regina
  • Finishing 3rd season with the SLSO
  • Played in The President’s Own Marine Band
  • Ficus tree story
  • Played in the Civic Orchestra while studying at Northwestern
  • Playing with Mike Martin and Thomas Siders
  • Other rockstars in the Northwestern trumpet studio while he was there
  • Festive Overture
  • Playing under Mallory Thompson
  • What it’s like to play Taps at Arlington Ceremony
  • Getting punched in the gut by The Bathroom Fairy
  • Playing ceremonies in various weather conditions
  • Preparing for high pressure situations
  • Jimmy Doolittle funeral
  • Preparing for the St. Louis Symphony audition
  • Chris Martin preparation style as a model
  • Being methodical, considering as many variables as possible
  • Mark Lawrence, “If its hard to do, you’re probably doing it wrong.”
  • Working on jazz as a young player
  • Being a musical chameleon/matching sound
  • The importance of being analytical
  • Air blowing epiphany
  • Keeping notes/journaling to help keep track of progress and problems
  • Problem is usually related to how something feels vs. how something sounds
  • Playing with (and sleeping on the floor of) Achilles Liarmakopoulos of the Canadian Brass
  • Quote board
  • Playing in the St. Louis Symphony
  • Open up the capillaries
  • Two goat theory

LINKS:

Want to help the show? Here are some ways:

  • Help others find the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes.
  • Show us some love on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
  • Help us pay the bills (and get regular bonus episodes!) by becoming a Patreon patron.
  • Show some love to our sponsors: The brass program at The Mary Pappert School of Music at Duquesne University and Parker Mouthpieces (including the Andrew Hitz and Lance LaDuke models.)
  • Tell your friends!

Expertly produced by Will Houchin with love, care, and enthusiasm.

Jun 12, 2018

TBJ87: Craig Knox of the Pittsburgh Symphony on premiering the Jennifer Higdon Tuba Concerto, European road stories and the joys of palinka.

Craig Knox is Principal Tuba of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and a founding member of the Center City Brass Quintet. With these ensembles and others, he has performed for audiences across the U.S., Europe, and Asia, and been heard on recordings, and radio, television, and internet broadcasts around the world.

Mr. Knox works regularly with music students through his teaching positions at the Carnegie Mellon University School of Music in Pittsburgh, and the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, as well as at music festivals, seminars, and conservatories around the world, where he appears as a guest clinician.

In this fun and lively conversation, we cover:

  • Craig European road stories
  • Jeff Conner back in the day
  • Romanian palinka
  • Lance’s shoulder story
  • Craig’s tubas
  • Playing Bb tubas vs. C tubas
  • The premiere of the Jennifer Higdon Concerto in March of 2018
  • How the commission came about and the development of the piece
  • Anthony DiLorenzo
  • Studied and now teaches at Curtis
  • Audience response was great
  • The difference between the first performance and the second
  • Teaching at Curtis
  • Differences between Curtis and Carnegie Mellon
  • Center City Brass Quintet, started at Curtis
  • Studying with Sam Pilafian
  • The influence of Empire Brass
  • Playing with the Pittsburgh Symphony
  • More Sam stories!

LINKS:

Want to help the show? Here are some ways:

  • Help others find the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes.
  • Show us some love on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
  • Help us pay the bills (and get regular bonus episodes!) by becoming a Patreon patron.
  • Show some love to our sponsors: The brass program at The Mary Pappert School of Music at Duquesne University and Parker Mouthpieces (including the Andrew Hitz and Lance LaDuke models.)
  • Tell your friends!

Expertly produced by Will Houchin with love, care, and enthusiasm.

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