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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: September, 2018
Sep 18, 2018

Dr. Gail Robertson serves as Assistant Professor of Tuba and Euphonium/Jazz at the University of Central Arkansas where she is tubist in the Pinnacle Brass and teaches the Jazz Ensemble II. She earned her B.A. degree from the University of Central Florida and an M.M. in Euphonium Performance from Indiana University while serving as graduate assistant to Harvey Phillips. She postponed her doctoral studies at the University of Maryland with Dr. Brian Bowman to perform with the “Tubafours” at Walt Disney World, Orlando where she served as musical supervisor/chief arranger and produced a highly acclaimed CD, “Tubas Under the Boardwalk.” She has recently completed her D.M.A. as a University Distinguished Fellow at Michigan State University studying with Phil Sinder, Ava Ordman, and Ricardo Lorenz. She has taught on the faculties of Eastern Michigan University, the University of Central Florida, Bethune-Cookman University, the University of Florida, and remains active as a teacher, adjudicator, composer, arranger, and free-lance artist, both nationally and internationally.

I this fun and lively discussion, we cover:

  • Moving!
  • Playing with the Brass Band of Battle Creek
  • Spider bites
  • Her crazy summer
  • Blossom Festival Band with Loras Schissel and Travis Scott
  • Getting her DMA in 18 months at Michigan State University
  • The Tubafours
  • Teaching at Eastern Michigan University
  • Joining the faculty at the University of Central Arkansas
  • Starting on sax
  • Playing with Willie Clark and Mark Thiele
  • The beginnings of her arranging career
  • Hanging with Mr. Miyagi (or not)
  • Her current gig at UCA
  • Lessons learned from Harvey Phillips
  • Being a bari sax rock star
  • New Sousa Band
  • River City Brass Band
  • Symbiosis Duo with Stacy Baker
  • Playing with the Monarch Brass
  • Athena Brass Band
  • Owning a red pickup and pulling stuff with it
  • Fishing lure recommendations
  • Living with Tom Gillette for a year, shooting arrows and learning about Leonard Falcone
  • Serving as President-Elect for ITEA
  • Jerry Young
  • Lance's Fucik Uke article 
  • Her upcoming trip the US Virgin Islands
  • New pieces with euphonium and cajon
  • Her love for the glockenspiel

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.

 

Sep 4, 2018

Euphonium and Tuba artist (and long-time buddy of Lance) Matt Tropman shares incredible stories of music, survival, and mayhem. Not necessarily in that order.

Matt Tropman currently serves as Assistant Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at the University of Arizona and is an active freelancer, soloist, and chamber musician. His performances have been praised in numerous publications such as the New York Times, which stated: “Tropman makes a serious case for the euphonium as a solo instrument.” An active clinician and recitalist on both the euphonium and tuba, Matt has performed and taught throughout the U.S. and Europe.

Matt’s two commercially released two CD’s; Continuum and From the Balcony (Summit Records), have been featured on programs such as NPR’s “All Things Considered”. He has performed with numerous bands, orchestras and chamber groups including the San Francisco Symphony and the Detroit Symphony. In his early career as a member of the U.S. Marine Band (President’s Own), he frequently performed as a soloist throughout the U.S. on the band’s National concert tours. 

Dr. Tropman received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in euphonium performance from the University of Michigan and Arizona State University, respectively, and the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in tuba performance from the University of Michigan.

In this fun and lively discussion, we cover:

  • Improv comedy
  • Potato
  • The Tucson Improv Movement/The Soapbox
  • Manifesting a Memory
  • What Michael from "The Office," Matt and Lance all have in common
  • Matt's summer trips
  • New recording project
  • Notes From the Balcony
  • Recording rage stories
  • Matt's horrific bike crash, injury, and recovery
  • Helpful Body Modification (part of the dual album)
  • "Tropman Pinky"
  • The injury recovery process and physical therapy
  • Detroit Symphony as a motivator
  • Using music as a means of helping with his recovery
  • "What's the Deal With Classical Music"
  • Constant Tingle (Three-fer!)

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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