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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: Category: The Brass Junkies
Jan 3, 2017

Mark Jenkins, Principal Euphonium and Section Leader in “The President’s Own" United States Marine Band, in Washington D.C. joins Andrew & Lance in a fun conversation about euphoniums in the wild.

We cover stylistic playing, the importance of sight-reading, his euphonium band excerpts compact disc (that is still a thing), and some guy named "Pineapple Paul."

And he talks about his upcoming memoir, "Universal Judgement” (not a real thing).

 

Links:

Marine Band bio

George Mason University bio

Off Bass Brass

Want to help the show? Take a minute to leave us a rating and a review on iTunes.

You can help offset the costs of producing the show by making a small donation at https://www.patreon.com/thebrassjunkies. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Produced by Joey Santillo

 

Dec 20, 2016
Scott Hartman, Lecturer in Trombone at Yale University joins Andrew & Lance to discuss his incredibly successful and diverse career. Scott has taught and played concerts throughout the world and in all fifty states. He regularly performs and records with the Yale Brass Trio, Proteus 7, the Millennium Brass, the Brass Band of Battle Creek, and the trombone quartet Four of a Kind. Mr. Hartman spends several weeks each summer in residence at the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival. 
 
Scott covers his thoughts on how the chamber music business changed over the years since from his time with Empire Brass to today. We learn of the important distinction between Scott A. Hartman and Scott P. Hartman and get some great Empire Brass stories.
 
Oh and at one point, Scott may have sounded possessed. And he can be a meathead.
 
Links:
 
Don’t go to:
 
 
But do go to:
 

Want to help the show? Here are three way:
 
Take a minute to leave us a rating and a review on iTunes.

You can help offset the costs of producing the show by making a small donation at https://www.patreon.com/thebrassjunkies. Your support is greatly appreciated!
 
Lastly, you can do us a HUGE favor by just sharing our show with your knuckle head friends who would also enjoy it. You know who they are. Bring them into the fold!

Produced by Joey Santillo
 
 
Dec 6, 2016

Wes Funderburk and Tom Gibson join Andrew & Lance for one of the most chaotic and accidentally informative episode yet. We and Tom both live in Atlanta and write, gig, teach and conduct there (both play/conduct/arrange for the Atlanta Pops, the Joe Grandson Big Band and teach at Kennesaw State University. Additionally, Wes teaches at Georgia State and Tom teaches at the University of West Georgia). They each have also launched successful online projects (one of which involved a banana and a net pot) and happen to be two of the funniest people on the earth. 

 

Tom unpacks his tone color, time and note shape approach to teaching and Wes recalls the time he borrowed a burger from Hardee’s.

 

Warning: It’s a little chaotic at the beginning of the episode. Hang in there. It’s worth it. 

 

Links:

Wes' personal website

 

Wes' Kennesaw bio page

 

Tom's West Georgia University bio page

 

Atlanta Pops

 

Joe Grandsen Big Band

 


Want to help the show? Take a minute to leave us a rating and a review on iTunes.

You can help offset the costs of producing the show by making a small donation at https://www.patreon.com/thebrassjunkies. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Produced by Joey Santillo

Nov 22, 2016

Phil Snedecor, Associate Professor of Trumpet at the Hartt School and co-founder and conductor of the Washington Symphonic Brass joins Andrew & Lance in a nearly step-by-step examination of how to succeed in music. Phil has extensive experience as a player, arranger, conductor, teacher, composer and booker and explains the importance of putting in an honest to goodness eight hour day. He explains how to break into a new market, how to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem and the importance of believing in your product.
One of his key pieces of advice to younger players is for them to think in terms of developing a brand devoted to long term income generation. Easier said than done and Phil shows players the way.


And we still find time to make fun of trumpet players.

Links:

Personal site

Hart School bio

Publications

Washington Symphonic Brass

Lessons From a Streetwise Professor

 

Want to help the show? Take a minute to leave us a rating and a review on iTunes.

You can help offset the costs of producing the show by making a small donation at https://www.patreon.com/thebrassjunkies. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Produced by Joey Santillo

Nov 8, 2016

Jeffrey Scott, composer and horn player with Imani Winds, joins Andrew & Lance to discuss how he and the group got started.

Imani Winds has charted new ground in the medium for 19 years and Jeff explains how they found their mission. Jeff covers his development as a composer, the need for entrepreneurial skills, how they set up residencies, marketing and what it was like to replace a long-standing group member.

We also relive the fun we had back in the day when Boston Brass and Imani Winds joined forces onstage in an evening of music by Miles Davis. Oh, and Jeff thought Jens was a trombone player. You can’t make this stuff up.

Links:

http://www.imaniwinds.com/
http://www.musicbyjeffscott.com/

Want to help the show? Take a minute to leave us a rating and a review on iTunes.

You can help offset the costs of producing the show by making a small donation at https://www.patreon.com/thebrassjunkies. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Produced by Joey Santillo

 

Oct 25, 2016

Joey Tartell, Associate Professor of Trumpet and Director of Undergraduate Studies at Indiana University joins Andrew & Lance to explain how he can be both a lead trumpet player and a decent person.

Joey details the keys to his success including the insights he gained from his former teachers, explains the good news/bad news about the advent of YouTube and how he equips his students to succeed in music.

Along the way there is also mention of Mexican food, vuvuzelas, the San Antonio Spurs and the story of how Joey almost got thrown out of a women’s basketball game.

Links:

joeytartell.com
Joey at IU
Raya Brass Band

Want to help the show? Take a minute to leave us a rating and a review on iTunes.

You can help offset the costs of producing the show by making a small donation at https://www.patreon.com/thebrassjunkies. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Produced by Joey Santillo

 

Oct 11, 2016

Bruce Broughton, multi-award-winning composer of countless television and movie scores somehow got tricked into talking with Andrew & Lance about his amazing career.

Bruce’s music has been nominated for 24 Emmy’s, he has won 10 (!!!) of them and was nominated for both an Oscar and a Grammy. Take that!

From an early musical start at Salvation Army Band Camp and composer (at 5 years old) of “Go Up Jesus, Come Down Baby”, to his 10 years at CBS and his overwhelmingly successful career in Hollywood, Bruce explains the ins and outs of his craft.

We hear how his friendship and collaboration with tuba legend Tommy Johnson led to the creation of his Tuba Concerto and we uncover some of the brass pieces he has written that he wishes were played more often.

It was difficult for Andrew & Lance to maintain whatever was left of their cool while talking with this incredibly talented, successful and generous guy.

Links:

http://www.brucebroughton.com/biography/

Want to help the show? Take a minute to leave us a rating and a review on iTunes.

You can help offset the costs of producing the show by making a small donation at https://www.patreon.com/thebrassjunkies. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Produced by Joey Santillo

Sep 29, 2016

Kristy Morrell, Chair of the Department of Winds and Percussion at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, and the principal French Horn instructor at the Colburn School of Performing Arts, joins Andrew & Lance against her better judgment.

In an in-depth discussion, we learn how her performance of “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head” as a child impacted her career (Spoiler Alert: It didn’t). However, we do get to hear some amazing stories about playing on hundreds of movie soundtracks, how she defines success and how situational awareness is one of the best skills you can possess as a musician (Spoiler Alert: AND as a human).

Kristy also talks about her great book, “Musician, Heal Thyself."

Links:

Kristy at USC

Want to help the show? Take a minute to leave us a rating and a review on iTunes.

You can help offset the costs of producing the show by making a small donation at https://www.patreon.com/thebrassjunkies. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Produced by Joey Santillo

Sep 13, 2016

Dennis Askew, Director of the School of Music at UNC Greensboro, joins Andrew & Lance to explain how a lowly tuba player gets a gig like that. Dennis has been teaching at the college level for over 25 years and we explore how he went from a newbie faculty member (he was young and cheap) to a newly minted Director (he worked to become organized, consistent and trustworthy, no mean task for a tuba player.)


When asked how he prepared for the interview, Dennis reported to listening to roughly ten hours-worth of shows. When asked what he thought of them, he reported, “There were none that I hated.” What an endorsement.

Links:

Dennis at UNCG

Want to help the show? Take a minute to leave us a rating and a review on iTunes.

You can help offset the costs of producing the show by making a small donation at https://www.patreon.com/thebrassjunkies. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Produced by Joey Santillo

Aug 30, 2016

 

Leonhard Paul of Mnozil Brass joins Andrew & Lance for a spectacular conversation about the phenomenon that is Mnozil Brass.

Over the last 24 years, Mnozil Brass has charted a path that is completely unique and continues to amaze audiences all over the globe. Leonhard explains how they plan and develop their shows, pieces and stage settings. He goes on to talk about the development of the YouTube sensation Lonely Boy.

From learning how to work a crowd to the subject of "lip disability", this conversation was both fun and illuminating.

You can help offset the costs of producing the show by making a small donation at https://www.patreon.com/thebrassjunkies. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Produced by Austin Boyer of FredBrass

Aug 16, 2016

Andrew & Lance have a new episode format in this installment. They tell some of their favorite Boston Brass stories including their first gigs, the time Lance almost died in Austria, and how Andrew once had to have his tuba repaired in three separate continents all within the same month.

Let us know if you would like this new format and if you would like to hear more stories. We will always continue to bring you interviews with the best of the best but are looking for ways to occasionally branch out.

Your feedback is always appreciated!

You can help offset the costs of producing the show by making a small donation at https://www.patreon.com/thebrassjunkies. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Produced by Austin Boyer of FredBrass

Jul 19, 2016

Composer, conductor and recovering trumpet player Brian Balmages sits down with Andrew and Lance despite his better judgment.

Bran started on the piano, goes on to explain how he writes and orchestrates his pieces and talks about the disconnect which sometimes occurs between what he thinks will be popular and what ends up being so.

He talks about why he likes working with groups and we learned that he has no ability to make International Date Line jokes. 

Links:

Website
FJH Music
Soundcloud

You can help offset the costs of producing the show by making a small donation at https://www.patreon.com/thebrassjunkies. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Produced by Austin Boyer of FredBrass

Jul 5, 2016

Two of the members of C Street Brass/Beauty Slap, Hakeem Bilal and Gabriel Colby, sit down with Andrew & Lance in a fun conversation about these cool new interconnected groups.

C Street and Beauty Slap are a sort of Jekyll and Hyde hybrid with C Street functioning as a brass quintet and Beauty Slap a brass quartet plus DJ, giving them the opportunity to play to a wide set of audiences.

Most recently they shared the stage with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and we have fun exploring where these guys are going.

Links:

C Street Brass

Beauty Slap

You can help offset the costs of producing the show by making a small donation at https://www.patreon.com/thebrassjunkies. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Produced by Austin Boyer of FredBrass

 

Jun 21, 2016

World-renowned tuba player Patrick Sheridan sits down with Andrew & Lance and the three of them foolishly try to have a normal conversation.

From his early start as the renowned soloist on "Hey Mr. Banjo" in elementary school, to his time in The President's Own Marine Band and his MBA from the University of Michigan, Pat details his journey.

He is currently the conductor of Salt River Brass in Arizona and is one of the founders of the Band Director Academy in Oregon. Oh, and he and Lance may have kissed once. Or twice.

Links:

Salt River Brass

Band Director Academy

Focus On Music

You can help offset the costs of producing the show by making a small donation at https://www.patreon.com/thebrassjunkies. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Produced by Austin Boyer of FredBrass

Jun 7, 2016

Trombonist and probable alien Harry Watters sits down with Andrew & Lance and hilarity ensues.

Harry has had an amazing career, including a four year stint with the Dukes of Dixieland before detours to Las Vegas and his current position in Pershing's Own Army Band. Harry has played with just about everybody on the planet and give us some tips on learning improvisation.

He may or may not also have been present at a casino during a takeover by the Feds.

Links:

harrywatters.com

Harry's Latest Recording: The Great American Songbook featuring the Salt River Brass

You can help offset the costs of producing the show by making a small donation at https://www.patreon.com/thebrassjunkies. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Produced by Austin Boyer of FredBrass

May 24, 2016

Tage Larsen, 4th/utility trumpet with The Chicago Symphony sits down with Andrew & Lance for a fascinating look at his highly successful (and highly diverse) career.

Tage spent time in The Marine Band, Dallas Brass and the St. Louis Symphony before his current position and he explores what he likes about playing 4th/utility. We also get into the role of classical music in society and the notion that we should have sincerity in all that we do. Shockingly, he only uses one mouthpiece. That's what he said anyway.

Links:

Tage's DePaul School of Music Page

You can help offset the costs of producing the show by making a small donation at https://www.patreon.com/thebrassjunkies. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Produced by Austin Boyer of FredBrass

May 10, 2016

Mike Colburn, former Commander and Conductor of The President's Own Marine Band in Washington, D.C., speaks with Andrew and Lance about his impressive career.

Colonel Colburn (or "kernel" as Lance like to call him) recently retired from a long and distinguished career, which began as a euphoniumist (probably a word.) He is now the Director of Bands at Butler University and believes in living a forward-focused life.

Oh, and he suffered a severe wally-ball injury and has a thing for ficus trees.

Links:

Mike's Butler Univeristy Page

You can help offset the costs of producing the show by making a small donation at https://www.patreon.com/thebrassjunkies. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Produced by Austin Boyer of FredBrass

Feb 2, 2016

Multi-talented Brazilian Fernando Deddos joins Andrew & Lance to discuss how he manages to be annoyingly successful as a euphonium player, composer, pianist and (soon to be) college professor. Fernando explains how his dream to become the first person in Brazil with a doctorate in euphonium is about to come true and shares his hopes for fostering future generations of musicians in his home country.

He also talks about a variety of Brazilian styles, the vital role the euphonium and ophicleide plays in them, and gives us a primer on Brazilian barbecue. Please pass the salt!

 

Links:

 

Website

SoundCloud

Potenza Music

Eufonium Brasileiro

 

You can help offset the costs of producing the show by making a small donation at https://www.patreon.com/thebrassjunkies. Your support is greatly appreciated!

 

Produced by Austin Boyer and Buddy Deshler of FredBrass.

Jan 19, 2016

Dan Gosling, creator of ChopSaver, joins Andrew & Lance to discuss how he created ChopSaver and brought it to market. From experimenting in his kitchen to arriving on the shelves of 7,000 CVS stores, Dan shares his fascinating story.

He also talks about how to break into a freelance playing market, the importance of being a nice person and why ChopSaver was almost caller Pucker Upper.

 

Website:

ChopSaver

 

Links:

Facebook

Paige's Music

@chopsaver

@chopsaverguy

YouTube

#savemychops

 

You can help offset the costs of producing the show by making a small donation at https://www.patreon.com/thebrassjunkies. Your support is greatly appreciated!

 

Produced by Austin Boyer and Buddy Deshler of FredBrass.

Jan 5, 2016

Dave Zerkel, Professor of Tuba/Euphonium at the University of Georgia joins Andrew & Lance to discuss how he nearly became a meteorologist snake doctor. He recounts the path of his career, from standing very still in the Army Band, to teaching at Illinois State (after the retirement of his teacher, Ed Livingston) and on to his current position at the University of Georgia.

He also talks about how the industry has changed in the last twenty years, how he helps guide his students to success and talks about what its like to play with the Brass Band of Battle Creek.

Links:

David Zerkel at UGA
Tuba/Euph at UGA
Brass Band of Battle Creek


You can help offset the costs of producing the show by making a small donation at https://www.patreon.com/thebrassjunkies. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Produced by Austin Boyer and Buddy Deshler of FredBrass

 

Dec 21, 2015

John Rojak of the American Brass Quintet joins Andrew & Lance to discuss portfolio careers and chamber music. John also discusses how the American Brass Quintet finds and commissions new pieces.

 

He also talks about how he got started and why he sometimes has to explain ledger lines to composers. 

 

Website:

John Rojak

 

Links:

American Brass Quintet

Julliard

NYU

The Hartt School

 

You can help offset the costs of producing the show by making a small donation at https://www.patreon.com/thebrassjunkies. Your support is greatly appreciated!

 

Produced by Austin Boyer and Buddy Deshler of FredBrass.

 

Dec 8, 2015

Magically Fearless (Fearlessly Magical?) Jeff Nelsen joins Andrew & Lance to discuss his diverse and fascinating career. Jeff explains how he got started and progressed from orchestra playing to a stint with Canadian Brass and on to his current role teaching horn at Indiana University.

He also talks about his newest project "Fearless Performance," his TEDx talks (and hosting) and how studying magic compares to studying music. We also get to hear about his Rainbow Wand. 

 

Website:

Jeff Nelsen

 

Links:

Brendon Burchard YouTube Channel

Jeff Nelsen: Episode 5

 

Books Referenced:

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

The Motivation Manifesto by Brendon Burchard

The Little Book of Talent by Daniel Coyle

The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle

 

You can help offset the costs of producing the show by making a small donation at https://www.patreon.com/thebrassjunkies. Your support is greatly appreciated!

 

Produced by Austin Boyer and Buddy Deshler of FredBrass.

 

Nov 24, 2015

Jeff Conner of Boston Brass joins Andrew & Lance to discuss how Boston Brass got started. Jeff also explains what it takes to run a full-time touring group and how things have (and haven't) changed over the last 30 years.

He also talks about how much he misses having Andrew and Lance in the group and details his adventurous eating habits. Chicken feet, anyone? Oh, and pickle neck tattoos.

Links:

Boston Brass
The Portfolio Musician
The Savvy Music Teacher
Jeff Conner Eating A Chicken Foot
Boston Brass - Rewired
Jeff Conner: Episode 7 of The Entrepreneurial Musician

 

You can help offset the costs of producing the show by making a small donation at https://www.patreon.com/thebrassjunkies. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Produced by Austin Boyer and Buddy Deshler of FredBrass

Nov 10, 2015

Fred Powell of Powell Trumpets joins Andrew & Lance to discuss trumpet design and brass repair. Fred also discusses the many times he has shared the stage with Andrew and Lance with Boston Brass and his freelance career.

He also talks about how he got started in the repair business and his vast knowledge of barbecue.

 

Website:

Powell Trumpets

 

Links:

National Trumpet Competition

Fred's Email

 

You can help offset the costs of producing the show by making a small donation at https://www.patreon.com/thebrassjunkies. Your support is greatly appreciated!

 

Produced by Austin Boyer and Buddy Deshler of FredBrass.

Oct 25, 2015

Andrew & Lance are joined by tuba player, pianist, and arranger for Presidio Brass, Scott Sutherland. Scott talks about life on the road with a full-time touring brass quintet and how the group got its start.

He also talks about the benefits of having multi-instrumentalists in a chamber group and about what goes into planning a show for a group like Presidio Brass.

 

Website:

http://www.presidiobrass.com/

 

Links:

Presidio Brass Facebook Fan Page

Instagram

Twitter

SoundCloud

Pokorny Low Brass Seminar

 

You can help offset the costs of producing the show by making a small donation at https://www.patreon.com/thebrassjunkies. Your support is greatly appreciated!

 

Produced by Austin Boyer and Buddy Deshler of FredBrass.

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