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It's the end of the school year. And maybe the end of season 2 of this podcast? So spend a bit of time just hangin' with Brad and Erin. It will be good for your soul. --- Welcome to Band in Minnesota, a podcast that teaches life lessons for musicians and non-musicians alike. My name is Bradley Mariska, and along with my co-host Erin Holmes, we give you an inside look at life in our world through conversation, laughs, and insightful guest interviews.  Please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! To learn more about our podcast or listen to past episodes, please visit us using the links below. *Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BandinMinnesota *Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bandinminnesota *Web: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/band-in-minnesota Co-Hosts Bradley Mariska and Erin Holmes teach band at Farmington High School in Farmington, Minnesota (this podcast is their own and is not a reflection of or endorsement by Farmington Area Public Schools). Read their bios here: https://www.tigerfanclub.org/directors

This week's episode (#52) features Michael Thursby (Minnesota State University-Mankato) and Daniel James Felton (Tartan HS, Oakdale, MN) to discuss the role and importance of pep band and athletic bands in high school and college music programs. We talk about staying relevant to your students and community and how popular music is helping to guide and shape the future of music education. *Learn more about Daniel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-felton-b18102aa/ *Learn more about Michael: https://hss.mnsu.edu/academic-programs/music/music-faculty-staff/michael-thursby/ --- Welcome to Band in Minnesota, a podcast that teaches life lessons for musicians and non-musicians alike. My name is Bradley Mariska, and along with my co-host Erin Holmes, we give you an inside look at life in our world through conversation, laughs, and insightful guest interviews.  Please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! To learn more about our podcast or listen to past episodes, please visit us using the links below. *Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BandinMinnesota *Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bandinminnesota *Web: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/band-in-minnesota Co-Hosts Bradley Mariska and Erin Holmes teach band at Farmington High School in Farmington, Minnesota (this podcast is their own and is not a reflection of or endorsement by Farmington Area Public Schools). Read their bios here: https://www.tigerfanclub.org/directors

We are so excited to welcome Jerry Luckhardt back to the Band in Minnesota Podcast!  Jerry is the founder of Band in Minnesota and we spend time reminiscing about the origins of the program and learning about what he’s currently up to. Spoiler alert: he's super busy with all his duties at the University of Minnesota, and with both the Medalist Concert Band and the Encore Wind Ensemble! This episode features shout-outs to several amazing Minnesota band directors, including Brady Krusemark, Ryan Anderson, Tara Michlitsch, and John Greene. We discuss and celebrate the music of Adrian Sims, Tommy Wu, Kevin Day, and Julie Giroux.  Also hear about amazing programs by The Medalist Band, including their free summer band camp for rising 6th-grade students and the Earl Benson Concerto Contest.  Join hosts Brad Mariska and Erin Holmes for a very special episode, in which the past meets the present! We are so glad to have Jerry back!

It's (FINALLY) Spring Break for Erin and Brad! Farmington High School is taking some well-deserved time off, so we chat (a few days before break) about what we've been up to, what we're doing over break, and much more. If you love the "hangin' with Brad & Erin" content, this episode is for you! PleAZZZE leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find fine podcasts. Tell a friend. SHARE! And follow us on Instagram or Facebook!

It's our first ever podcast "swap" episode! Brad and Erin were recently asked to be guests on the podcast "Beyond Artless", a music education podcast hosted by Chris Gleason, Peter Haberman, and Phil Ostrander. Since basically nobody listens to their podcast (for good reason, the hosts themselves admit) we decided to help promote their show by streaming the complete episode here in our feed. If you're enjoying Band in Minnesota, please leave us a rating or review in your podcasting app - and be sure to subscribe to "Beyond Artless" as well. The description of their pod is below: “Beyond ArtLess" with Chris Gleason, Peter Haberman & Phil Ostrander is a podcast that explores the friendships and the community that exists in and outside of the arts and arts education. In each episode of Beyond ArtLess, one of the hosts reveals his mystery guest to the other two. What comes next is a fun-filled conversation revealing the joy of friendship and the artlessness of the hosts. Unlike most successful classrooms, this show is not well planned and probably not worth your time. Chris Gleason (Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, formerly Patrick Marsh Middle School, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin) Phil Ostrander (University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire) Peter Haberman (Concordia College, Moorhead, MN)

This episode is completely dedicated to our colleagues who experience the difficulties (and joys!) of teaching in small schools and rural schools.   Their experiences are full of unique social and educational challenges ... and it's important for college students, teachers in larger schools, and administrators, to understand these special circumstances. Brad and Erin are both both products of small-school music education programs.  Our guest, Andy Nelson (Milaca Public Schools) had dedicated his life to rural education.  Hear firsthand stories about both the unique challenges of being a small-school music educator.  And, hopefully, there will be a part two. Because we are only scratching the surface! ... Find us on any podcasting app or stream in us on the web at www.anchor.fm/band-in-minnesota Bradley Mariska and Erin Holmes, hosts EPISODE 48: ANDY NELSON

Jim Baxter Charlie Moe Recorded at the Minnesota Music Educators Association Midwinter Convention 2023 Our best episode yet.

We have some audio issues, but you probably won't even notice because the content is so... engaging?  We discuss the Burger King theme song, the afterglow of concerts, resolving conflict in the classroom, and how excited we are for the upcoming MMEA Midwinter Convention.   It's kind of like an episode of Seinfeld, a half hour of content about... well... nothing, really.  (And, Erin, GET CLOSER TO YOUR MIC!)  Also, even on our worst days, at least we're on Apple Podcasts. Yeah, we're looking at you Chris, Peter, and Phil.  

Eric Songer (Chaska Middle School West) is one of the state's most prominent band directors!  He joins us to talk about his passion for teaching popular music through a variety of (for lack of a better term) "modern band" emphasis in his teaching. His school features a variety of bands including rock, hip hop, country and bluegrass, and much more. He teaches lessons in DJ technique, songwriting, music history, theory, and more.  Of course, he also directs concert bands and jazz bands, too.  According to Songer, this is the future of music education and his vision is being embraced by more and more teachers and schools in our state and around the country.  ALSO: Our "What's On Your Stand?" session features the music of band composer Chandler Wilson.  PLUG: We got a preview of the new Beyond ArtLess podcast with Chris Gleason, Peter Haberman, and Phil Ostrander, and we recommend it! LOOKING AHEAD: We have great episodes coming soon! We will be doing at least two episodes at/about the MMEA Midwinter Convention and also have an upcoming episode about the challenges of teaching in small, rural schools.   Thanks for being a supporter! 

What happens when BAND IN MINNESOTA travels to Chicago for the Midwest Clinic? Well, you're about to find out!   This episode features three "live" segments of our time at the world's largest gathering of band and orchestra directors. And when 18,000 musicians gather for a single convention during the coldest week of the year, we have a lot of thoughts! Join us as we reminisce.  Whether you were there or not ... whether you're a band director or not... and whether you're from Minnesota or not.... it doesn't matter! Because BAND IS LIFE and there are lessons for everyone in this and every episode of Band in Minnesota. Hosted by Bradley Mariska and Erin Holmes, Farmington High School (MN).  

Brad and Erin chat with All-Star Band Director Scott Kummrow (Fergus Falls Public Schools) about educational philosophy, the joys of teaching middle school students, and so much more! PLEASE SUBSCRIBE! 

Listeners, we interview a BAND PARENT!  Our guest, Megan Johnson is Erin's sister but not a musician (we recorded this over Thanksgiving, and isn't Thanksgiving all about spending time with family?). Megan has a couple *really* interesting perspectives and insights to share... 1) She joined band in 5th grade but QUIT after 10th grade. Does she regret it? We ask her.  2) She has two kids, a 6th grader and an 8th grader - they are both in band!  What is their band experience like so far?  What do they love? What are the challenges? LISTEN!  SHARE!  RATE!  REVIEW! 

A spontaneous, unscripted mini-episode live from NEWT’S in Apple Valley as we support Rosemount Marching Band and their upcoming appearance at the Rose Bowl Parade!!!

We talk about "student agency" and a variety of other topics. A Saturday afternoon, a drink in hand, and reflecting upon life and education.  >>>> This is our first ever, completely unedited podcast. <<<< Honestly - it's our best episode yet. 

We just passed the six-week mark of the school year and Brad and Erin have a lot of thoughts. Lots of laughs in this episode. And some hot takes.  No guests. Just hanging' with Brad & Erin. 

As a band director, you’ve gotta have a good relationship with your football coach. But how do you make that connection? How can you work together to promote each others’ programs and jointly celebrate your school and community? We chat with coach Jon Pieper about football, life, and even the musical HAMILTON! Plus, Erin and Brad discuss the new Space Force theme, which they are currently rehearsing in preparation for Veteran’s Day.

Developing good relationships with your building and district administrators is key to growing and maintaining a successful program. For teachers at the high school level, there may be no more important administrator than your A.D. Depending on the size of your school, A.D. might stand for activities director, athletic director, or arts director, but the job is pretty much the same - and it’s not an easy one: to schedule and oversee all of the extracurricular activities in a school. So we sit down with Keith Badger, the Activities and Athletics Director at Farmington High School, learn about his philosophy and background. In turn, he explains how someone with a PE/Coaching background is working to learn more about - and advocate for - music and the arts. IN ADDITION, Erin and Brad talk a bit about books. Why? Who knows!?!? But they talk discuss a mutual love for the novel “Where the Crawdads Sing” - and how Brad is really into in William Kent Krueger right now!

We hit "record" with no topic and no official guest.  And it was exactly what we needed.

Brad and Erin talk about workshop week and the first week of school... while also learning tips, tricks, and funny stories about back-to-school from several of our listeners, including submissions from Michael Pearson, Reid Wixson, Willy Leafblad, Heidi Stodola, and Kimberly Lundak.  Whether you've been teaching for decades or a first-year teacher... whether you teach band or not... everyone can agree that this episode is universal! So join us as we joke about all the buzzwords, acronyms, and the anxiety that goes along with back-to-school. And learn some legit important tips and tricks from our awesome listener contributors!  BAND IN MINNESOTA! LET'S GO! 

Don’t make time... TAKE time!!! This week we talk about self-care, all the while trying to avoid the overused cliche phrase 'self-care' itself. Surround yourself with like-minded people. Spend time with family and friends. Enjoy nature. Read a book. Recorded on location in Duluth!