Hang out with Brad and Erin as they discuss end of the school year routines IN NATURE! It's our first ever episode recorded OUTDOORS because it was literally the perfect day!

We are so excited to chat with Dr. Roque Diaz from the Macphail Center for Music! Roque is the director of Macphail's diversity, equity, and inclusion program. He is also a first-generation Puerto Rican college graduate, a drum corps alumni (trumpet), community connector, general arts advocate, and a heck of a good dude. With a doctorate from the University of Minnesota, we are proud to now count Dr. Diaz as a true Minnesotan (he's lived here since 2016). If you don't know Roque, you need...

Hang out with Brad and Erin as they talk about their morning routines! Setting yourself up for a successful workday means having meaningful traditions each morning. Plus our "What's On Your Stand" segment, featuring music by John Williams and Frank Ticheli. Hosted by Bradley Mariska & Erin Holmes (Farmington High School, Farmington, Minnesota). The podcast that's all about band - and not about band at all!

It's a whole episode previewing the 2024 MMEA Midwinter Convention, with special guest Dr. Adrian Davis, MMEA President! Join co-hosts Bradley Mariska and Erin Holmes (Farmington High School) to find out why everyone is so excited for our annual convention - and why YOU should join us in person!

It's the middle of winter and we're talking about ways to beat the winter blues --- by talking movies, hockey, and lots of cool things happening here in the classroom! In our "What's On Your Stand" segment, we highlight the music of Yukiko Nishimura ("Flying Away" and "Northern Lights") as well as "Whirlwind" by Jodie Blackshaw. Thank you to our sponsors, Schmitt Music, ACDC Reeds, and GrandTours. Hosted by Bradley Mariska and Erin Holmes, Farmington High School.

We are LIVE from Chicago at the Midwest Clinic 2023! This is a truly special episode! We interview FIVE amazing band composers ... folks who have made important contributions to band in general but who are also on the program for the Farmington High School Wind Ensemble's upcoming performance at the Minnesota Music Educators Association Midwinter Conference! We interview RANDALL STANDRIDGE, ERIKA SVANOE, VIET CUONG, MICHELE FERNÁNDEZ, AND BENJAMIN TAYLOR. Plus a bonus interview with Paul...

A special crossover episode with The Growing Band Director Podcast & host Kyle Smith! The majority of our episode focuses on workload, job expectations, and work/life balance. We also have a *CLASSICS* edition of "What's on Your Stand" featuring the music of Morton Gould (specifically, the arrangement by Douglas Wagner), Frank Erickson (Air for Band), and Karl King (The Iowa Band Law March). Join hosts Erin Holmes and Bradley Mariska, with guest Kyle Smith, as Band is Everything joins...

Episode 59: THANKSGIVING SPECIAL (or “The One Where We Don’t Talk About Band At All”) It’s our first ever Thanksgiving Special! And we basically don’t talk about band at all! We talk about the things and people for which we are thankful - special colleagues, friends, students, and colleagues who have been supporting us in the past year.  We also have thoughts about Flat Earthers and people who yell at each other at school board meetings. We talk about all things...

This week we interview GIRL BOSS Laura Doebler !!! Laura teaches middle school band at Dakota Hills Middle School in Eagan, MN (Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan District 196), and has recently presented at the MMEA Midwinter Conference, The Midwest Clinic, and to Women Band Directors International. She's also included in an upcoming book from GIA entitled "Women in Wind Band"). She talks about growing up in Roseville, going to college at Gustavus Adolphus College, how her professional life has...

Brad and Erin reflect on Homecoming, fall concerts, and how a general lack of empathy in society os reflected in the additional fees being charged by airlines (at least according to Erin!) We talk about unique percussion instruments (Brad has a dozen empty gallon milk jugs outside his office) and even get nerdy about All-State Band Audition Scales and how we rehearse them as an ensemble. And we celebrate passing 20,000 downloads! Join Bradley Mariska and Erin Holmes (Farmington High...

Episode 56 - Middle School Principal Joe Sage  Middle School is tough. Now imagine being the one person in charge of 900 middle schoolers. 900. ***WE HAVE QUESTIONS!!!*** We sit down with middle school principal Joe Sage, who talks about his philosophy of education and the influence of school music programs on his life (and why he hopes his young children will someday be a part of their school music programs). We ask how music teachers can best advocate for their programs and...

55. Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest? It’s fall and school is back in full swing! And, in what will come as a shock to nobody, things are absolutely CRAZY at Farmington High School. Brad and Erin share stories of insomnia and school struggles (shattered glass everywhere!!!). In a return of the “What’s on Your Stand?” segment, they also discuss the music of Michele Fernández, Elaine Hagenberg, and Preston Hazzard. Plus, a really fun and inspirational story about jazz band!  Hang with Brad and...

WE'RE BAAAAAAACK !!!!!!!!! The pod took a few months off and we are ready to get back at it!!! What we did this summer, what we're looking forward to this school year, and some big news about the podcast itself. Band is Everything (formerly Band in Minnesota), hosted by Bradley Mariska and Erin Holmes (Farmington High School MN).

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...

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...

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,...

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!

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....