The Bandmasters Podcast – Episode 13
Had a great time talking with Don Stinson on the Bandmasters Podcast!
What I Did On My Summer Vacation, by Don Stinson
- Selected two pieces for score study. Ultimately, I spilled a cup of coffee on one of them so badly that it changed the physical structure of the piece. Good news, though: it’s Persichetti, so you’ll never know.*
- Decided to finally clean up all of the music I pulled from our library this year. Took a look at it, acknowledged the mess, became overwhelmed and convinced myself that “this is how artists live.”
- Sat down with Chip De Stefano and walked away inspired by what work ethic and persistence can do for a program at any level.
This episode is about an hour long, but Chip and I spent over four hours off mic together talking band, including history, teaching techniques, and goals. Chip is a band director’s band director and has done some wonderful things for his students and the profession. Following our talk, I spent some evening hours combing through his band’s website, www.mccrackenband.com. This site is a fantastic resource that includes lesson sheets, exercises for all instruments, free arrangements by Chip, and lecture outlines and handouts.
I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did.
*Footnote: I’m not actually playing Persichetti.
Footnote to the footnote: Ok, confession: I’m just afraid of playing Persichetti.