Brad and Erin unpack their experience at the 2025 MMEA Midwinter Convention. It was three full days of concerts, professional development sessions, exhibits, networking, and fun! ATTEND YOUR STATE CONVENTION, regardless of how long you've been teaching, where you work, or what time of year it happens! GO LEARN AND GROW AND CONNECT!
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Band is Everything - It's all about band and it's not about band at all!
Bradley Mariska & Erin Holmes, hosts
A recent post of Brad's went viral for his thoughts about the music of James Swearingen.
Plus, a short discussion of school budgets and cuts to music.
WE'RE BACK, BABY!!!!
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 to! And here's your chance!
Band is Everything is hosted by band directors Bradley Mariska and Erin Holmes (Farmington High School, Farmington, Minnesota).
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 Kile, band director at Edina High School, who comissioned Randall Standridge's first symphony!
What a special episode for band directors and non band directors alike.
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 with The Growing Band Director Podcast to present a special crossover episode!
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 Thanksgiving-related: The Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Special, our favorite holiday foods and traditions, turkey hunting, and the classic film “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.” Brad even tries to sing the Thanksgiving hymn, “For the Beauty of the Earth.” Erin is not impressed.
Thank you to our sponsors: Grandtours, Schmitt Music, and ACDC Reeds.
Join hosts Bradley Mariska and Erin Holmes (Farmington High School, Farmington Minnesota) for this special episode of Band is Everything.
#Thanksgiving #Podcast #ThanksgivingSpecial #Thanksgiving2023
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 led her to advocate for representation in wind bands, specifically for women.
Laura also shares "What's On Your Stand" (Yo Goto, Adrian Sims, and Haley Woodrow music!)
Brad makes lots of old-timey references to old TV shows like Columbo and Seinfeld.
AND PREACHER ERIN goes off about ladders or something.
YOU HAVE TO HEAR THIS EPISODE.
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 School, MN)
Band is Everything (formerly Band in Minnesota)
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 students, as well as a larger conversation about the challenges of managing budgets, staff, and scheduling. Plus - how does he deal with the negative “noise” facing schools these days.
Join co-hosts Bradley Mariska and Erin Holmes (Farmington HS) for this special episode of Band is Everything.
Find us on all major podcasting apps including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.
Thank you to our 2023-2024 sponsors: GrandTours, Schmitt Music, and ACDC Reeds.
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 Erin for 30 minutes - we know you’ll have fun.
Thank you to our season supporters: GrandTours, our premiere sponsor, and Schmitt Music, our exclusive retail sponsor.
Hosted by Bradley Mariska and Erin Holmes.
Band is Everything (formerly Band in Minnesota)
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.
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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