Making Noise Podcast

“For harp, textbooks all talk about the range, they talk about the pedals, they talk about glissandos and some extended techniques. Most of the unplayable music I get has nothing to do with any of that.”As a new music harpist, Danielle Kuntz is dedicated to bringing new music to life. Danielle believes that the longevity of the classical music industry relies on living composers. She has focused her career on connecting these composers with new audiences by commissioning them and performing their music. Danielle also works to make the harp a more accessible instrument for composers through lectures, workshops, and individual instruction. She is also the harpist and Marketing Director of the Midwest-based new music ensemble The_____Experiment. Danielle holds degrees from the University of North Texas and is currently based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.Danielle and I have gotten to know each other quite well in the last few months. We have had several lengthy conversations. almost entirely through video calls, including this one on the podcast. One thing I have learned about Danielle is that she is very excited about connecting new music with pretty much anyone; whether that is through collaborating with a composer on a new piece or coaching them through writing for the harp, performing music, and interacting with audiences, even her social media presence is incredibly inviting. Be sure to follow her for great tips on writing for the harp! We talk a lot about what it means for Danielle to create and promote new music, as well as the virtual workshop she founded called Toolbox Sessions, which is a series of presentations by collaborative performers on how to effectively write for their instruments - which takes place May 19-21, 2022. We also talk about expanding the accessibility of new music to wider audiences, and so much more on episode 29 of the Making Noise Podcast.I hope you enjoy it! —-Follow Danielle's work: daniellekuntz.com Follow her on the socials: IG/FB @daniellekuntzharp and Twitter @daniellekharpToolbox Sessions website: Toolboxessions.comFollow the Toolbox socials: IG/Twitter @toolboxsessions and FB @composertoolboxsessions —-Watch the podcast on YouTubeListen to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, iHeartradio, and my website where you can listen to music, purchase scores, and learn how to commission a new piece for your ensemble.

“...I wrote that script, I recorded it, and I was like, ‘this is what I'm going to do. This is how I'm going to promote my career. This is how I'm going to further my career and this is how I'm going to do it the way I want to do it.”Stephen Trygar is a historical musicologist, podcaster, writer, producer, and voice actor engaged in revitalizing the music of the past and making it more accessible for modern audiences. His journey to understanding the music of our past has led him to being an advocate for new music, creating podcasts that explores the musical world and sheds light on the world's cultures: The Composer Chronicles and Cultured, But… Not Really. Stephen's approach to writing follows a similar path, aiming to uncover hidden parts of our musical world that has been lost to history or swept under the rug.Recently I was a guest on Stephen's podcast, The Composer Chronicles. The conversation was so enjoyable that we kept it going for another hour and a half even after we stopped recording. To me, it felt like we had a great rapport. The dynamic was strong and we both genuinely enjoyed each other's company. That is why I am so excited to have Stephen on the podcast. He was at odds with the typical career trajectory of a musicologist: becoming a professor. So he created his own path. His perspective and approach to musicology is the perfect example of what it looks like to forge a career in classical music. We talk a lot about what the role of musicologist is today, as well as his podcast, how bread helped shape our language, the issues with censorship, Tchaikovsky and the phenomenal biography written by his brother, our frustration with operas being performed in the language it wasn't written in, and so much more on episode 28 of the Making Noise Podcast.I hope you enjoy it! —-Follow Stephen's work: alexandrianmedia.org Follow him on the socials: @stephenjtrygarListen to our conversation on The Composer ChroniclesThe Life and Letters of Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky by Modeste TchaikovskyAmazonFree eBook—-Watch the podcast on YouTubeListen to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, iHeartradio, and my website where you can listen to music, purchase scores, and learn how to commission a new piece for your ensemble.

"We've got 8 billion people in the world. Which means there is 8 billion ways to be a person. And everybody that is alive is literally their own universe; their own beautiful universe of experience and perspective, with an incredibly colorful story." Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate, is a classical composer, citizen of the Chickasaw Nation in Oklahoma and is dedicated to the development of American Indian classical composition. His Washington Post review states that “Tate is rare as an American Indian composer of classical music. Rarer still is his ability to effectively infuse classical music with American Indian nationalism.”Tate is Guest Composer/Conductor/Pianist for San Francisco Symphony Currents program Thunder Song: American Indian Musical Cultures and was recently Guest Composer for Metropolitan Museum of Art's Balcony Bar program Home with ETHEL and Friends, featuring his commissioned work Pisachi (Reveal) for String Quartet.Recent commissions include Shell Shaker: A Chickasaw Opera for Mount Holyoke Symphony Orchestra, Ghost of the White Deer, Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra for Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Hózhó (Navajo Strong) and Ithánali (I Know) for White Snake Opera Company. His music was recently featured on the HBO series Westworld.Jerod is the type of person who has a deep and intimate understanding of the craft and the business of being a musician. It felt as though every other sentence was a masterclass on becoming the person you know you can be. He exuberates absolute positivity with an optimistic perspective toward progress. This perspective is constant throughout our conversation, peppered inside of fascinating stories about his mother, a choreographer who commissioned Jerod's first piece; his father, a judge in tribal and American law; as well as advice on finding your superpowers as an individual, accepting the ups and downs of being a composer, the language of the Chickasaw tribe, and so much more on episode 27 of the Making Noise Podcast. I hope you enjoy it!—-Follow Jerod's work: jerodtate.com Check out his YouTube channel: youtube.com/c/JerodTateVideos Follow him on the socials: Facebook: facebook.com/jerodtate Instagram/Twitter: @Jerodtate —-Watch the podcast on YouTubeListen to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, iHeartradio, and my website where you can listen to music, purchase scores, and learn how to commission a new piece for your ensemble.

"Part of it is always the same: we want to package this up in an interesting way and bring people in who are hearing this music for the first time, or say, 'Wow, I didn't know there were so many composers out there. That's amazing!'"Seth Boustead is a composer, broadcaster, writer, concert producer, in-demand speaker, and visionary with the goal of revolutionizing how and where classical music is performed and how it is perceived by the general public. As the founder and Executive Director of Access Contemporary Music, Seth has created unique programs like Songs About Buildings and Moods, the Sound of Silent Film Festival, the Thirsty Ears Festival, a chain of storefront music schools, and dozens of concerts in New York, Chicago, Milwaukee and Mexico City. Seth is the host and creator of the award-winning podcast Relevant Tones and the Concept Lab series in Manhattan. More at sethboustead.com I have been wanting to have Seth on the podcast for some time now. As a composer, pianist, and founder of Access Contemporary Music, he has established and created so many outlets and opportunities for new music in Chicago and NYC. I personally got to experience the Thirsty Ears Festival, which on one of the nights had a scaled-down version of the Sound of Silent Film Festival. The experience was so incredibly inviting, which felt more like a backyard family bbq than a performance in a concert hall. He is currently running a Concept Lab in NYC, which is a series that solely features works in progress, allowing deep collaboration between performers and composers. We talk about all of this, as well as mission statements, making a press kit, universal basic income, and so much more in episode 26 of the Making Noise Podcast. I hope you enjoy it!——-Follow Seth's work: sethboustead.comAccess Contemporary Music: www.acmusic.orgRelevant Tones Podcast: www.relevanttones.com——-Watch the podcast on YouTubeListen to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, iHeartradio, and my website where you can listen to music, purchase scores, and learn how to commission a new piece for your ensemble.

"One of the messages that I hope will come out of our talk is that people try to have more of an open mind, not make assumptions and be kind to one another."Through her various roles as a teaching artist, performer, composer and activist, Beata Moon has been able to fulfill her wish to work with people of all ages and backgrounds. A graduate of the Juilliard school, Moon's extensive experience as a teaching artist for Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center Education and the New York Philharmonic includes facilitating workshops about social-emotional learning for teachers and administrators and designing curriculum tailored for students of diverse backgrounds and abilities. She has facilitated conversations about race and restorative justice and believes in the power of music and the arts to heal and work towards social change. She recently became certified as a Climate Reality Leader trained by former US Vice President Al Gore and The Climate Reality Project. http://www.beatamoon.comThe headline in NPR was titled "For a musician in New York City, not being fully vaccinated comes at a cost". After reading the article, I was very concerned. Here is someone who really wanted to be fully vaccinated - yet experienced adverse effects - and is now being called an anti-vaxxer with the potential to lose work. She has done so much for the community as a composer, performer, teacher, and advocate, yet when blinders are on, people only hear the word "unvaccinated" and cast her aside. The very community she has helped to foster is in some ways pushing her out. The inability to communicate openly and honestly about things we disagree on has been concerning me for several years now. I immediately reached out to Beata Moon to see if she would have this conversation on my podcast. Given how charged this topic is, we hope that anyone who listens is able to walk away from this conversation feeling informed and a little more welcoming to those with different perspectives or beliefs. It is such an honor to have Beata Moon on episode 25 of the Making Noise Podcast. I hope you enjoy it!—————-Follow Beata's work: http://beatamoon.com/ Center for Humane Technology www.humanetech.comZdoggMD www.youtube.com/c/ZDoggMD/videos Dr. Vinay Prasad www.youtube.com/channel/UCUibd0E2kdF9N9e-EmIbUew/videos Dr. John Campbell www.youtube.com/c/Campbellteaching/videos To help with identifying feelings www.hoffmaninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/feelingssensations.pdf Box Breathing: https://health.clevelandclinic.org Jane Goodall https://shop.janegoodall.org The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt www.amazon.com/Righteous-Mind-Divided-Politics-Religion/dp/0307455777—————-Watch the podcast on YouTubeListen to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, iHeartradio, and my website where you can listen to music, purchase scores, and learn how to commission a new piece for your ensemble.

“It was 2003, and I came to NYC with Greg Cornelius who is a saxophonist and composer at Bowling Green. And he and I were driving in his Dodge Caravan and I think we were listening to Music for 18 Musicians, and it was raining, and I remember seeing the city lights of New York, and just being overwhelmed with this idea that I need to be here.” Erin Rogers is a saxophonist and composer based in New York City. She is co-artistic director and core member of thingNY, Popebama, New Thread Quartet and Hypercube. Her music has been performed at the Prototype, Ecstatic, and MATA Festivals (NYC), Celebrity Series (Boston), Edmonton Fringe Festival, the Hamburg Elbphilharmonie, Centro Nacional de las Artes (Mexico City), and NYmusikk Bergen (Norway). Rogers is a member of LA super-group WildUp, and performs with the International Contemporary Ensemble, Talea, and Wet Ink. She is a D'Addario Woodwinds Performing Artist and Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Teaching Artist. Rogers can be heard on New Focus Recordings, New World Records, Edition Wandelweiser, Gold Bolus, Love Records, INNOVA, New Amsterdam, and Relative Pitch labels. www.erinmrogers.comI have known Erin for a few years now. Specifically, before leaving New Jersey and heading to Bowling Green, OH to start my graduate work, I saw her saxophone quartet, New Thread Quartet, perform at a church in Jersey City, NJ. After the performance, I introduced myself. We ended up on the topic of me going to grad school and it turned out she is a BGSU alum! What little I knew about Bowling Green, and here I am in NJ meeting someone who went through the program and is doing such awesome work! I've been a fan ever since. Erin is so incredibly hard-working, juggling a varied and wide-ranging freelancing career as a composer and performer in NYC. Recently, she released a solo album titled 2,000 miles, which you can purchase on Bandcamp. Our discussion center almost entirely on the making of 2,000 miles, topics like her improvisational/compositional process, the recording process, traveling from NYC to her hometown in Alberta, Canada, the artistic solutions that grew out of being quarantined, and so much more on episode 24 of the Making Noise Podcast. I hope you enjoy it!—-Follow Erin's Work: www.erinmrogers.com Erin's album on Bandcamp: 2,000 Miles Check out some awesome up-coming performances of Erin's (NYC):Dec 2 - Marilyn Shrude 75th Birthday Celebration // New Thread Quartet, Lost Dog, Momenta QuartetDec 11 - Works by Popebama + Rick BurkhardtDec 15 - Hypercube: Works by New York Women ComposersDec 17 - Kathy Supové premieres Constancy // Bargemusic: Here & Now Winter Festival Day 2—-Watch the podcast on YouTubeListen to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, iHeartradio, and my website where you can listen to music, purchase scores, and learn how to commission a new piece for your ensemble.

“You know I'm a Seth Godin fan. When he talks about education he says one of the problems right now is we've been teachings students how to get the right answer. And that is the wrong way to do it. We want people who can ask the right questions. So what does that mean for music?”Dr. Garrett Hope's purpose is to use his God-given creativity and communication skills to entertain and enlighten, draw people together for a common cause, and to coach others to see new opportunities. An award-winning composer of film and concert music, Garrett engages with performers and audiences to tell stories and create life-changing experiences. He loves working with educational ensembles, and especially values his work with students. As a coach and public speaker, Garrett empowers people to see new opportunities and take courageous action. He does this by helping them identify and break through the beliefs that they hold about themselves that are preventing them from achieving their potential. He helps creatives build networks and make strategic business decisions so they can make a living doing what they love. Garrett holds degrees from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, the University of Northern Colorado, and Colorado Christian University. He is a native of Colorado, but currently lives in Nebraska with his wife and daughter.For more information visit www.garretthope.com. This day, October 12, 2021, marks the year anniversary of the podcast! It brings me such joy that this occasion can be celebrated with a guest who has had such an impact on me. Garrett Hope's work on his podcast, The Portfolio Composer Podcast, helped me realize I need to do more than create music in order to start earning a living as a composer. It is the reason why this podcast exists. I have devoured so many hours of episodes and continuously learn so much from him and the people he talks to, several of which I have had on here! As you can see, I'm completely honored to have this conversation with Garrett. We talk about many topics, including woodworking as a hobby through the quarantine, the upcoming online Garrett is starting called the Ultimate Music Business Summit (more info below), parenting and allowing children to have unsupervised free play, the value, and overall wider community reach of outsourcing, and so much more on episode 23 of the Making Noise Podcast. I hope you enjoy it!Follow Garrett's Work: www.garretthope.com Listen to The Portfolio Composer Podcastwww.theportfoliocomposer.com/category/podcast-episodes Sign up for the Ultimate Music Business Summitwww.musicsummit.bizUMBS' Mission:Please join us at the second annual Ultimate Music Business Summit, which will be held January 6-8, 2022! This is a virtual summit where musicians (from across the globe) can gather and learn about entrepreneurial ideas. The goal of this summit is to ignite curiosity and offer valuable information from an array of experts. The entrepreneurial-minded musician who attends the summit will leave with new, creative ideas that will not only inspire them but will give them the necessary tools to utilize in our ever-changing musical world. The desire to connect, educate, learn, and grow together is UMBS's hope and mission. Please visit our website at musicsummit.biz for more information! Thanks!Prices of Tickets:Basic Ticket: $17Basic Ticket Super Early Bird (purchased before Oct. 31): $7Basic Ticket Early Bird (purchased before Nov. 30): $14VIP (access to all video recordings): $137Super Early Bird (purchased before Oct. 31): $67Early Bird (purchased before Nov. 30): $97—-Watch the podcast on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBaiw-p9pO12oAGlV1BUkPNk6K-62igrJListen to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, iHeartradio, and my website where you can listen to music, purchase scores, and learn how to commission a new piece for your ensemble.

“Those of us that have these very complicated internal lives as artists, we're so lucky; because we carry our world with us all of the time.”I've always been really interested in Alex and everything she does. After listening to her on several podcasts and following her music, I've learned so much from her about the business side of composing, connecting with other musicians, and more personal things as well such as stepping away from composing and finding pleasure in daily life. She understands the importance of pursuing our need as artists to create, while at the same time finding the balance of a healthy and joyous life - Alex likes to kayak, take photos of wildlife, go camping, and do many other outdoor activities. She explains the importance of connecting with others and being authentic with your work, while advocating the need to be properly compensated for that work. She also goes into detail about her process and several projects she has worked on; one of the riskiest moments in her career; emotional highs, and lows; getting mileage out of your work, and so much more on episode 22 of the Making Noise Podcast. I hope you enjoy it!—-Follow Alex's Work: www.alexshapiro.orgA helpful link for our colleagues looking to expand the scope of their programming is this onehttps://www.alexshapiro.org/ProgrammingResources.htmlFollow her socialsFACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/alexshapiroINSTAGRAM @alex_shapiro_composerTWITTER @alex_shapiro—- Watch the podcast on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBaiw-p9pO12oAGlV1BUkPNk6K-62igrJListen to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, iHeartradio, and my website where you can listen to music, purchase scores, and learn how to commission a new piece for your ensemble.

“The point is obviously not the colonoscopy, the point is what we remember. And music is all about memory. When you write music, if you don't appeal to the person's memory at all, it's not going to have much of an impact.”I was very excited after receiving an email from Alan that he would be happy to join me on the podcast. His work as a composition instructor - through the articles and books he has produced - has really impacted the way I understand how music is experienced. These concepts are all explained in his book titled Music Composition: Craft and Art (linked below), where he lays out various principles that are style-neutral and designed to enhance the emotional impact of your music: what features of an opening invokes curiosity in the listener; how do you maintain interest in a way that makes sense to the character of the piece; what degree of novelty vs. invariance is an appropriate balance, etc. We talk quite a bit about many of these concepts in this episode, as well as realizing how music is perceived by learning about psychology, Alan's experience studying with Elliott Carter, his YouTube channel - where you will find videos about these topics, I would highly recommend subscribing to! - and so much more on episode 21 of the Making Noise Podcast. I hope you enjoy it!—-Follow Alan's Work: www.alanbelkinmusic.com Subscribe to his YouTube Channel www.youtube.com/channel/UCUQ0TcIbY_VEk_KC406pRpg Purchase his book, Music Composition: Craft and Art, on Amazon www.amazon.com/Musical-Composition-Craft-Alan-Belkin/dp/0300218990/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=music+composition+craft+and+art&qid=1630336515&sr=8-3 —-Watch the podcast on YouTubeListen to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, iHeartradio, and my website - www.adamkennaugh.com - where you can listen to music, purchase scores, and learn how to commission a new piece for your ensemble.

“Here's the suffering: I just made the statement ‘I really appreciate music when people are being honest.' And then we bring in ‘voice' into that. Now, when someone puts pen to paper if they're concerned about being honest and being true to their voice, I feel like that is a recipe to not write anything at all.” Boston based, Doug Bielmeier creates commercial and experimental music tailored for boutique audiences and media described as an extension of Xenakis's early tape pieces (American Record Guide, 2018) and “drone work meant to shake you out of your shell of complacency (Midwest Record).” Bielmeier has been featured on over 10 Album including Plague Tape (Boston Hassel, 2021) and Monophonic (SEAMUS, 2020) and his recent releases Ambient Works (Albany Records, 2021) Beast of Bodmin Moor (2019), and Betty and the Sensory World (Ravello, 2017). Performed and broadcasted internationally: over 100K listeners at Somafm.com. Performed by the Unheard-of Ensemble and Hypercube Ensemble. Doug is exceptional at seeing different ways in which something can be understood; for example, he finds ways to reframe negative self-talk into something more constructive. This ability to search for different perspectives is certainly consistent with The Process, a podcast where he talks to composers about their process for creating music. Although we set out to have a thorough conversation about his podcast, which we eventually did, our conversation took many twists and turns: like writing honest music vs. writing to your voice, a technique Doug like to use which he calls “windowing,” silly social media trends, living in Bowling Green, different accents throughout the United States, and so much more on episode 20 of The Making Noise Podcast. We had planned for a 45-minute conversation and ended up talking for 1 hour and 40 minutes. That alone I think is an indicator of how much we enjoyed the conversation. I hope you enjoy it! ----- Follow Doug's Work www.dougbielmeier.com/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/doug.bielmeier.5/ Instagram and Twitter: @dougbielmeier Doug's YouTube Channel www.youtube.com/channel/UC3Mi8HeVda77D3vFg4sQgYA The Process Podcast: https://theprocessmusic.podbean.com/ ---- Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBaiw-p9pO12oAGlV1BUkPNk6K-62igrJFollow the podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0THZ9JPnPTk7S0A9hbFm3B Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-noise-podcast/id1540191908 Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/making-noise-podcast iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-making-noise-podcast-76217791/ Visit my website where you can listen to music, purchase scores, and find out how to commission a new piece for your ensemble https://www.adamkennaugh.com/

“I think that exploring new sounds is something that our future audiences deserve because there is so much more to say.” Before this episode, Erich and I had never spoken outside of interactions on social media. However, from those interactions, I had the sense this would be a fun and welcoming sort of conversation. That proved to be very true! We have already agreed to have him back for a Part 2, and since I am announcing that here in writing, it definitely has to happen.Erich is the type of musician who not only creates opportunities for himself but creates opportunities for other musicians. From our conversation, it seems clear to me that when he sets out to do something, he makes it happen. We go into great detail about the many of those opportunities: starting a record label, founding the A/Tonal Ensemble with his wife, America By project, and other topics like the future of college music program curriculums, comedian Jin Bruer, and so much more on episode 19 of The Making Noise Podcast. I hope you enjoy! —-Follow Erich's Work: http://www.erichstem.net/America By Project: http://www.americaby.com/A/Tonal Ensemble: http://www.atonalensemble.com/Interview with Lilly Kodayama http://americaby.com/bainbridge/surviving-internment/—-Watch the podcast on YouTubeFollow the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, iHeartradio, and my website where you can listen to music, purchase scores, and learn how to commission a new piece for your ensemble.

“It’s very unlikely I'll have a full-time position with an orchestra as a pianist as my career. That is not a thing that happens to too many people these days. So, if not that, sink or swim, I have to start thinking about my career in a different way.”Marianne Parker is one of the most active and vibrant musicians I know. Just to name a few things she has going on: performances and commissioning works with her piano and marimba duo, L&M; recording works by Haitian composers; curating an anthology of 21st century works for solo piano through New Music Shelf; producing performances with New Music Chicago along with other administrative tasks; a packed performance and teaching schedule; and still has time to spend with her family, go to parks with her lovely dog, build a garden, hiking, running, what else?! The great thing about Marianne, amongst her active and busy lifestyle, is she always has a very positive and joyous attitude. And this entirely comes through in our conversation. We discuss nearly all of the things listed above, along with what it’s like learning to compose from a performers perspective, the upcoming premiere of Stephanie Ann Boyd’s Flower Catalog, comedy podcasts, Ear Taxi, New Music Gathering, the pairing concerts with violist Michael Hall, and so much more in episode 18 of the Making Noise Podcast. I hope you enjoy! Follow Marianne’s Work: www.marianneparker.comTwitter: @mariannep_pianoInsta: mrrrranneStephanie Ann Boyd’s Flower Catalog: https://www.stephanieannboyd.com/flower-catalogNewMusicShelf Anthology for Solo Piano, Volume 1: https://www.newmusicshelf.com/product/anthology-solo-piano-vol-1/“Pages intimes” debut album: https://marianneparker.bandcamp.com/releases“Pyano Sa” album of works by Gifrants: https://open.spotify.com/album/3u6suWwJYlOvkoByvSnRIv (stream/Spotify), https://www.amazon.com/Pyano-Sa-Gifrants/dp/B08QMKN7DV (digital download/Amazon)Learn more about the upcoming Ear Taxi Festival currently at https://www.newmusicchicago.org/faqs/ , and starting in July at www.eartaxifestival.com.Chicago chocolatier from the pairings concert: Katherine Anne ConfectionsThe Haitian-American (Montreal-based) composer is: GifrantsWatch the podcast on YouTubeFollow the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, iHeartradio, and my website where you can listen to music, purchase scores, and learn how to commission a new piece for your ensemble.

“Failure is information. And it helps everybody do better work next time.” I had the absolute privilege of sitting down with Andy Hudson, an amazing clarinetist - performing with ensembles like Latitude 49, earspace, F-PLUS, and Zafa Collective - and professor at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. Andy has a way about him that makes you feel like you have been friends for years, even if you have never met. This is not hyperbole because that is exactly what happened: this conversation was our very first introduction. Another great thing about Andy is he is able to extract positivity out of difficult experiences or adopt a perspective that allows him to progress in an otherwise challenging situation, like teaching clarinet on Zoom through the quarantine. We talk about so many topics that are pertinent not only for musicians, but for everyone: a new perspective on what failure means, absolving binary/good vs. bad thinking, enjoying the process and not focusing on the outcome, and so much more in episode 17 of the Making Noise Podcast. Follow Andy’s Work on his website Check out Latitude 49’s new album: The Bagatelles Project. All Proceeds go to the Coalition for African Americans in the Performing Arts. Social Media@theandyhudsonWatch the podcast on YouTubeFollow the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, iHeartradio, and my website where you can listen to music, purchase scores, and learn how to commission a new piece for your ensemble.

“What does it mean to write an opera? What does it mean to put something on stage and to write something with the purpose of there being physical action to do?”New music powerhouse Lisa Neher is a mezzo-soprano, composer, and actress on a mission to transform audiences through story, sound, and open-heartedness. Described by Oregon ArtsWatch as “a small woman with a very big voice” and “especially alive,” Neher captivates audiences with her electrifying dramatic commitment and unforgettable vocal colors. She released her first EP Of Wind and Waves through OddPop records in January and her opera Sense of Self, written with librettist Kendra Preston Leonard, will be premiered by Opera Elect this year. In addition to her creative work, Lisa coaches composers on writing for voices and business strategy.Composers take note! Lisa is doing it all, and then some. Her DIY, can-do attitude is completely contagious. I thoroughly enjoyed having this conversation with her. We covered a myriad of topics from writing for voice, to choosing a text, sources of creativity, flamethrowers (seriously), the process of composing, her exciting One Voice Project Micro Opera Festival from March 22-26 and so much more in episode 16 of the Making Noise Podcast. Be sure to watch the One Voice Project Micro Opera Festivalhttps://www.lisanehermusic.com/operafestival.htmlFollow Lisa’s Work on her website https://www.lisanehermusic.com/Check out her EP: Of Wind and Waveshttps://lisaneher.bandcamp.com/releasesSocial Media @lisanehermezzoWatch the podcast on YouTubeFollow the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, iHeartradio, and my website where you can listen to music, purchase scores, and learn how to commission a new piece for your ensemble.

“Productivity is not about getting the most done. Productivity is about getting to the end of your day and feeling like you got enough done.” I was introduced to Sarah's work through a 3-day online coaching seminar called the Ultimate Music Business Summit. She did a presentation called “Master Your Mindset: How to Ditch the Impostor Syndrome and Take Your Career to the Next Level” absolutely blew my mind!We had a short timeframe to work with, but there is a wealth of information in this episode! We discuss what productivity is, and what it isn’t; the rules of the music industry changing since the lockdown, meaning new opportunities; and go into great detail about Sarah’s upcoming 4-month long online coaching group called The Career Reboot, starting in April. I am so honored to have Sarah as the featured guest on episode 15 of the Making Noise Podcast. Sign up for The Career Reboot: https://mailchi.mp/a875da7a3934/careerrebootFollow Sarah’s Work:www.sarahwhitney.comSocial MediaInstagram: @theproductivemusicianFacebook: The Productive Musician FB Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/713292089549986/Watch the podcast on YouTubeFollow the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, iHeartradio, and my website where you can listen to music, purchase scores, and learn how to commission a new piece for your ensemble.

“Music is not who you are, it's what you do and what you love.” If you’re a performer, this episode is definitely for you! Flutist and entrepreneur Francesca Leo goes into great detail about her research and work on the Playing Without Pain Project: a resource for musicians to educate on the severities of performance-based injuries, how to prevent them, maintaining healthy and efficient practice habits, and so much more. It is a truly invaluable resource. Follow her on social media and stay informed on maintaining a healthy musical lifestyle. We also talk about Francesca’s new favorite Pixar movie, recommend a bunch of books, and more on episode 14 of the Making Noise Podcast.Follow Francesca and her work: www.Francescaleoflute.com www.playingwithoutpain.com Social Media@playingwithouotpainWatch the podcast on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBaiw-p9pO12oAGlV1BUkPNk6K-62igrJFollow the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and my website https://www.adamkennaugh.com/ where you can listen to music, purchase scores, and learn how to commission a new piece for your ensemble.

In episode 11 of the podcast, the featured guest was Alinéa Ensemble. However, one member was missing in the conversation, Matt Henson. To make up for lost time, Matt and I were able to find a place where our schedules aligned, and have him on the podcast! He is the type of musician that does a little bit of everything: bassist, conductor, music theorist, doctoral student, and member of Alinéa Ensemble. We go into detail about moving across the country during the pandemic, how the couch is every man's best friend, baseball, the challenge of explaining contemporary music to non-musicians, and much more in episode 13 of Making Noise Podcast. If you are a bassist or interested in learning the bass, please contact Matt for virtual lessons! He has a lot of experience with many different styles of music and I have no doubt will be happy to help make you a great musician. Matt’s Instagram@hens.matthewAlinéa Ensemble Websitehttps://www.alineaensemble.org/Social Media@alineaensemble Everything but the Kitch Sink Podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsrtFxQIlGkWatch the podcast on YouTubeFollow the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and my website where you can listen to music, purchase scores, and learn how to commission a new piece for your ensemble.

“My fundamental artistic drive is to do things with my friends, and sometimes I can care less about the actual music." Making Noise Podcast is starting off the new year with a big one! The first episode of 2021, 3 hours and 15 minutes long, features my friend and phenomenal composer Kory Reeder. Kory and I met at orientation when we started graduate school at BGSU. We spent many nights going to performances, having drinks, and listening to a lot of music and talking a lot about music. We cover topics from mainstream music like Kendrick Lamar and Flying Lotus, to the purpose of art, having challenging and difficult conversations, the composer/performer relationship, music as an empathetic artform, and so much more - literally so much more - all in episode 12 of Making Noise Podcast. Shout outs to Richard P. John, Aliana Clarice, Devon Tipp, Alan Theisen, Kirsten Broberg, Kendrick Lamar, Jack Yarborough Kory’s Website https://www.koryreeder.com/Bandcamphttps://koryreeder.bandcamp.com/Social Media@koryreedermusicWatch the podcast on YouTubeFollow the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and my website where you can listen to music, purchase scores, and learn how to commission a new piece for your ensemble. www.adamkennnaugh.com

I randomly stumbled upon Alinéa Ensemble’s podcast, Everything but the Kitchen Sink, and was immediately amazed. I had never heard of them prior, however, the podcast featured interviews with composers like Chaya Czernowin, Beat Furrer, Aaron Cassidy, Marcos Balter, Rebecca Saunders, just to name a few. To me, this was an ensemble that was open to taking on challenges. They took advantage of two things that were provided with the quarantine of 2020: time and accessibility. We go in-depth - from how the ensemble formed in 2019, to their graceful transition during quarantine, and what they intend to do next - in episode 11 of the Making Noise Podcast. Alinéa Ensemble Websitehttps://www.alineaensemble.org/Social Media@alineaensemble Everything but the Kitch Sink Podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsrtFxQIlGkWatch the podcast on YouTubeFollow the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and my website where you can listen to music, purchase scores, and learn how to commission a new piece for your ensemble.

Shaped by sonic sensitivity from a young age, Pittsburgh based composer/performer/artist Devon Osamu Tipp creates unorthodox musical environments from ostensibly incompatible realms. Tipp’s music draws influence from his Japanese and Eastern European roots, his experiences as a jeweler and painter, improvisations with plants, and his studies of gagaku and hogaku in Japan and the US. His work focuses on rhythmic and timbral transmutation of cyclical materials, ranging from the orchestral, to string basses prepared with honey stirrers, to concerti for traditional Japanese instruments. His compositions have been performed in the US, Europe, Australia, China and Japan.Devon’s websiteCheck out his paintings on EstyDevon’s BandcampWatch the podcast on YouTubeFollow the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and my website where you can listen to music, purchase scores, and learn how to commission a new piece for your ensemble.

Adam Schumaker is a composer, educator, arts administrator, father, husband, and a generalist. He currently directs the education programs for The Gilmore and is a visiting professor of music theory & composition at Kalamazoo College, where he teaches music theory, composition, and arts administration. Schumaker has composed for film, theater, chamber ensembles, concert band, promotional video, electronic mediums, and an intensive care unit hospital bed. He has received numerous local grants and commissions.The financial survey to promote financial transparency. The album on Bandcamp. Adam's New Music Box articles on musicians financial profiles: Follow Adam Schumaker on Twitter! @SchumakerA, @oddpop1 Subscribe to the channel and follow the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and my website where you can listen to music, purchase scores, and learn how to commission a new piece for your ensemble.

Each episode description always begins with one quote from the guest. With Alan Theisen - composer, performer, educator, author, and fan of peaty scotch - I don't think even 100 quotes would cover the intensity, depth, and all-around enjoyment of this conversation, but here are five: 1) "Follow dumb ideas." 2) “I think comfort is a value that our society has that often does more damage than it does good.” 3) “...and then he mouths, ‘WTF?!’” 4) “I stared at a candle for 45 minutes. It was incredible.” 5) “I think purpose is an extension of empathy. And I think people who are devoid of empathy have no purpose.” No stone was left unturned. We drank some scotch and traversed a myriad of topics in great depth. To quote Alan one last time, "you are in for the full 150-minute experience. Pull up a chair. Here we go." Please enjoy episode 8 of the Making Noise Podcast. Go to Alan's website to learn more about his work and multi-faceted career.Check out his ensemble MIATp (with duo partner Megan Ihnen, the guest on Episode 6 of The Making Noise Podcast).Listen to the podcast on Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTube

There are a few people who knew me really well during graduate school. Both the good and the bad. Natalie is one of those people. We worked on a lot of projects together during that time, music and otherwise, and still do to this day. Most recently she put on a YouTube performance titled ...in all but name... where she performed my piece Approaching Cyrrhus written for her. I've always admired Natalie's endless support to those around her. She has a way of talking about something personal but spinning it as a way to provide support to others. This is one of the many reasons I am so excited to have her on the podcast. Some of the things we discuss: Natalie’s path to the Army “I grew up around the airforce”The challenge of joining the military in your late 20’s when everyone else is just out of high schoolPrivileges that are granted as a soldierThe effectiveness of the Army teaching group responsibility“Right in the first semester of my master's degree all of my life is exploding”How Connor Nelson impacted Natalie and helped in making a big life decisionShoutout to Troy Paolantonio Dating and ghostingShoutout to Rhy BurgessThe meditative quality of trigger therapyFollow Natalie's media production companyAdd her on Facebook!Keep up with her work as a musician in the Army

This is officially the first episode of the podcast where I got to sit down and talk with someone I have not personally met! I discovered Robin through her YouTube page when I was searching for certain flute techniques while writing Approaching Cyrrhus. After subscribing to her channel, I started following her on other social media and saw the frequency with which she posts content. So much of what she does it dedicated and in service to composers, and I could not think of a better reason to have her on.Some of the things we discuss:Creating long-term music projects for YouTube.52 Weeks of Flute and 365 Days of Flute as a resource for composers.“The biggest thing composers don’t get is performer feedback...”Ralph Lewis’s “YouTube piece that uses the algorithm”Things composers need to stop doing.“Contemporary techniques for Composers” and “Contemporary Techniques 101.”How to reach out to Robin and what NOT to say.The validity of having a career on the internet.When it comes to improvisation, “practice being uncomfortable.”

Megan and I met at the 2017 New Music Gathering where she did a presentation on Placemaking in New Music. I was so taken by the concepts she outlined, I invited her to BGSU to present these topics to other students music students.Megan has this amazing ability to make you feel important. Like what you're doing matters. I think this comes across clearly from the start of our discussion. With a multi-faceted and diverse career, from her performance as a mezzo-soprano to business coaching to running a podcast and blog, I don't think there is anything she can't do.Some of the things we discuss:Understanding the financial "numbers you need to have in your life to feel like it’s sustainable."Creating systems that serve your needs as a professional and the needs of your clients and collaborators.Develop the skills to recognize when you're in a spiral, and "then talk to yourself like you love yourself”“so much of being a musician teaches us the craft of being a person”“I believe deeply in the power of storytelling, and there is nothing more special to me than being able to share that with each other”Communicating your craft to an audience in a way that draws them inHow Megan and Alan Thiesen (saxophonist partner of MIATp) conceptualized the programmatic design of Black Meridian“Whatever keeps you committed to making music going forward - during the time of COVID - is the right thing”Megan’s final statement: new album coming out very soon (www.meganihnen.com); before January 2021, she is running a coaching/consulting special: 3 sessions over the course of 5 months as low as $48 a month.

Erin and I met while in graduate school at Bowling Green State University. We collaborated together to create Spate, a piece for bass clarinet which disconnects the actions of the embouchure and the fingers using tablature notation.Erin recently became a full-time professor at Arkansas State University, which she talks in length about in this episode.Some of the things discussed:“Wherever you live, you’re always an active participant in creating the culture there”“This is going to be a controversial statement: I don’t think it’s a bad time to be in school”Focusing on the present and immediate things you can controlPissing some guy off at Grounds for Thought because Erin and I were too loudThe line between being a music student and becoming a music professor is very blurry.The differing generational experience of female teachers in academia

Andrew and I met in 2017 at the Valencia International Performance Academy & Festival (VIPA) in Valencia, Spain. We were both participants at the conference - taking part in workshops, lectures, performances, lessons - but made it a point to explore the city, hang out on the beach, and drink plenty of fresh aqua de Valencia.After several years of living, working, and gigging in NYC, Andrew provides great insight for anyone who is considering the musician experience of the Big Apple.Some of the things discussed:“There is nothing that can encapsulate the experience of living in NYC until you’re there”The benefits of composing and doing work in the morning“The time I spent outside of music, when I come back to it it’s just totally refreshing”Shout out to Ben DamannThe Social DilemmaStephen King's On WritingHow do you deal with separating the energy you put into creating a proposal and the desired outcome?“my band performed on a trailer that pulled us around the city of Lancaster”Shout out to Andrzej KarałowTexting with flip phones and purple potatoes

Jonathan and I met during our time in graduate school at Bowling Green State University. He was a member of the Segetem Saxophone quartet, who performed my piece Haumea. Later, Jonathan commissioned me to write I am… for his saxophone and trombone duo, Wind Collision.Some of the things we discuss in this podcast:Reminding yourself to be active and go outside during COVID-19.How COVID-19 has altered the college experience as a doctoral student.Issues most saxophone students experience.Balancing different schools of thought for practice.How we met.The challenges of putting together Haumea.Building your CV to be more marketable.“If all you’re doing is going to school and coasting, I don’t think that is a good idea.”The schedule of a doctoral student pursuing saxophone performance.Sax Reel Podcast.

James Besaw is a saxophonist and instructor living in Saginaw, MI. We met over 5 years ago and have been collaborating ever since. Some of the things we discuss in this podcast:Our experience at the 2015 Nief-Norf Summer Music Festival.“What was one thing from your experience at Nief-Norf that made you the performer you are today?”“It doesn’t have to be perfect/perfection is not the thing to strive for”Rehearsing, performing, and the use of tablature notation for Initial Contact“…you have to beat your previous self.”Self-imposed expectations of music students.Reminding yourself why you’re a musician and harnessing the joy you get from it.