Episode 2: "Culture Before Technique"

Episode 002 • March 4, 2024 • “Culture Before Technique”

 

FIRST STRAIN: News ‘n’ Notes

• Ralph Yarl makes Missouri All-State Band a year after being mistaken for an intruder and shot:

https://abcnews.go.com/US/ralph-yarl-named-missouri-state-band-months-after/story?id=106232534

• University of Arizona marching band wins 2023 Sudler Trophy:

https://news.arizona.edu/story/pride-arizona-marching-band-wins-prestigious-sudler-trophy

https://sousafoundation.net/sub_menu_items/1

 

SECOND STRAIN: Do What You Love: A Lesson About Band from a Journalism Professor

Howard M. Ziff:

https://rhammerton1.wordpress.com/2012/04/11/gotta-love-it/

http://www.gazettenet.com/2012/04/11/venerated-journalist-professor-ziff-dies

 

TRIO: interview with Zoe Stinson

She’s a music teacher, she’s a researcher, she’s a salsa band baritone saxophonist! … and if you’ve been in western Massachusetts in the last several years, you also may have seen her, possibly on the podium in front of some outfit called the Minuteman Marching Band, or behind the wheel of a Pioneer Valley Transit Authority bus. Renaissance person? Or just casting her net really wide?

 

A chat about a beginner-band teaching strategy which Ms. Stinson piloted at her East Windsor (Connecticut) teaching gig, which she calls “Culture Before Technique”.

 

STINSON BIO:

Zoe Stinson is a music educator and instrumentalist originally from the Capitol Region of New York, and currently teaches grade 5-8 Band, Chorus, and General Music at East Windsor (CT) Middle School. Zoe grew up studying saxophone, cello, and voice, but always gravitated towards saxophone. In 2016, Zoe was selected to perform at NYSSMA Conference All-State, and to perform in the International Performance Series at Carnegie Hall. Zoe furthered her saxophone studies at Eastman, Crane, Hartt, and University of Oklahoma summer programs throughout high school and college, and has performed in masterclasses for virtuosos such as Arno Bornkamp, Chien-Kwan Lin, and Christopher Creviston.

In 2017, Zoe attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst for Saxophone Performance. While she studied at UMass, Zoe was heavily involved in numerous activities as a student musician. Zoe was initiated into Tau Beta Sigma, National Honorary Sorority for Collegiate Bands, and has since become a life member. Zoe performed in the University Wind Ensemble, Symphony Band, University Choral, Chapel Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble I, Marimba Bands, and the University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band, for which she served as a Drum Major for two seasons.

Aside from larger ensembles, Zoe was also associated with several notable chamber ensembles including the 4/4ths Saxophone Quartet, and the Rebel Saxophone Quartet, which traveled to Virginia for the Navy Band Saxophone Symposium in 2019 with their tour program.

As a soloist, Zoe has performed multiple solo recitals and been invited as a guest performer at many others. Her most recent recital, “A Showcase of the Baritone Saxophone”, was performed entirely on the baritone saxophone in effort to legitimize the instrument in the classical medium. Zoe was also a concerto competition winner at UMass in Spring 2020 performing Rhapsody by Andre Waignein on the alto saxophone.

Zoe has recently begun her professional career as a music educator, and is a member of the Gordon Institute for Music Learning. Specializing in instrumental instruction, Zoe applies Music Learning Theory in her classroom with a focus on ear training.

Outside of the classroom, Zoe still enjoys playing her cello to this day, and plays baritone saxophone with recreational ensembles such as the “Salsa Train” salsa band in Springfield, and “The Onlys,” her fusion rock trio in New York. On the weekends, she occasionally likes to hop into the driver seat and drive for PVTA in Amherst, MA.

(text courtesy The Valley Winds website: valley-winds.org/ensemble-member/zoe-stinson/)

 

DOGFIGHT: Internet Rabbit Hole of the Week: Balkan Paradise Orchestra

Their website: https://bpo.cat/en/biography/

Your gateway to their performances: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5b5KzDHUSY

 

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