BandWagon
What makes BANDWAGON different from other band-related podcasts? Rather than focusing only on music education topics, it’s meant for anybody who ever did band. And in a world where not everybody “gets” band, it can be a challenge for people who do. With news, commentary, and advocacy from the band world (concert and marching; scholastic, community, and service bands), and entertaining conversations with band leaders and participants alike ... this podcast aims to create community through band: to be a resource and a refuge for band geeks.
Episodes

Monday Jan 13, 2025
Monday Jan 13, 2025
SHOW NOTES
Episode 044 • January 13, 2025
FIRST STRAIN
News ‘n’ Notes:
• Rose Parade recap:
www.pasadenastarnews.com/2025/01/01/top-5-moments-from-rose-parade-2025-that-had-people-talking/
pasadenanow.com/main/rose-parade-draws-record-post-pandemic-crowds-but-bowl-game-attendance-dips
• Los Angeles County wildfires … here are ideas and resources for helping:
laist.com/news/climate-environment/how-to-help-la-fire-victims
Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority: www.lahsa.org/news?article=1014-resources-to-support-those-during-the-l-a-fires
WHYY (NPR Philadelphia affiliate): whyy.org/articles/california-wildfire-help-victims-los-angeles/
KTLA (Channel 5, Los Angeles) (the local TV station that broadcasts the Rose Parade without commentary over top of the bands, so we love them): ktla.com/news/california/wildfires/these-resources-are-available-for-socal-wildfire-victims-first-responders/
SECOND STRAIN
Topic: Kansas State football coach shouts out the Wildcat Marching Band
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w1imKmLRaI
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rate_Bowl
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Rate_Bowl
TRIO
This week’s interview guest: BILL DRURY
necmusic.edu/faculty/william-drury/
www.linkedin.com/in/william-drury-375aa260/?trk=public_profile_browsemap_mini-profile_title
DOGFIGHT
Topic: University of Minnesota football coach shouts out the Pride of Minnesota
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke%27s_Mayo_Bowl
www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1522903948372902
CODA
Topic: Taylor Swift, on enthusiasm
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Monday Jan 06, 2025
Monday Jan 06, 2025
SHOW NOTES
Episode 043 • January 6, 2025
INTRODUCTION
music credit:
“Amazing Plan (distressed)” by Kevin MacLeod https://incompetech.com/
Promoted by MrSnooze
Creative Commons – CC BY 3.0 https://goo.gl/Yibru5
FIRST STRAIN
News ‘n’ Notes:
• Saipan Pacific Winds Band concertizes with USAF brass quintet
www.saipantribune.com/news/local/saipan-pacific-winds-band-s-christmas-concert-this-saturday/article_25bda9fe-b1fe-11ef-a292-9bf0e481abec.html
• Boise State student helps establish marching band in Germany
https://www.boisestate.edu/schoolofthearts/2024/12/09/boise-state-student-helps-establish-marching-band-in-germany/
SECOND STRAIN
Topic: A Very Community Band Holiday Season
TRIO
This week’s interview guest: WAYNE MAGEE
www.maritime.edu/directory?title=&page=24
www.linkedin.com/in/waynemagee/?profileId=ACoAAAddcq4BJjSjkxPPINzbaMEhVGP_Qu5Xphc
www.toughblows.com/about
DOGFIGHT
Topic: a Midwest Clinic memory
www.windrep.org/Concerts:1997_Midwest_Clinic_Concerts
www.midwestclinic.org/1997-Midwest-Clinic-Performers.html
khalilovcompetition.com/committee/en
CODA
BandWagon merch (in-house ad!)
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Monday Dec 16, 2024
Monday Dec 16, 2024
SHOW NOTES
Episode 042a • December 16, 2024
BandWagon will go on hiatus for a week or two, while a technology glitch gets ironed out.
It’ll be right back, after this relatively brief pause.
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Monday Dec 09, 2024
Monday Dec 09, 2024
SHOW NOTES
Episode 042 • December 9, 2024
FIRST STRAIN
News ‘n’ Notes:
• Band winners in the American Prize National Nonprofit Competitions in the Performing Arts
theamericanprize.org/
theamericanprize.blogspot.com/2024/11/national-winners-bandswind-ensembles.html
• New conductor for Harbor Winds Ensemble
www.gigharbornow.org/news/arts-entertainment/harbor-winds-new-conductor/
SECOND STRAIN
Topic: Merry Maple
TRIO
This week’s interview guest: GREG SMITH
NVCB: www.NashobaValleyConcertBand.org
Townsend Senior Center: www.townsendma.gov/community/senior_center/index.php
DOGFIGHT
Topic: The marching bands of the 98th Annual Macy*s Thanksgiving Day Parade
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wpXAG-ao2Y
CODA
Call to action: have you got any Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic stories you wanna tell?
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Monday Dec 02, 2024
Monday Dec 02, 2024
SHOW NOTES
Episode 041 • December 2, 2024
FIRST STRAIN
News ‘n’ Notes:
• USAFE-AFAFRICA Band, Latvian National Guard Orchestra combined performance
www.dvidshub.net/news/485821/usafe-afafrica-band-latvian-national-guard-orchestra-builds-community-combined-marching-band
• BU Pep Band in Belfast, Ireland for hockey tournament
www.bu.edu/articles/2024/mens-hockey-and-pep-band-head-to-belfast-for-friendship-four/
SECOND STRAIN
Topic: The 2014 Central Connecticut State University Blue Devil Marching Band
The CCSU band’s then-traditional closing song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozr2NBElg68
TRIO
This week’s interview guest: CAROL COX FORBES
www.towsonbands.com/camp/professional-staff/
“Resting in the Peace of His Hands” (John Gibson): www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYh51BPrflQ
“Under the Scars” (John Mackey): www.youtube.com/watch?v=puziZWbDu38
DOGFIGHT
Topic: a moment of drum major miscommunication
CODA: A Joke
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Monday Nov 25, 2024
Monday Nov 25, 2024
SHOW NOTES
Episode 040 • November 25, 2024
FIRST STRAIN
News ‘n’ Notes:
• Bands of America Grand National Championships
www.indystar.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/11/17/2024-boa-grand-nationals-results-bands-of-america-lucas-oil-stadium-indianapolis-avon-carmel-castle/76230686007/
• Augustana College’s Symphonic Band celebrates 150 years
www.ourquadcities.com/news/local-news/augustana-symphonic-band-celebrates-150th-anniversary/
www.augustana.edu/academics/areas-of-study/music/ensembles/symphonic-band
SECOND STRAIN
Topic: Scholastic Books “debates” the value of music in schools
twitter.com/BobMorrison/status/1857070182285312358
www.nyssma.org/letters-to-the-editor-of-scholastic-news-regarding-the-should-kids-learn-music-in-schools-article/
NAfME letter: www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=9631255920234517&set=pcb.8359644700800091
Scholastic Senior VP letter: www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=9644683498891759&set=g.292604557504186
TRIO
This week’s interview guest: PAUL LIVINGSTON
DOGFIGHT
Topic: Virginia Tech kicker vs. Syracuse University band
www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/2024/11/virginia-tech-kicker-disrupts-syracuse-marching-band-during-halftime-performance-video.html
CODA
Topic: A bit of Thanksgiving
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Monday Nov 18, 2024
Monday Nov 18, 2024
SHOW NOTES
Episode 039 • November 18, 2024
FIRST STRAIN
News ‘n’ Notes:
• Association of Concert Bands announces its 2025 Convention performing bands
sites.google.com/view/acb2025/performing-bands?authuser=0
SECOND STRAIN
Topic: How to Arrange a High-Profile (Trio-Section) Interview
TRIO
This week’s interview guest: ALEX GARDE
www.marineband.marines.mil/
www.marineband.marines.mil/About/Members/Article/3003251/staff-sgt-alexander-garde/
DOGFIGHT
Internet Rabbit Hole of the Week: “Aspire: The President’s Own at 225 (Volume One)”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fuitSIjCxs&list=PLA7no0L9zTk4vddfBGWiNqXONXrV8BpPU
CODA
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Monday Nov 11, 2024
Monday Nov 11, 2024
SHOW NOTES
Episode 038 • November 11, 2024
INTRODUCTION
• Content calendars, sometimes
FIRST STRAIN
News ‘n’ Notes:
• Elections and other stressful events, and how to approach them in a band setting…
SECOND STRAIN
Topic: An introduction to this week’s Trio…
TRIO
This week’s interview guest: EMILY DAWSON
www.215tharmyband.com/
www.facebook.com/215thArmyBand/
mcmusicschool.org
mcmusicschool.org/faculty/emily-dawson/
DOGFIGHT
Tales of a very tall middle-school bass drummer
CODA
Tom Borning, wind band composer
tricountysymphonicband.org
Video of the concert opener, “Lift Off”: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTzcI2dUmWo
“Everything Music Ed” podcast: shows.acast.com/everything-music-ed/episodes
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/everything-music-ed/id1702949314
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Monday Nov 04, 2024
Monday Nov 04, 2024
SHOW NOTES
Episode 037 • November 5, 2024
INTRODUCTION
Gonna try and lighten the mood a bit this week…
FIRST STRAIN
News ‘n’ Notes:
• Iowa mellophones sign NIL deal
https://www.kcrg.com/2024/10/22/iowa-marching-band-members-sign-nil-deal-second-year/
• ISU Wind Ensemble offers sensory-sensitive concert for neurodiverse music lovers
https://www.amestrib.com/story/entertainment/local/2024/10/23/iowa-state-university-hosts-first-sensory-sensitive-neurodiverse-family-concert/75779156007/
SECOND STRAIN
Topic:
TOPIC: Errata, from last week’s tale of a postgame interview invading the postgame show
Video of the event: www.facebook.com/mathgeek00/videos/1670372037462/
TRIO
This week’s interview guest: JEN ABLES
jenables.com
www.facebook.com/SWSalsa
https://x.com/soldierswsalsa
DOGFIGHT
Postscript to the Jen Ables interview – and a 5-star review for TeePublic, our merch merchant!
CODA
Pre-election “special comment” … on a band podcast?
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Monday Oct 28, 2024
Monday Oct 28, 2024
SHOW NOTES
Episode 036 • October 28, 2024
FIRST STRAIN
News ‘n’ Notes:
• McKinley HS football and band clash
https://www.cantonrep.com/story/opinion/letters/2024/10/24/letters-mckinley-football-players-disrespected-marching-band/75807987007/
• Bowling Green band barred from rivalry halftime
https://www.13abc.com/2024/10/15/bgsu-says-utoledo-wont-let-their-band-play-battle-i-75-halftime/?fbclid=IwY2xjawF-OzpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHeNrYTjRucs9fOnmz8yndJVTysb-wS6IFEEX9JkrB90ATAaRrAtcvXxBGw_aem_MGiZmj0Oj6vNeBADIB4L3w
SECOND STRAIN
Topic: More on the Toledo/BGSU tiff, and can’t we just get along?
https://www.toledoblade.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/2024/10/19/to-editor-ut-decision-bgsu-band-puts-hof-inductees-awkward-spot/stories/20241018109
https://www.wtol.com/article/sports/football/bgsu-marching-band-falcon-utoledo-university-battle-of-i-75-football/512-2aee6d6e-7fa0-4f03-9694-d1814def5b5c
TRIO
This week’s interview guest: SCOTT MONTY, part 2
https://scottmonty.com/
https://www.prsa.org/person/monty-scott
https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottmonty/
DOGFIGHT
• More tales of bands and sports people
CODA
• Hammerton’s on The Growing Band Director Podcast, next Monday, November 4
www.youtube.com/@thegrowingbanddirectorpodc7296/videos
sites.google.com/view/the-growing-band-director/home
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Merch!
At the BandWagon storefront hosted by the good people at TeePublic, find all manner of clothing and stickers and phone cases and mugs and wall art and pillows and tote bags and pins and magnets ... ... and yes, hats.
Follow this link:
www.teepublic.com/user/bandwagon-with-rob-hammerton

Tell us your best band story!
By eMail: heybandwagon@yahoo.com
Leave a 90-second voice message at speakpipe.com/HeyBandWagon

Rob Hammerton, host
Drawing on his experience in scholastic bands as a participant, instructor and designer, his more than two decades as a church musician, his work as a college band director, and his current work as a community band conductor, Rob has broad insight into the world of winds and percussion -- and yet there's so much more he wants to learn!
Send the podcast an eMail: heybandwagon@yahoo.com




