For a lot of us, this is where we stop learning music. However, this isn't even the entry level of the music. "What do you mean Ryan? I have the right notes, right rhythms, and the right tempo... what else is there?"

As a student we can decide what our indivdiual standards are. I will be on time to everything. I will be attentive during rehearsal. I will give my best effort all the time. I will encourage the people around me. I will practice 15 minutes everyday. I will play that piece of music I have been working on for 2 year now. I will come to rehearsal prepared so I can be a great example for everyone else.

The story is really about how a carrot, an egg, and coffee beans react to hot water (pressure). When you put a carrot into hot water it becomes soft and mushy. When you put an egg in hot water it hardens and becomes a hard boiled egg. When you put coffee beans in water, they change the water into coffee. The moral of the short story is how does pressure impact us and in turn how do we impact our environment.

Welcome to the other side of snowpocalypse 2026! We got roughly 12-14 inches here in Cincinnati (some areas even more) and are getting ready for snow day number 2 tomorrow. Since temperatures will be below freezing (and the feels like in the negative) the rest of week, we may end up with a few more snow days. While it is important to go play in the snow, build a snowman, drink hot chocolate, doomscroll, and everything this we do now-a-days, it is also important to practice

It's January, you have show music passed out and the first show is only weeks away. Maybe you did a short Holiday Camp, or you took that break off completely. Maybe you had some snow days in December like we did here in Cincinnati. Either way you are feeling the pressure of that first show. Are you behind? It probably feels like it. Should you be freaking out? It probably feels like it. So what should we do if we are in this situation?

It's that time of year where we review how the year went for us and start making plans for next year. I don't really know how to quantify this year as either good or bad. It was definitely challenging.

I was standing in line to check out with a few small ensemble collections and at the checkout table was a book called "Freelance: 10 Commonsense Keys to Making YOUR Music YOUR Business" by Josh Gottry. Now this book has existed for a few years (since 2021) and I see at PASIC every year, but never give it a second look. Mainly because I do read more now than I use to, but it still doesn't feel like a lot, and I felt pretty good on the business side of things.

Been a while since I posted. There has been a lot going on this marching band season, and it has taken my full focus to get to this...

As I have been designing more and more, I find myself going to see/work with these groups more. I have also been helping set up electronics/sound systems more over the last few years. As I am doing this more, I find myself packing specific things for these trips that I don't normally worry about when I am teaching. Now that might be because I have easier access to things when I am closer to home, or I am more conscious of needing to maxmize my time on these visits, or both

Alright...I think I might enjoy reading now. But only things I want to read. I read 4 chapters of a book today (almost 50 pages) because I was intraced in what the book was going over. I think the most I have read in 1 sitting before today was 14-15 pages.

Another book already! This is like 4 this year, which is definitely a new record for me. Today's book is really short, like 54 pages, which was a great way for me to get back into reading after a small break to focus on finishing up the winter season.

Happy New Year! 2025 is now a week old. Hopefully you have been able to make the most of this week.

So where do you start Ryan? I am glad you asked. I start with two simple tools. Yes, the drum pad and drum sticks...

I think we as educators are really good about telling students to practice, but not always as great at giving them tools to help...

They had a great season earning a silver medal, finishing the season breaking 80, and experiencing almost 20 points worth of growth.

We all face hurdles when we are working to elevate ourselves.

We all have a lot going on at one time. Some people are great at multitasking, and some are not. Like I said earlier, I am one of the nots

Wishing you all a happy, and productive, 2024.

I think that because it is time we can really get back to fundamentals and training for a minute.

It's that time of year where we should take time and remember all the things we are grateful.