174 - Matt Strauss

Matt is a percussionist in the Houston Symphony and serves on the faculty of Rice University and theUniversity of Miami. He has recently developed a line of signature sticks with Promark. He is a formerstudent of Alan Abel, and has performed under the baton of Pierre Boulez and Esa-Pekka Salonen. Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 Intro and Hello 1:53 The Led Zeppelin symphony concert? 4:20 Teaching at Rice University and Miami? 6:15 The balance and your path to collegiate teaching? 12:20 Balancing your personal life with your career? 16:30 Daily warm-up routine? How to maintain a high performance level while being so busy? 20:36 Ben: Some timpani history 31:06 Auditions? Excerpts that you dread? Enjoy the long road. 41:22 Megan: Sleeping Giant Composer Collective. 46:46 Matt's new sticks? 51:30 One the job skills vs the skills to win the audition? 56:19 Most difficult piece you've had to perform? 58:05 What major breakthrough did you have in preparing excerpts.