band yap

welcome to the krusty krab! jake hille not only loves spongebob, but he also loves band. although not originally from the state of texas, jake has quickly become a winner- he's won multiple state marching championships with the celina band, not to mention all of his other accomplishments as a concert band director and drill writer. jake's journey from ohio to oklahoma to texas, and what he achieved along the way, is truly remarkable. we talked with jake about his career as a tuba player. being a girl dad, his new endeavor of stepping out of the classroom in a full time capacity, boomer sooner (😩), being an athlete, and his love for andy's frozen custard. sponsored by:⁠mclellan band consulting shawn murphy⁠⁠⁠ with fanpledge⁠⁠the band blueprint⁠⁠⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)⁠⁠troubadour consultants⁠⁠⁠⁠check out our uil pml playlists on ⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠ (all 5 grades available!)⁠⁠uil pml grade 1s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 2s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 3s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 4s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 5s ⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠⁠mixtape⁠⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠⁠march madness⁠⁠⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠⁠

band yap: live!we were so honored to have the opportunity to speak with the students of east texas a&m university at their music education forum. lion pride runs deep! we covered so many meaningful topics and shared plenty of laughs along the way. we talked about work-life balance as a band director, wienermusic, the importance of putting your instrument away, advice for young music educators, and answered some amazing questions from the music education students.sponsored by:⁠mclellan band consulting shawn murphy⁠⁠⁠ with fanpledge⁠⁠the band blueprint⁠⁠⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)⁠⁠troubadour consultants⁠⁠⁠⁠check out our uil pml playlists on ⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠ (all 5 grades available!)⁠⁠uil pml grade 1s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 2s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 3s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 4s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 5s ⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠⁠mixtape⁠⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠⁠march madness⁠⁠⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠⁠

ya like jazz?alex parker has led the wayne fisher jazz program at baylor university for over 25 years, revitalizing it and expanding opportunities for students in a big way (and he was hired only six years after baylor finally allowed dancing on campus). before his time at baylor, alex taught in public schools and studied at both eastman and miami, where he further developed his trumpet chops and deepened his musical knowledge.alex's students leave not only as outstanding educators and performers, but also with a full understanding of just how awesome alex is. we yapped with alex about the history of jazz, his favorite miles davis era, his experience as a high school band director, and of course… whiplash.sponsored by:⁠⁠shawn murphy⁠⁠⁠ with fanpledge⁠⁠the band blueprint⁠⁠⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)⁠⁠troubadour consultants⁠⁠⁠⁠check out our uil pml playlists on ⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠ (all 5 grades available!)⁠⁠uil pml grade 1s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 2s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 3s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 4s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 5s ⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠⁠mixtape⁠⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠⁠march madness⁠⁠⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠⁠

dr. bruce faske hails from brenham, texas, home of blue bell ice cream...though blue bell only wishes it was as cool as bruce.bruce currently serves as professor of trombone at the university of alabama. from his beginnings on a farm in south texas to performing on professional stages, bruce brings a unique perspective and depth of experience that make him an invaluable educator and colleague. we yapped with bruce about perseverance, being a horse dad, alabama barbecue, meeting students where they are, and of course, his favorite flavor of blue bell.sponsored by:⁠⁠shawn murphy⁠⁠⁠ with fanpledge⁠⁠the band blueprint⁠⁠⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)⁠⁠troubadour consultants⁠⁠⁠⁠check out our uil pml playlists on ⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠ (all 5 grades available!)⁠⁠uil pml grade 1s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 2s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 3s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 4s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 5s ⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠⁠mixtape⁠⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠⁠march madness⁠⁠⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠⁠

it's giving ron swanson.austin snow might have one of the most unique origin stories we’ve heard from a band director. before he ever stepped on a podium, he served as a marine, and that experience still shapes the way he approaches teaching, leadership, and building a band program.we talked with austin about growing up in a military family, his early dreams of becoming a rock star, and the musical journey that took him from oboe to saxophone. we also get into his love of smoked meats, his obsession with systems and processes, and how those things all connect to running a successful band program.sponsored by:⁠⁠shawn murphy⁠⁠⁠ with fanpledge⁠⁠the band blueprint⁠⁠⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)⁠⁠troubadour consultants⁠⁠⁠⁠check out our uil pml playlists on ⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠ (all 5 grades available!)⁠⁠uil pml grade 1s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 2s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 3s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 4s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 5s ⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠⁠mixtape⁠⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠⁠march madness⁠⁠⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠⁠

we’re with kim!we’ve yapped with kim before, but she’s back and better than ever. in this episode, she shares an update on what’s been going on in her world and walks us through her candidacy for tmea band division vice president. we catch up on all things kim, including when her band trailers blew over in straight-line winds, what crayon she would be, the time she ghost-commentated on a kgas marching band radio broadcast, and how she plans to serve the best interests of students across the state.to learn more about kim and the other tmea executive board candidates, visithttps://www.tmea.org/about/executive-board/candidates/sponsored by:⁠⁠shawn murphy⁠⁠⁠ with fanpledge⁠⁠the band blueprint⁠⁠⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)⁠⁠troubadour consultants⁠⁠⁠⁠check out our uil pml playlists on ⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠ (all 5 grades available!)⁠⁠uil pml grade 1s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 2s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 3s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 4s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 5s ⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠⁠mixtape⁠⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠⁠march madness⁠⁠⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠⁠

bazinga!whitney sims is a true renaissance woman. she is a band director (with a gold medal to boot), but she has also taught science, graphic design, yearbook, and more since the beginning of her career. she completed five minors in college because she took just about every class possible. she has taught alongside her husband, zach, for over a decade.we yapped with whitney about how she balances life as a teacher and mom, why she loves the horse, growing up in a small school, how she chose texas tech, and her longtime dream of becoming a marine biologist.sponsored by:⁠⁠shawn murphy⁠⁠⁠ with fanpledge⁠⁠the band blueprint⁠⁠⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)⁠⁠troubadour consultants⁠⁠⁠⁠check out our uil pml playlists on ⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠ (all 5 grades available!)⁠⁠uil pml grade 1s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 2s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 3s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 4s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 5s ⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠⁠mixtape⁠⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠⁠march madness⁠⁠⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠⁠

amen! spencer is a man of integrity. as an accomplished band director, he knows what works and what doesn't in the classroom. not only does he lead in the band hall, but he also has served as a church music minister for many years. his experience as a music minister influences his approach in the band hall, and vice versa. we talked with spencer about the importance of his family, hank hill, life behind the pine curtain, singing in the band hall, and the people who have influenced him throughout his career. sponsored by:⁠⁠shawn murphy⁠⁠⁠ with fanpledge⁠⁠the band blueprint⁠⁠⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)⁠⁠troubadour consultants⁠⁠⁠⁠check out our uil pml playlists on ⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠ (all 5 grades available!)⁠⁠uil pml grade 1s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 2s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 3s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 4s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 5s ⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠⁠mixtape⁠⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠⁠march madness⁠⁠⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠⁠

she’s a horse girlie!we’ve known alexis since she was a wee oboe player from italy, texas. alexis has a knack for teaching middle school band and a big personality to match. we had a true yap session with alexis, covering in-depth lore, carnivorous plants, how many books she read this year, the most influential people in her music career, and her obsession with robert w. smith.sponsored by:⁠⁠shawn murphy⁠⁠⁠ with fanpledge⁠⁠the band blueprint⁠⁠⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)⁠⁠troubadour consultants⁠⁠⁠⁠check out our uil pml playlists on ⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠ (all 5 grades available!)⁠⁠uil pml grade 1s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 2s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 3s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 4s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 5s ⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠⁠mixtape⁠⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠⁠march madness⁠⁠⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠⁠

heads up: this episode talks about santa, elf on the shelf, and other magical topics. parents may want to listen without kids around.he's back! this is the conclusion of our christmas extravaganza. if you haven't listened to part one, make sure to do that first! in part two we discuss christmas power rangers, how much lead time kevn mcallister would need to defeat the predator, the star wars holiday special, the magic of handbells, and the muppet christmas carol. sponsored by:⁠⁠⁠shawn murphy⁠⁠⁠⁠ with fanpledge⁠⁠⁠the band blueprint⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)⁠⁠⁠troubadour consultants⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check out our uil pml playlists on ⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠ (all 5 grades available!)⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 1s⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 2s⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 3s⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 4s⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 5s ⁠⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠mixtape⁠⁠⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠march madness⁠⁠⁠⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠⁠

heads up: this episode talks about santa, elf on the shelf, and other magical topics. parents may want to listen without kids around.we all know and love jon schriver! jon joined us for a whirlwind of a conversation. this episode is a two parter, spreading the christmas spirit across two episodes. in part one we discuss christmas parades, the best christmas movies, the best gifts we have ever received, multi-color vs. white lights, santa the barbarian, and more! sponsored by:⁠⁠shawn murphy⁠⁠⁠ with fanpledge⁠⁠the band blueprint⁠⁠⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)⁠⁠troubadour consultants⁠⁠⁠⁠check out our uil pml playlists on ⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠ (all 5 grades available!)⁠⁠uil pml grade 1s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 2s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 3s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 4s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 5s ⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠⁠mixtape⁠⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠⁠march madness⁠⁠⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠⁠

she's one cool cat!erika hails from the rio grande valley. after graduating from baylor, she found her way back home. while erika is well-versed in all the aspects of band, jazz is her forte. erika has taken her student group to midwest, tmea, jen, and music for all events, opening a world of opportunities to her students. we talked with erika about her musical upbringing, her phantom regiment experience, her positions with uil and tmea, and baylor beating a&m on her birthday. sponsored by:⁠⁠shawn murphy⁠⁠⁠ with fanpledge⁠⁠the band blueprint⁠⁠⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)⁠⁠troubadour consultants⁠⁠⁠⁠check out our uil pml playlists on ⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠ (all 5 grades available!)⁠⁠uil pml grade 1s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 2s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 3s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 4s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 5s ⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠⁠mixtape⁠⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠⁠march madness⁠⁠⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠⁠

she is here to lay down the law! first of all, amanda is hilarious. second, she knows what she is talking about. amanda has traversed the world of band: from being a native of the rio grande valley, to cutting her teeth on teaching in central texas, to touring the country with multiple drum corps. she's been through sunshine, and through torrential rain, but she does it all for her students. amanda gave us the lowdown on where to eat in san antonio, how she is frequently mistaken for a euphonium player, what it is like to take over as a head director in a program rooted in tradition, and her upcoming tmea spotlight. sponsored by:shawn murphy⁠⁠⁠ with fanpledge⁠⁠the band blueprint⁠⁠⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)⁠⁠troubadour consultants⁠⁠⁠⁠check out our uil pml playlists on ⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠ (all 5 grades available!)⁠⁠uil pml grade 1s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 2s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 3s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 4s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 5s ⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠⁠mixtape⁠⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠⁠march madness⁠⁠⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠mixtape⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠march madness⁠⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠⁠

you'll bend and snap your way through this one! dr. stephanie deluca has experienced band across the country, but texas will always be home. a native of corsicana, she's familiar with life behind the pine curtain. so, it was a natural transition for her when she recently took on the title of interim director of athletic bands at east texas a&m university. stephanie served previously as the assistant director of athletic bands at the university of utah, which made the transition to her current role etamu even more prophetic. stephanie received her doctorate from florida state university, and studied conducting and music education at baylor university. but, don't be fooled. she also taught public school in texas, winning a silver medal at the uil state marching contest with the clifton high school band. not only is stephanie a bad ass band director, but she also is a superstar mom- she has 2.5 year old twins! we sat down with stephanie to yap about her musical family, the difference between public school band in texas vs. utah vs. florida, what advice she would give to college students and young teachers, and balancing band with family. sponsored by:⁠⁠shawn murphy⁠⁠⁠ with fanpledge⁠⁠the band blueprint⁠⁠⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)⁠⁠troubadour consultants⁠⁠⁠⁠check out our uil pml playlists on ⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠ (all 5 grades available!)⁠⁠uil pml grade 1s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 2s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 3s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 4s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 5s ⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠⁠mixtape⁠⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠⁠march madness⁠⁠⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠⁠

shaka just won a gold medal in military marching band. so fresh!he's done it all. from east texas to the valley, small schools and big, shaka has seen every side of band life. growing up as a tuba player in east texas, music played a huge role in shaping who he is.since becoming a band director, shaka has taught both military and corps style on the marching field, stood in front of honor band finalist ensembles, and handled everything in between. we sat down with shaka to hear his take on what makes military band so challenging to teach, the mentors and educators who’ve inspired him, the difference between a pay day and a baby ruth, and his favorite style of band uniforms.sponsored by:⁠⁠shawn murphy⁠⁠⁠ with fanpledge⁠⁠the band blueprint⁠⁠⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)⁠⁠troubadour consultants⁠⁠⁠⁠check out our uil pml playlists on ⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠ (all 5 grades available!)⁠uil pml grade 1s⁠⁠uil pml grade 2s⁠⁠uil pml grade 3s⁠⁠uil pml grade 4s⁠⁠uil pml grade 5s ⁠

is it stream of consciousness? mostly. after a long bandtober, we are so back. we recap marching season, discuss metrics for success, talk about programming, shout out all of our state marching band contest homies, and talk through some of our favorite and least favorite band literature. sponsored by:⁠shawn murphy⁠⁠ with fanpledge⁠the band blueprint⁠⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)⁠troubadour consultants⁠⁠⁠check out our uil pml playlists on ⁠youtube⁠ (all 5 grades available!)uil pml grade 1suil pml grade 2suil pml grade 3suil pml grade 4suil pml grade 5s listen to our ⁠⁠mixtape⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠march madness⁠⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠⁠

welcome to band yap bandtober essentials, where we look back on some of our favorite episodes to help fuel your jam-packed competition schedule. whether you’re on the road to contests or just needing a quick dose of inspiration to keep you going, these hand-picked episodes are here to keep you company all october long.enjoy this essential episode with brian sours, originally released on february 11, 2025he's the wrestler of band. and a legend in his own right.we yapped with brian about his background, his career, and how it has culminated into this unbelievable year: finalist at state marching contest, featured small school band at the midwest clinic, AND the tmea 2a honor band. aside from that, we discussed 90s wrestling, chicago pizza, and took his dairy queen order (he's a heath man).sponsored by:⁠⁠shawn murphy⁠⁠⁠ with fanpledge⁠⁠the band blueprint⁠⁠⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)⁠⁠troubadour consultants⁠⁠⁠⁠check out our uil pml playlists on ⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠ (all 5 grades available!)⁠uil pml grade 1s⁠⁠uil pml grade 2s⁠⁠uil pml grade 3s⁠⁠uil pml grade 4s⁠⁠uil pml grade 5s ⁠listen to our ⁠⁠⁠mixtape⁠⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠⁠march madness⁠⁠⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠⁠

welcome to band yap bandtober essentials, where we look back on some of our favorite episodes to help fuel your jam-packed competition schedule. whether you’re on the road to contests or just needing a quick dose of inspiration to keep you going, these hand-picked episodes are here to keep you company all october long.enjoy this essential episode with josh gall, originally released on july 24, 2025. "we will do what is hard. we will achieve what is great." jed bartlet said it, and josh gall lives it. josh gall is a co-founder of ultimate drill book. if you want to talk about visionary, he's not only in the conversation- he is the conversation. josh has grinded for many years, selling sub sandwiches, hand printing and assembling dot books at kinkos, writing countless drills, and submerging his product in fish tanks, all with the goal of making band director's jobs easier. this has culminated in the creation of an app that many band director's consider a lifeline in this day and age, as well as other innovations such as beam and stridetv. we yapped with josh about drum corps, the early days of ultimate drill book, his time with the university of texas bands, oboe math, and his love of restaurants and entertaining.sponsored by:⁠⁠shawn murphy⁠⁠⁠ with fanpledge⁠⁠the band blueprint⁠⁠⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)⁠⁠troubadour consultants⁠⁠⁠⁠check out our uil pml playlists on ⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠ (all 5 grades available!)⁠⁠uil pml grade 1s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 2s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 3s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 4s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 5s ⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠⁠mixtape⁠⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠⁠march madness⁠⁠⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠⁠

welcome to band yap bandtober essentials, where we look back on some of our favorite episodes to help fuel your jam-packed competition schedule. whether you’re on the road to contests or just needing a quick dose of inspiration to keep you going, these hand-picked episodes are here to keep you company all october long.enjoy this essential episode with mike howard, originally released on june 13, 2025. since that time, mike has taken on a new role as deputy director for tmea.band directors: assemblemike howard has collected all of the infinity stones. he's won honor band, state marching contest, and grand nats. more importantly than any of those accomplishments, he has committed himself to the betterment of band education across the state of texas. to do so, he currently serves as vice president and band division chair for the texas music educators association (tmea). we talked with him about his band experiences, his love of seinfeld, the texas water safari, superior chicken establishments, and what it was like to have his dad as his band director.sponsored by:⁠shawn murphy⁠⁠ with fanpledge⁠the band blueprint⁠⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)⁠troubadour consultants⁠⁠⁠check out our uil pml playlists on ⁠youtube⁠ (all 5 grades available!)⁠⁠uil pml grade 1s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 2s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 3s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 4s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 5s ⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠mixtape⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠march madness⁠⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠⁠

welcome to band yap bandtober essentials, where we look back on some of our favorite episodes to help fuel your jam-packed competition schedule. whether you’re on the road to contests or just needing a quick dose of inspiration to keep you going, these hand-picked episodes are here to keep you company all october long.enjoy this essential episode with luke mcmillan, originally released on february 28, 2025.he's the king of small school marching band productions, and he has the hair to back it up.luke mcmillan works with bands across the country, providing marching shows for schools of all sizes. as a prolific composer and arranger for over 20 years, he has fine-tuned his process for working with bands to create an excellent product, in both educational and entertaining capacities. we sat down with luke mcmillan to talk about his creative process, barry hurt, chili's, how many lab bands unt actually has, and more!sponsored by:⁠shawn murphy⁠⁠ with fanpledge⁠the band blueprint⁠⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)⁠troubadour consultants⁠⁠⁠check out our uil pml playlists on ⁠youtube⁠ (all 5 grades available!)⁠⁠uil pml grade 1s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 2s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 3s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 4s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 5s ⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠mixtape⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠march madness⁠⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠⁠

welcome to band yap bandtober essentials, where we look back on some of our favorite episodes to help fuel your jam-packed competition schedule. whether you’re on the road to contests or just needing a quick dose of inspiration to keep you going, these hand-picked episodes are here to keep you company all october long.enjoy this essential episode with kim shuttlesworth, originally released on april 18, 2025.no really, this goes a little off the rails. we talked with kim about...wow. a lot. her upbringing in carthage, her rock-solid dedication to her students, appropriate plumage, her coloring hobby, meat parade, and more. featuring a phone call from robert herrings, and some text-to-confirm moments with dr. kevin sedatole and jarrett lipman. sponsored by:⁠shawn murphy⁠⁠ with fanpledge⁠the band blueprint⁠⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)⁠troubadour consultants⁠⁠⁠check out our uil pml playlists on ⁠youtube⁠ (all 5 grades available!)⁠⁠uil pml grade 1s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 2s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 3s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 4s⁠⁠⁠⁠uil pml grade 5s ⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠mixtape⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠march madness⁠⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠⁠

how many times do you hear 6-7 every day? simon bosch is a man of many unique talents. from disc golfing to unicycling to trumpet playing, he is well-rounded in every sense. on top of that, he’s an outstanding band director. he has taken groups to the midwest clinic, placed highly in the honor band competition, and earned many more accolades with his ensembles. simon holds his students to high expectations, but he is equally passionate about the way music can shape their lives. we yapped with simon about his tall stature, his growing family, his homeschool upbringing, his journey to baylor university with wiff rudd, disc golf, and the mentors who have influenced him most.sponsored by:⁠shawn murphy⁠⁠ with fanpledge⁠the band blueprint⁠⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)⁠troubadour consultants⁠⁠⁠check out our uil pml playlists on ⁠youtube⁠ (all 5 grades available!)listen to our ⁠⁠mixtape⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠march madness⁠⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠⁠

don't worry, we will also yap the yap. joe walker is the all-american band director. he's originally from missouri, but don't worry- he appreciates texas barbecue. joe served in the us army before becoming a band director, loves riding motorcycles, and is a social butterfly. we talked with joe about his journey to texas, the support of his community in godley, his favorite part of marching band, being a kansas city chiefs fan, and the joy of being a region coordinator.sponsored by:⁠shawn murphy⁠⁠ with fanpledge⁠the band blueprint⁠⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)⁠troubadour consultants⁠⁠⁠check out our uil pml playlists on ⁠youtube⁠ (all 5 grades available!)listen to our ⁠⁠mixtape⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠march madness⁠⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠⁠

and he got it (the right stuff!)adam mothersole is new to the head band director club. a seasoned educator and trombone player, he has a vast amount of band experience. he's been involved with drum corps as both a performer and a teacher, taught at schools of various classifications, and is even a fellow baylor bear. now as the head director of the storied china spring band, he's making sure to leave his mark of excellence. we talked with adam about his love of soccer, what it is like to be engaged to an oklahoma sooner, his dad's profound influence on his life, playing trittico with lips numb from oragel, and his most embarrassing moment as a teacher. sponsored by:⁠shawn murphy⁠⁠ with fanpledge⁠the band blueprint⁠⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)⁠troubadour consultants⁠⁠⁠check out our uil pml playlists on ⁠youtube⁠ (all 5 grades available!)listen to our ⁠⁠mixtape⁠⁠listen to our ⁠⁠march madness⁠⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠⁠

don’t you think he could make a mean italian beef?eric rath is a phenomenal teacher, composer, and percussionist, and on top of that, a wonderful human being. he has dedicated his life not only to his own family (5 kids!) but also to music education and composing excellent works for band and percussion ensemble. with professional musicians as parents, music has always been part of his life. eric has spent many years in west texas, where he has helped contribute to a rich culture of arts appreciation. we talked with him about his west texas adventures, ice cream (including his slight disdain for dairy queen), decision fatigue, clifford the big red dog, and his favorite piece he’s written. sponsored by:shawn murphy⁠ with fanpledgethe band blueprint⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)troubadour consultants⁠⁠check out our uil pml playlists on youtube (all 5 grades available!)listen to our ⁠mixtape⁠listen to our ⁠march madness⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠

welcome to band yap 8: the ochochris clifton knows more about military marching band than most people know about....anything. he's won multiple (consecutive) state titles, not to even mention that he's won honor band multiple times (also consecutive). chris' expertise is extraordinary, and he attributes some of his knowledge to the legendary east texas military marching band director stump burning tradition. yes, stump burning, we talked with chris about being a texas longhorn fan, his unusual path to music education, tacos, his strategy for purchasing clothing, the honor band experience, and his love of candy. sponsored by:shawn murphy⁠ with fanpledgethe band blueprint⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)troubadour consultants⁠⁠check out our uil pml playlists on youtubelisten to our ⁠mixtape⁠listen to our ⁠march madness⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠

jeff young is as connected to the marching arts as anyone. he is the director of camps for music for all, where he oversees the music for all summer symposium. he was the visual caption head for many years at carmel high school, his alma mater. he has both taught and judged within dci. additionally, he is the ceo of dynamic marching, a platform providing educational video content for band directors. not only has jeff dedicated his life to music education, but he also served as a science teacher for many years at carmel high school.jeff is truly one of a kind. his unique path and experience provide him with a lens into the marching arts that simply cannot be replicated, making him a valuable consultant, clinician, and judge. we sat down to talk with jeff about his flirtation with gymnastics, how his hair is the gift that keeps on giving, the ins and outs of being the ultimate camp counselor, his experience at notre dame, his favorite science subject to teach, and his obsession with fine cuisine.sponsored by:shawn murphy⁠ with fanpledgethe band blueprint⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)troubadour consultants⁠⁠check out our uil pml playlists on youtubelisten to our ⁠mixtape⁠listen to our ⁠march madness⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠

this one will make you want a hot dog real bad. tami goss is one of one. she's hilarious, warm, intelligent, and a bad ass band director. her views on student experience and leadership are valuable beyond measure, and she and jose might be the exact same person. we yapped with her about hot dogs cooked in chili, being a voracious reader, mini schnauzers, the midwest clinic with julie giroux on piano, and growing up in southeast texas.sponsored by:shawn murphy⁠ with fanpledgethe band blueprint⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)troubadour consultants⁠⁠check out our uil pml playlists on youtubelisten to our ⁠mixtape⁠listen to our ⁠march madness⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠

no bluffing here. as a band director, you've undoubtedly heard jorge vargas' music. spanning many genres, his music is played in band halls and orchestra rooms across the land. while actively working as a composer, he has also been a full-time teacher, educating middle school band students for decades. his commitment to not only educating students but also creating quality literature for them shows that he has been working to up the ante. we talked with jorge about his life, mariachi, some of his hidden talents, advice he would give young educators, the fifth element, and what it is like to work as a composer. sponsored by:shawn murphy⁠ with fanpledgethe band blueprint⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)troubadour consultants⁠⁠check out our uil pml playlists on youtubelisten to our ⁠mixtape⁠listen to our ⁠march madness⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠

and she's a badass. kendall is a master of efficiency. she fine tunes many aspects of her life, but her marching band systems and processes are top tier. she has the state championships to show for it, and has even given clinics over some of her processes. we yapped with kendall about advice she would give first year teachers, her love of cheese, her experience as a dci drum major, and her passion for weightlifting. sponsored by:shawn murphy⁠ with fanpledgethe band blueprint⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)troubadour consultants⁠⁠check out our uil pml playlists on youtubelisten to our ⁠mixtape⁠listen to our ⁠march madness⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠

"we will do what is hard. we will achieve what is great." jed bartlet said it, and josh gall lives it. josh gall is a co-founder of ultimate drill book. if you want to talk about visionary, he's not only in the conversation- he is the conversation. josh has grinded for many years, selling sub sandwiches, hand printing and assembling dot books at kinkos, writing countless drills, and submerging his product in fish tanks, all with the goal of making band director's jobs easier. this has culminated in the creation of an app that many band director's consider a lifeline in this day and age, as well as other innovations such as beam and stridetv. we yapped with josh about drum corps, the early days of ultimate drill book, his time with the university of texas bands, oboe math, and his love of restaurants and entertaining.sponsored by:shawn murphy⁠ with fanpledgethe band blueprint⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)troubadour consultants⁠⁠check out our uil pml playlists on youtubelisten to our ⁠mixtape⁠listen to our ⁠march madness⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠

by grabthar's hammer...what an episode! jason truly is a jack-of-all-trades. band director, administrator, composer, arranger, podcast host, lego-builder....the list goes on. jason hosts two podcasts of his own, composer chats and beyond the belt: adventures from the outer rim. luckily, he sat down to yap with us! we covered all of the bases on this one: stepping out of the band hall and into the role of a fine arts director, his love of sci-fi, which of his own compositions means the most to him, his lego collection (obsession?), and our shared love of the baylor bears. check out jason's podcasts (beyond the belt: adventures from the outer rim and composer chats) wherever you listen to podcasts! sponsored by:shawn murphy⁠ with fanpledgethe band blueprint⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)troubadour consultants⁠⁠check out our uil pml playlists on youtubelisten to our ⁠mixtape⁠listen to our ⁠march madness⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠

if you've never met nicole, you're missing out. luckily, we made this podcast for you. nicole is an inspiration. she's not originally from texas, but we are sure glad she is here. nicole has a vast and varied range of experiences through the marching arts. she has persevered through adversity with tenacity and grit. her perspective is infectious, and is a testament to what music educators should strive to emulate. we yap about the grand canyon, winning the lottery, post modern jukebox, joy vs. purpose, and shooting your shot. sponsored by:shawn murphy⁠ with fanpledgethe band blueprint⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)troubadour consultants⁠⁠check out our uil pml playlists on youtubelisten to our ⁠mixtape⁠listen to our ⁠march madness⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠

she’s marvelous! dr. amy woody has experienced nearly every role in music education. with a master’s degree in clarinet from eastman, years of public school teaching, and her current position on the university of north texas faculty, dr. woody brings deep insight into the band world. she shares her philosophy on music education, her commitment to training future band directors, and her own journey through the profession. we talk skydiving, impactful mentors, solo travel, teaching high school vs. college, and where to eat in denton.sponsored by:shawn murphy⁠ with fanpledgethe band blueprint⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)troubadour consultants⁠⁠check out our uil pml playlists on youtubelisten to our ⁠mixtape⁠listen to our ⁠march madness⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠

you may have seen him on tiktok, and now you get to hear him yap.we covered just about everything with ryan: musicals, what it is like to be a disney adult, children eating old bay in rehearsal, the differences between texas and arkansas, band room vs. band hall, barbecue (as always), boll weevils, and woo pig sooie. sponsored by:shawn murphy⁠ with fanpledgethe band blueprint⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)troubadour consultants⁠⁠check out our uil pml playlists on youtubelisten to our ⁠mixtape⁠listen to our ⁠march madness⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠

we really did get to ask mike!mike lunney is a west texas legend. now, he considers himself to be "band grandpa." we yapped with mike about the sky ryders drum and bugle corps (riding once again!), the west texas thunderdome, the formation of atssb, growing up as a military brat, and his love of shark tank. sponsored by:shawn murphy⁠ with fanpledgethe band blueprint⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)troubadour consultants⁠⁠check out our uil pml playlists on youtubelisten to our ⁠mixtape⁠listen to our ⁠march madness⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠

band directors: assemblemike howard has collected all of the infinity stones. he's won honor band, state marching contest, and grand nats. more importantly than any of those accomplishments, he has committed himself to the betterment of band education across the state of texas. to do so, he currently serves as vice president and band division chair for the texas music educators association (tmea). we talked with him about his band experiences, his love of seinfeld, the texas water safari, superior chicken establishments, and what it was like to have his dad as his band director.sponsored by:⁠shawn murphy⁠ with fanpledge⁠⁠the band blueprint⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)⁠⁠troubadour consultants⁠⁠check out our uil pml playlists on youtubelisten to our ⁠mixtape⁠listen to our ⁠march madness⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠

the dude abides... and so does shawn murphy.we sat down with shawn to talk about building excellence, staying grounded, and what it means to lead with a growth mindset (and maybe a little chill). sponsored by:⁠shawn murphy⁠ with fanpledge⁠⁠the band blueprint⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)⁠⁠troubadour consultants⁠⁠listen to our ⁠mixtape⁠listen to our ⁠march madness⁠ playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠talent connect form⁠

and we met in the centex honor band! justin is an opera singer. and yes, the podcast is still called band yap. he was drum major of his high school band, and is currently the color guard instructor at northeastern state university, where he is also the director of opera workshop and professor of voice. we go way back, and justin is still passionate about all things band. we discuss his journey from band to voice, growing up in a small town where football is king, how singers differ from instrumentalists, and his most memorable musical experiences. buckle up, y'all. sponsored by:shawn murphy with fanpledge⁠the band blueprint⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)⁠troubadour consultants⁠listen to our mixtapelisten to our march madness playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠talent connect form

zach santos wears many hats. program coordinator, choreographer, clinician, leadership facilitator, adjudicator, trumpet player, realtor, former band director, husband, dad, and....golf cart flipper. we sat down with zach to yap about all of the above, plus his affinity for white monster, the flip flops that have been around the block, winning both a dci world championship and a texas state marching band championship, hunting, and more. sponsored by:shawn murphy with fanpledge⁠the band blueprint⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)⁠troubadour consultants⁠listen to our mixtapelisten to our march madness playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our talent connect form

who hasn’t been beaten up by the profession at some point? we sat down with chris mclellan, a man who has held many roles in music education. as a retired band director, uil music executive secretary, band consultant, and a university supervisor for student teachers, he has a wealth of experience and knowledge. chris is a devoted family man, and a baseball fan with a goal of visiting every mlb stadium. we yapped about his presence at historic texas rangers moments, whether or not he owns a kilt, and his remarkable band director lineage. listen to our mixtapelisten to our march madness playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our talent connect formsponsored by:the band blueprint (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)troubadour consultants

heavy on the band, heavy on the yap. kat norris is a gem. she loves birds, the university of houston cougars, mahler, and of course middle school band. kat gave us the low-down on what it was like to step into her current role at henry middle school, how her high school band experience shaped her perspective on music, blockbuster video, her feelings on trash tv, and how she aged out of…several things. listen to our mixtapelisten to our march madness playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our talent connect formsponsored by: sponsored by:⁠the band blueprint⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)⁠troubadour consultants⁠

you know the guy that posts the sight-reading info? that's tim. even if you don't know tim, you know tim. he moderates the yellowboard (iykyk) and the texas band directors facebook group. he writes drill via brynnpark productions. brynnpark's website also hosts the sight-reading information each year, uil repertoire analysis, and judge analysis. but, tim will tell you- he left band directing, and has since shifted his entire perspective on what defines success in the band hall and out of it. listen to our mixtapelisten to our march madness playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our talent connect formsponsored by: troubadour consultants (https://www.troubadourconsultants.com/)

are jake heck and brett batchelor the same person? we may never know. jake teaches at not one, but TWO different private schools. he gives us insight into the private school side of band, the texas vs. oklahoma panhandle, why peanut butter m&ms are the superior m&m, his love of travel, and what it is like to sight-read west highlands sojourn at contest. listen to our mixtapelisten to our march madness playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our talent connect formsponsored by: troubadour consultants (https://www.troubadourconsultants.com/)

no really, this goes a little off the rails. we talked with kim about...wow. a lot. her upbringing in carthage, her rock-solid dedication to her students, appropriate plumage, her coloring hobby, meat parade, and more. featuring a phone call from robert herrings, and some text-to-confirm moments with dr. kevin sedatole and jarrett lipman. listen to our mixtapelisten to our march madness playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our talent connect formsponsored by: troubadour consultants (https://www.troubadourconsultants.com/)

live, laugh, yap. we sat down with victor garza to discuss our deep connections to one another, at length. we got real about trials, tribulations, victories, failures, how he left his car running throughout an entire marching contest day, and why chick-fil-a is superior to cane's. listen to our mixtapelisten to our march madness playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials by filling out our talent connect formsponsored by: troubadour consultants (https://www.troubadourconsultants.com/)

the magic is in the details—just ask a marching band program coordinator.we yapped with reid atkinson at the headquarters of ultimate drill book, where we covered texas vs. kansas city bbq, empathy, which disney park reigns supreme, and what makes texas band culture unique. listen to our mixtapelisten to our march madness playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials by filling out our talent connect formsponsored by: troubadour consultants (https://www.troubadourconsultants.com/)

he's going out with a bang! two-time 1a state marching band champion brian tillman joines us to yap about rock and roll, the power of randy standy, the kismet way he met his wife, and how he's never played careless whisper. listen to our mixtapelisten to our march madness playlistget help with your resume, or featured on our socials by filling out our talent connect formsponsored by: troubadour consultants (https://www.troubadourconsultants.com/)

got yap? we do. taylor williamson grew up on a dairy farm in east texas. now, he's an honor band director. we yapped with taylor about his experiences in his hometown's 2a band program, which direction the toilet paper should actually face, the story of how he broke his ankle before midwest, and more! listen to our mixtape here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0ZvfkMMSyVWOKqPqOBUgB7?si=yPu-QtXbTfO9_0uDgg7N5Qsponsored by: troubadour consultants (https://www.troubadourconsultants.com/)

did you know that robert herrings graduated from mcgregor high school? now you do! robert is a four-time (yes, FOUR-TIME) honor band winner, who sometimes does cartwheels in the name of school spirit. he is an inspiring human, and is an unimaginably talented band director. he joined us to talk about his origin story, which includes his junior high band director, robin wilson. robin has designed all of robert's program books for tmea and midwest, and still supports him in all of his band endeavors. we talked about how impactful band relationships can be, pickles, bue ridge saga, robert's preferred chuy's order, and more! sponsored by: troubadour consultants (https://www.troubadourconsultants.com/)