This episode is sponsored by Dream Cymbals.

This week’s guest is Ian Hale. Ian graduated from the University of Calgary in 2001 with his Bachelor’s Degree in percussion performance where he studied with Dr. Glenn Price. He received his Master’s Degree in percussion performance in 2008 from the University of Massachusetts Amherst where he studied with Eduardo Leandro and DCI Hall of Fame member Thom Hannum. He has studied marimba with Leigh Howard Stevens, Gordon Stout, and She-e Wu and has participated in masterclasses with several artists including Michael Burritt, Steven Schick, Robert van Sice, and composer David Maslanka. He has participated in numerous professional training workshops including the David Robertson Workshop as part of Carnegie Hall’s Weil Music Institute. Most recently, he has served on the music faculty at UMass from 2007-2008.

Ian has enjoyed and continues to enjoy an extensive performance career. He has performed with artists including Kenny Aronoff, Jens Lindemann, Susan Hoeppner, Michael Burritt, Eduardo Leandro, Salvatore Macchia and former member of the famous percussion ensemble NEXUS, the late John Wyre. He has also performed with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra, the Berkshire Symphony Orchestra, Land’s End Chamber Ensemble, William’s College Chamber Players and has recorded for CBC radio and BRAVO! television. He was a finalist at the 2002 Percussive Arts Society’s International Convention multiple-percussion contest, held in Columbus, Ohio, and also received second place at the 2002 Montreal Symphony Orchestra Young Performer’s Competition in Montreal, Canada where he received an additional award for best performance of a Canadian composition. He was a laureate at the 2003 Canadian Music Competition in Calgary, AB, and was a semi-finalist at the 2007 Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium in which over 100 competitors were involved. He has performed at numerous Percussive Arts Society International Conventions and has appeared as part of the Vic Firth concert percussion podcast series.

Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday to friend of the show Geneva Harrison. Geneva is a freelance percussionist/drummer, and multi-disciplined artist primarily based in Oakland, CA. She has toured extensively over the years with her band Bells Atlas and WNYC’s radio program Snap Judgment, for whom she also co-composes the scoring for their live show. Most recently she has joined the Magik*Magik Orchestra, supporting Pop-Up Magazine.

With over 15 years of professional experience, Geneva has collaborated, performed and recorded with numerous talents, from composers Terence Blanchard and Van Dyke Parks, to choreographer Sonya Tayeh, as well indie artists Poolside, Mirah and Y La Bamba. She’s had the privilege to play in esteemed and historic theaters and recording houses across the nation - echoing percussion under the roof of Carnegie Hall, and clamoring grungy rhythms beneath the drum chevron in the historic Studio B of United Recording Studios in Los Angeles.

Her expertise ranges a number of styles and contexts that include indie Pop and R&B, Off-Broadway Theater and Dance accompaniment, Contemporary Classical ensemble playing and Avant-Garde/Experimental improv. In 2016, Harrison served as Musical Director for a tribute to Björk’s Homogenic at The Independent in San Francisco, that included over 100 musicians covering the album, and later the following year even filled the role of producer for a music video shot in the desert of the Eastern Sierras. You can also find some of her custom drum-kit exercises, and additionally an interview feature in issues of Tom Tom Magazine.

Happy birthday to friend of the show Ed Toth. Ed is an American musician who currently plays drums for The Doobie Brothers. Toth joined the Doobies in 2005 following his departure from Vertical Horizon.

Always interested in music, Toth says that he has been drumming most of his life. He made good use of his father's record collection and was active in all music programs in East Lyme, Connecticut, playing in his high school band at East Lyme High School. He went on to the University of Miami's Frost School of Music, where he received a Bachelor of Music degree in 1994. While still at school, Toth became a member of the funk/rock band Jennifer Culture.

Toth has played in numerous other rock and funk bands over the last decade. Most notably, he was a member of Vertical Horizon from 1996–2005. Toth's association with the group began when he was working at a Boston Borders Books; The mother of Vertical Horizon's lead singer and guitarist Matt Scannell, was shopping in the bookstore and asked Ed for a Vertical Horizon CD, which he had listened to and quite enjoyed. His enthusiasm for the recording impressed Scannell's mother so much that, in gratitude for the assistance she received at the store, she offered to put the bookstore manager and a friend on the guest list for a Vertical Horizon show at Mama Kin, an Aerosmith-owned nightclub, also in Boston. Toth went to the show as the manager's friend; and when the band had an opening for a drummer, Toth auditioned for the spot.

When the Doobie Brothers' drummer, Keith Knudsen, died of cancer in 2005; Toth was selected to fill his spot with the band. He has remained as drummer for the band, first in addition to Michael Hossack. After Hossack's untimely passing, Tony Pia was added, and after Pia's departure, Ed became the sole drummer in the band, and later percussionist Marc Quiñones joined the band after the passing of Gregg Allman. Ed has been influenced by Stewart Copeland, Neil Peart, Bill Bruford and a host of other virtuoso drummers. Toth has also produced some critically acclaimed albums and started a band called Cooper with his friend, Tim Bradshaw.

Happy Birthday to Steve Smith. Steve is an American drummer best known as a member of the rock band Journey across three tenures. Modern Drummer magazine readers have voted him the No. 1 All-Around Drummer five years in a row. In 2001, the publication named Smith one of the Top 25 Drummers of All Time, and in 2002 he was voted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Journey on April 7, 2017.

Gig Alerts

The Global Citizen Festival is returning to Central Park as part of our biggest event yet on Sept. 25. It is also going to be in two other cities in Lagos and Paris the same day. You can CLICK HERE to read more and get tickets. You can also see the images below to find out who is featured in each city.

Since 2012, Global Citizen has hosted festivals in Central Park as part of our mission to leverage advocacy to defeat poverty and defend the planet. We’re returning this year with strict health protocols to make sure you can safely enjoy some of your favorite artists while calling for a more just world.

The New York lineup includes Coldplay, Billie Eilish, Camila Cabello, Jennifer Lopez, Lizzo, Meek Mill, and Shawn Mendes, with special guest performances by Alessia Cara, Burna Boy, Cyndi Lauper, Jon Batiste, and Lang Lang. Even more artists will be announced in the weeks ahead.

Two Australian music festivals are going vaccine-only for next year.

The 2022 Broken Hill Mundi Mundi Bash and Birdsville Big Red Bash will be vaccine-only. The Outback Music Festival Group says all ticket holders, staff, volunteers, contractors, and vendors will need to be vaccinated.

Both music festivals are multi-day affairs located in remote areas of Queensland and New South Wales. Outback Music Festival Group is the first Australian event organizer to embrace a vaccine-only policy. -Article

Educational Spotlight

PAS released a statement saying that this year for PASIC you will need to be vaccinated to attend.

As of August 17, 2021, the following will be required while attending PASIC:

All individuals attending PASIC will be required to show proof of fully vaccinated status in order to receive their PASIC 2021 Badge
All individuals will be required to wear a mask that covers the nose and mouth while inside the expo hall or a room that is being used to present a PASIC session
Social distancing will be highly recommended, and PAS will work with the Indiana Convention Center to provide spacious seating in all sessions
Frequent hand washing and sanitizing is highly recommended
Individuals should monitor their health and stay home if they are feeling ill

Iconic Recording

The iconic recording is “The Way Up” by Pat Metheny and the late Lyle Mays with Antonio Sanchez on Drums.

Music News

Spoon have canceled their US show in Iowa over the state’s ban on proof of vaccination. The group was to perform at Ioaw’s Des Moines’ Hoyt Sherman Place in September. But they announced via Instagram that the event was canceled. Iowa is one of 20 states in the US that have banned proof of vaccination requirements by businesses or government officials. -Article

Country music singer Travis Tritt wants his thoughts on vaccination requirements known. The singer issued an official statement, saying he felt compelled to make it due to mask mandates and other policies. “In light of recently announced policies and mandates from some entertainment companies, promoters, and local municipalities which would discriminate against specific concert attendees who are not vaccinated, I feel compelled to make a statement,” the statement begins. -Article

New York City’s new indoor vaccine mandate is now in effect. Here’s what it means. Mayor Bill de Blasio signed an executive order requiring indoor venues to check the vaccination status of everyone entering the venue. The NYC vaccine mandate is now in effect, but enforcement doesn’t start until September 13. All businesses are required to hang posters describing the vaccine mandate near entrances. Exceptions can be made for customers to use the bathroom, but otherwise, everyone must be checked. -Article

Ian Hale Interview

Friend of the show Thom Hannum retired from the percussion department at Umass Amherst and Ian Hale auditioned for the job, did the interview and won the position.

Ian got his undergraduate degree from the University of Calgary and his masters degree from Umass Amherst.

Ian participated in the Carnegie Hall Music Educator’s Workshop in 2006. He was also an artist in residence at Banff in 2002 and participated in the (friend of the show) Leigh Howard Stevens Marimba Seminar.

Ian has worked with many fine marching music ensembles including the Calgary Stampede Show Band, the Calgary Stetsons Show Band, the Calgary Round-Up Band, the Central Memorial High School Golden Rams Band, the North Stars Avant-Guard, Spirit of America Band, and the Shepard Hill High School Winter Percussion. Ian continues to be heavily involved in the drum and bugle corps activity. He was the percussion caption head for the Allegiance Elite from 2002-2005 and continues to serve as the percussion arranger. He was a member of the percussion staff for the Glassmen, the Magic of Orlando, the Madison Scouts, the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps and is currently working with the Boston Crusaders.

Ian breaks down his school year, starting with writing for the marching band, and teaching the band camp.

Shout-out to Colin McNutt.

Damon brings up how the marching band does outreach and recruiting that is programed into the schedule.

Ian talks about the spring percussion techniques class and how it is used. He mentions check patterns and Damon explains the duple and triple variations. You can find out more about those rhythms and the book Thom Hannum wrote about it HERE.

This is the Benny Greb poster that has the same idea rhythmically as the check patterns.

Damon and Ian have referred to practice a ton thanks to Allen Iverson.

Ian talks about the challenge of playing rests and managing space, as well as the logistics of being a percussionists.

Shout-out to Keith Aleo.

Ian likes groove and pocket over licks and fills. Specifically from drummers like Steve Gadd.

Ian talks about how there are more digital distractions and how to fight through that to become a better player.

If you'd like to reach out to Ian to audition at UMass or the Boston Crusaders, he can be reached at ihale@umass.edu. You can also follow him on Facebook, or Instagram.

Shout-out to Thom Hannum.

Ian uses Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets, Zildjian Cymbals, Pearl Drums, Adams Concert Instruments and Umass uses those companies as well as Evans Drumheads.