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“That’s Not Spit, It’s Condensation” is a weekly podcast with conversations and discussions about all things music. In it, we’ll peel back the layers of what makes great musicians great, hoping to inspire others to achieve their maximum potential.http://thatsnotspit.com
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Tuba professor and Bluecoats drum corps instructor Dr. Genevieve Clarkson joins the podcast to talk about what it really means to be a great music teacher. From purposeful practice and growth mindset to the unexpected lessons learned teaching at the highest level of drum corps competition, Jenny shares a philosophy of teaching that is equal parts inspiring and actionable. In this episode we cover: What makes a truly successful music teacherHow to help students practice more effectivelyWhat dr...
Praised as “brilliant…impeccable” by the New York Times and a musician of “effortless understated virtuosity” by The Chicago Tribune, Christopher Martin is Principal Trumpet of the New York Philharmonic. Prior to this, he was Principal Trumpet of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for eleven seasons. Mr. Martin has enjoyed a distinctive career of more than twenty years as solo trumpet of some of America’s finest orchestras. As a soloist, Christopher Martin is in great demand in New Y...
In this episode, I'm sitting down with composer and trumpeter Kevin McKee to talk about his journey from trumpet performance to composition, how his playing background shapes his writing, and what makes his music so idiomatic and enjoyable to play. We dig deep into the inspiration and interpretive details behind Centennial Horizon, Kevin's evocative three-movement work for trumpet and piano inspired by Colorado. Kevin also shares details about his book Kevin McKee's Musical Jungle Gym for Tru...
Most musicians are practicing wrong—not because they're lazy or untalented, but because traditional practice methods don't align with how the brain actually learns. Dr. Molly Gebrian is a violist, neuroscientist, and author of Learn Faster, Perform Better. She teaches at New England Conservatory and has spent years translating brain science into practical strategies for musicians. In this conversation, we dig into: Why taking MORE breaks leads to FASTER progressHow mental practice can solve p...
Confidence wasn’t missing — it was misunderstood. In this episode, Ryan sits down with trumpet player and educator Stephen Wadsack to unpack how deeply held beliefs about confidence can quietly shape — and limit — the way we practice, perform, and grow as musicians. What starts as a conversation about auditions and orchestral playing turns into something much deeper: how confusing confidence with arrogance, or treating it as a personality trait instead of a byproduct of clarity, can hold even...
Many trumpet players experience frustration, inconsistency, or uncertainty in their practice — and assume that’s just normal. In this video, I break down 3 trumpet practice habits that are common, but don’t have to stay that way. These habits often feel normal because they’re widespread, especially when players work hard without a clear system, feedback loop, or defined outcome. The goal here isn’t to criticize how you practice — it’s to help you understand why these experiences happen and w...
In this episode, I share the full story of my recent audition for the Principal Trumpet position with the Philadelphia Orchestra — one of the highest-profile trumpet auditions in the world. I made the finals, but the real takeaway wasn’t the result. It was the stillness, clarity, and confidence I felt throughout the entire process, even when things weren’t going my way. If you’re a trumpet player, brass musician, or anyone preparing for orchestra auditions, I hope this story gives you insig...
In this episode of That’s Not Spit, It’s Condensation, I sit down with tubist and teacher Ron Von Dreau to talk about what it takes to build and sustain a thriving private teaching studio. Ron has taught in Texas for decades, managing studios of 60–80+ students while also teaching at the university level, directing band programs, and balancing freelance performing. His story is full of lessons for anyone building a teaching career: from starting with only a handful of students to learning th...
In this episode, I'm going to break down the real reason auditions feel so brutal—and what separates the winners from everyone else. It's not luck. It's not just talent. It's a learnable set of skills that anyone can develop. If you’ve ever walked off stage thinking “I thought I was ready… what happened?”—this is for you. You’ll learn: ✅ The mindset shift that changes everything ✅ Why fundamentals actually matter ✅ The power of a clear, consistent plan ✅ And what most people misunderstand a...
In this episode, we break down how to master lip trills, develop faster and cleaner technique, and play with more freedom—without adding tension. You’ll learn why “lip trills” aren’t actually about the lips, how to train your air and embouchure for effortless control, and the exact exercises that build dazzling technique you can trust in any performance. We also explore how brass band playing can transform your musicianship, the mindset shifts that speed up progress, and practical advice fo...
In this episode of That's Not Spit, It's Condensation, I sit down with Victor Djonorh, longtime band director at Summit Middle School and assistant director at Edmond Santa Fe, to dive deep into the realities of teaching music at the middle and high school level. We cover: 🎵 How he accidentally became a tuba player 🎓 Lessons from his time at Oklahoma City University 👨🏫 What he wishes he knew as a first-year teacher 💡 How he keeps students engaged (and why relationship...
In this episode, I’m joined by Johanna Yarbrough, who recently transitioned from her role as second horn with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra to become the Professor of French Horn at Louisiana State University. What begins as a conversation about career trajectory quickly unfolds into a vulnerable and deeply insightful look at the realities of orchestral life—and what it means to grow beyond it. Johanna shares her early path through public school band, studying abroad in Norway with Frøydis ...
Doug McVey is the founder of Vennture mouthpieces. He guides the technical direction of Vennture, oversees the development of VennCAD, and designs the tooling and processes used to produce Vennture custom mouthpieces. www.vennture.mp Support the show
Michael Anderson is the recently retired Professor of Trumpet at the Wanda L. Bass School of Music at Oklahoma City University. He is a member of the International Trumpet Guild Board of Directors and ITG Journal editorial committee, Executive Director of the Guild’s web site, and chairman of the ITG technology committee. He is the ITG Journal columnist for Trumpet Technology and has presented and performed at several ITG Conferences. Previously to his OCU appointment, he was on the music fac...
Karl Sievers grew up in Louisville, KY. His teachers include Leon Rapier, former principal trumpet in the Louisville Orchestra; Louis Davidson, former principal trumpet in the Cleveland Orchestra; William Adam at Indiana University; and others. Karl holds a DMA in Trumpet Performance, is in his 24th season as principal trumpet in the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, and has recently retired from a Presidential Professorship at the School of Music at the University of Oklahoma. In addition to his o...
William A. Baker, was appointed Bass Trombonist of the Lyric Opera of Chicago Orchestra in 2024 by Music Director Enrique Mazzola. He also currently serves as the Principal Bass Trombonist of the Monterey Symphony, a post he has held since 2018. From 2021-2024, Will primarily performed with the San Francisco Symphony, including over 200 performances, and European Tour, and the 2023 SFS recordings with Maestro EsaPekka Salonen. A native of Walnut Creek, California, Will has perform...
Dr. Jennifer Oliverio is a celebrated cornet and flugelhorn player who holds the positions of principal cornet with the Fountain City Brass Band and flugelhorn with the Athena Brass Band. Jen is currently the Assistant Professor of Music in trumpet at Missouri Western State University and one of the directors for the Fountain City Youth Brass Academy. Jen is an avid supporter of new music for cornet and flugelhorn, having commissioned and premiered solo works by Lucy Pankhurst, Dorothy Gates,...
Grace O’Connell is a highly diverse musician with equal passions for soloing, orchestral playing, and chamber music. Grace frequently plays in the Nashville Symphony Orchestra and Huntsville Symphony Orchestra trumpet sections and is also a dynamic soloist and active competitor in national and international competitions. Most recently she was named first place winner of the Roger Voisin Memorial Trumpet Competition (2024). She was also named first place winner in the International Trumpet Gui...
Christopher Smith brings nearly 20 years of major orchestral and ensemble experience to the role of Principal Trumpet of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra. Prior to joining the SDSO, he was 4th/Utility Trumpet with l’Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM) for 11 years, and served as Acting Associate Principal Trumpet from 2015-18. He has performed with OSM on eight international tours (two as Associate Principal Trumpet), numerous live broadcasts on Mezzo TV and Medici.tv (several as Principa...
In this episode, we're talking about my experience auditioning for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. We'll cover how I prepared, what I did differently, what I learned, the rounds themselves, and my thoughts on the outcome. Support the show
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