Episodes

  • live from east texas a&m university
    Apr 24 2026

    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 fanpledge
    • ⁠⁠the band blueprint⁠⁠⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)
    • ⁠⁠troubadour consultants⁠⁠⁠⁠

    check out our uil pml playlists on ⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠ (all 5 grades available!)

    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 1s⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 2s⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 3s⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 4s⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 5s ⁠⁠

    listen to our ⁠⁠⁠mixtape⁠⁠⁠

    listen to our ⁠⁠⁠march madness⁠⁠⁠ playlist

    get help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠⁠


    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 30 mins
  • not quite my tempo: alex parker
    Apr 17 2026

    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 fanpledge
    • ⁠⁠the band blueprint⁠⁠⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)
    • ⁠⁠troubadour consultants⁠⁠⁠⁠

    check out our uil pml playlists on ⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠ (all 5 grades available!)

    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 1s⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 2s⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 3s⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 4s⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 5s ⁠⁠

    listen to our ⁠⁠⁠mixtape⁠⁠⁠

    listen to our ⁠⁠⁠march madness⁠⁠⁠ playlist

    get help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠⁠

    Show More Show Less
    2 hrs and 44 mins
  • faske pops: bruce faske
    Apr 10 2026

    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 fanpledge
    • ⁠⁠the band blueprint⁠⁠⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)
    • ⁠⁠troubadour consultants⁠⁠⁠⁠

    check out our uil pml playlists on ⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠ (all 5 grades available!)

    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 1s⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 2s⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 3s⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 4s⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 5s ⁠⁠

    listen to our ⁠⁠⁠mixtape⁠⁠⁠

    listen to our ⁠⁠⁠march madness⁠⁠⁠ playlist

    get help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠⁠

    Show More Show Less
    4 hrs and 11 mins
  • you had me at meat tornado: austin snow
    Mar 13 2026

    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 fanpledge
    • ⁠⁠the band blueprint⁠⁠⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)
    • ⁠⁠troubadour consultants⁠⁠⁠⁠

    check out our uil pml playlists on ⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠ (all 5 grades available!)

    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 1s⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 2s⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 3s⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 4s⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 5s ⁠⁠

    listen to our ⁠⁠⁠mixtape⁠⁠⁠

    listen to our ⁠⁠⁠march madness⁠⁠⁠ playlist

    get help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠⁠

    Show More Show Less
    3 hrs and 44 mins
  • we can do it: kim shuttlesworth
    Feb 7 2026

    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, visit
    https://www.tmea.org/about/executive-board/candidates/


    sponsored by:

    • ⁠⁠shawn murphy⁠⁠⁠ with fanpledge
    • ⁠⁠the band blueprint⁠⁠⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)
    • ⁠⁠troubadour consultants⁠⁠⁠⁠

    check out our uil pml playlists on ⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠ (all 5 grades available!)

    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 1s⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 2s⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 3s⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 4s⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 5s ⁠⁠

    listen to our ⁠⁠⁠mixtape⁠⁠⁠

    listen to our ⁠⁠⁠march madness⁠⁠⁠ playlist

    get help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠⁠

    Show More Show Less
    2 hrs and 10 mins
  • renaissance woman: whitney sims
    Jan 31 2026

    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 fanpledge
    • ⁠⁠the band blueprint⁠⁠⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)
    • ⁠⁠troubadour consultants⁠⁠⁠⁠

    check out our uil pml playlists on ⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠ (all 5 grades available!)

    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 1s⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 2s⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 3s⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 4s⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 5s ⁠⁠

    listen to our ⁠⁠⁠mixtape⁠⁠⁠

    listen to our ⁠⁠⁠march madness⁠⁠⁠ playlist

    get help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠⁠

    Show More Show Less
    3 hrs and 19 mins
  • practice what you preach: spencer emmert
    Jan 24 2026

    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 fanpledge
    • ⁠⁠the band blueprint⁠⁠⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)
    • ⁠⁠troubadour consultants⁠⁠⁠⁠

    check out our uil pml playlists on ⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠ (all 5 grades available!)

    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 1s⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 2s⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 3s⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 4s⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 5s ⁠⁠

    listen to our ⁠⁠⁠mixtape⁠⁠⁠

    listen to our ⁠⁠⁠march madness⁠⁠⁠ playlist

    get help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠⁠

    Show More Show Less
    2 hrs and 58 mins
  • shout out: alexis sampley
    Jan 17 2026

    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 fanpledge
    • ⁠⁠the band blueprint⁠⁠⁠⁠ (use promo code bandyap5 when you purchase)
    • ⁠⁠troubadour consultants⁠⁠⁠⁠

    check out our uil pml playlists on ⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠ (all 5 grades available!)

    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 1s⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 2s⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 3s⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 4s⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠uil pml grade 5s ⁠⁠

    listen to our ⁠⁠⁠mixtape⁠⁠⁠

    listen to our ⁠⁠⁠march madness⁠⁠⁠ playlist

    get help with your resume, or featured on our socials to assist in your job hunt, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠talent connect form⁠⁠

    Show More Show Less
    2 hrs and 26 mins