Ask Mike
Helping other Music Educators learn from our mistakes! No need to reinvent the wheel, Mike has been there and done that. Just ask Mike!
Mike Lunney spent 31 successful years as a head band director in the State of Texas, where his bands were consistently recognized as superior bands. Mike is still active as a clinician, mentor and adjudicator.
Derrick Killam has been involved in school music programs in the state of Texas since 1990 through music retail. Derrick has been a repair tech, shop foreman, Education Rep and currently is the Operations Manager for N-Tune Music and Sound, a NAMM Top 100 Dealer!
Episodes
93 episodes
Logistics and Inventory with JJ Firenza
In the fall of 2021, Joseph "JJ" Firenza was on the band staff for Andrews High School in Texas when the unimaginable happened. The tragic crash of the band buses on the way to a football game made local and national news.Out of this eve...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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1:02:07
Checklist For Concert Band Success
Some musings as we move into our spring season of concert and sight reading. It has been an observation through the years, that some folks wait until the week or two before adjudication dates to start asking some questions. And, most of those q...
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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1:09:50
Making the Most of Hosting a Clinician
Jay Lester joins Mike and Derrick again to help you and your program squeeze all the juice from a visiting clinician. What if we told you there are small things that will reap big dividends in having a clinician in your rehearsal hall. And noth...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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1:17:20
Getting Involved with Music Education Associations: We're All In This Together
Two wonderful guests in this episode, John Carroll and Britt Cole. They join the podcast to discuss their experiences with TMEA and ATSSB, two great associations dedicated to further music education and our students. John and Britt discuss how ...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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57:22
Tech Time w/Mike! Apps and Tools to Work Smarter, Not Harder!
Our last conversation in a series of episodes discussing tools to make your group better, this week Mike discusses some of the tools and apps he has found useful to make your workday smoother so you can spend more time doing the part you love, ...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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57:07
2026 is here! Opportunity Awaits!
We hope you are looking forward to all the great possibilities 2026 has for you and those you work with and lead. Time to recharge and head boldly into the spring!
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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9:39
Tech Time With Tim Part 3
Joined again by Tim Jones, the crew talks about tech and electronics. The conversation discusses what equipment we really need, what to look at for budgets, and helps refocus on what is a must. This episode moves from outside to ins...
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Season 2
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Episode 51
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40:56
Tech Time With Tim Part 2
Joined again by Tim Jones, the crew talks about tech and electronics. The conversation discusses what equipment we really need, what to look at for budgets, and helps refocus on what is a must.
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Season 2
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Episode 50
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47:36
Tech Time with Tim
Joined again by Tim Jones, the crew talks about tech and electronics. The conversation discusses what equipment we really need, what to look at for budgets, and helps refocus on what is a must. The first part of the conversation wil...
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Season 2
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Episode 49
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59:51
Insert "Thankful" Emoji
Happy Thanksgiving! Today is a simple thank you from Mike and Derrick. Thankful for the journey of music in our lives and for those who helped shape us along that path. Have a blessed day!
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Season 2
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Episode 48
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13:45
Say This, Not That
Whether we realize it or not, the words we choose in our classrooms matter! And our actions speak louder than our words! Excited to have guest Jett Lowrance with us on the podcast again for this episode.What great insight from Jett has h...
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Season 2
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Episode 47
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1:01:25
9 Less Conventional Life Lessons
We all have moments of reflection. Moments when we take an assessment of where we are and where we'd like to be. Take it from a couple of olds... this doesn't go away with age! In this episode, Mike and Derrick take a lighter view of some ways ...
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Season 2
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Episode 46
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1:08:37
Marches Are Still in Style…If You Know The March Style!
The concert march, it could be such a fantastic addition to your program. Unfortunately, the correct march style has been either ignored or not passed down long enough that it seems like the perfect time for Mike to answer the quiet question ou...
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Season 2
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Episode 45
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1:09:10
The Culture Code: Keys to Creating a Positive Culture In Your Program
Daniel Coyle is the author of, among others, The Culture Code, a best selling book looking at tools to build culture in groups. In this episode of Ask Mike, Mike pulls out some key thoughts that should resonate with ...
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Season 2
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Episode 44
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1:07:45
Ratings: I’m All Verklempt
In Texas, UIL Competitions and Evaluations are an annual part of our calendar and curriculum. It’s just part of what our music educators do in Texas. From the big picture overview, it should be straight forward and used as a tool to measure the...
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Season 2
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Episode 43
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1:02:53
Inside The Circle: Looking at the concepts that created "God's Hornline!"
Don't mind Derrick fan-girling during this episode. Mike introduces us to the teaching methods and concepts that Matt Harloff (and brother Ben) developed to create the incredible sounds of the Carolina Crown brass, among others.Simple co...
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Season 2
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Episode 42
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1:06:22
Estate Planning: Actually Easier than 3 against 2...
Everybody wants to get to heaven, but nobody wants to go today...One of the certainties of life, along with taxes. Is it uncomfortable to talk about? Usually. But does it have to be? Not really.We're joined by guest Tim Jones, own...
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Season 2
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Episode 41
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1:34:44
The Talent Code: Teach Their Brains to Do More
After Mike and Derrick get through debating whether people work their way to talent or they are born with it, Mike has some great points from “The Talent Code” by Daniel Coyle. Mike walks us through deep practice habits, ignition points, and ma...
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Season 2
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Episode 40
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59:29
Friday Night Videos!
So you record your Friday night halftime performances. Or your festival marching contest performances. Now what?There is a wealth of information at your disposal if you watch and listen in a way to improve your group. Mike Lunney takes t...
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Season 2
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Episode 39
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1:12:29
It's Fine...Everything is Fine!
Do you know this person? Seems to be in control, is typically successful at what they do, and is on a forward track... is also in constant fear of losing it, can't slow down because the spinning plates might fall, and won't talk about it out of...
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Season 2
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Episode 38
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51:11
Creating a Dynamic Ensemble on the Marching Field. You Can Do It!
Which comes first on the marching field, movement or music? No matter what your answer is, the music better matter! One of the best ways to make music instead of noise is remembering dynamics! Is there more to dynamics than loud or soft? Are dy...
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Season 2
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Episode 37
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1:01:08
Second Summer! Reminders about the Heat and Practices
It's September! In Texas that means second summer is in full swing! As we work outside and travel Friday nights, here are some tips and reminders of how to combat the heat, and what precautions and preventions we can put in place to keep our gr...
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Season 2
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Episode 36
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1:01:56
Booster Clubs and Parent Groups: A Visit With the Prez!
Mike Lunney and Derrick Killam sit down with Juan Ramirez in this episode to discuss Booster Clubs. What does a healthy parent organization look like? What does a good relationship between boosters and the director look like? With over a decade...
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Season 2
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Episode 35
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1:05:03
Mike Lunney's Marching Band Academy - Lesson 8: The Strength to be Graceful
It's the last episode in the Mike Lunney Marching Band Academy series. As we close out this set of episodes, Mike reminds us that before we start throwing too many body moves at our group, it might be good to work on a little core strength. Alo...
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Season 2
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Episode 34
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56:52