Percussion Masters

Episode 2 | Gordon Stout

We are honored to have Gordon Stout join us on our Podcast for our second episode. Gordon Stout is Professor Emeritus at the School of Music, Ithaca College, Ithaca, N.Y., composer of wonderful marimba and percussion works, classics of the genre, and last but not least, a true sound wizard! In this episode, Gordon Stout explains why his composition „Wood that sings“ was an important moment in his life as a composer and musician. He describes his love of sound, the permanent and daily joy he experiences with his instrument: always curious, always exploring and enthusiastically discovering – knowing that we know almost nothing… as he says. And that this is wonderful, because it allows him and us to discover something new every day. A huge thanks to Gordon Stout for this inspiring exchange!

Episode 1 | John H. Beck

This first episode we are incredibly happy to welcome John H. Beck as an interviewee. Recorded in May 2022, John looks back with host Francesca Santangelo on nearly eight decades as a drummer and percussionist, more than five decades as an educater and professor! We talk about how John had to drive many miles to get drum set lessons as a 13 year old. That the principle of the shool gave him a week off every week. We talk about what it was like to discover Steve Gadd as a young 14 year old boy and what it means to develop your own sound, your own voice. How important humility and listening are to serving the music. And last but not least you listen John Beck giving an essential impulse to musicians in the course of the podcast: Forget your mistakes and enjoy music!