When Music Becomes Dangerous: The Wisconsin Band Controversy Nobody Wants to Talk About

It's The SoundstageEDU Anniversary

I can't believe we have been doing this for an entire year! Seriously... I had no real plan when I started this, but, here we are. This is the origin story and the plan that we have now... Thanks for being here. For real. Thanks. We ain't goin nowhere.

Culture Minute: Band Dads

This one's for the band dads. Somewhere between pulling the trailer, filling water jugs, and standing on the sidelines, many of us discover something unexpected—we fall in love with marching band too. This episode is about giving dads permission to care deeply, to be proud, to be emotional, and to embrace the journey right alongside their kids. Because one day, there will be a last parade... and you'll never wish you had cared less.

Conversations with Booster Parents: Episode 1

Join SoundstageEDU as we sit down with a parent booster and discuss life as a booster! I am joined by Christine Rognerud from the Great State of Texas! Interested in joining me on an episode like this? Reach out to us and let us know.

Heat Doesn't Care How Tough You Are

This wasn't a planned episode. It's an Emergency Episode. With Fourth of July parades, summer rehearsals, and band camps beginning across the country, thousands of students will spend hours performing in dangerous heat. Every year, preventable heat illnesses send students, staff members, and volunteers to emergency rooms. Today we're talking about something more important than music. More important than trophies. More important than the parade. People. In this episode we discuss: • Why marching band should be treated like an athletic activity • The progression from dehydration to heat exhaustion to heat stroke • Warning signs every director, parent, and student should know • The importance of heat acclimatization • Why "toughing it out" can become dangerous • Building a culture where people come before performance Because no parade is worth a lifetime injury.

CULTURE MINUTE 2: Excellence, Mediocrity, and the Line Between Them

What happens when "good enough" becomes the standard? In this Culture Minute, Mike explores the delicate balance between excellence and perfectionism, and why organizations rarely become mediocre overnight. Whether you're leading a booster club, a student organization, a nonprofit, or a performance program, culture is shaped by what we consistently accept. Excellence is contagious. Mediocrity is contagious too. The question isn't whether everything deserves perfection. The question is: What deserves excellence?