#201 Darren Hazlett- Percussionist, Writer, & Educator at West Chester University!
This episode is sponsored by Dream Cymbals. The DREAM Cymbals Recycling Program is the easiest way to get a new cymbal into your setup while saving money and the environment.
The Recycling Program is simple, bring your broken or unwanted cymbals (All Brands Accepted) into your local DREAM dealer and you earn one dollar for every inch of cymbal you bring in towards the purchase of a new DREAM Cymbal. For example, bring in two 20 inch cymbals for recycling and receive 40 dollars off the price of a new DREAM Cymbal. It's that easy.
We in turn take the recycled cymbals and use them to create new products like our Re-FX Crop Circles, Crotales and Naughty Saucers.
NOTE: Only available in Canada and the U.S.
Darren Hazlett is currently the Battery Percussion Director and Arranger for the West Chester University Incomparable Golden Ram Marching Band. He is a former arranger and educator of the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps. As a performer, he spent 7 years with the Crossmen (1992-1998) and was a cast member of the Broadway show Blast! (1999-2002). He is a marching percussion clinician for Vivace Production and is also a member of the Vic Firth Education team. Darren resides is southeastern Pa. with his family and works as a middle school band director.
R.I.P.
Viola Smith, a swing-era musician who was promoted in the 1930s as the “fastest girl drummer in the world” and who championed greater inclusion of women in the almost completely male preserve of big bands, died Oct. 21 at her home in Costa Mesa, California, from complications due to Alzheimer’s. She was 107. -Article
Damon mentions there is a video interview (below) with Viola, conducted by Tom Tom Magazine.
Gig Alerts
Friend of the show, Brian Frasier-Moore posted about a drum festival he is going to be in with several other drummers on November 21st & 22nd. You can read more about it, and get tickets by going to Live.Champion.Biz.
Congratulations to the Champions and Winners of the 2020 Hit Like A Girl Marching Percussion contest.
<18 Katie McCarty (Champion), Jovanna Mullin (2nd Place), and Jasmine Bowens (3rd Place)
18+ Eliana Yamouni (Champion), Paige Durr (2nd Place) and Aly "Chopz" Mendey (3rd Place). The drummers will receive prizes and other special awards from the world's top drum companies.
Educational Spotlight
You can register for the PASIC (Percussive Arts Society International Convention) convention coming up on November 13th & 14th. Ticket prices have gone up as of November 3rd and you can still get slightly discounted tickets if you are a member of PAS (Percussive Arts Society).
Friend of the show, Paulo Stagnaro (Episode 4 & Episode 85), will be doing a masterclass at PASIC and discussing all things Conga Chops. You can see a preview of what will be in the presentation below.
Product Review
First is the brand new Zildjian Concept Shop: Home of their newest, cutting edge, experimental cymbals, dreamed up by the R&D team! From casting to printing, these small batches of unique instruments are a true labor of love. Explore the Concept Shop today at Zildjian.com. NOTE: The Concept Shop is an experimental playground and currently only available on Zildjian.com to US consumers but based on feedback and popularity, you may be seeing some of these models added to the catalog in your market soon!
Apple says the audio issues affect a small number of AirPods Pro units manufactured before October 2020. (Umm, that’s pretty much all of them that may be affected.) Users have been complaining of static, crackling, and noise cancellation issues after firmware updates.
Back in January, Digital Music News reported on this issue. After a firmware update, many users reported the AirPods Pro active noise cancellation was less effective. Apple later pulled the 2C54 firmware update that brought these issues for unexplained reasons. -Article
Iconic Recording
The iconic recording for this week, in honor of Halloween is the song “Thriller” from the album “Thriller”. Thriller is the sixth studio album by American singer Michael Jackson, released on November 30, 1982 by Epic Records. Reunited with Off the Wall producer Quincy Jones, Jackson was inspired to create an album where "every song was a killer". With the ongoing backlash against disco, Jackson moved in a new musical direction, incorporating pop, post-disco, rock and funk. Thriller foreshadows the contradictory themes of Jackson's personal life, as he began using a motif of paranoia and darker themes. The album features a single guest appearance, with Paul McCartney becoming the first artist to be featured on Jackson's albums. Recording took place from April to November 1982 at Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles, with a production budget of $750,000.
Damon talks about having to learn the percussion parts for a Michael Jackson performance, and you can see his attempt below.
Music News
NIVA (National Independent Venue Association) has partnered with YouTube music, which will continue to put world-class performers on historic stages all over the country to be live-streamed on artists' official YouTube channels and will feature YouTube Giving's Donate button with all proceeds going toward NIVA’s Emergency Relief Fund.
Back in July, Digital Music News was first to report that German scientists were planning a 4,200-person experimental concert to gain a better understanding of COVID-19’s transmission risk. Now, these researchers have determined that music concerts are safe with masks and proper ventilation. -Article
Darren Hazlett Interview
Darren teaches at Northley Middle School as well as West Chester University with director Andrew Yozviak.
Darren was a marching member at UMass when he (and the rest of the band) was recognized with the Sudler Trophy. Just last year, West Chester was a recipient of the same trophy.
Damon and Darren officially met at the music department audition at UMass Amherst. They had similar repertoire prepared. A Musser etude on the marimba, a George Hamilton Green xylo rag, a timpani piece, and a snare drum etude.
Darren credits his middle school band director, Mr. D, as well as Lynn Stauffer at Sun Valley High School for pushing him to be as proficient as possible as well as presenting lots of opportunities to flourish.
Darren talks about his opportunity to be introduced to the Crossmen at a young age. Damon brings up (friend of the show) Thom Hannum, who was a member, and talked about some of the history of that group. When Darren started at the Crossmen, Mark Thurston was an alumni and the caption-head.
Damon brings up the percussion arranging and composition class taught by Thom Hannum that several successful Umass alumni have taken, including (friends of the show): Jim Ancona, Nick Angelis, Colin McNutt Kit Karlson and Iain Moyer among others.
Darren talks about leading his own arranging and composition class as well as teaching the Check Patterns. You can read more HERE and even order Thom Hannum’s book on Check Patterns and the corresponding exercises.
Two quotes Thom instilled in the students of his arranging/composition class were “Know your ensemble” and “Clarity is the key to effective communication”.
Darren got a music education degree and talks about what some of the requirements were.
Darren and Damon did Blast! together. Darren talks about some of the challenges of that ensemble and performance.
Darren talks about the performance aspect that was attempted at Blast! That is now the standard in the marching arts.
Darren continued to do Blast! after London and on Broadway.
Damon brings up when Darren called him to tell him about the twin towers falling and watching it on TV at the same time as watching it outside his window.
Darren and the Blast! drumline did a performance in Detroit for one of the car companies.
Since Bill Cook of Cook Group Incorporated were one of the producers of Blast! The drumline was able to use his private jet to make it to the auto show in Detroit and back.
Damon talks about taking a day trip to Cedar Farms. Darren talks about taking a trip to the dome of West Baden Springs Hotel.
Darren talks about making the decision to end his drum corps career a year early.
After taking a break from marching drum corps to do Blast! Darren came back and was the caption-head for the Crossmen in 2005 and 2006.
Darren talks about making relationships and keeping them in tact.
Damon brings up the Philly bombing in 1985.
Damon mentions how because of a living situation, music majors and “band geeks” built a relationship with the “jocks” and other athletic sports members. Darren gives a shout out to UMass Football, who won the national championship, as well as Umass Basketball who made it to the final four.
Darren’s underrated purchase are his noise cancelling airpods pro.
In the car Darren listens to a lot of Kidz Bop (what parent doesn’t?), and also The Pulse to stay current. He mentions Taylor Swift and her newest album “Folklore”.
Darren talks about some things that might be included in teaching kids for the future. Damon talks about being a musician and understanding the new apps that are created and how to use them to your benefit like Tik Tok or Instagram Reels. Damon and Darren discuss understanding what you were taught vs. how to teach and learn in the new age.
Darren suggests Rita’s water ice in Philly and LaSpada’s cheesesteaks and hogies. Damon was also recommended Jim’s on South Street and Ishkabibble’s. Darren recommends the Ro-Lynn sandwich shop for your hoagies.
Darren uses Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets, Yamaha Drums, and Zildjian Cymbals.
Damon introduces Darren to the program Go React for video education.
You can follow Darren on Facebook or contact him through the Marching Band page at West Chester University. He is also a clinician with Vivace Productions.
