#277 Iain Moyer- Educator, Writer/Arranger for the Boston Crusaders, Widener University & More!
This episode is sponsored by Dream Cymbals. They have some upcoming Tasting Tour Dates (below).
This week’s guest is Dr. Iain Moyer. Iain is the Director of Athletic Bands and Music Programs Recruiter at Widener University. As Director of Athletic Bands, he oversees all aspects of the Widener University Marching and Pep Band, which performs at home football and basketball games, along with other university events. In his role as a Music Programs Recruiter, he is responsible for recruiting high school students with a music background into Widener’s academic majors and placing them in one of the many Widener music ensembles.
Iain also serves as the Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps' Front Ensemble Arranger. Prior to joining the Boston Crusaders, Iain served on the percussion staff of The Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps, where he served as Front Ensemble Arranger from 2009-2016. During his time with The Cadets, the corps won its 10th DCI World Championship in 2011, and the percussion section received the Fred Sanford Award for Best Percussion Performance in 2013.
Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday to Jacquelene Acevedo. Jacquelene’s musical training started in the dance studio. Classically trained at the New York School of Classical Dance, New York Ballet Institute and in modern dance at Alvin Ailey American Dance Center and Ballet Hispanico –the variety of dance styles later served to inform her musical diversity and understanding. It wasn’t a leap from dance to percussion and drums…it was a translation. A course of studying rhythms and technique with her father, Memo Acevedo as well as Johnny Almendra, Marvin Diz, and faculty atThe Collective served in helping to translate rhythms once expressed through the body to hands and feet alone for musical application. Jacquelene has since performed in New York City at The Apollo, The Cutting Room, Fat Cat, The Iridium, The New York Botanical Gardens, Rockwood Music Hall, Nublu; in Toronto, Canada where she was born at the Jazz Bistro, Lula Lounge and the Toronto Jazz Festival; and has had the privilege of sharing the stage with Mike Clarke, Liberty Devitto, Ben Butler, Richie Goods, Pat Labarbara, Greg Tardy, Ze Luis, Dom Salvador among others.
Happy Birthday to Paulo Stagnaro. Over the last decade, with a myriad of performances across the globe, several studio projects as a sideman, television appearances, and contributions in Jazz, Pop, Latin, and World music, Two-time Grammy-Award Winning percussionist Paulo Stagnaro has established himself as an innovative voice in today’s generation of creative young artists. Hailed by jazz legend Ralph Peterson as “a young master percussionist,” Stagnaro has been a force on the ever-evolving New York music scene since moving to Brooklyn, NY in 2012.
Paulo has toured, performed and/or recorded with NEA Jazz Master Paquito D’Rivera, Grammy-Winner Angelique Kidjo, Jazz Legend Dave Liebman, Danilo Perez, Issac Delgado, Rosa Passos, and formed part of the all-star rhythm section for Sting’s 25th Anniversary Rainforest Fundraiser at Carnegie Hall featuring James Taylor, Paul Simon, and Stephen Stills.
He has been a part of international Superstar Ricky Martin’s touring band since 2014, garnering his second Grammy Award in 2015 for “A Quien Quiera Escuchar.”
Happy birthday to Robert Marino. Robert was named Principal Timpanist of the United States Army Field Band, Washington, D.C., in 2006. He has been a featured soloist with the band at The American Bandmasters Association Convention and The Pennsylvania Music Educators Conference. In 2010 Robert was a guest soloist at the Interlochen Summer Music Festival.
He is a 2005 graduate of the Eastman School of Music with a double major in percussion performance and music education. While at Eastman, Robert earned the coveted Performer's Certificate, was named principal percussionist for the Eastman Wind Ensemble's highly acclaimed 2004 Asian tour, and was the timpanist for the Wind Ensemble's celebrated appearance at Carnegie Hall in 2005. Marino began his graduate studies at Boston University where he was the timpanist for the Boston University Symphony Orchestra's Carnegie Hall appearance. After leaving Boston University to join the Army Field Band, Robert completed his Master's Degree in Percussion Performance at the University of Maryland in 2010.
Robert Marino has also been active in the marching arts activities as a performer, instructor, arranger, and adjudicator. Since 2007 he has been an instructor for the nine-time DCI world champion Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps. He has also taught the Madison Scouts and Capital Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps. Robert has been the caption head and arranger for the Boston University Marching Band and its award-winning winter percussion ensemble, as well as for many award-winning high school marching bands. As a marching member of the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps from 2000-2003, he won a DCI World Championship in 2000 and the three-peat high percussion trophies from 2001-2003.
Robert Marino is a Vic Firth Educator and Endorser and can be heard on Summit Records 2006 recording of Danzante where he was the principal percussionist, as well as on the Footprints album by Michael Udow. His instructors include John Beck, Tim Genis, Joe Periera, John Tafoya, Tony Ames, Gordon Stout, Ben Ramirez, Tom Aungst, Steve Kieffer, and John Wagner. Robert currently resides in Baltimore, MD, with his wife Elizabeth.
Drew McKeon is an NYC-based session drummer/multi-instrumentalist who has toured and performed with Rock & Roll Hall of Famers, Hall & Oates and Daryl Hall (solo), Grammy Award winner, Michael Bolton, Oscar winning duo, Pasek&Paul, Jimmy Buffett, Peter Cetera, Richard Marx, Julian Lennon, Todd Rundgren, Living Colour, Ben E. King, Dave Mason, Ron Pope, Bill Champlin, Shelea Frazier, Sam Moore, Antonique Smith, Hundred Hounds, The Broadway Boys, Darian Cunning, Harbor Party, Natalie Weiss, Carrie Manolakos, Chad Hollister Band, Jeff Tuohy and many others.
He currently serves as musical director for The Voice Season 10 winner, Alisan Porter, as well as Amanda Brown (Alicia Keys, Adele) and tours the world playing drums while conducting the orchestra for Michael Bolton in support of his latest release- A Symphony of Hits.
Happy birthday to Eric Renick. He is the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra’s Principal Percussionist since 2010, Eric Renick began his musical studies at the age of 12. A native of Indianapolis, he received his Bachelor’s degree from Butler University, where he studied with Jon Crabiel. While at Butler, Mr Renick also won first place in the University’s Concerto Competition. He gained a Master’s degree and artist certificate from Chicago’s Roosevelt and DePaul universities under the guidance of Ted Atktatz, Eric Milstein and Ed Harrison. While in Chicago he performed with the Lyric Opera, Chicago Symphony’s MusicNow Series, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, as well as co-founding the Chicago Arts Orchestra.
In 2007 Eric Renick was awarded a Fellowship with the New World Symphony (NWS), where he performed under the batons of Michael Tilson Thomas, Osmo Vänskä, Marin Alsop, Robert Spano, John Adams and Vladimir Ashkenazy, among others; performed as part of NWS’s Percussion Consort and participated in digital media collaborations. Mr Renick has also performed with the St. Louis, Kansas City, and New Mexico symphonies, Grant Park, Breckenridge and Spoleto (USA) festival orchestras, and the Hong Kong Philharmonic and Malaysia Philharmonic orchestras.
Eric Renick is a regular collaborator with cross-genre musicians as well as film scoring. He also performs in the Antipodes Percussion Project, an ensemble focused on using percussion chamber music to educate young musicians. Mr Renick is an Artist Teacher at the University of Auckland.
Happy birthday to Jake Chapman He is a multi-instrumentalist based in Los Angeles. His specialties include vibraphone, marimba, xylophone, glockenspiel, and keyboards. He is a session musician, performer, and songwriter with a lot of experience in a wide variety of musical styles, including jazz, hip hop, R&B, funk, pop, rock, video game music, and classical. He studied at Juilliard, and until COVID was a gigging musician in the NYC and LA music scenes. He has toured in the US, Singapore, and China. Jake enjoys utilizing his craft to help musicians, songwriters, and producers achieve great tracks and live performances.
Gig Alerts
YouTube will live stream the Coachella music festival for the 10th year. But for the first time, eCommerce via YouTube Shopping is available to virtual festival goers.
YouTube says everyone is invited to the return of Coachella via the YouTube app on the desktop, mobile, TV, or the YouTube Music app. The video site will feature intimate artist interviews, YouTube Shorts with behind-the-scenes views and sweepstakes, YouTube Premium-only pre-parties, and exclusive Coachella and artist merchandise available via YouTube Shopping. -Article
Aside from catching festivalgoers’ TikToks or social posts, the only way to livestream Coachella from home is through the Coachella livestream on YouTube this year. YouTube set up three different livestream channels for the two weekends, which will all stream different artists at the same time, just like you’re really there at Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. -Article
DCI (Drum Corps International) is back in full swing this summer. Check out the dates and get your tickets by CLICKING HERE.
You can catch Damon playing by going to his website, CLICKING HERE.
Educational Spotlight
Learn how to take a solo on congas from square one with CongaChops (dot com) new Conga Soloing 101 Course!
Iconic Recording
This week’s iconic recording was chosen by Iain. The song is called “Marimba Spiritual” by Minoru Miki. This particular recording was performed by Hsiao-Hung Lee on 25. April 2013 in TNUA graduate percussion recital.
Music News
Spotify has lavish worldwide offices across the globe. Here’s a peek inside these facilities bought with your $9.99 monthly subscription.
Over the last few years, the general public has become increasingly aware that musicians, songwriters, and artists aren’t getting paid what they’re worth. Campaigns that highlight that a Spotify stream is worth less than a penny have taken off to highlight the disparity. -Article
Iain Moyer Interview
The song leading into and out of the interview is from the Boston Crusaders 2021 show.
Iain starts the interview talking about the processes for the Boston Crusaders.
Shout-out to friends of the show Colin McNutt and Michael Zellers.
Iain talks about the design team and staff.
Iain talks about the video consultation process during the winter before in person camps with the use of Zoom and YouTube.
Damon mentions the app Go React.
Iain talks about the audition and recruiting process.
Damon brings up the interview with friend of the show, Giff Howarth, and the connection of WGI and DCI.
Iain talks about the Inspire Arts parent company for the Boston Crusaders.
Iain is currently writing music for the Boston Crusaders and it has a bit of an Argentinian Tango theme to it. Iain studied a lot of Tango in graduate school.
Iain talks about writing authentically, and the importance of studying the folkloric traditions of music to be well informed when writing.
Iain has a writing service called Moyer (dot) Mus(e). Please reach out to him if you are interested in having him write for your program: imoyer@widener.edu.
Iain talks about how his schedule breaks down with teaching vs. writing.
Iain talks about the challenges of running collegiate ensembles during the pandemic.
Damon talks about the importance of pep bands.
Iain talks about his experience in the pep bands at Umass and the University of Oklahoma, and how he uses that at Widener University.
Iain talks about teaching for the future and some of the technology that he uses.
Shout-out to G2 Performance for their uniforms and measurement app.
Iain also mentions the Tonal Energy app.
Iain talks about his writing setup. He uses a laptop, a 2 octave keyboard and good headphones.
Damon mentions using forScore for digital charts and a bluetooth pedal for turning pages.
Iain talks about his path to where he is today. He went to Umass Amherst for his undergrad and then the University of Oklahoma for his masters and doctorate. Shout-out to Dr. Richard Gipson.
Rapid Fire Questions:
Something Iain got in school that he appreciates now - Ear Training with Dr. Gary Karpinski.
Damon mentions the Harmony Cloud App by friend of the show, Stefon Harris.
Something you got after you got out of school. - What you can take from the previous programs you were involved in and what you have to leave behind.
Something you would do different if you were reentering in college today. - Being more in-depth in video recording and editing (possibly with audio as well).
Iain definitely has stress dreams about drum corps and emails among other things.
Iain’s most wasteful purchase was a skateboard.
Iain chose the iconic recording and mentions the Blast! version of Marimba Spiritual.
Shout-out to everyone participating in WGI’s percussion week. If you’re able to come support drum corps this summer.
Iain uses Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets, and also has a signature series. He uses Zildjian Cymbals, Remo Drumheads, and Pearl Drums, and Adams Percussion.
You can check out Iain this summer at the Boston Crusaders Drum Corps as well as on his Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube.
