Juan, Brad, and Melissa will be presenting on Holistic Health at TMEA February 12 at 7 PM CST

About Dr. Brad Meyer:

Dr. Brad Meyer (www.Brad-Meyer.com) is a percussion educator, artist, and composer with an extensive and diverse background. Currently, Meyer is the Associate Professor of Percussion at Stephen F. Austin State University (Nacogdoches, TX) where he is the private lesson teacher and director of the percussion ensemble. Meyer frequently tours universities and high schools both nationally and internationally to present recitals, workshops, masterclasses, and clinics on various topics. His international performances and clinics have taken him to Austria, Taiwan, France, South Africa, and Slovenia. Meyer has been an active presenter/performer at numerous festivals and conventions, including: Midwest Band & Orchestra Clinic, Texas Music Educators Association’s national convention, Percussive Arts Society’s International Convention, International Computer Music Conference, Society for Electroacoustic Music in the United States’ Convention, New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival, Graz’s (Austria) Night of Percussion, Chiayi’s (Taiwan) International Band Festival, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis’s Intermedia Festival, and Transylvania University’s Studio 300 Festival. Meyer is a composer with several compositions for snare drum, multi-percussion, and percussion ensemble published through Bachovich Publications. Meyer serves as the Percussive Arts Society Texas Chapter’s Vice President and Chair of the PAS Health & Wellness Committee. Meyer is a proud endorsee of Yamaha Instruments, Zildjian Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets, Evans Drumheads, and Tycoon Percussion.

About Juan Ramirez:

Juan Ramirez is currently at Gladys Porter High School, where the Cowboy Marching Band placed at area finals this past school year and were named State Alternate for the 2019 UIL Area Marching Contest for the first time in school history. While at Porter, a student of Juan’s made the 2020 TMEA 5A All-State Band. Ramirez also has experience as assistant band director at Jourdanton High School, where the marching band placed first at several marching contests and the percussion section were named Best in Class in their respective divisions as well. In the college realm, Ramirez was the Adjunct Professor of Percussion at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. Ramirez has also instructed the front ensemble for the award winning Soundsport Teams Horizon Drum and Bugle Corps and Arsenal Drum and Bugle Corps. Juan Ramirez received his Bachelors in Music Education from West Texas A&M University, where he performed as a soloist with the WTAMU Symphony Orchestra as a winner of the 2013 WTAMU Concerto Competition.  Juan received his Masters in Music Performance from Texas Tech University (TTU), where he served as principal percussionist in the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, performed in the Symphony Orchestra, and the top percussion ensemble which performed in the Texas Music Educators Association Convention in 2016. Juan also assisted in coordinating percussion for the concert band and instructed one of the steel bands. In the spring of 2017, Ramirez presented and performed at The National Conference of Percussion Pedagogy hosted in Fayetteville, AR. Juan proudly endorses Salyers Percussion, Sabian Cymbals, and KHS America.

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Book mentioned in this episode: For the Sake of our Youth by Tessa Parham

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SASI

Rouse HS Virtual Marching Show

About Ryan Johnstone:

Ryan is a renowned educator and clinician at the state and national level.  Prior to his position at Rouse, Mr. Johnstone served as head band director at Canyon Vista Middle School in Austin, Texas, head band director of the Aledo Middle School, and as an associate director at Aledo High School.  His bands at Canyon Vista and Aledo Middle School advanced to the Texas Music Educator Association’s State Honor Band Competition three times under his direction, placing 4th in 2011, 2nd in 2013, and 6th in 2015 (his first year at Canyon Vista).  Additionally, the AMS Honor Winds were invited performers at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in December 2013.  Ryan was honored by Alpha chapter of Phi Beta Mu, being named “Texas Young Bandmaster of the Year.” 

Ryan is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and Yale University for Trombone performance.  Katie and Ryan talk about how his unique educational path influences the way he teaches and leads today.  They also geek out about all the world-famous musicians he went to school with and the real influence being around that level of playing has on a person’s own playing and teaching.

Even through such a difficult year, Ryan continues to find ways to keep his students and himself engaged in this new virtual reality.  We hope you’ll enjoy this fun, inspiring conversation with Ryan Johnstone.