Whether you are leaving for greener pastures, or you're leaving because it's just time to leave, there IS a right way to leave a job. Consider the next person in line, consider the program as a whole, consider your students. "Burn it to the ground!" might seem like it will make you feel better, but will it? And if you're leaving for what you consider a better job, don't you hope the person leaving that position sets you up for the best transition possible? The high road isn't always the easiest path, but it is worth it.

So you got the interview! When was the last time you had an interview? Mike Lunney walks us through the process of researching for an interview, rehearsing for an interview (yes, rehearsing!), and then communicating before, during, and after the interview. 

If you find yourself looking for a new position, or considering it, Mike Lunney talks us through the waves and gives some great insight into a good decision-making process. And Mike reminds us to take our fingers off the panic button, it's going to work out!

Are we on track for marching season? Yes, it’s still spring, but if we aren’t actively preparing for next fall, we’re probably already behind! Mike Lunney offers some great tips and anecdotes from his 30+ years of experience to help get you locked in and on the right track for a successful summer and fall with your marching ensemble!

Concert and Sight Reading Evaluations are wrapping up for another spring. The time of reactions and reflection is upon us. If the ratings weren’t what you hoped for, what do we do with that? Are we defensive and looking for someone or some circumstance to blame? Mike Lunney offers a different perspective in this episode. What can we learn? How can we improve? If we’re honest, did we just not have our best day? The big question, are we coachable? Are we looking for the lessons and for help to correct things? A simple hard truth, until we accept help, honest help, we’re doomed to repeat our weaknesses!

In Part 1, Mike Lunney gave us tips for a great process to help create the leadership team. In Part 2, Mike gives great ideas for actually making them a team! This includes teaching communication skills and using them to create vision and goals for your group.

What is your goal for student leadership? What positions will you have on your leadership team? What responsibilities will the positions hold? If your goal is to have an effective and cohesive team of students helping create positive culture and driving the group toward a collective goal, you need a process. It doesn’t just happen. You need a process… welcome to Student Leadership, Pt. 1!

Dr. Anthony King is rebuilding the Wayland Baptist University instrumental program. Mike Lunney and Derrick visit with Dr. King on how it is going, challenges he has faced, and his mindset on recruiting musicians from his experience as a collegiate professor and his time teaching in public schools. An entertaining conversation that has more than a few laughs!

Mike Lunney and Derrick enjoy a conversation with the TBA Executive Director-Designate, Phillip Clements, as he highlights the upcoming 2026 Convention and shares vision for the organization moving forward!

A great discussion with Mike Lunney about how we define success. Is it really the trapezoidal statue? Is it what you think your peers think about you? Let’s talk about it.

Can you feel it? The indecision paralysis trying to decide what to fix, do you have time to fix it, can it be fixed? Everybody breathe. In. Out. Again...

Mike Lunney has some great thoughts on helping you rehearse in the heat of the final few weeks. Priorities and some tips from 30+ years of successful educating. We're gonna get there!

Nick Saban is widely recognized as an elite football coach. It is interesting that he considers creating character and awesome people more important than X's and O's. In this episode, Mike Lunney shares insights from Saban's book "How Good Do You Want To Be?: A Champion's Tips on How to Lead and Succeed at Work and in Life" as they relate to being a Music Educator!

C'mon Coach, let's learn something about creating excellence!

In the fall of 2021, Joseph "JJ" Firenza was on the band staff for Andrews High School in Texas when the unimaginable happened. The tragic crash of the band buses on the way to a football game made local and national news.

Out of this event, Mr. Firenza created several checklists and guidelines and went through much training for preparing if an event were to ever occur again. This episode is part of a three-episode series with Mr. Firenza sharing his thoughts on what types of things should be included on ANY band trip, as well as some best practices for students and educators alike before the buses leave your school or event.

We are grateful for the transparency and candor in these episodes.

In the fall of 2021, Joseph "JJ" Firenza was on the band staff for Andrews High School in Texas when the unimaginable happened. The tragic crash of the band buses on the way to a football game made local and national news.

Out of this event, Mr. Firenza created several checklists and guidelines and went through much training for preparing if an event were to ever occur again. This episode is part of a three-episode series with Mr. Firenza sharing his thoughts on what types of things should be included on ANY band trip, as well as some best practices for students and educators alike before the buses leave your school or event.

We are grateful for the transparency and candor in these episodes.

In the fall of 2021, Joseph "JJ" Firenza was on the band staff for Andrews High School in Texas when the unimaginable happened. The tragic crash of the band buses on the way to a football game made local and national news.

Out of this event, Mr. Firenza created several checklists and guidelines and went through much training for preparing if an event were to ever occur again. This episode is part of a three-episode series with Mr. Firenza sharing his thoughts on what types of things should be included on ANY band trip, as well as some best practices for students and educators alike before the buses leave your school or event.

We are grateful for the transparency and candor in these episodes.

Some musings as we move into our spring season of concert and sight reading. It has been an observation through the years, that some folks wait until the week or two before adjudication dates to start asking some questions. And, most of those questions could or should have been asked and discussed MUCH earlier! Fortunately, Mike is here! This episode is a checklist of problem areas that need to be addressed early in the process, i.e. now! From tone to phrasing to dynamics, let's address the areas early in the game.

Jay Lester joins Mike and Derrick again to help you and your program squeeze all the juice from a visiting clinician. What if we told you there are small things that will reap big dividends in having a clinician in your rehearsal hall. And nothing is complicated or even very much effort. You need other ears to hear what's happening, here is how you can help them help you!

Two wonderful guests in this episode, John Carroll and Britt Cole. They join the podcast to discuss their experiences with TMEA and ATSSB, two great associations dedicated to further music education and our students. John and Britt discuss how they got involved, what they expected vs what it was, and how you could benefit and help by being a part!

Our last conversation in a series of episodes discussing tools to make your group better, this week Mike discusses some of the tools and apps he has found useful to make your workday smoother so you can spend more time doing the part you love, building up the musicians of tomorrow!

We hope you are looking forward to all the great possibilities 2026 has for you and those you work with and lead. Time to recharge and head boldly into the spring!

Joined again by Tim Jones, the crew talks about tech and electronics. The conversation discusses what equipment we really need, what to look at for budgets, and helps refocus on what is a must. 

This episode moves from outside to inside. What considerations and equipment do we need to address in the rehearsal room?

Joined again by Tim Jones, the crew talks about tech and electronics. The conversation discusses what equipment we really need, what to look at for budgets, and helps refocus on what is a must. 

Joined again by Tim Jones, the crew talks about tech and electronics. The conversation discusses what equipment we really need, what to look at for budgets, and helps refocus on what is a must. 

The first part of the conversation will help you think through what you think you need vs. what you really need.

Happy Thanksgiving! Today is a simple thank you from Mike and Derrick. Thankful for the journey of music in our lives and for those who helped shape us along that path. Have a blessed day!

Whether we realize it or not, the words we choose in our classrooms matter! And our actions speak louder than our words! Excited to have guest Jett Lowrance with us on the podcast again for this episode.

What great insight from Jett has he discusses an intentional shift in our teaching from "This is what I need!" to "What do my students need from me so they can be successful?" Recognizing that our students will engage and become successful musicians when we intentionally give them genuine encouragement and create opportunities for them to be successful!

Jett also shares some great strategies to help when our students are having a tough time being amazing... it happens.

As always, fantastic conversation with Jett Lowrance on Ask Mike!

We all have moments of reflection. Moments when we take an assessment of where we are and where we'd like to be. Take it from a couple of olds... this doesn't go away with age! In this episode, Mike and Derrick take a lighter view of some ways to move forward with positive results. The inspiration for this conversation was comedian Tim Minchen's graduation address several years ago at a university in Australia. Take a few moments to drink your favorite refreshment and breathe easier as we discuss 9 Life Lessons.

The concert march, it could be such a fantastic addition to your program. Unfortunately, the correct march style has been either ignored or not passed down long enough that it seems like the perfect time for Mike to answer the quiet question out loud, “What do I do with this march?”

Daniel Coyle is the author of, among others, The Culture Code, a best selling book looking at tools to build culture in groups. In this episode of Ask Mike, Mike pulls out some key thoughts that should resonate with music educators as they work through the process of discovering what a great culture is, and work to build or repair it in their programs.

In Texas, UIL Competitions and Evaluations are an annual part of our calendar and curriculum. It’s just part of what our music educators do in Texas. From the big picture overview, it should be straight forward and used as a tool to measure the progress of our students and programs. But as an educator responsible for those students and programs, we are often more emotionally invested than that. Should we be? Do these ratings define who we are?

Let’s ask Mike how to detach and use the rating system in the most positive way for both ourselves and our programs! 

Don't mind Derrick fan-girling during this episode. Mike introduces us to the teaching methods and concepts that Matt Harloff (and brother Ben) developed to create the incredible sounds of the Carolina Crown brass, among others.

Simple concepts with the commitment to do them consistently and correctly. 

Now, let's play the Mahler...

Everybody wants to get to heaven, but nobody wants to go today...

One of the certainties of life, along with taxes. Is it uncomfortable to talk about? Usually. But does it have to be? Not really.

We're joined by guest Tim Jones, owner and president of N-Tune Music, as he and Mike share their experiences with helping others through the process of making sure they have plans in place for all the things.

Your people need you to plan and make things clear for them. It's a good thing. Also, watch Mike and Tim call out Derrick... good times.

After Mike and Derrick get through debating whether people work their way to talent or they are born with it, Mike has some great points from “The Talent Code” by Daniel Coyle. Mike walks us through deep practice habits, ignition points, and master coaching.

It is an amazing thing as an educator to see young people hit their ignition points and become excited to reach for their potential! And no one has to be left behind, everyone can be successful.

So you record your Friday night halftime performances. Or your festival marching contest performances. Now what?

There is a wealth of information at your disposal if you watch and listen in a way to improve your group. Mike Lunney takes time in this episode to explain what a wise mentor once shared with him, how to get the most out of a marching performance video!

Do you know this person? Seems to be in control, is typically successful at what they do, and is on a forward track... is also in constant fear of losing it, can't slow down because the spinning plates might fall, and won't talk about it out of fear someone will see through the mask? When we are anxiety ridden, but manage to press on and accomplish what we deem necessary. 

Welcome to High Functioning Anxiety. Let's Ask Mike how he dealt (deals) with it!

Which comes first on the marching field, movement or music? No matter what your answer is, the music better matter! One of the best ways to make music instead of noise is remembering dynamics! Is there more to dynamics than loud or soft? Are dynamic relative? Does the dynamic marking on the music differ from instrument to instrument? Let's ASK MIKE!

It's September! In Texas that means second summer is in full swing! As we work outside and travel Friday nights, here are some tips and reminders of how to combat the heat, and what precautions and preventions we can put in place to keep our groups safe from temperatures!

Mike Lunney and Derrick Killam sit down with Juan Ramirez in this episode to discuss Booster Clubs. What does a healthy parent organization look like? What does a good relationship between boosters and the director look like? With over a decade of experience in supporting the band at Cameron Yoe, the Prez shares some insider info!

It's the last episode in the Mike Lunney Marching Band Academy series. As we close out this set of episodes, Mike reminds us that before we start throwing too many body moves at our group, it might be good to work on a little core strength. Along with some great suggestions to help your group physically warm up, Mike also describes several of the body movements used in contemporary marching shows. It has been a fun 8 weeks, and Mike goes out with a bang in this episode! 

In this episode of Mike Lunney's ongoing Marching Academy, Mike covers points to use for rehearsal procedures, reinforces teaching sequence for most groups, and talks about some overall marching concepts. There's also a few random items in the discussion!

So many great things packed into one podcast episode, take notes! Or just listen more than once!

In our ongoing discussion, we have talked about the set positions, what we look like when we aren't moving. This episode Mike Lunney explains to me what good body movement looks like in the midst of a marching show. Getting from set to set, etc. What a great resource! 

Let's talk about body positions, horn positions, set position, horns up positions... all the positions that will help position your group for success! See what we did there? Let's talk flutter step, trail position... Let's talk about ALL OF IT! Mike Lunney shares all his experience, plus some stuff he stole! ASK MIKE!

The Eight Core Principles for Marching Band. This episode Mike Lunney takes a closer look at each of these principles and how they will improve your group. We also look at some more concepts of physical movement! Who knows, you may learn new words like "satimna" and "fluidddiiiitdddty!" Take out your wide-rule notepad and get your No. 2 pencil sharpened! 

In this episode Mike Lunney shares keys to success by looking beyond the basics. In the discussion, we discuss the importance of creating a confident and strong look on the field through body movement.  Not just marching but marching well. Mike will also introduce eight core principals to help your group move with confidence toward marching well.

In our ongoing episode series for all things marching band, this episode is focused on the different boxes adjudicators are using to determine how well your band is performing. Is your band demonstrating the measurables for the highest box, or are there things you can focus on to get them there? Mike Lunney shares a peek behind the curtain so you can know what the adjudicators are using to put your band in the correct box!

How do we win at Marching Band? Mike isn't talking about trophies in this episode; he's talking about the things that make us successful regardless of trophies or plaques. Let's help your program establish a standard. Let's help your kids get back into feeling good and doing movement. Let's use this episode as a launch pad for a successful marching season for your program!

New Guest Alert! Ask Mike is excited to welcome Jett Lowrance to the podcast! We sit down and talk about the triumphs and pitfalls of the non varsity group. How do we motivate them? How do we teach them? Listen to the wisdom that comes from experience. Jett has fantastic insights and expresses them well.

The Hollies had a hit with, "He Aint Heavy, He's My Brother." One of the lines... "His Welfare is of my concern, no burden is he..." What a great sentiment! And one that many of us in Music Education relate to.

But how do we help? What is expected? What is acceptable? As educators, we have such an awesome opportunity to affect for good!

Joined again this episode by friend Brian Hecimovich, the discussion is one that comes from real world experience on both ends of the need equation.  

In this episode, Mike Lunney shares his Rules for Band! Read them, learn them, live by them! Or at least give them a listen and follow the link to download a document you can share or edit for your program!

The question for Mike Lunney this week is, "Does it matter who evaluates a music educator?" What can we take away from an evaluation done by a non-music supervisor. Should we prepare differently, can it be constructive? Settle in and listen to the experience flow as we once again Ask Mike!

In this episode, Mike Lunney answers the question of classroom management. Is it discipline? Is it having a plan in place to create a positive learning environment? We'll discuss! And we'll discuss the importance of having a plan ready when an administrator asks about it, whether in an interview or in situations that may arise in teaching.

Mike and Derrick are joined in this episode by our friend Rusty Gray. Our conversation is about recognizing your high achiever and your perfectionist and digs in to how we can best help them reach their potential while teaching them how to be the healthiest version of themselves. And we talk about how to keep all the students engaged without focusing too much on either end of talent pool in your group.

Glad to have friend Anthony Gibson back to help Mike and Derrick hash out how we define success as music educators. Or maybe a better thought... how SHOULD we define success as a music educator? Let us encourage you with this episode, you are doing a noble thing! And I bet you're doing it better than you are giving yourself credit for!

In this episode, Mike and Derrick are joined by Brian Hecimovich from Fredericksburg, Texas. Brian talks us through some of the differences moving from a program in a smaller classification to a program in a larger classification. It's a great conversation for those considering moving up in the size of the program they are teaching. Mike and Brian talk about differences in population, in teaching styles, learning delegation, etc. 

Sometimes we move jobs. It really doesn't matter what the catalyst was for our departure, we can all leave with integrity. In this episode, Mike Lunney discusses several ideas about leaving your current position in the most positive manner you can. Remember, the program is about serving the students in it, not about you. How can we make the transition as smooth as possible for the next person leading that program?

Recruiting and Retention, we all talk about it, we all want it to happen... but what can we do daily to make sure the kids WANT to be in the program? It is a year round activity but making it a part of your band culture will make it painless! Mike Lunney (with plenty of interruptions from Derrick) shares his ideas on creating a program kids will sell for you.

It is time to make sure your have the drill down for the upcoming season! Mike Lunney shares some timely reminders to help us get ready for the summer and fall. These are the things that you can take care of now to make it easier then. No one wants to shake their head and say, "I wish I would have done this sooner!"

Whether you are looking for your first job, looking for a new and better job, or just finding out you might need to look for a job, Mike Lunney has great advice in making sure you are checking off the correct boxes for those doing the hiring! And Mike also explains there are several waves of job hiring that happen throughout the spring and into the summer, just catch the right one and follow Mike's advice, and we hope you land in the greatest job yet!

Guest Stephen Cox is back with Mike and Derrick to dig deeper into the concept of Self Determination Theory. The crew discusses the three components of Self Determination: Competence, Relatedness, and Autonomy, and how these thoughts relate specifically to helping our music students achieve more because they have more input and investment. Thank you for joining us again Steven Cox!

After talking about rehearsal space, warm-ups, tuning, planning rehearsals, and problem solving with our groups, in this episode, Mike Lunney encourages us all to be willing to also stop and do some honest evaluation of our teaching and relational abilities as the leader of the ensemble. Even the best of us can make some positive evaluations and challenge ourselves to improve!

The elusive perfect rehearsal. Neither Mike or Anthony will fess up if they've ever had a perfect rehearsal, but they can share ways you can plan for one! And know when rehearsal is over that progress was made... that's perfect.

Continuing with our guest, Anthony Gibson, the Ask Mike crew looks at several sets of problems and how to solve them! You can do it!

In this episode of Ask Mike, guest Anthony Gibson shares tips for recruiting and retaining the most important part of your program, the students! Taken from session notes presented at many professional organizations and conferences, take some notes and listen to some experience and wisdom!

Is your ensemble's warm up just something to give you time to take attendance? Do your students know why, and more importantly what the purpose of the warm ups are? Are you teaching your ensemble to tune as an ensemble, or do you give concert F-G-A-Bb a quick pass around the room? Anthony Gibson and Mike Lunney have a great conversation about helping your group prepare for a great rehearsal through how you warm up, and how they understand intonation.  

The first of three sessions that our friend, Anthony Gibson, sat in with the guys at Ask Mike. Mr. Gibson is well versed in creating an atmosphere for success in the rehearsal hall. Your group will rehearse and perform better when you create an atmosphere for success!

The stress of spring, contest season, losing students in your rehearsal to other activities and groups... it adds up. But Mike Lunney has some suggestions for helping to manage the emotional season. He even had to practice some of them on Derrick Killam in this episode. You're going to make it, just use some of these ideas to help navigate the emotions!

Spring Cleaning, not everybody loves it but we probably all need to do a little! Whether it's our characteristic sounds and tone, our articulation, or dynamics. Mike Lunney is here to advocate for all of it! And encourage you in the process! Time to quit looking past the clutter and get your ensemble back on the straight and narrow! *looks for musical feather duster*

Mike Lunney discusses great thoughts from "How Great Do You Want To Be" by Nick Saban, and relates these thoughts to our perspective as music educators.

Fantastic visit with Stephen Cox of the Willis Wonderland Foundation exploring how music education is taught in our schools. The ultimate question of, "What is our product?" leads to some thought provoking, perhaps challenging, discussions!

Heterogeneous classroom teaching. In music education it is a big word for: Congratulations! You're teaching all the beginners in the same class! But our friend Mike Lunney has not only been there, but he also made it work and had a successful program! As Mike shares in the episode, his class had between 50-60 kids, was scheduled last period...AFTER PE!

Be encouraged, you can do it! And Mike Lunney has some great tips to help you!

This is the second episode to help answer questions about New Rehearsal Space Construction.

In this episode we are excited to have Jay Lester as our guest to walk back through the first episode and offer comment, as well as offer insight from the administrative side of the project. Mr. Lester has been involved in multiple projects as an administrator, and his insight will help you communicate your needs and approach to your administration during planning and actual construction!

What things should an educator consider when looking at a possible new construction for a rehearsal room, or an addition or makeover of the existing rehearsal space? Season 2 of the Ask Mike Podcast starts with a two-part response to this question submitted to the podcast.

In part one, we welcome Loy Studer from Wichita Falls Legacy and Dane Richardson from Holliday ISD. Both have recently been a part of a construction project and have a ton of insight into the process. Part one is the teacher's perspective on things to consider and advocate for!

Music Educators, what you do is amazing! You are warriors, you are well able, you are so needed! Mike Lunney and Derrick Killam take a moment to say, "Thank You!" and hopefully encourage you as you gear up for the best Spring semester you've ever had as an educator!

In a previous episode, Mike Lunney and Derrick Killam were joined by Jason Brents and Daniel Todd to discuss choosing music to fit your performing ensemble for evaluation. It was a great episode full of great ideas.

SO IS THIS EPISODE! But this episode features guests Tommy Perkins and James Cross, two seasoned directors who have spent large portions of their careers in smaller Texas HS classifications.  This episode is geared to the challenges of a small (one person?) staff and the scheduling challenges of a smaller enrollment.

This conversation was a lot of fun, and some great tips were shared!

Solo and ensemble time, we've kind of turned that into necessary evil.

What if I told you, if you change your perspective, it could be a huge step to make your band better! What a great opportunity to help your students become better musicians, learning to listen, blend, and make better musical choices.

Mike Lunney gives us a quick primer on how to use Solo and Ensemble events to help you help them be great!

I know it might feel like you just put the current show to bed, but it's time to start looking at next year's show design. In today's climate, if you are using someone to write your show or drill, they are already booking up for next year! This episode was a revelation to Derrick, maybe it is to you, as well. Mike Lunney walks us through the reasoning and the process!

Mike Watts returns to sit in with Mike Lunney and Derrick Killam for an enlightening conversation about Time Managment as an educator. How do we get the most out of the time we have in the classroom? Relax and listen as the voices of experience guide you through some time management steps to increase productivity in your classroom@

How are your rehearsals going? Are they frustrating? Do you seem to never accomplish your goals?

Aristotle said, "Quality is not an act, it is a habit." 
The author, Will Durant, expanded this thought when he said, "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."

In this episode Derrick asks Mike to expand on these three thoughts from Jon Acuff, as they relate to rehearsal and doing the small things right.

"The are only three ways to improve your life (rehearsals):
1. Stop doing something.
2. Start doing something.
3. Get better at something you're already doing.

We complicate it because then we can blame the complications instead of ourselves, but it's actually very simple."

This is a great episode! We pull a question from the email, "How do I choose my music for UIL?" And we have guests Daniel Todd and Jason Brents. Along with Mike Lunney, this makes over 80 years of experience choosing music and programming for UIL in Texas Concert and Sightreading Evaluations.

As the knight in Indiana Jones says, "You must choose...but choose wisely." That's where this episode comes in! Great insight whether you are new to picking a program or if you have been throwing darts at the UIL PML (Prescribed Music List) for years, these gentlemen offer practical advice and some things to avoid... ask us how we know.

To quote Aldous Huxley, "Experience teaches only the teachable." Once we decide we know it all, we won't grow any further. In this episode, Mike Lunney encourages us all to remain teachable, to remain coachable. None of us have all the answers, but there are people who can help us if we let them. 

Listen, no one wants to believe their child is the problem child, and most of the time they aren't, it was just a problem with the child. Then there are those parent meetings where you realize, "This makes much more sense now." Mike Lunney shares his thoughts on the best way to handle the parent(s) who just can't fathom the idea that their child would ever be at fault. 

As the saying goes, "Some days are diamonds, and some days...well, aren't." Recorded live from a contest venue, Mike Lunney and Derrick Killam consider healthy ways to accept a contest rating, whether it's the best or not what you hoped for. Join the discussion as we Ask Mike, "Where do we go from here?"

askmike@ntunemusic.com

You're almost there, the target is in sight... so why are your kids slowing down? In this episode, Mike Lunney encourages educators to remember that when your group has been working hard for a few months toward your performance, there will be some tired moments of resistance. How do we motivate our group when they seem to be hitting a plateau? Great ideas to change up the rehearsals and reword the message to get your group motivated and back on the track to their best possible performance! 

This episode welcomes friend Eric Baker! We discuss DCI, Trumpets Mic'd Up, and the great things going on at the University of Texas Permian Basin! Great episode to help get your high school musicians connected with a college or university, helping them to keep making the music they love!

Again, discussing marching bands as we rush toward contest season at the speed of sound! Some call it "phasing," some call it "a tear in the tempo." Either way it can be frustrating to pinpoint the source and install the fix. You are in luck! Mike Lunney applies the laws of physics and geometry to help you fix this common problem. Sound complicated? Nah! It's as easy as lobbing tennis balls!

This episode the guys consider the benefits of marching festivals. And discuss how to determine which festival is right for your group. They even ponder the question, how many festivals are enough? Are there enough? Listen to Mike Lunney educate Derrick Killam on all things festivals!

Sometimes student teachers and/or first year younger teachers have a hard time navigating their relationships with students AND with those they are working with or for. Not the head director, not a student in the program. How can we help them get their best experiences and teach them great foundations for classroom management? Fortunately, Mike Lunney has been there! A great episode for the experienced teacher with a student teacher, and for the student teacher wanting to get the most from their time.

In this episode of Ask Mike, Mr. Lunney revisits the concept of student leadership and pushes it further to consider the culture of an organization. Is this something that happens organically? Can we as music educators help shape this elusive and fickle aspect of music programs? Sure glad we can Ask Mike!

Are we being efficient in our Marching Rehearsals? Do we even rehearse the things that need to be rehearsed? Listen to Mike Lunney share his best practices and how he eliminated time wasters and things that were stealing from his rehearsals.

Are we being efficient in our Marching Rehearsals? Do we even rehearse the things that need to be rehearsed? Listen to Mike Lunney share his best practices and how he eliminated time wasters and things that were stealing from his rehearsals.

Have you made your list? Checked it twice? This week, Mike Lunney shares his accumulated checklist to make sure your group is ready to travel to your Friday night football game. It's not just away games, if your stadium isn't on campus, it's the same thought process! Be sure to go to ntunemusic.com/askmike to get the download!

Mike Lunney's three stages of how to handle a student quitting: Begging, Anger, Best of Luck To You! There's lots of reasons kids feel the pressure to quit, and the large majority of them aren't, "I don't like my director!" Credits, other interests, just not up to the commitment... how do we respond to students leaving our program?
Listen to Mike explain his experience with this journey that affects us all!

Mike Lunney is joined by guest and fellow retiree, Mike Watts, to discuss how its never too early to start retirement planning. It does sneak up on us all! Best practices, and maybe some things you hadn't considered before. It's a great listen!

We all hope every student shows up to every rehearsal during summer band. If they don't, what do we do? Some considerations for a win/win in Summer Band Attendance with your friend and mine, Mike Lunney!

It's been a little while, but Mike really was a first-year teacher way back when! And since then, Mike has help many first-year teachers survive and become great veterans! This episode, Mike and Derrick discuss some helpful things to remember and think about as you dive into this wonderfully maddening, but very rewarding career!

Mike and Derrick discuss the UIL Recommendations for dealing with the heat during summer and fall outdoor rehearsals!

Goal setting, Communication, and Recognizing Different Personalities within your leadership team. Creating a great organization takes a great leadership team. Here is a great process to get your group operating with a great leadership team!

If you aren't making time for student leadership in your program YOU are holding your program back! Listen to Mike Lunney discuss the process and considerations to create a successful leadership team in your program.

Mike Lunney says the quiet part out loud.  You matter in the process! Recognizing the signs of burn out and mental fatigue, some thoughts on how to deal with it, and some tips for managing or preventing it from happening all the time. Not counselors, but we've been there!

Part 2 of this great conversation!

Looking at a rebuild in your school music program? Join Mike Lunney and Lynsey Gold for practical and real-world tips that have worked for them. Lynsey Gold has taken two Texas high school band programs from not-that-impressive to WOW!

Looking at a rebuild in your school music program? Join Mike Lunney and Lynsey Gold for practical and real-world tips that have worked for them. Lynsey Gold has taken two Texas high school band programs from not-that-impressive to WOW!

Jay Lester spent years hiring music educators in Texas ISD's. In this episode he shares some great tips and best practices to make your interview successful. Between Mr. Lester and Mike Lunney, there is a lot of years of experience in this episode!

We've all experienced it in our school music auditions, how do we teach students (or their parents) to handle auditions with a little grace and humility? How do we teach students that if they don't win the audition, it doesn't mean they aren't appreciated and valued? Mike Lunney shares years of audition experience and some procedures that have helped him navigate the audition process. 

Mike Lunney discusses the importance of a strong booster organization. Mike also touches on how to locate and recruit some of the diamonds in the booster system, as well as helping booster land in the best position for them to help your school music program. Good stuff!

Continuing Mike's helpful punch list for finishing strong and setting up for success next year!

Meet Mike Lunney and Derrick Killam, two average Joes who have a little life on us in the world of School Music Education. Our goal is to help those we can by answering some of the questions our degrees didn't! And providing a resource for some who are out there in the middle of it with no real safety net to fall on! We don't take ourselves to seriously, but we're serious about answering questions and helping school music programs!

Ask Mike is a discussion/question answering opportunity for school music educators looking for advice or the accumulated experience of over 30 years. Mike Lunney and Derrick Killam talk about everything from what to do in different seasons to auditions to boosters. The goal is to help all of us succeed!