#19: Erin Holmes & Bradley Mariska - Farmington, MN

The Band Director's Lounge Podcast

Download Episode!

Today I am talking with two local band director rock-stars, Erin Holmes and Bradley Mariska from Farmington High School in Farmington, MN.

As the Director of Bands at Farmington High School, Erin Holmes conducts the Wind Ensemble, Varsity Band, Jazz I, Birdland Jazz, and is the head director of the Farmington Tiger Marching Band.In 2017, School Band and Orchestra Magazine named Holmes one of the nation’s “50 Directors Who Make a Difference. She is the Jazz Chair for Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA) in 2018, she is the first woman in the organization’s history to be chosen for this position.

Bradley Mariska has been the Associate Director of Bands at Farmington High School since 2016. At FHS, he conducts the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz II, Jazz III, and is the Assistant Director of the Farmington Tiger Marching Band. Mariska has served as an All-State Band Section Coach and has held the position of Director on the boards of several arts organizations including the Austin Area Commission for the Arts, Austin Symphony Orchestra, and Pine Center for the Arts. He also taught at the MacPhail Center for Music at both their Apple Valley and Austin locations. Brad was recently elected as the Minnesota Music Educators Association Vice President.

Today we talk all things Farmington band. There are so many interesting factoids about these two and the farmington program that you’ll have to goto the show notes to see everything that we cover. Let’s jump into the interview!

Episode Overview

• Welcome & Backgrounds (01:43)
• Music Journey - Why music? (03:00)
• Farmington High School Band (10:35)
• Jazz Band ((14:56)
• Trips & Travel (19:41)
• Repertoire & programming for multiple ensembles (24:06)
• Student Leadership (35:07)
• Recruitment & videos for younger students (44:15)
• “The Music Suite” (51:45)
• Favorite budget purchase (53:41)
• Farmington band boosters (57:08)
• Recommended books (59:03)
  • Teaching Music with Passion (2002)
  • The Talent Code: Greatness Isn't Born. It's Grown. Here's How.by Bantam
  • The Power of a Positive Team: Proven Principles and Practices that Make Great Teams Great by Jon Gordon
  • The Power of Positive Leadership: How and Why Positive Leaders Transform Teams and Organizations and Change the World by Jon Gordon
  • The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy by Jon Gordon
• Work/life balance and family (60:35)
• Team-teaching with a best friend (62:29)
• Advice for new teachers (83:05)
• What makes a great band program? (86:56)

Other Resources

• Erin Holmes & Bradley Mariska (Guests)
• Logan Burnside (Show Host)
• http://thebanddirectorslounge.com (Podcast Website)
• https://www.facebook.com/TheBandDirectorsLounge/ (FB Website)
• Nominate someone to be interviewed

Support The Band Director’s Lounge

• Eargasm Earplugs
• Audible - 30 days free + 2 free books
• Donate to support the podcast
• Books mentioned in this episode
  • Teaching Music with Passion (2002)
  • The Talent Code: Greatness Isn't Born. It's Grown. Here's How by Bantam
  • The Power of a Positive Team: Proven Principles and Practices that Make Great Teams Great by Jon Gordon
  • The Power of Positive Leadership: How and Why Positive Leaders Transform Teams and Organizations and Change the World by Jon Gordon
  • The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy by Jon Gordon
• Books from episodes