Ask Mike | Lessons for Music Educators
By Derrick Killam and Mike Lunney
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Image by Derrick Killam and Mike Lunney
Category: Education
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Episodes: 124
Description
Ask Mike is the go‑to podcast for music educators, band directors, and music program leaders seeking real answers rooted in real‑world experience. Hosted by veteran Texas Band Director Mike Lunney and co‑host Derrick Killam, a long-time leader in supporting Texas Music Education programs, the show focuses on learning from hard‑earned lessons, so you don’t make the same mistakes yourself.
🎵 No fluff. No guesswork. Just experience.
👉 Don’t reinvent the wheel — just Ask Mike!
About the Hosts
Mike Lunney
With 31 successful years as a head band director in Texas, Mike’s bands were consistently recognized as superior, and his insights come straight from the podium, not a textbook. Today, Mike remains active as a clinician, mentor, and adjudicator, continuing to shape the next generation of music educators.
Derrick Killam
A lifelong supporter of school music programs across Texas since 1990. Derrick brings a unique industry perspective from decades in music retail, having served as a Repair Tech, Repair Shop Foreman, Education Specialist, and now as a key member of Tarpley Music, a NAMM Top 100 Dealer and industry leading Musical Instrument Retailer in the United States.
| Episode | Date |
|---|---|
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Helping Your Student Teacher Learn to Manage a Classroom
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Sep 11, 2026 |
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Help! My Beginner Classes Aren't Homogeneous!
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Sep 04, 2026 |
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Ask Mike Roundtable: Your Program and Your Music Store
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Aug 28, 2026 |
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Michael Munoz Shares His 7 Pillars of Band Culture
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Aug 21, 2026 |
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Dane Richardson on Using the Harmony Director as a Teaching Tool
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Aug 14, 2026 |
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School Classifications: A Comparison and Contrast
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Aug 07, 2026 |
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Resistance is Futile...but Resistance Bands Are Revolutionary!
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Jul 31, 2026 |
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Marching: Horn Position Guidelines
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Jul 24, 2026 |
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Marching: Points of Procedure
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Jul 17, 2026 |
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Marching: Success Starts With The Fundamentals
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Jul 10, 2026 |
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Marching: Defining the 8 Core Principles of Technique and Movement
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Jul 03, 2026 |
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Marching: Techniques and Principles to Move Beyond the Basics
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Jun 26, 2026 |
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Marching: Setting Your Program Up For Success!
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Jun 19, 2026 |
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Marching: From Learning to Mastery, The 5 Box Concept
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Jun 12, 2026 |
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Time Marches On: Embracing the Inevitable
|
Jun 05, 2026 |
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Competition: Motivation or Disincentive?
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May 29, 2026 |
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It's Time to Retire...Until It's Not!
|
May 22, 2026 |
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Leaving A Job: Traveling the High Road
|
May 15, 2026 |
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The Interview: Putting Your Best Foot Forward
|
May 08, 2026 |
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Job Hunting: Talking Through the Process
|
May 01, 2026 |
|
Marching Show Design Tips for Success
|
Apr 24, 2026 |
|
Ratings Reactions: Be Coachable!
|
Apr 17, 2026 |
|
Student Leadership - Part 2: Teaching Them To Lead
|
Apr 10, 2026 |
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Student Leadership - Part 1: Choosing the Team
|
Apr 03, 2026 |
|
The Wayland Baptist University Reboot: Conversations with Dr. Anthony King
|
Mar 27, 2026 |
|
Texas Bandmasters Association - Checking in on the Latest
|
Mar 20, 2026 |
|
Defining Success For This Season
|
Mar 13, 2026 |
|
It's The Final Countdown! Rehearsal Thoughts for the Push To Evaluations.
|
Mar 06, 2026 |
|
Coaching As A Band Director
|
Feb 27, 2026 |
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The Aftermath JJ Firenza
|
Feb 20, 2026 |
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Everyday Carry with JJ Firenza
|
Feb 13, 2026 |
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Logistics and Inventory with JJ Firenza
|
Feb 06, 2026 |
|
Checklist For Concert Band Success
|
Jan 30, 2026 |
|
Making the Most of Hosting a Clinician
|
Jan 23, 2026 |
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Getting Involved with Music Education Associations: We're All In This Together
|
Jan 16, 2026 |
|
Tech Time w/Mike! Apps and Tools to Work Smarter, Not Harder!
|
Jan 09, 2026 |
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2026 is here! Opportunity Awaits!
|
Jan 02, 2026 |
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Ask Mike Christmas
|
Dec 26, 2025 |
|
Tech Time With Tim Part 3
|
Dec 19, 2025 |
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Tech Time With Tim Part 2
|
Dec 12, 2025 |
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Tech Time with Tim
|
Dec 05, 2025 |
|
Insert "Thankful" Emoji
|
Nov 28, 2025 |
|
Say This, Not That
|
Nov 21, 2025 |
|
9 Less Conventional Life Lessons
|
Nov 14, 2025 |
|
Marches Are Still in Style…If You Know The March Style!
|
Nov 07, 2025 |
|
The Culture Code: Keys to Creating a Positive Culture In Your Program
|
Oct 31, 2025 |
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Ratings: I’m All Verklempt
|
Oct 24, 2025 |
|
Inside The Circle: Looking at the concepts that created "God's Hornline!"
|
Oct 17, 2025 |
|
Estate Planning: Actually Easier than 3 against 2...
|
Oct 10, 2025 |
|
The Talent Code: Teach Their Brains to Do More
|
Oct 03, 2025 |
|
Friday Night Videos!
|
Sep 26, 2025 |
|
It's Fine...Everything is Fine!
|
Sep 19, 2025 |
|
Creating a Dynamic Ensemble on the Marching Field. You Can Do It!
|
Sep 12, 2025 |
|
Second Summer! Reminders about the Heat and Practices
|
Sep 05, 2025 |
|
Booster Clubs and Parent Groups: A Visit With the Prez!
|
Aug 29, 2025 |
|
Mike Lunney's Marching Band Academy - Lesson 8: The Strength to be Graceful
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Aug 22, 2025 |
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Mike Lunney's Marching Band Academy - Lesson 7: A Little Bit of Everything
|
Aug 15, 2025 |
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Mike Lunney's Marching Band Academy - Lesson 6: Moving With Confidence and Uniformity
|
Aug 08, 2025 |
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Mike Lunney's Marching Band Academy - Lesson 5: Position Your Group for Success
|
Aug 01, 2025 |
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Mike Lunney's Marching Band Academy - Lesson 4: Deep Dive into 8 Core Principles
|
Jul 25, 2025 |
|
Mike Lunney's Marching Band Academy - Lesson 3: Finding Success Beyond the Basics
|
Jul 18, 2025 |
|
Mike Lunney's Marching Band Academy - Lesson 2: Checking the Boxes
|
Jul 11, 2025 |
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Mike Lunney's Marching Band Academy - Lesson 1: How Do We Win?
|
Jul 04, 2025 |
|
The Non-Varsity Groups...Are You Experienced?
|
Jun 28, 2025 |
|
They Aint Heavy, They're Our Program Kids!
|
Jun 20, 2025 |
|
Wiggly Bodies - Rule 19! Mike Lunney's Band Rules!
|
Jun 13, 2025 |
|
On Further Evaluation... Thoughts on Teacher Evaluations
|
Jun 06, 2025 |
|
How Do We Manage our Classroom?
|
May 30, 2025 |
|
Teaching Perfectionists and Superstars
|
May 23, 2025 |
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Are We Successful? What's the Definition?
|
May 16, 2025 |
|
Moving On Up - The Job Transition Up In Classifications
|
May 09, 2025 |
|
Exit Stage Left - How we leave a job speaks loudly!
|
May 02, 2025 |
|
Creating a Program Kids Want to Be a Part Of
|
Apr 25, 2025 |
|
Marching Shows: Time to Remember the Drills
|
Apr 18, 2025 |
|
There's a Job for You! Riding the Waves of the Job Search Tide.
|
Apr 11, 2025 |
|
Exploring the Self Determination Theory
|
Apr 04, 2025 |
|
Want a Better Band? The Man In The Mirror
|
Mar 28, 2025 |
|
Planning the Perfect Rehearsal
|
Mar 21, 2025 |
|
Problem Solving: All the Things
|
Mar 14, 2025 |
|
Recruiting and Retention: Tips for Keeping the Butts in the Seats!
|
Mar 07, 2025 |
|
Warm Up and Tuning: Put Some Respect On It
|
Feb 28, 2025 |
|
The Band Hall: Create the Ambiance for Success
|
Feb 21, 2025 |
|
Don't Get Trapped in a Glass Case of Emotions!
|
Feb 14, 2025 |
|
Spring Cleaning: Tone to Dynamics
|
Feb 07, 2025 |
|
Music Education the Saban Way
|
Feb 01, 2025 |
|
Success: What is Our Product?
|
Jan 24, 2025 |
|
Teaching All Beginners in the Same Class...We See You!
|
Jan 17, 2025 |
|
This Old Rehearsal Hall: Pt 2 - Some Admin Considerations
|
Jan 10, 2025 |
|
This Old Rehearsal Hall: Navigating the Construction and Makeover Projects Pt 1
|
Jan 03, 2025 |
|
Spring Semester! You got this!
|
Dec 27, 2024 |
|
Choosing Music: Small School Edition
|
Dec 20, 2024 |
|
Solo and Ensemble Time! Let's make your program better!
|
Dec 13, 2024 |
|
Marching Show Design: Yes, It's Time
|
Dec 06, 2024 |
|
Time Management: Time keeps on slippin, slippin, slippin...
|
Nov 29, 2024 |
|
Rehearsal Habits: We are what we repeatedly do!
|
Nov 22, 2024 |
|
Choosing Music: Throwing Darts at the PML
|
Nov 15, 2024 |
|
Being Coachable: Is It Possible We Don't Know It All?
|
Nov 08, 2024 |
|
Parent Meetings... How Far Did the Apple Fall From the Tree?
|
Nov 01, 2024 |
|
On A Scale of 1 - 5, What Do We Do With Contest Ratings?
|
Oct 25, 2024 |
|
Finish Strong! Helping your group down the home stretch!
|
Oct 18, 2024 |
|
"F is First Valve!" A Visit with Eric Baker
|
Oct 11, 2024 |
|
Field Timing: Fixing the Tears In Your Tempo!
|
Oct 04, 2024 |
|
Marching Festivals: Everybody's Doing It
|
Sep 27, 2024 |
|
Classroom Management: Help Me Help You!
|
Sep 20, 2024 |
|
Examining the Petri Dish of Band Culture
|
Sep 13, 2024 |
|
Marching Band Rehearsals: Are you rehearsing the right things? Pt 2
|
Sep 06, 2024 |
|
Marching Band Rehearsals: Are you rehearsing the right things? Pt 1
|
Aug 30, 2024 |
|
Get on the bus, Gus! Let's talk traveling to football games!
|
Aug 23, 2024 |
|
Sometimes They Quit...It's Probably Not Personal
|
Aug 16, 2024 |
|
Retirement: Never Too Early To Plan
|
Aug 09, 2024 |
|
Where, Oh Where, are my summer band kids?
|
Aug 02, 2024 |
|
Welcome to Teaching! Some thoughts for our First Year Teachers
|
Jul 26, 2024 |
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Beat the Heat! Guidelines for Summer Band
|
Jul 19, 2024 |
|
Student Leadership, Pt 2 - This is the Way
|
Jul 12, 2024 |
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Student Leadership...This Is The Way
|
Jul 05, 2024 |
|
Repeat After Me...Self Care
|
Jun 28, 2024 |
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Can We Rebuild It? Yes We Can! w/Lynsey Gold pt 2
|
Jun 21, 2024 |
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Can We Rebuild It? Yes We Can! w/Lynsey Gold
|
Jun 14, 2024 |
|
Interviewing 101 w/Jay Lester
|
Jun 07, 2024 |
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Audition Drama: Are You Crying? There's No Crying in The Music Program...
|
May 31, 2024 |
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We Don't Need No Stinking Boosters...Or Do We?
|
May 28, 2024 |
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Relax! It's the Last 6-Weeks, You Got This!
|
May 25, 2024 |
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Let's Get Started! How Do We End?
|
May 24, 2024 |
|
Ask Mike Trailer 2024
|
May 23, 2024 |