That's Not Spit, It's Condensation!

Ryan Beach
  • 4.8 (120)
  • MUSIC
  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY

“That’s Not Spit, It’s Condensation” is a weekly podcast with conversations and discussions about all things music. In it, we’ll peel back the layers of what makes great musicians great, hoping to inspire others to achieve their maximum potential.http://thatsnotspit.com

  1. #202: Jordi Albert - What 1500 Trumpet Players Taught This PhD About Getting Unstuck

    APR 8

    #202: Jordi Albert - What 1500 Trumpet Players Taught This PhD About Getting Unstuck

    Dr. Jordi Albert has spent 27 years researching trumpet performance, trumpet pedagogy, and musician health. After working with over 1,500 trumpet players — from beginners to professionals — he has developed a research-backed methodology for solving the most common trumpet problems fast. In this episode, Dr. Albert breaks down: Why 98% of professional trumpet players experience learning difficulties How inner hearing and audiation directly affect your trumpet technique The neuromotor science behind embouchure problems and how to fix them Why focal dystonia and overuse syndrome are more common than you think How to practice trumpet more efficiently using sports science The role of lip health and biomechanics in trumpet performance Why working harder on trumpet isn't always the answer How to get unstuck on trumpet without changing your entire approach Whether you're struggling with trumpet high notes, trumpet endurance, trumpet articulation, double tonguing, triple tonguing, embouchure problems, or flexibility, this conversation will change the way you think about practicing and performing. Dr. Albert is the founder of the Global Institute for Music Research (GIMUR) and director of Your Trumpet Studio. His doctoral thesis on learning difficulties in expert motor performance on the trumpet was published by the Polytechnic University of Valencia. 🎺 Learn more about Dr. Jordi Albert: jordialbert.com 🎺 Your Trumpet Studio: yourtrumpetstudio.com Support the show

    2h 2m
  2. #201: Dr. Genevieve Clarkson - What Drum Corps Taught This Tuba Professor About Teaching

    MAR 25

    #201: Dr. Genevieve Clarkson - What Drum Corps Taught This Tuba Professor About Teaching

    Tuba professor and Bluecoats drum corps instructor Dr. Genevieve Clarkson joins the podcast to talk about what it really means to be a great music teacher. From purposeful practice and growth mindset to the unexpected lessons learned teaching at the highest level of drum corps competition, Jenny shares a philosophy of teaching that is equal parts inspiring and actionable. In this episode we cover: What makes a truly successful music teacherHow to help students practice more effectivelyWhat drum corps taught her about teaching fundamentalsWhy potential matters more than perfectionHow to give feedback that builds confidence instead of fearThe Repertoire Expansion Project and why new music mattersDr. Genevieve Clarkson is Associate Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at Oklahoma City University and Lead Brass Instructor with the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps, the 2024 DCI World Champions. Find her at genevieveclarkson.com and on Instagram @GenevieveClarkson. Support the show

    2h 10m
  3. #200: Chris Martin - NY Phil Principal Trumpet's Practice System

    MAR 11

    #200: Chris Martin - NY Phil Principal Trumpet's Practice System

    Praised as “brilliant…impeccable” by the New York Times and a musician  of “effortless understated virtuosity” by The Chicago Tribune, Christopher Martin is Principal Trumpet of the New York Philharmonic. Prior to this, he was Principal Trumpet of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for eleven seasons. Mr. Martin has enjoyed a distinctive career of more than twenty years as solo trumpet of some of America’s finest orchestras.   As a soloist, Christopher Martin is in great demand in New York and around the world and has made several world premieres. Martin’s passion for new music has seen numerous works brought to life in both the orchestral and wind band repertoire. Christopher Rouse’s Heimdall’s Trumpet, John Mackey’s Antique Violences, and Julie Giroux’s Taboo were composed for Mr. Martin.   Christopher Martin’s discography includes a solo trumpet performance in  John Williams’s score to Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln (2012). 2019 saw the release of Antique Violences with Jerry Junkin conducting the Dallas Winds.   Mr. Martin serves on the faculty of The Juilliard School. Christopher Martin is a Yamaha Performing Artist.  Support the show

    2h 7m
  4. #199: Kevin McKee - From Trumpet to Composer (Centennial Horizon)

    FEB 25

    #199: Kevin McKee - From Trumpet to Composer (Centennial Horizon)

    In this episode, I'm sitting down with composer and trumpeter Kevin McKee to talk about his journey from trumpet performance to composition, how his playing background shapes his writing, and what makes his music so idiomatic and enjoyable to play. We dig deep into the inspiration and interpretive details behind Centennial Horizon, Kevin's evocative three-movement work for trumpet and piano inspired by Colorado. Kevin also shares details about his book Kevin McKee's Musical Jungle Gym for Trumpet, a gamified fundamentals method designed to keep students engaged through style studies, card-based practice routines, and QR-linked recordings. We covered: -How Kevin got started composing and what kept him going -Writing music you actually enjoy vs. chasing trends -The personal story behind Centennial Horizon (movement by movement) -Performance tips straight from the composer -The Musical Jungle Gym: who it's for and how to use it -Blocked buzzing as a tool for embouchure recovery -Kevin's advice for aspiring composers Find Kevin's music and get in touch at kevinmckmusic.com Support the show

    1h 25m
  5. #198: Dr. Molly Gebrian - Why Your Practice Isn't Working (According to Science)

    FEB 11

    #198: Dr. Molly Gebrian - Why Your Practice Isn't Working (According to Science)

    Most musicians are practicing wrong—not because they're lazy or untalented, but because traditional practice methods don't align with how the brain actually learns. Dr. Molly Gebrian is a violist, neuroscientist, and author of Learn Faster, Perform Better. She teaches at New England Conservatory and has spent years translating brain science into practical strategies for musicians. In this conversation, we dig into: Why taking MORE breaks leads to FASTER progressHow mental practice can solve problems physical practice can'tThe truth about talent (spoiler: it's irrelevant)Why mistakes are essential for learningThe "old way, new way" technique that breaks bad habits in minutesHow to practice in 30-minute segments for maximum efficiencyWhat actually causes performance anxiety (and how to manage it)If you've ever felt frustrated in the practice room, stuck on a plateau, or wondered why hours of practice aren't translating to results—this episode will change how you think about practice forever. Molly's Website: www.mollygebrian.com Support the show

    1h 28m
  6. #197: Stephen Wadsack - Why This Trumpet Player’s Beliefs About Confidence Held Him Back

    JAN 28

    #197: Stephen Wadsack - Why This Trumpet Player’s Beliefs About Confidence Held Him Back

    Confidence wasn’t missing — it was misunderstood. In this episode, Ryan sits down with trumpet player and educator Stephen Wadsack to unpack how deeply held beliefs about confidence can quietly shape — and limit — the way we practice, perform, and grow as musicians. What starts as a conversation about auditions and orchestral playing turns into something much deeper: how confusing confidence with arrogance, or treating it as a personality trait instead of a byproduct of clarity, can hold even highly skilled players back. Together, they explore how humility, organization, identity, and understanding your fundamentals can actually create the confidence most musicians are searching for. If you’ve ever felt confident in some settings but not others, struggled with comparison, or wondered why hard work doesn’t always translate into freedom on stage, this conversation will resonate. Support the show

    1h 12m
  7. #196: 3 Common Trumpet Practice Problems You Don't Have To Accept

    JAN 7

    #196: 3 Common Trumpet Practice Problems You Don't Have To Accept

    Many trumpet players experience frustration, inconsistency, or uncertainty in their practice — and assume that’s just normal. In this video, I break down 3 trumpet practice habits that are common, but don’t have to stay that way. These habits often feel normal because they’re widespread, especially when players work hard without a clear system, feedback loop, or defined outcome. The goal here isn’t to criticize how you practice — it’s to help you understand why these experiences happen and what can change them. In this video, you’ll learn: Why certain frustrating practice experiences are so common How these habits affect progress, confidence, and consistency What principles I use to create clearer, more productive practice How to rethink practice without invalidating your past experience This video is for serious trumpet players who want to practice with more clarity, intention, and confidence — whether you’re a student, amateur, or professional. If you’ve ever felt like you’re working hard but not seeing the results you expect, this will help you understand what’s actually going on. Support the show

    39 min
  8. #195: My Philadelphia Audition - What It Felt Like To Make the Finals

    11/26/2025

    #195: My Philadelphia Audition - What It Felt Like To Make the Finals

    In this episode, I share the full story of my recent audition for the Principal Trumpet position with the Philadelphia Orchestra — one of the highest-profile trumpet auditions in the world. I made the finals, but the real takeaway wasn’t the result. It was the stillness, clarity, and confidence I felt throughout the entire process, even when things weren’t going my way. If you’re a trumpet player, brass musician, or anyone preparing for orchestra auditions, I hope this story gives you insight into how mindset, identity, organization, and deliberate practice all come together under pressure. Support the show

    1h 29m
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4.8
out of 5
120 Ratings

About

“That’s Not Spit, It’s Condensation” is a weekly podcast with conversations and discussions about all things music. In it, we’ll peel back the layers of what makes great musicians great, hoping to inspire others to achieve their maximum potential.http://thatsnotspit.com

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