Mark Stickney's guest appearances

Mark Stickney

Everything Band Podcast

What Voting Means To Me

John Mackey

Alex Shapiro

Lynne Jackson

Sean Smith

Patrick Burns

Eric Jimenez

Gary Green

Jonathan Grantham

Mark Norman

Mike Howard

Michael Hudson

Chris Gleason

Keith Ozsvath

Michael O'Connor

Brian Balmages

OwlTail

In this episode we hear from a remarkably complex and fascinating voter who also happens to be an avowed atheist. Mark Stickney is an HVAC / plumbing sales engineer, musician, and actor from Chicago, Illinois. He tells us his story about growing up in a conservative southern town and his transition from this socialization to his now active role in progressive politics. Triggered at a young age to “question everything,” as he puts it, Mark explains how his journey to progressive politics and voting is inextricably tied with his embrace of atheism. While he began his time as an active voter feeling more or less apathetic during the 2004 elections, his passion for learning and epistemology brought him to the political activism he engages in today. He and I muse about the impossibility of religious freedom, and Mark clarifies that being an atheist does not mean one hates religion. We argue for the imperative of self-reflection in today’s politics, and Mark shares how his vote is tied back to how it might impact others. “Voting for me,” he shares, “means doing my part to make life better for somebody else… it’s about the active effort of thinking of others and putting them above myself.” Ultimately, Mark hopes that his activism—and vote—will leave the world a better place for his children and all who will come after them.

In this episode we hear from a remarkably complex and fascinating voter who also happens to be an avowed atheist. Mark Stickney is an HVAC / plumbing sales engineer, musician, and actor from Chicago, Illinois. He tells us his story about growing up in a conservative southern town and his transition from this socialization to his now active role in progressive politics. Triggered at a young age to “question everything,” as he puts it, Mark explains how his journey to progressive politics and voting is inextricably tied with his embrace of atheism. While he began his time as an active voter feeling more or less apathetic during the 2004 elections, his passion for learning and epistemology brought him to the political activism he engages in today. He and I muse about the <a href="https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691180953/the-impossibility-of-religious-freedom" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">impossibility of religious freedom</a>, and Mark clarifies that being an atheist does not mean one hates religion. We argue for the imperative of self-reflection in today’s politics, and Mark shares how his vote is tied back to how it might impact others. “Voting for me,” he shares, “means doing my part to make life better for somebody else… it’s about the active effort of thinking of others and putting them above myself.” Ultimately, Mark hopes that his activism—and vote—will leave the world a better place for his children and all who will come after them.

Episode 5. Mark Stickney

Mark Stickney, the conductor at Plymouth State University and of the Seacoast Wind Ensemble joins me for a wide ranging conversation that includes the value of being a lifelong learner, the band grading system, and the New England Band Director's institute. Topics:  Plymouth State University, the Seacoast Wind Ensemble, and the Newport Music Festival Teaching a band a new piece of music Fear in the ensemble and how to help students overcome their fear Conducting honor bands The value of being a lifelong learner Working with composers The band grading system Competition in music The New England Band Director's Institute Self published composers and finding new music The importance of relationships   ​Links:  Plymouth State University Music New England Band Director's Institute Newport Music Festival Seacoast Wind Ensemble Composers and Schools in Concert Libby Larsen: Introduction to the Moon, Part 1 Phillip Rathman: America the Beautiful Gustav Holst: Second Suite in F Stickneymusic.net   Biography:  Dr. Mark A Stickney is the Director of Bands at Plymouth State University, where he directs the Symphonic Band, and teaches courses in conducting, applied low brass and music education. In addition he serves as coordinator of the Graduate Instrumental Music Education Program, the All New England Band Festival and the New England Band Directors Institute. He has also held conducting and brass teaching positions at the Community College of Rhode Island, Oklahoma Panhandle State University, Salve Regina University, and Southern Utah University. He has conducted festival bands and orchestras all over the United States. In 2016, he was appointed as the Artistic Director of the Seacoast Wind Ensemble in Kittery, ME. Dr. Stickney received his DMA in Wind Conducting from Rutgers University, his MA in Tuba Performance from Montclair State University, and his BA from Gettysburg College. Dr. Stickney frequently writes on matters of music education, conducting, and nature on his blog: stickneymusic.wordpress.com.

Mark Stickney, the conductor at Plymouth State University and of the Seacoast Wind Ensemble joins me for a wide ranging conversation that includes the value of being a lifelong learner, the band grading system, and the New England Band Director's institute. Topics: <ul> <li>Plymouth State University, the Seacoast Wind Ensemble, and the Newport Music Festival</li> <li>Teaching a band a new piece of music</li> <li>Fear in the ensemble and how to help students overcome their fear</li> <li>Conducting honor bands</li> <li>The value of being a lifelong learner</li> <li>Working with composers</li> <li>The band grading system</li> <li>Competition in music</li> <li>The New England Band Director's Institute</li> <li>Self published composers and finding new music</li> <li>The importance of relationships</li> </ul> ​Links: <ul> <li><a href="https://www.plymouth.edu/department/mtd/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Plymouth State University Music</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.plymouth.edu/department/mtd/nebdi/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">New England Band Director's Institute</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.newportmusic.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Newport Music Festival</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.seacoastwindensemble.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Seacoast Wind Ensemble</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.composersandschools.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Composers and Schools in Concert</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DtltJD3Xjs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Libby Larsen: Introduction to the Moon</a>, Part 1</li> <li><a href="http://www.philiprothman.com/america.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Phillip Rathman: America the Beautiful</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nz7tvRdL94" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gustav Holst: Second Suite in F</a></li> <li><a href="http://stickneymusic.net/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Stickneymusic.net</a></li> </ul> Biography: Dr. Mark A Stickney is the Director of Bands at Plymouth State University, where he directs the Symphonic Band, and teaches courses in conducting, applied low brass and music education. In addition he serves as coordinator of the Graduate Instrumental Music Education Program, the All New England Band Festival and the New England Band Directors Institute. He has also held conducting and brass teaching positions at the Community College of Rhode Island, Oklahoma Panhandle State University, Salve Regina University, and Southern Utah University. He has conducted festival bands and orchestras all over the United States. In 2016, he was appointed as the Artistic Director of the Seacoast Wind Ensemble in Kittery, ME. Dr. Stickney received his DMA in Wind Conducting from Rutgers University, his MA in Tuba Performance from Montclair State University, and his BA from Gettysburg College. Dr. Stickney frequently writes on matters of music education, conducting, and nature on his blog:<a href="http://stickneymusic.wordpress.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> stickneymusic.wordpress.com</a>.

Episode 7 - Mark Stickney