Pete's Percussion Podcast - Pete Zambito

University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Percussion Professor Francis Favis stops by to talk about his recent PASIC50 Performance during the New Music/Research session (04:05), his job at UTRGV, the unusual school setup, and mariachi music in south Texas (18:20), growing up in Bloomington Normal (IL), his family’s deep musical roots, early memories of playing drumset, marching band years, and working the school’s computer help desk at his high school (38:30), attending Illinois State for undergrad (52:30), George Mason University (VA) for his master’s (01:01:35), the University of Texas at Austin for his doctorate and the OU/UT football rivalry (01:12:50), his first job at Tarleton State University (TX) (01:28:45), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on performance, great Filipino food, great and terrible movies, science fiction books and movies, Radiohead, and the dangers of turning pages (01:35:30).Finishing with a Rave of appreciation of the life of musician Raul Malo (02:01:40).Francis Favis links:Francis Favis’ Innovative Percussion PagePrevious Podcast Guests mentioned:Megan Arns in 2017Julia Gaines-Montag in 2016Troy Hall in 2020Clif Walker in 2021Andy Bliss in 2023Gary Westbrook in 2017Ivan Trevino in 2022Tom Burritt in 2021Marco Schirripa in 2022Andy Harnsberger in 2022Ben Charles in 2017Bonnie Whiting in 2020Other Links:Nief-NorfCaroline Vaughan-RichardsSophie MathieuMayke NasWouter SnoeiMark RamirezUTRGV facultyJohn KilkennyTony EdwardsAngelo Favis“Immigrant Song” - Led ZeppelinSchool of Rock trailer“The National Anthem” - Radiohead“Believer” = Imagine DragonsPioneer Drum and Bugle CorpsCavaliers 2016 Indoor “Lost Boys”“Shadow Chasers” - Michael BurrittLost tv soundtracksDavid Collier“Fractalia” - Owen Clayton CondonMatt JamesJonathan BisesiJohn Spirtas“Reflections on the Nature of Water” - Jacob Druckman“Burritt Variations” - Alejandro Viñao“Mirage” - Yasuo SueyoshiJerry JunkinBlade Runner 2049 trailerRubber trailerDune - Frank HerbertThe Martian Chronicles - Ray BradburyI, Robot - Isaac Asimov“Crazy” - Le SserafimIn Rainbows - RadioheadThe Bends - RadioheadMonster - R.E.M.Christopher O’Riley Plays RadioheadTransplanted Roots Percussion Research SymposiumRaves:Trampoline - The MavericksAll Night Live, Volume 1 - The Mavericks

Los Angeles City College (CA) Professor of Music and Freelancer Kassandra Kocoshis stops by to talk about her PASIC50 Presentation on Cajón performance in Flamenco performance and how she came to love this genre of music (05:10), her job at LACC, how she got the job, freelancing in California, and working with the artist Ebi (19:50), growing up in Muncie (IN), her early musical experiences, working with Erwin Mueller at Ball State University while in high school, and her experiences traveling at a young age (53:30), her undergrad years at DePaul University (IL), encountering flamenco music during this time, and freelancing in Chicago after undergrad (01:06:45), heading to CalArts for her master’s and working with Gustavo Dudamel as his personal assistant (01:21:15), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on developing well-rounded percussionists, being a woman in the percussion field, bad impressions, Greek food, World Cup Soccer, great books, working with pop stars, and the artwork of Pablo Picasso (01:31:30).Finishing with a Rave on the 2025 film 28 Years Later (01:50:10).Kassandra Kocoshis links:Kassandra Kocochis’s homepagePrevious Podcast guests mentioned:Damon Grant in 2021Erin Walker Bliss in 2024Other Links:Paco de LucíaEbiRaul PinedaRed Kite SessionsRandy GlossHerb AlpertJennie GarthMona TavakoliNikki CampbellThe CortégeErwin MuellerIndiana Ambassadors of MusicEric MillsteinGustavo DudamelEllen ReidSheila E. drum soloLongman & EagleRick BaylessThe Athenian RoomLife is Beautiful trailerThe Producers trailer (2005)American Gods - Neil GaimanCirce - Madeline MillerMuseo Reina SofiaGuernica - Pablo PicassoRaves:28 Days Later trailer

Philadelphia-based Educator, Drumset Artist, Content Creator and Freelancer Nick Costa stops by to talk about his PASIC50 Presentation (with Marc Dicciani) on effective drumset practicing (04:45), his work as a classroom music teacher, teaching group drum lessons, being a member of the PAS Drumset Committee, and creating content on TikTok and YouTube on drumset performance and restoration (19:45), his freelancing career and working within the drumset industry (41:00), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on getting away from the “tyranny of tradition”, great movies and books, cars, and Philadelphia sports and food (01:22:40).Finishing with a Rave on the 2012 film The Master (01:53:40).Nick Costa links:Nick Costa’s websiteNick Costa’s YouTube pageNick Costa’s TikTok pagePrevious Podcast Guest mentioned:Sarah Hagan in 2019Other Links:Marc DiccianiBuddy RichVinnie Colaiuta“Undone: The Sweater Song” - WeezerDave Elitch“Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” - AC/DCPractically SingleThat Thing You Do! trailerModern SuitsAmerican Idiot at the 2010 Tony’sBrian Frasier-MooreGeorge “Spanky” McCurdyLil John RobertsChristian McBrideVillanova 2018 men’s basketballMarci MajorChris HanningBruce JacobyTommy AldridgeMike PackerJoey JordisonAlex Van HalenTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1990 trailerMy Cousin Vinny trailerGoodfellas trailerBreath - James NestorWim Hof MethodAllen Iverson highlights2017 Eagles Super BowlAngelo’s Pizzeria South PhillyReading Terminal MarketAlpen RosePinocchio’s RestaurantCatching The Big Fish - David LynchRaves:The Master trailer

Kutztown University (PA) Percussion Director and Department Chair Frank Kumor stops by to talk about his PASIC50 New Music/Research Day performance of Jennifer Stasack’s “Six Elegies Dancing” and his longtime connection to the piece (03:55), his job at Kutztown University, the connections to the Center for Mallet Research at the school, his percussion staff, and the odd path to his job becoming tenure-track (24:40), growing up in Wilkes-Barre (PA), his beginnings in percussion, and his keyboard and organ experiences growing up (57:15), his undergrad and graduate percussion work at Kutztown, Duquesne (PA), and the University of Kentucky, and his work in the music industry after his doctorate (01:09:40), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on providing percussion ensemble experiences to young percussionists, David Sedaris, great performances, and the Art Institute of Chicago (01:33:15).Finishing with a Rave on the 2025 film Bugonia (01:47:15).Frank Kumor links:Frank Kumor’s Kutztown University pageFrank Kumor’s Remo Drums pageFrank Kumor’s Paiste pageFrank Kumor’s Yamaha pagePrevious Podcast Guests mentioned:Allen Otte in 2024Scott Herring in 2022William Moersch in 2019Matthew Coley in 2021Rebecca Kite in 2018Julie Spencer in 2021Neil Grover in 2023Other Links:David StockJennifer Stasack“Velocities” - Joseph Schwantner“Two Mexican Dances” - Gordon StoutMichael RosenThe Allentown BandWill RappAngel FrettePuerto Rico Festival de PercusiônFrédéric MacarezBrett DietzTambor FantasmaBallet Mechanique - George AntheilSteve WeissDana KimbleThe Wells-Rapp Center for Mallet Percussion Research“Merlin” - Andrew ThomasDan ArmstrongLee HinkleAndy ThieraufSherrie MaricleQuey Percussion DuoChris HanningDan MooreValerie NaranjoTony MiceliLeigh Howard StevensGordon StoutBill CahnGeorge Hamilton GreenDave SamuelsKeiko AbeVida ChenowethSteve FidykThom Hannum“Muskrat Love” - Captain and Tennille“Run to the Hills” - Iron Maiden“Fooled Around and Fell in Love” - Elvin BishopStanley LeonardAndrew ReamerJames CampbellRande SanderbeckJoseph Wilcox JenkinsMartin WeirLost in Translation trailerTwister trailerDavid SedarisRamsey’s DinerRun to the Light - Ivan TrevinoThe Art Institute of ChicagoRaves:Bugonia trailer

After talking about some of his experiences at PASIC50, McMaster University (ON) Percussion and Music Cognition Professor Michael Schutz stops by to talk about his PASIC50 Scholarly Research Presentation on Xylophone Music (06:00), his job at McMaster, the percussion ensemble program there, the Canadian Percussion Network, the city of Hamilton, and cold weather (20:55), growing up in Northern Virginia, his musical background , and his years as a soccer goalie (40:55), attending Penn State for undergrad and studying under Dan Armstrong and Giff Howarth (48:05), his master’s degree time at Northwestern (IL), studying with Michael Burritt and being in school with lots of outstanding percussionists (57:20), teaching percussion in Virginia and getting his Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of Virginia (01:08:35), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on musicality, great books, the Toronto Blue Jays, and great food in many cities (01:20:40).Finishing with a Rave on a recent performance by the American Ballet Theater (01:42:50).Michael Schutz links:Michael Schutz HomepageMichael Schutz’s McMaster pagePrevious Podcast Guests Mentioned:Shawn Mativetsky in 2023Victoria Sparks in 2018Nicholas Papador in 2024Gifford Howarth in 2024David Skidmore in 2025Sean Connors in 2025Peter Martin in 2025Robert Dillon in 2025Matthew Coley in 2021Eric Hollenbeck in 2025Cory Hills in 2024Jeff Barudin in 2018Raves:American Ballet Theatre