I recently had the chance to sit down with Jason K. Nitsch on the Composer Chats podcast, and it turned into one of those conversations that goes way beyond surface-level “composer talk.” We got into my path from the classroom to full-time composing, what I’ve learned writing for real bands across the country, and why I care so much about creating music that actually fits the students in front of you.

If you’re a band director, composer, or just someone who’s curious about how this all works behind the scenes, I think you’ll find something in here. It’s equal parts shop talk, real-life experience, and a few honest thoughts on what it takes to build a career in this space.