Join teacher and guitarist, Brian Jump, as he explores music history, technology, and education.
#23 — Ask Me Anything 1
In this podcast, Brian Jump answers questions about learning music, taking guitar lessons, practicing, performing and more. Guitarist and singer, Justin Sellers, co-hosts the episode and presents questions gathered from Facebook, colleagues, and friends.
#22 — Performance, Repertoire, and the Business of Music
In this episode of the Chasing the Chords podcast, Brian Jump speaks to English-American guitarist and singer, Joel Lindsey, about his journey from London to Pittsburgh and his transition from amateur to professional musician. Jump and Lindsey have a wide-ranging conversation about repertoire, gigging, discipline, and the importance of listening to oneself critically. This podcast also includes a performance of Lindsey’s song called “Always Wanted.”
#21 — Metal, Meditation, and the Meaning of Life
In this episode, Brian Jump speaks to Pittsburgh-area drummer and songwriter, Brett Staggs, about the genre of metal, the practice of meditation, and the curious interaction between the two.
#20 — Covering Integrity
In this episode of the Chasing the Chords podcast, Brian Jump speaks to Pittsburgh-area guitarist and singer, Billy Schneider. Billy is a member of the Pear Jam tribute band, Ten, and he’s an active solo performer. He’s also an excellent lead player with many tasty and innovative ideas lurking behind his every solo. Most of all, Schneider seems to have a subtle touch for bending and phrasing like a singer. Jump and Schneider get down to the heart and soul of musicianship by covering practicing, performing, and education.
#19 — Beginner’s Luck
In this podcast, Brian Jump speaks to Pittsburgh-area guitarist, T.J. Riggs, about being a beginner. They cover learning scales, playing three-chord songs, and—most importantly—sounding like a rock star. Jump and Riggs perform many musical examples while having a fun conversation about learning music.
#18 — Electric Texture
In this podcast, Brian Jump speaks to Pittsburgh-area guitarist and drummer, Brian Sproul. They discuss electric guitar, altered tunings, rock influences, excellence in drumming, riff-oriented songwriting, rock presentation, and fantasy bands. Sproul is the founding member, and creative force, behind the instrumental power duo called Patton. He’s also the lead guitarist for the local blues-rock band called Sweetheart of the Barricades. Sproul’s approach to electric guitar is especially compelling, specifically when it comes to Patton, which features textural experiments, altered tunings, and stacked overdubs.
#17 — Living the Dream
In this episode of the Chasing the Chords podcast, Brian Jump has a wide-ranging conversation with his friend and duo partner, Justin Sellers. They speak about many topics related to playing in a working band like performing, gigging, booking shows, and repertoire. Also, Jump and Sellers address their current quest to change the name of their group—The Vagrants—to something more fitting their business model. A hilarious exchange occurs when they discuss candidate names like The Hit Slammers, The Pop Charts, and The Great White Snakes. Jump and Sellers wrangle this podcast to a close by performing the 1984 hit song by The Cars called “You Might Think.”
#16 — Band Leadership and Rock Maintenance
In this podcast, Brian Jump speaks to Pittsburg-area guitarist, T.J. Riggs, about band leadership, group rehearsals, and musician maintenance. Riggs is the guitarist and founding member of the 1980s tribute band called Stainless. Included in this conversation is a demonstration of the guitar solo from “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns ‘n’ Roses.
#15 — Inside Lead Guitar
In this episode, Brian Jump speaks to Pittsburgh-area guitarist and educator, Ross Heastings, about lead guitar, music theory, cover bands, songwriting, and education. During the conversation, Jump and Heastings demonstrate musical examples, perform jazz excerpts, and improvise licks and phrases.
#14 — Contemporary Hits Radio
In this podcast, music educator/guitarist, Brian Jump speaks to bassist/singer, Jonny Southern about contemporary hits radio (CHR). They examine the banal, often offensive music inhabiting Billboard’s Hot 100, and they critique the top ten songs occupying the list for the week of October 6, 2018.
#13 — Rock ‘n’ Roll Boy’s Club
In this podcast, music educator, Brian Jump, and bass player, Jonny Southern, talk about gender disparities that exist in rock bands and in rock audiences. They comment on the curious phenomenon of all-male styles, the ridiculous ritual of slam dancing, and the relative scarcity of female rock bands. Jump argues that the boy’s-club mentality of rock music represents a type of support group for men and boys. Southern argues that equally balanced audiences, like that of jam bands, is a result of drug culture.
#12 — Band Dynamics
In this episode of the Chasing the Chords podcast, Brian Jump and Jonny Southern discuss the complicated dealings and elaborate interactions that occur when writing, rehearsing, and performing with other people. Famous band dynamics, like that of The Beatles, The Band, and Metallica, are covered for scope and context. Also included in this episode is a performance of the Chuck Berry song called “You Never Can Tell.”
#11 — Musician Categories
In this podcast, Brian Jump and Jonny Southern discuss musician-types and the importance of establishing a musical identity. They cover the similarities and differences that exist between drummers, singers, sidemen, producers, electronic musicians, basement shredders, DJs, etc. Jump and Southern perform the 1965 hit by Lee Dorsey called “Get Out My Life Woman” for this episode’s outro.
#10 — Top Seven Mistakes Made By Music Students
In this podcast, Brian Jump and Jonny Southern discuss the traps and pitfalls of learning music. They cover school bands, music teachers, and common student mistakes.
#9 — How Music Dies
In this podcast, Brian Jump and Jonny Southern discuss the devolution of music and the plight of original musicians. They cover the following topics: (1) empty rooms, (2)audience-member stereotypes, (3) the future of music, and (4) the disrespect shown to musicians.
#8 — Appreciating Them While They’re Alive
In this podcast, Brian Jump and Jonny Southern discuss the idolization of dead rock stars versus the indifference to living rock stars. They pursue a theme of gratitude while speaking about Metallica, Ringo Starr, Rick Rubin, Marty Friedman, and others.
#7 — Belligerent Bass Lines
In this podcast, Brian Jump speak to West Virginian musician, Jonny Southern, about performance ethics, cover bands, songwriting, and musicianship.
#6 — The Philosophy of Education
In this podcast, Brian Jump covers the philosophy of education and presents a case for the efficacy of classical techniques.
#5 — Rock ‘n’ Roll Colleagues
This episode features a conversation with Pittsburgh-based singer/songwriter, Brett Staggs. The discussion covers dead rock stars, the philosophy of songwriting, good guitar tone, and more.
#4 — The Future of Music
In this episode of the Chasing the Chords podcast, Brian Jump speculates about the direction of music. First, he imagines the impact that artificial intelligence might have on composition and consumption. Then, he explores the possibility that the music of the future might be fundamentally different from the music of the present.
#3 — Performance Ethics
In this podcast, Brian Jump discusses the dos and don’ts of musical performance. He covers the courtesies that a musician owes their audience and the courtesies that an audience owes their musician. The goal of this podcast is to help improve the relationship between concert goer and performer so that everybody gets more out of live music.
#2 — Illiterate by Choice
In this episode of the Chasing the Chords podcast, Brian Jump investigates the hostility many musicians feel towards reading music. He describes the many ways students shirk the responsibility of reading, and he attempts to dispel the myth that learning how to read is antithetical to the spirit of music. Jump’s main point in this episode is that becoming literate drastically improves your musicianship.
#1 — Cover Bands vs. Original Bands
In this episode of the Chasing the Chords podcast, Brian Jump explores the similarities and differences that exist between cover bands and original bands. The topics of payment, listenership, and emergent trends are covered.
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