TBJ135: Jeff Nelsen on Fearless Performance, habit formation and how Canadian Brass is responding to the international quarantine

TBJ135: Jeff Nelsen on Fearless Performance, habit formation and how Canadian Brass is responding to the international quarantine

Author: Pedal Note Media April 14, 2020 Duration: 1:06:18

TBJ135: Jeff Nelsen on Fearless Performance, habit formation and how Canadian Brass is responding to the international quarantine. Horn performer, teacher, and magician Jeff Nelsen joins The Brass Junkies for the second time to catch us up on his efforts to make art and help others.

From his bio:

Having grown up on a Canadian pig-farm, Jeff Nelsen's multiple non-porcine professions show him to be living proof that if you want it enough, you can have any dream. Jeff is living his dreams out loud and fearlessly! Jeff's approach to life and life coaching is the same. When he teaches, he mentors. Every choice we make helps create what we ultimately share when we approach a job interview, audition, exam, product launch, or social gathering. It doesn't matter whether those choices are made while building or sharing our performance, choices matter...and we only ever choose fear or love. This website helps Jeff publish and provide his creative replacements to fear-based choices for you.

In this fun and lively discussion, we discuss:

  • Back wax
  • Jeff Conner is Andrew's Dad old
  • New Patreon effort, "Brass Junkies Sundays"
  • James Markey's Mom's comment
  • Andrew's wife's listening habits
  • Will we let Jeff talk?
  • Mood lighting
  • Jeff's student can fly
  • Jeff at American Band College with Lance last summer
  • Magic
  • Playing in lessons
  • Building a vegetable garden
  • Writing curriculum with a grad student
  • Training in Thirds
  • Building in Thirds
  • Briefing in Thirds
  • Shopping at Lowes
  • 1st third Build
  • 2nd third Share
  • 3rd third Be
  • Bringing the ding
  • Connection-full
  • Magic line performances
  • Shrinking the quality gap
  • Collecting opinions
  • Playing for Chalie Deval
  • The Illusion of Maturity
  • The "Enough or Not Enough" line
  • Non-emotional critique
  • Frustration and should
  • Mental scale structures
  • Mini golf
  • Protactor humor
  • The importance of sequence
  • The importance of habit/routine/ritual
  • Time takes time
  • James Clear
  • Push your butt up
  • Nacho Libre
  • Pass the Beer Nuts

Links:

Want to help the show? Here are some ways:

Expertly produced by Will Houchin with love, care, and enthusiasm.


Hosted by Andrew Hitz, who spent years on the road as the tuba player for Boston Brass, The Brass Junkies dives into the lives and minds of world-class brass musicians. This isn't a formal lecture series; it's a conversation among friends, often with a rotating group of co-hosts joining in, that captures the unique spirit of the music community. You'll hear celebrated performers talk about the gritty realities of practice, the thrill of performance, and the bizarre, funny stories that happen offstage. The discussions roam freely from deeply technical advice and career insights to outright hilarious anecdotes, mirroring the full spectrum of experiences in the music business itself. Produced by Pedal Note Media, each episode of this podcast feels like pulling up a chair in the green room, offering an authentic and unvarnished look at what it really means to be a professional musician. For anyone fascinated by the art and the life behind the brass, from the trumpet to the tuba, this series provides a consistently engaging and human perspective.
Author: Language: Afar Episodes: 100

The Brass Junkies
Podcast Episodes
TBJ222: A Tribute to Lance LaDuke [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:09
The Brass Junkies is coming back! Andrew announces Season 3 (launching spring 2026) with a new format, then reads a heartfelt tribute to Lance LaDuke covering his legendary work ethic, courage, teaching philosophy, impac…
TBJ221: TBJ Gives Thanks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:36
Andrew is joined by seven brass players who share thoughts about a musician they were thankful for in 2023. Become a Patron ► https://www.patreon.com/thebrassjunkies/ Show Notes ► http://www.brassjunkies.com Guests Givin…
TBJ220: Myles Blakemore of The United States Navy Band [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:14
Andrew and guest co-host Dr. Michael W. Nickens are joined by trombonist Myles Blakemore of The United States Navy Band Become a Patron ► https://www.patreon.com/thebrassjunkies/ Show Notes ► http://www.brassjunkies.com…
TBJ219: Jen Oliverio [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:54
Andrew and guest co-host Buddy Deshler are joined by trumpeter, coronetist, and flugelhornist Jen Oliverio Become a Patron ► https://www.patreon.com/thebrassjunkies/ Show Notes ► http://www.brassjunkies.com Facebook ► ht…
TBJ218: Ryan McGeorge of "The President's Own" Marine Band [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:14
Andrew is joined by Ryan McGeorge, euphonium player for "The President's Own" Marine Band Become a Patron ► https://www.patreon.com/thebrassjunkies/ Show Notes ► http://www.brassjunkies.com Facebook ► https://www.faceboo…
TBJ217: Marcus Grant [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:58
Andrew and guest co-host Michael Nickens are joined by trumpeter and composer Marcus Grant. Become a Patron ► https://www.patreon.com/thebrassjunkies/ Show Notes ► http://www.brassjunkies.com Facebook ► https://www.faceb…
TBJ216: Listener's Choice - All Things Sam [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:23
This Listener's Choice is all questions about the late, great Sam Pilafian. Become a Patron ► https://www.patreon.com/thebrassjunkies/ Show Notes ► http://www.brassjunkies.com Facebook ► https://www.facebook.com/pray4jen…
TBJ215: Luke Spence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:43
Andrew is joined by trumpet player Dr. Luke Spence, fresh off playing in a dream team trumpet section for the first ever performances of the International Pride Orchestra.Become a Patron ► https://www.patreon.com/thebras…
TBJ214: Jamie Lipton, John Caputo + Betsy Jones on All Things NABBA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:28
Andrew is joined by three phenomenal euphonium players, Jamie Lipton, John Caputo and Betsy Hones, to talk all NABBA and the British-style brass band scene in the US. Become a Patron ► https://www.patreon.com/thebrassjun…
TBJ213: Jeff Conner from the Brass Career Intensive [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:40
Trumpet player Jeff Conner of Boston Brass joined Andrew for a session on building a world-class chamber ensemble at the Brass Career Intensive. Become a Patron ► https://www.patreon.com/thebrassjunkies/ Show Notes ► htt…