Ask Mike

About Ask Mike

Ask Mike is the go‑to podcast for music educators, band directors, and music program leaders seeking real answers rooted in real‑world experience. Hosted by veteran Texas Band Director Mike Lunney and co‑host Derrick Killam, a long-time leader in supporting Texas Music Education programs, the show focuses on learning from hard‑earned lessons, so you don’t make the same mistakes yourself. 🎵 No fluff. No guesswork. Just experience. 👉 Don’t reinvent the wheel — just Ask Mike! About the Hosts Mike Lunney With 31 successful years as a head band director in Texas, Mike’s bands were consistently recognized as superior, and his insights come straight from the podium, not a textbook. Today, Mike remains active as a clinician, mentor, and adjudicator, continuing to shape the next generation of music educators. Derrick Killam A lifelong supporter of school music programs across Texas since 1990. Derrick brings a unique industry perspective from decades in music retail, having served as a Repair Tech, Repair Shop Foreman, Education Specialist, and now as a key member of Tarpley Music, a NAMM Top 100 Dealer and industry leading Musical Instrument Retailer in the United States.

Publisher

Derrick Killam and Mike Lunney

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

23 May 2024

Latest episode

30 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

131 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   30 Oct 2026

   Making Musicians Part 1

   Send us Fan Mail Allison Wilkinson’s book “Making Musicians” had a major impact on Mike Lunney’s approach to educating young people. In this multi-episode series, let Mike stretch your thinking for the better!

2. 

   23 Oct 2026

   Adjudicator Critiques and Feedback

   Send us Fan Mail

3. 

   16 Oct 2026

   Is Your Ensemble Going Through It? The Mid-Season Plateau

   Send us Fan Mail It happens to the best of us, and the best groups out there. At some point as leaders we have to help our ensembles remember the end goal: Taking a concept and creating a Box 5 performance! Sometimes the routine and redundancy can create a lethargy. Shake things up in your rehearsals with these tips and tricks from Mike Lunney!

Who has been a guest on Ask Mike

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Jett Lowrance
• Brian Hecimovich
• Rusty Gray

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

323,757

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

7 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 61 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

76

Social presence

0

YouTube

82

Engagement

32