Hello, my name is Lance LaDuke.

I have been very fortunate in my career to play with some amazing groups (Boston Brass, Philadelphia Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, USAF Band in Washington DC, River City Brass, Brass Band of Battle Creek), with some amazing musicians (Henry Mancini, Doc Severinsen, Morgan Freeman, Imani Winds), in some amazing places (all 50 states and 30-plus countries), and have taught some amazing students (faculty positions at Carnegie Mellon University and Duquesne University and guest appearances at Juilliard, London Royal Academy of Music, Hong Kong Academy, Brazil’s Tatui Conservatory and many others), and am devoted to helping the next generation of musicians (and those who teach them) in any way I can. That’s a lot of parentheses. Sorry (not sorry).

Please feel free to reach out via social media or email and let me know how I can help you and/or your students. Below, you'll find my press materials and some other (hopefully) useful information. All the best!

NOTE TO PROSPECTIVE EUPHONIUM STUDENTS

If you’re interested in studying euphonium with me, you should know that I’m most interested in helping players figure out their own unique path to a career with the instrument. I emphasize creative and entrepreneurial thinking and ask A LOT of questions in lessons, in order to help each student find their voice. I love the sound of the instrument and feel that we have only scratched the surface of where it can go. If you aren’t sure you want to do the “military band thing” but don’t know what else is possible (or you do but don’t know how to start), I’m happy to help you figure that out! Audition info can be found HERE.

CURRENT PROJECTS

Here’s my bio page for CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY. In addition to my official responsibilities, I am the First-Year Advisor, co-created and occasionally pinch-hit with the EXPLODED ENSEMBLE, created and lead the TARTAN TUBA BAND, and host the MODERN MUSICKING SHOW. I’m currently most interested in applying VR/AR technologies to music creation, education, and performance. We’re just getting started on the LIME (Lab for Immersive Media Explorations) and have taken some baby steps to create environments with both headsets and wall-scale projections. Exciting times are ahead!

PAST PROJECTS

I’ve done a bunch of stuff. Here’s some of it.

YOUTUBE

I’ve been posting stuff to YouTube for over ten years and it falls into quite a variety of categories (I bore easily). I’ve created seven playlists for the main buckets of content (and who doesn’t need a big bucket of content from time to time?). There are lists devoted to Comedy Songs and Other Nonsense, The Modern Muscking Show, Lance Learns to Play, Practice Tips and Masterclasses, Lectures and Interviews, Performances, and The Brass Junkies. Too much? Probably.

BOOKS AND ARTICLES

I have a new book out (with David Cutler, Patti Dobrowolski, and Cara Belloso Pinto) called The GAME of Innovation through McGraw Hill Publishing and I’m honored to work with such a talented bunch! Balancing PROCESS and STRATEGY, we take design thinking to new heights, turning business and life challenges into engaging GAMEs that inspire the remarkable. I also wrote a book called Music Practice Coach, and was profiled in THE PORTFOLIO MUSICIAN: Case Studies in Success written by my former Boston Brass colleague Jeff Conner and John Laverty, former Director of Bands and an all-around great guy. Not that Jeff isn't. He is. All around. I was also interviewed by my former Brass Junkies/Pedal Note Media/Boston brass partner for The Band Director’s Guide to Everything Trombone. Over the years, I’ve written a number of articles and some attempts at comedy. I stuck all that stuff along with my comedy song lyrics in a Google folder if you’re curious. Or a glutton for punishment.

RECORDINGS

Check out the "Lance LaDuke" SPOTIFY PLAYLIST which includes Boston Brass, The United States Air Force Band, The River City Brass Band, The Brass Band of Battle Creek, Michigan State University, and the project Andrew Hitz and I co-released a few years back. You can also find my solo album Take a Walk on Bandcamp.

PODCASTS AND INTERVIEWS

For a bunch of years (and 200 episodes), I co-hosted THE BRASS JUNKIES podcast I co-host with Andrew Hitz. Equal parts information and nonsense, we interviewed famous brass players, told stories, and made fun of trumpet players. Not necessarily in that order. Andrew has kept the show (and irreverence) alive. Check it out!

I have also appeared as a guest on a few podcasts, including Working Musician Podcast, Tone Dome, Skip the Repeat, SOTA Pop Podcast, Music Studio Startup, Iron City Incline, and The Entrepreneurial Musician.

Here's an interview I did from the great blog by David Brubeck, THE FOURTH VALVE.

An article from an appearance at a PMEA CONFERENCE.

OTHER COOL STUFF

Many moons ago, I helped produce a band recruiting video with Deanna Swoboda called Band Blast Off. And speaking of moons and blasting off, I’m humbled and honored to have a song (The Ballad of Lowry Lagrange) included on the Carnegie Mellon University Moon Ark project which will venture to the moon and has a permanent spot in The Smithsonian.

EQUIPMENT LIST

HORNS: I play XO Brass. I love their horns and am proud to serve as an Educational Ambassador for them. I play the XO 1270 silver euphonium, the XO 1028 trombone, and the XO 1236 trombone w/F attachment. You can find out more about the horns and how to book me as a clinician HERE.

MOUTHPIECES: I play PARKER MOUTHPIECES. Mike is doing amazing work and I am a HUGE fan!

UKULELES: My favorite ukes are made by LANIKAI. I have a tenor, baritone, banjolele, and bass, and I absolutely love them!

PRESS MATERIALS

SHORT BIO

Internationally known as an educator, performer, and creator, Lance LaDuke currently teaches at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Lance was a member of Boston Brass, the US Air Force Band in Washington DC, the River City Brass, and the Brass Band of Battle Creek. Additionally, he has played in over 25 countries, in all 50 states, and with some of the finest organizations in the world, such as the Pittsburgh Symphony and the Philadelphia Orchestra. His book, “Music Practice Coach,” is available as a free PDF download through lanceladuke.com. Lance is an Educational Ambassador for Jupiter Band Instruments and is the creator of the Modern Musicking Center and former co-host (with Andrew Hitz) of The Brass Junkies Podcast. His newest project is The GAME of Innovation, available through McGraw Hill Publishing.

LONG BIO

LANCE LADUKE is internationally known as an educator, writer, speaker, and performer (euphonium, trombone, singer, and enthusiastic ukulele-ist). Lance is the Associate Teaching Professor in Euphonium and Music Entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon University. His additional duties at CMU include serving as the Freshman Advisor, Coordinator of Special and Creative Projects, director of the Tartan Tuba Band, and co-creator of the Exploded Ensemble, an experimental electro-acoustic ensemble. Lance is a former member of the international touring quintet Boston Brass, the United States Air Force Band in Washington DC, and the River City Brass Band, the only full-time professional brass band in the country.

Lance has performed with some of the finest ensembles in the country, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Brass Band of Battle Creek, and the Pittsburgh Symphony. He has taught and/or given masterclasses at some of the world’s finest universities and conservatories, including Juilliard, the Royal Academy of Music in London, the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, and the Tatui Conservatory in Brazil. He has appeared on over thirty recordings, has produced ten others, and has toured extensively throughout North America, South America, Europe, and Asia, performing in over 25 countries and all 50 states. His performances have been seen and heard on countless television and radio programs and Lance has appeared on stage with such legendary artists as Henry Mancini, Doc Severinsen, Morton Gould, Morgan Freeman, and Frederick Fennell.

A graduate of Michigan State University, Lance received a bachelor’s degree in Music Education, with a cognate in English. After graduate study at the University of Akron (euphonium performance) and George Mason University (instrumental conducting),

Lance joined the United States Air Force Band in Washington D.C. While there, he performed for two presidents, countless dignitaries, and heads of state, and in hundreds of protocol functions, ceremonies, and public relations tours. He maintained a Top Secret security clearance, played for well over a million people from the White House to Red Square, and can be seen (with a magnifying glass) in the movie A Clear and Present Danger.

Lance has written for countless organizations, including sketches for radio, stage, and themed attractions. He was a member of several improv comedy troupes, co-wrote and produced (with Deanna Swoboda) Band Blast Off, a band recruiting DVD, and formerly served as co-director of the Savvy Arts Venture Challenge. He has worked with VH1 Save the Music, has performed at TEDxCMU, and has a song headed to the moon as part of a Space X project. He is the creator of the Modern Musicking Center and former co-host (with Andrew Hitz) of the Brass Junkies Podcast. His comedy songs, including a touching elegy to a dead goldfish and a song about getting underwear for Christmas, are available for viewing through lanceladuke.com.

His newest project is The GAME of Innovation, available through McGraw Hill Publishing.