Happy Earth Day! This episode is about Bloom, a short piece that is based on one of the most common chord progressions in popular music.Episode links:-Purchase/peruse Bloom-...

Beneath the Canopy was commissioned as a flex band piece first and then made into a full band version. In this episode, I talk about the inspiration behind the piece, how it was all created based on one melody, and encourage folks to make conne...

Prompted by a recent real-life situation, in this episode I share my thoughts on saying no, making tough decisions, navigating disappointment, trusting yourself, and working at your own pace. Episode shoutouts

This episode is about Reflections (2019) for grade 2.5 concert band, which was commissioned by the Minnesota Junior Winds. Episode links:-Learn more about the Minneso...

Episode Links:-purchase Boreal Pines -Fort McMurray wildfire documentaryAudio credits for this e...

A whole episode dedicated to answering listener questions! Episode Links:New band piece: The Journey Begins

In this episode, I talk about the bird calls that inspired Ready to Fly and share a letter from the commissioner! Episode LinksReady to Fly: https://caitnishimura.com/pag...

This episode is about A New Horizon, which was written for the University of Oklahoma New Horizons Band, and features an audio clip from the commissioner, Chris Baumgartner!

This week we're looking at Alpine Meadow and how it evolved from roadtrip-inspired ideas to a full piece for concert band. I also answer a listener question and talk about composing at...

This episode is all about Autumn. I talk about the evolution of this piece from poem to choir to band piece, and offer some tips for interpreting the music. ...

In the first episode of this new series, I'm talking about Into the Blue, which is a short piece for grade 2 concert band. To purchase a copy of Into the Bl...

My name is Cait Nishimura and I am a composer! In this podcast series, I’m going to tell you about each piece of music that I’ve written so far. I’ll be sharing behind the scenes stories from creating the piece, suggestions for per...