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Ask A Kansan is a podcast where we're amplifying, connecting and uncovering stories across Kansas.
Every week, Gus and Sydney sit down with the people who actually make this state run — museum directors and ranchers, founders and historians, zookeepers and woodcarvers. From Kansas City to Kinsley, WaKeeney to Wichita, we go where the story is.
You'll leave each episode knowing something you didn't about the state we call home. It's not a history lecture and it's not a business show. It's a real conversation with a Kansan worth knowing.
New episodes weekly. askakansan.com
Ep68
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Scrolling TikTok Finds Weston
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[00:00:00]
Sydney Collins: Okay, so I was scrolling the Book of Faces like I usually do.
Gus Applequist: Uh-huh.
Sydney Collins: Actually, scratch that. I was scrolling the TikTok like I usually do. So there's this guy, Westen. Um, he is actually out of Winfield, Kansas.
Gus Applequist: Oh, really?
Sydney Collins: And he has probably, I don't know, millions of YouTube, um, followers. Wow. He's like a car guy.
He's got like a cool shop, and they do weird things, and-
Gus Applequist: I think I've seen some of his stuff ...
Sydney Collins: We, I think we've featured him before.
Gus Applequist: Okay.
Sydney Collins: But I scrolled past this. Uh, this was posted on 5/26. So it was a while ago, but I just scrolled past it, and I thought it was very funny, and kind of ironic. So they're in, I believe, Colorado.
I'm not 100%. Okay. But they are not in the state of Kansas, I know that.
Kansans Helping Kansans
---
Sydney Collins: But here you go. We will need the audio for it. [00:01:00]
Gus Applequist: Wait a minute
Do we know who this woman is?
Sydney Collins: We have... I don't know. I haven't had a chance to stalk her yet.
Gus Applequist: She, [00:02:00] she looks a lot like one of my neighbors. I think there's a decent chance it's one of my neighbors.
Sydney Collins: Because I just thought it was so funny that these two... Uh, and of course, Weston, of all these, all the peop- He's the guy that will pull over and help you. He's got all the tools. But Weston pulls over and finds another Kansan in the middle of, I think, Colorado. Um, and she just happens to be from Salina, so yeah.
Gus Applequist: There's a lot of Kansans in Colorado.
Sydney Collins: There are.
Gus Applequist: That's one of the great things about Colorado.
Sydney Collins: But I just thought it was interesting that a Kansan pulled over to help another Kansan- Yeah
without realizing it.
Gus Applequist: I'm not surprised.
Sydney Collins: Yeah.
Gus Applequist: Bravo.
Sydney Collins: Yeah.
Gus Applequist: That's... Yeah, it's special.
Brake Pads and Hank Stories
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Gus Applequist: I remember, when my brother-in-law, Hank, joined our family.
Sydney Collins: Mm-hmm.
Gus Applequist: Um, it was like all of a sudden, we nev- didn't have to call AAA anymore when we had a problem. Hank
came. We just called Hank.
Sydney Collins: Poor Hank.
Gus Applequist: Yeah. Yeah, Hank's a helpful guy. There's a lot of helpful guys in Kansas.
Sydney Collins: That's how my, uh, brother is. Uh- Oh, yeah ... yeah. So Josh is, not necessarily a mechanic by trade, but he just got into it, and so he has a, a g- um, a shop and all that. Mm. And I needed my, I needed my brakes changed.
[00:03:00]
Sydney Collins: I needed them changed, like, real bad.
Gus Applequist: Uh-oh.
Sydney Collins: They were grinding. And so he sent me a picture of my brake pads, and it was just the metal.
Gus Applequist: Oh, my.
Sydney Collins: I was like, " You're showing me something, but I don't know what it means." And then he showed me a picture of what they're supposed to look like. And he goes, "You're surviving on pure will." I was like, "Oh, my bad. Thanks, bro."
Ask a Kansan Intro
---
Gus Applequist: Well, we'll take that screeching energy into- another episode of Ask a Kansan.
Gus Applequist: Welcome to Ask a Kansan ...
Sydney Collins: a podcast where we're amplifying, connecting, and uncovering these glorious stories from around Kansas.
Gus Applequist: In this episode and in the next [00:04:00] couple episodes, we're gonna feature- Yes ... um, some interviews with people that are in education in Kansas.
Sydney Collins: cause it is August, so we're going back to school. Yay, back to school, for all the parents out there. We survived. Um, yeah. We survived the summer. so to highlight, um, August and kinda going back to school, we're gonna have different educators on, um, from around Kansas, um, teachers, higher education, some different folks, so.
Gus Applequist: Administrator. Yeah.
Sydney Collins: Yeah. So stick, stick around. That's gonna be all of August.
Gus Applequist: And today we're featuring a music educator from right here in Salina, uh, named Matt Gerry.
Sydney Collins: Yeah. Matt, uh, was my music teacher.
Gus Applequist: And Matt is one of those, there's many teachers.. that, that leave lasting impacts.
Sydney Collins: So much.
Gus Applequist: He's left an impact in your life.
Sydney Collins: Oh, 100%.
Gus Applequist: Um, and so yeah, it was really exciting to have him on.
Sydney Collins: Yeah. That'd be-
So without any further ado, here is our conversation with Matt.
Meet Music Teacher Matt
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Gus Applequist: Hey, Matt, come on in.
Sydney Collins: Hello, hel- oh, hello. Had my mic up in my eyes. How's it going?
Matt Gerry: Good. How are [00:05:00] you guys?
Gus Applequist: Good. Doing well, yeah.
Matt Gerry: Yeah, thanks for having me here. Yeah. Is that good?
Gus Applequist: Yeah. That's great. Good to see you.
Matt Gerry: Good to see you, too, man.
Gus Applequist: Yeah.
Matt Gerry: It's been a while.
Gus Applequist: It has. It has. I think the la- maybe the last time I saw you was on stage at Theatre Salina for, we both did that show.
Matt Gerry: School
of
Rock.
Gus Applequist: School of Rock. School of Rock.
Matt Gerry: That's right.
Gus Applequist: Which our audience will learn is, is very fitting for you-
I think.
Um. Yes. But yeah, could you start just by introducing yourself for our audience?
Matt Gerry: Yeah, sure. My name's Matt Gerry. Uh, I'm a guitar teacher. I've been teaching at South Middle School, I guess this'll be year 24in the same spot.
Gus Applequist: Nice.
Sydney Collins: Yeah.
Matt Gerry: So.
Sydney Collins: Are you in the same classroom? No.
Matt Gerry: No? I got to move classrooms.
Sydney Collins: You gotta move?
Matt Gerry: It used to be my classroom was, like, the size of a closet.
Sydney Collins: Yeah.
Matt Gerry: And now, much bigger, so.
Sydney Collins: I was the very first class of sixth graders at South Middle-
Matt Gerry: That is so cool
Sydney Collins: ... so you were my music teacher. Oh. That's when we did piano instead of guitar.
Matt Gerry: Blows my mind, yeah. And we still do piano too.
Sydney Collins: Yeah. Sweet.
Matt Gerry: But, a little guitar as well.
Sydney Collins: Well, you were the reason my mother had to pay for piano lessons, so [00:06:00]
Gus Applequist: We benefit from that now, so thank you.
Sydney Collins: We
benefit from that now. Sort of.
Matt Gerry: Exactly.
How Matt Found Guitar
---
Gus Applequist: So how did you, how did you discover music?
Matt Gerry: Um, you know, like everybody has their thing. You know, I wanted sports to be my thing. Like, when I was a kid, man, I wanted to be a baseball player, and I loved baseball, but it, this wasn't my thing.
Matt Gerry: And so, like, when I was a kid, like, uh, I, I started singing and, like, m- kind of found out that that was kinda my thing. And the more I started singing, then I got into other music stuff, and started acting.
Sydney Collins: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Matt Gerry: And when I got up on stage, like, we were doing the musical Grease, and my character, Doody, was the guitar player. And so my dad had a guitar in the closet. I pulled it out, and I just absolutely fell in love.
It was just like- ... I just wanted to play guitar all the time.
Gus Applequist: Man. So. Did, did your dad play?
Matt Gerry: Yeah, my dad played, and he would write little songs and stuff like that, too. He actually grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Gus Applequist: Oh, nice.
Matt Gerry: Which Kalamazoo is where, Gibson [00:07:00] guitars are made.
Gus Applequist: Nice.
Matt Gerry: And so he had this Gibson guitar in the closet, and like, I mean, learning on a Gibson guitar is pretty cool, because most people don't get to touch a Gibson guitar-
'cause they're so expensive. But, um, yeah. And so my dad would play, and you know, I picked it up, and it was just my thing.
Gus Applequist: Mm. Man. I'm imagining, like, a semi-hollow body. Is that what it was?
Matt Gerry: No, it's just- ... like a straight acoustic guitar.
Gus Applequist: Straight acoustic. Okay. Oh, beautiful.
Matt Gerry: Yeah.
Gus Applequist: Beautiful. Mm.
Matt Gerry: The semi-hollow bodies are cool too, but...
Yeah.
Gus Applequist: Do you still have that guitar?
Matt Gerry: Yeah, I still have it.
Gus Applequist: Nice. Yep. Do you play it?
Matt Gerry: Yes.
Gus Applequist: Nice. Nice. There's something about, uh, objects that come from our family-
Matt Gerry: Boy, that's the truth ...
Gus Applequist: where you can just, you know- it's special, the whole-
Matt Gerry: You feel it.
Gus Applequist: Yeah. Yeah. Man.
Choosing Music Education
---
Gus Applequist: So, so what led you to actually study music and music education?
Matt Gerry: Well, when I got into high school, I, I did choir a lot, and I was in band. Uh, I was the drum major in band, and that's when I kinda figured out, you know- I think teaching music is what I wanna do.
Gus Applequist: Hmm.
Matt Gerry: I, I had a, a kind of [00:08:00] decision to make because I loved being on stage, too, and so I kinda thought about doing music theater as my major.
Gus Applequist: Hmm.
Matt Gerry: but I just didn't really wanna go that way with my life, like- ... be on stage and traveling and all that kind of stuff, and so I decided, uh, music ed was where I wanted to go. And like, my teacher in high school, Eddie Career, man, he was just-
Sydney Collins: Oh, Eddie.
Matt Gerry: Oh, he's the best. Like, he just, yeah, it just like came to me, like that's what I wanna do.
Gus Applequist: Man. So you're originally from Salina then?
Matt Gerry: Yes.
Gus Applequist: were you in any bands growing up? I'm curious.
Matt Gerry: No, no bands. Yeah. Um, I was in a barbershop quartet.
Gus Applequist: That's so much better.
Sydney Collins: That checks.
Matt Gerry: Yes.
Gus Applequist: Which, uh, which, which part were you?
Matt Gerry: I was the baritone.
Gus Applequist: Nice.
Sydney Collins: Oh.
Matt Gerry: But we were a pretty big thing. It was called the Harmonic Cs.
Yes. Uh, and yeah, we, we would gig all the time in high school. We made quite a bit of money, like just gigging and stuff. Like that was k- kind of fun. But barbershop quartet, but no, no band. [00:09:00] The only band I've ever seen is just playing at church, so.
Gus Applequist: Yeah. Yeah.
First Classroom Memories
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Gus Applequist: Do you remember what it was like to step into the classroom? I mean, I know there's a process to become a teacher, and it's not like you're not a teacher and then one day you are. But, but when you had your own classroom, and you were back... W- did you start at South Middle or were you- Yeah. Yeah.
Matt Gerry: Yeah. It's the only place I've ever been.
Gus Applequist: Yeah. What was, what was it like to, to enter that classroom as a teacher?
Matt Gerry: Well, it's totally different than when you do, like, your student teaching.
Gus Applequist: Mm-hmm. '
Matt Gerry: Cause when you're doing student teaching, like i- i- it's cool and stuff, but, like, it's not your rules. And it's not your classroom. So when you walk in and you can make it exactly what you want it to be, like I, I remember, like it was just pretty special.
And that first year I taught, like when I had- I mean, that was seriously I think maybe my favorite year of teaching. We just had so much fun. And it was just like, it was really a blessing to me to like find out, you know, this is what I was made to do, and this is what I like doing, you know?
Gus Applequist: Wow.
Matt Gerry: 'Cause [00:10:00] I mean, it takes a lot of people a long time to find out, like, this is what you really wanna do. And, like, I just found out right away, like, this is it.
Sydney Collins: And we, we had a lot of, In our class, in our ... 'Cause w- it was the very first sixth grade class at South Middle. So for those who don't know, who don't, are not in the Salina sphere, so sixth grade used to be in all the elementary schools. One year they're like, "We're not gonna do that anymore," and built a wing off of South Middle for just sixth grade.
Gus Applequist: It was very traumatic for all of us.
Sydney Collins: It was. Because we were never the top dogs in-
elementary school. And to this day I really get irked because at Coronado, sorry, I'm getting on a rant here. 'Cause at Coronado they always had, like, the sixth grade yearbooks. Well, guess who's missing? My fifth grade class- Oh ... even though it was our last year, so I'm gonna have to donate mine 'cause I still have it. Anyway. But, I went on a rant there. Oh, anyway. Sorry. But our sixth grade class was so m- like, musically inclined in general, 'cause we had Alyssa Lane, who now teaches music.
We have, Amy-
Matt Gerry: Amy Krouse
Gus Applequist: Krouse. Yes
Sydney Collins: Amy Krouse
Matt Gerry: who's now my [00:11:00] colleague
Sydney Collins: Now that is now working with you
Matt Gerry: Which like blows my mind
Sydney Collins: We had, we had so many of these amazing musical people just in, just in my class- in general that are now teachers who taught at South High or South Middle or all these. And Amy traveled around the world-
doing music.
Matt Gerry: She's in Uganda right now.
Sydney Collins: Yeah.
Yeah.
Crazy. And so, um, you had an impact on a lot of people.
Matt Gerry: Oh, thanks.
Sydney Collins: Sorry, going on a rant there. I'm just really excited when I heard you were coming on.
Gus Applequist: So you started in 2003.
Matt Gerry: Yes.
Gus Applequist: And that... Okay, I, I'm sorry if this is actually not like part of the story- ... but, um, School of Rock did come out in 2003.
Matt Gerry: Did it really?
Gus Applequist: It did.
Matt Gerry: I didn't realize that.
Gus Applequist: And so like, did it... Did you, do you remember watching it for the first time?
Matt Gerry: Oh,
yeah. Like, totally I remember watching it. Yeah.
Gus Applequist: And, and did you identify at all? I mean, obviously you were legit- ... unlike Jack Black's character. But...
Matt Gerry: Yeah.
Building a Guitar Program
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Matt Gerry: Well, I mean, when I was going through college, like, teaching guitar in school, like, that was not a thing.
Sydney Collins: No.
Matt Gerry: Like, and that idea in my brain was like, "I want this to be a thing." Because, I mean, I w- in, in college I would just sit around [00:12:00] and play guitar for just hours. And I'm not good by any means, but I mean, I just love it.
Gus Applequist: Hmm.
Matt Gerry: And so I knew that like this idea would translate.
Gus Applequist: Yeah.
Matt Gerry: And so yeah, I mean, it did kinda plant a seed in my brain
like-
Hmm ... you know, this would be fun.
Gus Applequist: But it, it wasn't overnight that you were able to do it, right?
Matt Gerry: No, no.
Gus Applequist: How did... Yeah. Tell us about where... I mean, you got the idea, and then- how did you actually put that into action?
Matt Gerry: Right. And I mean, I, I don't want this to sound bad, but in, in a school system, to make any kind of change- it just takes forever.
Sydney Collins: It does.
Matt Gerry: Like, I wanted it to just be like this, but m- it was not like that. So when I started, I was just sixth grade music. That's all I would teach is the sixth grade. So I'd see every single sixth grader during the school day. It was great. I, I love those days, but I like what I'm doing now even better.
So that first year I wrote a grant, and that was through the Salina Education Foundation, plug to them 'cause they're great- um, for a set of classroom guitars.
Matt Gerry: And an [00:13:00] anonymous donor, stepped up and they donated a classroom set of guitars.
Sydney Collins: That's crazy.
Matt Gerry: And so... It's, it is crazy. And so the next year I started putting guitar into my curriculum, like what I was teaching, and the kids loved it, and I loved it, and the parents loved it.
They started calling the school and said, "You know, we need to have a guitar class." And so that was the next step. That didn't happen, though, until 2010.
Sydney Collins: Wow.
Matt Gerry: Yeah, I know. Long time, but I kept fighting for it. 2010, we got a guitar class, and it started with just one group of, like, 20 kids. I think it was, like, 17 boys and three girls.
Sydney Collins: Yeah,
that checks.
Matt Gerry: Yeah, that checks. Now it's the opposite way around. Yeah. Now I got more girls than guys. But, started with just those guys, and then it just snowballed.
Gus Applequist: Hm.
Matt Gerry: And now, like, next year will be the first year where that's all I teach, is just guitar all-
Gus Applequist: Wow
Matt Gerry: ... day long.
Sydney Collins: In middle
school.
Gus Applequist: Congrats.
Matt Gerry: In middle school. So there'll be 250 kids signed up [00:14:00] to learn how to play guitar next year.
Sydney Collins: That's insane. That is insane.
Matt Gerry: Yeah. It's cool.
Gus Applequist: Wow.
Sydney Collins: Wow.
Why Guitar Hooks Students
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Gus Applequist: So, okay, I come from, like, the classical musical- ... you know, approach, I guess. And, but, but I have a little bit of experience outside of classical music. And, what would you describe is the difference between studying something...
Not that... I mean, obviously we're not here to dog on traditional instruments. But, but, like, you know, viola and, and saxophone. Like, what, you know, what, what for you do you think makes the, the guitar so interesting to students?
Matt Gerry: Well, I think, number one, just the, the kind of music we're playing. I mean, obviously it just resonates with them a lot more, you know? Some kids are on the, on the country end of the spectrum, some kids are on the rock end of the spectrum, but I mean, we're playing stuff that they actually like to listen to. I think that's number one. But I- I, s- ever since I started, I didn't want the guitar to just be a class where it's just like, we're not reading music, 'cause [00:15:00] we read music still.
I'm, I'm creating literate musicians that know how to read.
Gus Applequist: Hm.
Matt Gerry: But just guitar is the instrument instead of-
Gus Applequist: Hm ...
Matt Gerry: your violins, violas, and cellos. Which, that's great too, but you have to admit, there are a lot of kids that that just isn't their thing.
Gus Applequist: Mm. I have to point out, too, that, like, Like my, I play the double bass, and while it's fun to play the double bass by myself, it's not... Like, I can't play a whole song that I can sing to. Maybe this says more about my playing ability. But like guitar is an instrument like piano where people can gather around you and you can- like lead something. And so it strikes me that it might be a more, um... Like they can take that with them for the rest of their life- and people around them can benefit too.
Matt Gerry: Yeah. Absolutely. I mean, you go camping, I mean, take your guitar with you. Exactly.
Gus Applequist: Mm.
Matt Gerry: I mean, and, and that's a, that's a nice thing about when I'm teaching guitar too is I can differentiate in so many different ways. I can just do chords or I could have solos [00:16:00] going on.
Gus Applequist: Mm.
Matt Gerry: And I mean, there's not a lot of instruments that can do that.
Gus Applequist: Mm-hmm.
Matt Gerry: And so, yeah, there's just something magical about guitar. I, I'm telling you, it's just really magical-
like when you put it in a school setting.
Gus Applequist: Mm-hmm. Any idea how many students you've had?
Matt Gerry: Oh boy. I don't know. 24 years times what?
Like 300 a year.
Sydney Collins: 300, yeah.
Matt Gerry: So a lot.
Gus Applequist: Are there any students that have, you know, tried to go pro playing?
Matt Gerry: Sure. Yeah. I mean, there's a, there's a lot of, uh, kids that have, you know, tried to really put their stuff out there. Like there's one, like I just listened to his stuff on Spotify the other day.
It's just fantastic.
Gus Applequist: Nice.
Matt Gerry: I'm like, "You didn't learn that from me." "That was good. I got you started, but..." Yeah, it's pretty cool.
Gus Applequist: I still think back to some of my first music teachers and, um, like at the time I didn't realize how important the fundamentals are. You know, I, I wanted to get past them sort of to like, I remember Eric Stein at Kansas Wesleyan, I [00:17:00] was lucky enough to have him as a prizel- private lessons teacher in fourth grade. And we spent six weeks, I didn't even touch the instrument with my left hand. I was, just had the bow, and I just did this for six weeks. And and now I'm- I benefit from that so much. So, so can you talk about, um, the difference between maybe just picking up your family's guitar or, or instrument at home and, and, you know, maybe watching on, on YouTube or, or just looking up a book, PDF or something to try to learn versus what it's like to learn in the classroom setting?
Matt Gerry: Yeah, I, I don't know. There's just something about playing with other people, and especially, like, if you're all learning at the same time, like, it just kinda, it, it pushes the people who need pushed, and then the people who are, like, super super good, like, they can show off. I mean- ... it's just cool, just really special to put it in a group setting.
But yeah, there's, there's a reason why not a lot of people learn how to play guitar by watching YouTube videos.
Gus Applequist: Mm-hmm.
Matt Gerry: Just [00:18:00] because it just doesn't work. I mean, it works for some people- but for most people it doesn't.
Gus Applequist: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Weezer Contest Goes Viral
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Gus Applequist: So, like, pretty early on when you started, doing the class, you got some pretty intense, attention for it.
Matt Gerry: Yeah. Uh, um, so that first year, like I told you, I was fighting to get that class started for years and years and years. And then 2010, my very first class ever, um, we did this little contest. We made a little video playing this song by a band called Weezer, and Weezer had this contest I saw on Facebook one morning, and so I said, "You know, let's, let's send this in."
So I sent in this video of the kids playing Weezer, and they got chosen as the grand prize winners. And so Weezer flew me to Chicago. I, I get off the plane in Chicago, and there's this little dude with this little cap- you know, with the sign like you see in the movies- ... that says my name on it. So I hop in this limo, and they drive me to this theater, and I go backstage and I meet Weezer, and just the coolest guys ever.
And then [00:19:00] we did a... We called it Skype back then. A Skype session-
Gus Applequist: Uh-huh. Uh-huh
Matt Gerry: ... from Chicago back to my classroom here in Salina. They got to ask the band some questions and stuff like that. But the band, like, bought us a whole bunch of new instruments for the classroom-
Sydney Collins: Oh, that's cool
Matt Gerry: ... that we still use today, I mean. But that was like w- we got started and it was just like it k- it kickstarted us is what it did. Mm. 'Cause then it just snowballed after that, so.
Fame and Disney Tease
---
Sydney Collins: How'd it feel just- It- ... to get that type of recognition year one?
Matt Gerry: Well, I mean, as a teacher-
Gus Applequist: Well, year
eight- and year one at the same time.
Sydney Collins: Well, yeah, year eight and one.
I mean
Matt Gerry: Well,
yeah, I mean, as a teacher, you n- you don't get to feel like a rock star very often. No, it's just cool. I mean, like, like I said, when I got in that limo, I mean, how many times is that gonna happen to me in my life? Not very often, so. Mm.
Gus Applequist: One of the, the things I imagine, so you've, in 20 s- or sorry, yeah, 2017, uh, Disney showed up, [00:20:00] Radio Disney. Can you, can you talk about that experience? And then I'm also curious, like, after the cameras sort of go away and it's just you teaching kids again- how you, you know, get the energy up again.
Matt Gerry: Well, uh, that's kinda hard. That's kinda hard.
Mozart Contest Win
---
Matt Gerry: But yeah, in 2017 we entered another little contest that they had. This time I, I filmed the opposite end of the spectrum.
We were doing Weezer that time, and then we did, um, a round by Mozart this time.
Sydney Collins: Oh. Wow.
Matt Gerry: And so we were playing this, uh, three-part round by Mozart, and I filmed them and we put it in this contest. But that was one of those contests where you have to get people to vote for your video.
Sydney Collins: Oh, okay.
Matt Gerry: And so man and Salina showed up- and they really voted, and so we won the Midwest region of that little contest. And, I think it was, like, $7,500, uh, to buy new guitars-
Sydney Collins: Oh, cool
Matt Gerry: ... which we did.
Disney Channel Visit
---
Matt Gerry: But then part of it was the Disney Channel would send a famous musician to our school to put on a little concert. So [00:21:00] this, uh, this girl named Teagan Marie, which I'm not sure where Teagan is now, but- she came to our school and did this c- uh, cool little concert. But then as part of it, they wanted to do a commercial for the Disney Channel, and so they said-
Gus Applequist: Did
you get to use the glow wand?
Matt Gerry: No. Oh. The glow wand? Oh, to like make the Mickey Mouse ears? No. I did not get to use the glow wand.
Sydney Collins: I'm Hilary Duff, and you're watching Disney Channel.
Matt Gerry: Yeah. That's what it felt like. That's what it felt like. But yeah, they sent this crew in, and so, um, they sang with that, that musician, Teagan Marie, and they did this little commercial that they showed on the Disney Channel for, like, couple months, and it, it was cool to think, "Here's Salina, Kansas on the Disney Channel."
Family Support Grounding
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Sydney Collins: How was your family during all this? How was family life? Like, you have all this recognition. You got to go to Chicago. You got on the Disney Channel. Sorry if this is too intrusive, but do you have kids? Were they, like, understanding of how cool you are?
Matt Gerry: Oh, I have kids, but, like, I don't think cool and my kids go together ever. [00:22:00] Me being cool and my kids. Yeah. At least they don't show it. They might think it, but they don't show it. But yeah, they were pretty young when that was going on. Yeah. But, um, yeah, I mean, they're, they're super supportive. I love my wife and my kids. Super supportive, but, um, they keep me grounded.
Stiefel Music School
---
Gus Applequist: Mm-hmm so you've gotten involved at the Stiefel Theatre here in Salina, which is a remarkable theater.
Used to be a movie theater, and they fixed it up. Um, and now we have just, like, this incredible rotation of different musicians coming to Salina. Can, can you describe, I guess both your involvement, but also- how you've kinda gotten your kids involved a little bit?
Matt Gerry: Yeah, absolutely. So, Back in like 2020 during the COVID times, Jane Gates, who's the, the executive director there at the Stiefel, she came to me and she said, "I have this idea that I would like to get a school of music started at the Stiefel Theatre." And so, uh, she said, "Would you be interested in teaching some guitar classes?" And I said, "Yeah, I'd, I'd love that." And so, now we, we [00:23:00] too, we do, uh, guitar classes. There's some piano classes. But I mean, just kind of a cool thing to, to use the Stiefel in that way. Uh, but then, um, even before that, uh, I talked to Jane and I was like, "You know, this band's coming in. Can I bring some of my students?" And she would always be so cool about- getting us some tickets to go see these people. And a lot of times we'd get to go backstage and see the, the people beforehand. Collective Soul, we got to go backstage and, uh, they took us on their tour bus, which was really, really cool for the kids to see like tour bus life. And yeah, they let us watch their soundcheck. But I mean, those are the kind of s- the things that I think sit with kids for like the rest of their life. You know- even if they don't decide to pursue a music career, it's just something that they can say, "Hey, I remember when I got to meet that band." It was kinda cool. Yeah. Kinda cool stuff. But Jane and the Stiefel have [00:24:00] been really, really good to my students.
School of Rock Family
---
Gus Applequist: Mm. So as I referenced earlier, I don't... It's been a few years ago, I'm not exactly sure when, but Theatre Salina did School of Rock.
Matt Gerry: Mm-hmm.
Gus Applequist: And it was special because you were there and you played the main character, but also your daughter was in it as well.
Matt Gerry: Yeah.
Gus Applequist: What, what was it like to share the stage with your daughter?
Matt Gerry: It was so awesome. And not just my daughter, my wife was in it too.
Gus Applequist: Oh, I'm so,
I'm so sorry.
Matt Gerry: Yeah. My wife played the principal- which was my love interest in the show. Which was fun.
Gus Applequist: It's a family affair.
Sydney Collins: So there was already
chemistry- is
what you're telling me.
Matt Gerry: Exactly. Exactly. But I mean, that was super, super special to be able to do a show, the three of us. Now my oldest daughter was away at college already. But the three of us doing a show together, I mean, that's something I'll remember the rest of my life.
Gus Applequist: We, we- And they played their instruments on stage.
Sydney Collins: Oh, really?
Gus Applequist: Yeah.
Matt Gerry: Yeah. all the kids played their instruments on stage. Which I don't think a lot of people realize, but those kids were actually playing the real stuff on stage. And they sounded good.
Gus Applequist: They did. Mm-hmm. What a [00:25:00] joy.
Awards and Humility
---
Gus Applequist: So tell us about the Grammy Music Educator Award that you got.
Matt Gerry: Um, I guess that would've been a couple of years ago. I got nominated, uh, for the Grammy Music Educators Award, and I made it to the quarterfinals, I think. Um, but yeah, just, yeah, a humbling experience to- to be recognized for what you're doing.
Gus Applequist: Yeah. Yeah. Has, you know, all of these different experiences that your kids have had, um, and, and awards that you've gotten, how does that communicate to the music world of Kansas that what you're doing is important?
Matt Gerry: Boy, I wish I knew the answer to that. I really wish I did. I just try to keep my head down and just do-
you know, what, what I know how to do. And, you know, if, if people recognize it, great, but...
Gus Applequist: Hmm.
Matt Gerry: Yeah.
Gus Applequist: Mm. Good, humble answer.
Sydney Collins: Yeah.
Church Music and Benefits
---
Gus Applequist: So, so you've also been involved with music, um, at your church.
And, and just could you describe what's Different about playing sacred music [00:26:00] versus secular?
Matt Gerry: I don't think there's anything really different. Like-
Gus Applequist: Hmm ...
Matt Gerry: music's music. But- um, just the connection that you make through it- you know?
Gus Applequist: So I think for, for parents out there, like there are the obvious benefits of learning to play guitar. Like yeah, you can play guitar. Can you talk about things that you think guitar playing and music in general might help kids with beyond just music itself?
Matt Gerry: Well, I just think the work ethic that you ha- I mean, you don't get good at guitar if you don't practice. You, you just don't, and it's that way with any musical instrument. what, what I love about the guitar class that I teach is I'm seeing those kids every single day.
Gus Applequist: Hmm.
Matt Gerry: And if they pick up a guitar every single day, they have to get better by the end. They just have to. Even if like, you know, they're not the Jimi Hendrix of the world, just playing every single day makes them better, and I think that that translates to kids.
They see, okay, if I put [00:27:00] this work in, you know, I'm gonna see results. And I mean, that transfers to life. Like you put in the work, you're gonna see some results.
Middle School Mindset
---
Gus Applequist: Is there a certain mindset that you try to get your students to have as they approach playing guitar? Like, w- we see that in School of Rock, right?
Where, I, I forget the character's name. Dewey? Dewey.
Matt Gerry: Dewey Finn.
Gus Applequist: Like, he sort of gets his kids, like, into the zone. Yes. Do you try to do that with your kids?
Matt Gerry: I try, but I am not very good at [00:28:00] that. I don't know why. Like, I try to ge- get those middle schoolers to get that rock mentality, but it's just like, um, middle schoolers are a different beast.
They are. I'm telling you. Like-
Gus Applequist: Hmm.
Sydney Collins: They are.
Matt Gerry: You know, I think in the back of their brain they wanna do it, but then they see their best friend sitting next to them and they're like, "I can't do that 'cause it'll look weird." You know?
Gus Applequist: Middle school is an interesting time.
Matt Gerry: Middle school is an interesting time.
Sydney Collins: Middle school is such a social weird blob of stuff. It is. And so getting kids to all do the things that they wanna do because it, it- especially if it makes them unique, is very hard.
Gus Applequist: It is interesting. I wonder if, if, if we were to like zoom out and look at, like, where each of us... The decisions that we made in middle school and how they've affected who we are today. Yeah. Like, what sort of correlation we'd find.
Guitar Program Expansion
---
Gus Applequist: Would, do you... If you were asked to move up to high school or- over to elementary school, you know, would you do it? And, and, and if not, why?
Matt Gerry: Well, you know, I would be interested [00:29:00] in, in teaching guitar at the high school. I think that's a, a really cool thing. I don't think guitar transfers as well to the elementary school. Uh, just because I've taught some kids that- you know, the dis- the dexterity just doesn't get into their fingers that- that early. Yeah. And so because guitar is kinda my thing and what I love teaching, I don't think I'd move down into the elementary world.
But I'd love to see an extension of guitar into the high school. Like, there's a, a really cool movement across the United States of like, uh, you know, all-state orchestra and all-state band. They're having all-state orchestra, uh, all-state guitar now- ... in certain states. Hmm. Which I just think is so cool.
Gus Applequist: That would be cool. So are you in talks with KMEA on such a program?
Matt Gerry: , I was at KMEA last year and presented a little session, which was really cool. Hmm. Um, we just gotta get all of our guitar teachers together and kind of, you know, get all on the same page. But there's some other states that are doing some really cool stuff.
[00:30:00]
Gus Applequist: Do you... I should've asked this question earlier. Do you have other instruments in your classroom as well to, like, like bass, drums, vocals, those sorts of things, or is it just strictly guitar?
Matt Gerry: So whenever I'm doing a guitar concert, I try to st- kinda structure it like a rock band. Um, I'll have kids sing Um, you know, I'll have 'em audition and then they'll be my solo vocalist. I'll have bass guitar players. I'll have electric guitar players. Mm. And then 25 acoustic guitar players all at once.
Gus Applequist: Mm.
Matt Gerry: And then I add a cajon in the mix just to get some drums.
Gus Applequist: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Matt Gerry: But then by the time you're done, I mean, it's, it's like a rock band-
but with 25 kids all at once- which is k- kind of fun.
Private Lessons vs Bands
---
Gus Applequist: For all of my friends out there that teach private lessons- can you describe, you know, I mean, it's unfortunate that it's not a level playing field in our world- for, for a young musician, and that not all kids get to have private lessons. But what is the benefit of having private lessons?
Matt Gerry: I think having private [00:31:00] lessons just gets y- uh, is tailored to you.
Gus Applequist: Mm.
Matt Gerry: So, Your teacher can see, like, where you're at and Where you need to go to.
Gus Applequist: Mm.
Matt Gerry: I mean, which is, I mean, that's great learning for any- anything that you wanna learn if you can do that. but I, I honestly, like, I always push kids to be in a group setting just because you learn so much more-
when you're playing with other people-
than when you're just playing by yourself.
Gus Applequist: Mm-hmm.
Matt Gerry: If there was a kid that just said, "All I wanna do is private lessons," I would push 'em the opposite direction.
Gus Applequist: Mm.
Matt Gerry: You know, private lessons are great, but I think playing with other people you learn even more.
Gus Applequist: Nice.
Big Goals and Training
---
Gus Applequist: so sometimes here at Fili I talk about BHAGs, which are big, hairy, audacious goals. And it's like, you know, a, a, a dream idea that sort of sits on the horizon that you kinda wonder if it's actually possible or not, but sometimes you go for it. I'm curious, do you have any BHAGs for your program or for guitar playing in general? I mean, maybe m- [00:32:00] uh, KMEA is, is part of that. Yeah. But, but are there any, any others?
Matt Gerry: Well, um, the, the organization that helped train me on the guitar is called Teaching Guitar Workshops, and when I first started... Like, I mean, when you're starting something like putting 25 guitars in the hands of middle schoolers- I mean, there's a lot to think about.
Gus Applequist: That does sound scary.
Matt Gerry: And there's a lot to be scared about, seriously. Um, but that organization, man, they really, like... When I got in there, they said, "Okay, you know, set up your guitars like this." They said, "Okay, give every single guitar a name." Like- Oh ... in, in my classroom I have the Jimi Hendrix guitar, the Elvis Presley guitar, the George Harrison guitar. And they said, "You know, if you give those guitars names, those kids are gonna take care of those instruments more."
Sydney Collins: Oh my gosh. They instantly become something.
Matt Gerry: I mean, just genius ideas like that.
Sydney Collins: Yes. Wow.
That's brilliant.
Matt Gerry: But when I went to that, that, um, that training, it, it just, like, totally helped me get everything started. And so a big goal of mine is I'd [00:33:00] like to get to the point where I could be a clinician teaching other- guitar teachers how to do what I'm doing, because I... It's magical. It is seriously magical when you get guitars in the hands of kids.
Gus Applequist: In sixth grade, I... My- I joined jazz band, and so I got my electric bass. And I had, I had one of those label makers, like the old style ones where you had to, like, crimp it. You had. And there's, like, a raised white text.
Matt Gerry: Right, you could feel it.
Gus Applequist: Yeah. And, and for some reason, I drove around with my dad doing errands and stuff on the weekends, and we'd listen to Oldies Radio 98.5, and the song that my brain went to was Mustang Sally.
Sydney Collins: This is, this is so checking for you right now.
Gus Applequist: Mustang Sally. Yes. And so I, I printed those labels and stuck them on my bass guitar, and so it was Mustang Sally. Love it. And then I gave it to my nephew and he started playing bass. And he's kept playing bass, so that's special. So yeah, sorry, I just felt like I had to share. It all makes so much more sense now. I've always had a thing about, like-
Sydney Collins: Labeling
things
Gus Applequist: ... being myself and, and-
Sydney Collins: I
love
it
Gus Applequist: ... not [00:34:00] being shy about it.
Radio Nostalgia Tangent
---
Matt Gerry: Let's talk about 98.5.
Gus Applequist: Yes.
Matt Gerry: That was the best radio station ever. That was-
Gus Applequist: I miss it
so
much.
Sydney Collins: Oh my gosh.
Matt Gerry: We need to bring that back. Yeah. Can somebody get that, um-
Gus Applequist: It's like ' 50s through '70s? '70s. ' 50, '60s, and '70s. Yeah.
Sydney Collins: Because- One, uh... No, not 104.5, or 104.9 used to be, secular music, uh, back in the day.
Mm.
Uh, with DJ T...
What was his name? It was, like, T-Rex.
Gus Applequist: You have far better memory than I do.
Sydney Collins: Well, I grew up in a radio station- so I knew all these people.
Gus Applequist: I have, I have this theory that, like, the, the human brain, I don't- is, like, the most malleable in middle school, and the music that you listen to in middles- middle school will always be
your
music.
Sydney Collins: Oh, my gosh.
Matt Gerry: Your music. That's right.
Gus Applequist: Like, Fall Out Boy for me- in that 2008, 2007, like-
Sydney Collins: Fall Out Boy.
Gus Applequist: here in Salina, The Click Five, 'cause-
Sydney Collins: Click Five.
Matt Gerry: Oh, yeah. Ben Romans and The Click Five. Yeah, The Click Five. Sweet.
Gus Applequist: Yeah.
Sydney Collins: Oh, goodness.
Gus Applequist: Do y-
Matt Gerry: In middle school what I was listening to- [00:35:00]
was "Weird Al" Yankovic.
Nice.
Sydney Collins: Yes.
Matt Gerry: And I remember when I was in middle school, I wrote Weird Al a letter, and he wrote me back. I mean, just the nicest letter.
Gus Applequist: Do you still have the letter?
Matt Gerry: I still have it.
Gus Applequist: That's so wonderful.
Sydney Collins: Gus just went to his concert.
Matt Gerry: I know. Yeah.
Great show, right?
Gus Applequist: Yeah. And he... I was telling somebody after that show that, he manages to be, like, braggadocios and over the top, and, and the show is all about him, yet at the same time you know that he's a humble person.
Matt Gerry: Yeah.
Gus Applequist: And I love that balance. Few people can strike that.
Matt Gerry: The other person I think of that's like that is Jack Black.
Gus Applequist: Yes. Oh, yeah. You know? Seriously. 110%. Absolutely.
Sydney Collins: Yeah. 100%.
Matt Gerry: Yeah, that's
totally cool. I mean- yeah. yeah.
Gus Applequist: No, I love that.
Teaching Dream Job
---
Sydney Collins: So there's not a lot of teachers that can create their own career and the things that they actually wanna do, 'cause c- between curriculum and administration and all these different things. How does it feel to be able to do the thing you actually want to do as a teacher?
Matt Gerry: Boy, it's [00:36:00] incredible. Like, it really is. And for years and years I didn't think it was gonna happen.
Sydney Collins: Yeah.
Matt Gerry: You know? But you just don't give up, and just keep pushing and... You know? The, um, for as much as the guitar program has been awesome for kids, there are some people that just don't care for it at all.
And that's fine, but I, I think there's a place for it. I really do.
Gus Applequist: Mm-hmm. Well, thank you so much, Matt, for taking time.
Matt Gerry: My pleasure. Yeah.
Gus Applequist: And it's been a real joy.
Matt Gerry: Thanks for having me.
Thanks.
Matt Gerry: Matt Gerry is like that, like, puppy dog energy [00:37:00] that I think every middle schooler needs to just show up and be confident. And, and like that's, that is, he is the embodiment of the teacher I needed in every class.
Sydney Collins: I think the more impressive part is he has that energy after 20-plus years.
Gus Applequist: No joke. Yeah. '
Sydney Collins: Cause he has not changed a bit.
Uh, he, he is the exact same person I remember in middle school. The exact same person.
Gus Applequist: Uh, I no longer see Jack Black as Dewey. I see him- as Dewey. He's, he is, he is literally doing that professionally. Yeah. It's so cool.
Sydney Collins: Yeah.
Gus Applequist: Yeah.
Stories from a Hat Twist
---
Gus Applequist: Well, uh, it's time for another, uh, segment of Stories from a Hat, but I, I figured-
Sydney Collins: We're gonna do a twist on it?
Gus Applequist: Yeah, we're gonna do a twist on it today. Um, we've done this in a few episodes. Things are a little crazy here in the office, so we're, we allowed ourselves to, to try something that's a little bit less strenuous. So what we're gonna do is I'm gonna tell you the answer to the question or the prompt, and you have to guess what the prompt is.
Sydney Collins: This is gonna be s- either really good or really bad, 'cause it'll be, like, either a really out there answer to the [00:38:00] question, and I'm just gonna be like, "I have no idea." Or it'll be really spot on-
Gus Applequist: Okay,
well-
Sydney Collins: ... 'cause I know
you
so well
Gus Applequist: ... we're gonna try it right now. Um-
Okay
I was at an event a few years ago, and, um, a rather prominent local person came up to me and said, "By blood, you are a great innovator," and walked away without saying anything else, and I was just kind of stunned and didn't know what to do.
Sydney Collins: something a stranger has told you?
Gus Applequist: Yeah, it's a compliment you still think about.
Sydney Collins: Oh, a compliment you still think about, okay.
Gus Applequist: Well, you, you did it.
Sydney Collins: I did it. I was, I was kinda close. Oh. Okay. Um, I gotta think this one through a little bit 'cause it, I c-
Gus Applequist: If you need to draw again, you can.
Sydney Collins: No, this is a good one I would say... Oh, I know. So, um, it's my kids' favorite meal, so I- well, I hope it is. They tell me sometimes it is when I make it. Um, I made homemade [00:39:00] chicken strips. It's the only chicken I know how to fry. And so, but I'll put, um, uh, mashed potatoes and corn and gravy with it, and you put the mashed potatoes down and put the corn on, you put the chicken on top, and then you pour the gravy. I think KFC- has these kinda like bowls. Okay. Like potato bowls.
Gus Applequist: Yeah.
Sydney Collins: But yeah.
Gus Applequist: So is it favorite food?
Sydney Collins: A smell coming out of a kitchen.
Gus Applequist: Oh, yeah. That's good.
Sydney Collins: That's good. Is that like a- that's the only thing I could think of. Okay. Another one.
Gus Applequist: Shall, shall we do some- okay. All right. All right. Definitely a fajita quesadilla.
Sydney Collins: Favorite food?
Gus Applequist: Uh, favorite Mexican restaurant order.
Sydney Collins: Oh, favorite Mexican restaurant order. Oh, goodness. Okay. Oh, okay. Um, so back in the day when my mom still worked at the radio station, she was in, she used to be in charge of I think it was called the Bridal Spectacular. And so I was probably, I don't know, 13, 14 [00:40:00] maybe, um, running registration for this giant bridal expo-
Matt Gerry: Wow ...
Sydney Collins: that happened.
Um, it used to be, I think it was the Ramada Inn, the old, the one that just got- torn down.
Gus Applequist: Yep.
Sydney Collins: It used to be there, and then it got moved to, um, Tony's Pizza Event Center.
And then now I don't know where it's at, but yeah.
Gus Applequist: So is this like a f- a, a favorite memory with your parent?
Sydney Collins: Uh, a volunteer moment.
Gus Applequist: Aw,
that's nice. '
Sydney Collins: Cause I definitely was not paid. I was free labor.
Gus Applequist: That's one of the things I love about Bob's Burgers the show- is, like, these kids that have to help their family.
Sydney Collins: Yeah. Uh- I feel like that's when you know the food's gonna be good, if the kids are behind the counter.
Gus Applequist: okay, so there is a woman, I'll, I won't give her full name. Her name's, uh, her first name's Connie, and Connie used to walk, like, all of the time. Like- I would be at home and I'd be, like, in my bedroom and I'd look out the window and Connie would be walking by, and, like, we'd, we'd go out to [00:41:00] eat or something and sh- Connie would be walking by.
Like, Connie walked, like, four or five times a day. She'd just walk all the time.
Gus Applequist: Um, yeah. And she, uh, she, she lived in the house that I live in now, so that's kind of special, yeah.
Sydney Collins: People you didn't know that were stalking you.
Gus Applequist: Ne- neighbors.
Sydney Collins: Oh.
Gus Applequist: I was trying to tell the story without saying the word neighbors, and it took all of my- Oh,
Sydney Collins: I have like five. It's still, like, people you don't know that are stalking you.
Gus Applequist: Yeah, that's right.
Sydney Collins: Connie was everywhere.
Gus Applequist: She had binoculars. It was creepy. No, just kidding.
Sydney Collins: Um, Oh, okay. This is an odd, odd one, but sure. Uh, so growing up, we lived by, uh, we lived next door to the Larsons, so like Lucy and Dave Larson. You know Lucy Larson used to be a- a commissioner. And, um, they had a Nintendo 64 down in their playroom in their basement. Oh. So any, uh, every summer I would always end up in this random room in their [00:42:00] basement, and Dave would come home and be like, "Sydney, go home." So yeah.
Gus Applequist: Um, uh, retro gaming moments? I don't know. What is the prompt?
Sydney Collins: The room in someone else's house you've always gravitated to.
Gus Applequist: Wow, that is, that is very specific. Right? Wow. Well done. Yeah.
Sydney Collins: Yeah.
Gus Applequist: That was good.
Episode Wrap and Merch
---
Gus Applequist: Well, uh, you've done it. You've made it to the end of another episode of Ask a Kansan.
Sydney Collins: Make sure to follow us, like, subscribe, leave a review on whatever platform you're listening or watching from.
Gus Applequist: If you'd like to, uh, give us any suggestions for future guests- or if you'd like to... Have you already said buy merch?
Sydney Collins: I haven't gotten there yet.
Gus Applequist: Well then, then visit our website and look at our lovely merch. We have a T-shirt that's quite popular these days.
Sydney Collins: Yep, and some stickers and water bottles. Um, and then make sure to sign up for the Curious Kansan newsletter.
Gus Applequist: Yeah. Tanner's been, uh, crisscrossing the state getting all sorts of interesting stories-
Sydney Collins: all kinds of fun stuff ...
Gus Applequist: and photos. So, [00:43:00] well, thank you very much for tuning in, and hope you have a great week.
Sydney Collins: Goodbye.