475 - How To Publish Tunes with Special Guest Micah Babinski (plus Q&As)

What if one tune you wrote became a crowd favorite – and sparked a whole collection decades in the making?

This week, Andrew and Carl welcome Micah Babinski, composer of "Afternoon at the Green Monster" and author of the brand-new Green Monster Collection. Together, they dive into the story behind the tune, the 20+ years of composing that led to the book, and what it’s like to finally share your life’s work with the piping world.

Then, the crew opens the floor for a live Q&A – covering everything from band-supplied gear and endurance tips to simplifying tunes and moving up the solo competition ranks.

Plus, don’t miss Micah’s live performance of Afternoon at the Green Monster!

Got a question for a future episode? Drop it in the comments or email us: [email protected].

Here’s what we cover this week:

• 00:00 – Intro & Guest Introduction

• 01:25 – Micah’s piping background and journey

• 03:24 – Introducing The Green Monster Collection — 56 tunes for pipes, whistle, and mandolin

• 05:17 – Friends, contributors, and 20+ years of composing

• 07:17 – The story behind Afternoon at the Green Monster

• 11:00 – Competition stories and the tune’s growing popularity

• 14:48 – How to order the book (Piper’s Hut, Tartan Town, Google Form)

• 16:40 – Pricing, shipping, and payment details

• 18:00 – Motivation for publishing & breaking the “one-hit wonder” label

• 20:00 – Silver Medal stories and reconnecting with friends


Live Q&A Topics:


• 24:00 – What equipment should bands provide?

• 29:00 – Managing endurance and lip fatigue

• 36:00 – Simplifying idioms in solo tunes

• 43:00 – Tunes the composer is proud of

• 45:00 – Why third parts are often the hardest

• 48:00 – Live performance: Afternoon at the Green Monster

• 50:00 – Using projectors and TVs in band practice

• 53:00 – Moving from Grade 4 to Grade 3 in solos
• 56:00 – Wrap-up & book order link

🪗 Order The Green Monster Collection: https://forms.gle/sepc2peJY63PtbAg8