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Insiders will receive: A shout out on the next episode we record, access to ad-free episodes, an invitation to a monthly insider-only Zoom meeting with Alan and Steve, and at least one bonus insider-only episode each month.
Recent Episodes:
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Quick Pro Tip: Do You Hold Your Students to Standards you Sometime Miss Yourself?
Steve and Alan take on a touchy but important topic: the gap between what we ask from students and what we actually model ourselves. They admit their own everyday hypocrisies (hello, phones at stoplights and slow email replies) and then connect it to the music room: punctuality, effort, communication, reflection, and how we respond when … Read more
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Teaching the Bigger Picture: Russ Gershon on Context, Curiosity, and Ethiopian Grooves
Composer, bandleader, and educator Russ Gershon (Either/Orchestra) joins us to explore how music becomes a window into history, geography, and human connection. Russ shares how he uses songs like “Proud Mary” with K–4 students to teach rivers, steamboats, and timelines; how storytelling and context make improvisation less scary for teens; and what Ethiopian modes and rhythms can offer our … Read more
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Quick Pro Tip: Rethinking Flex Charts for All Ensembles
Steve and Alan take on the bad reputation of “flex” music and make the case for using flexible-instrumentation charts as a musical tool, not a last-resort compromise. They compare band culture to choir and orchestra traditions, talk honestly about attention spans and rehearsal efficiency, and explain how fewer parts can actually mean more learning and … Read more
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