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Steve and Alan visit with veteran educator Dina Else about the upsides and downsides of competitive show choir. Links & References: Dina Else is a highly sought after vocal technician/specialist, choral clinician, motivational speaker and adjudicator through the United States.  She is a published author and columnist, as well as a highly regarded voice teacher … Read more

Alan and Steve visit with professional musician Jennifer Wharton about mental health issues that confront music students and teachers. Links & References: Jennifer Wharton is a low brass specialist based in New York City. Though getting her start classically, Jen has planted deep roots in jazz and commercial music. She can usually be found honking … Read more

Steve and Alan talk with Alice about how and why students with special needs can be included in music classes and ensembles. Links & References: Alice Hammel, Virginia (USA) Outstanding Music Educator of the Year (2018) and current President Elect of the Virginia Music Educators Association (USA), is a widely known music educator, author, and … Read more

Steve and Alan talk with Annie Savage about practical and easy ways to make a big impact and real connections with our students. Links & References: Annie Savage is an international string clinician and performer of American Roots music. A prize-winning contest fiddler from the age of 8, Annie has performed with artists from Aretha Franklin to Ricky Skaggs … Read more

Steve and Alan talk with Dr. Karen Howard about composers, literature, and the value of putting those into context for our students. Links & References: Karen Howard is an Associate Professor of Music at the University of St. Thomas, teaching music education methods, core graduate courses, and world music pedagogy. In addition to her university schedule, Dr. Howard … Read more

Steve and Alan talk with Jerry Tolson about the right ways to approach jazz education, race, and more in the music classroom.  Links & References: Dr. Tolson’s Recommended Introductory Jazz Listening: Jerry Tolson is a native of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa and after receiving his bachelor’s degree from Drake University in Des Moines, he taught band at several Iowa high … Read more

Steve and Alan talk with Beth Fortune about all the alternatives to traditional music in the classroom and how to introduce other genres. Referenced in this episode: Elizabeth Fortune has been the Director of Orchestras and Eclectic Strings at Seattle’s Washington Middle School since 2002 and is the Director of the award nominated educational programming … Read more