What makes teaching music in a small rural school uniquely challenging—and uniquely rewarding? In this conversation, Michael Genslinger, host of Rural Music Matters, joins Steve and Alan to explore the realities of K–12 generalist teaching, limited local resources, and the revolving door of rural positions. Along the way, they highlight how community, creativity, and a willingness to “do it all” can turn small‑school music programs into powerful, long‑lasting forces in students’ lives.
About Michael Genslinger, D.M.E.
Dr. Michael Genslinger is an Assistant Professor of Music at Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska. In addition to serving as the assistant director of bands, he teaches music education courses and applied trumpet. Michael serves as the principal trumpet for A Touch of Brass, lead trumpet for the Northeast Area Jazz Ensemble, co-principal trumpet for the Sioux City Municipal Band, performs regularly with the Sioux City Symphony, and performs frequent solo recitals at Wayne State College. He served as principal cornet in the Nebraska Brass Band for the 2023-2024 season and has performed with the Ocala Symphony, Carnival Cruise Lines, and as a freelance musician in the Southeast United States and Greater Siouxland area. As a music educator, he frequently serves as a guest clinician and adjudicator for concert band, jazz ensemble, and marching band. He is the host of Rural Music Matters, a podcast that serves as a resource and advocate for rural music education. Prior to his appointment to Wayne State College, Michael taught in Florida public schools for 11 years. He holds a bachelor’s in music performance from Stetson University, a master’s in music performance and a master’s in music education, both from the University of North Florida, and a doctorate in Music Education from Liberty University. Michael is a performing artist with Adams Brass, an international instrument manufacturer headquartered in The Netherlands.
Resources:
- Doctoral Thesis: Predicting Marching Band Ratings in Nebraska: A Quantitative Analysis, by Michael T. Genslinger
- Podcast Website: https://mythicalmotifs.com/rmm
