Music (ed) Matters

Laura Stuart is an amazing vocal pedagogue who has tapped into a way to bring joy, technique, and self-trust to singing.  In this conversation we hear how Laura got into the world of singing and then we dive deep into working with adult choral singers, aging voices, and all kinds of vocal technique.  Learn more about Laura at Theweeklywarmup.com.  Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_3...

Let’s explore exactly what goes into developing a new Broadway music with producer (and Tony voter) Cristina Maria Vivenzio!  If you haven’t heard, there’s a new book musical hitting the Broadway mainstream mid March and we can’t wait! The preview tracks have been epic! In this episode we talk all things from the classic novel, The Outsiders and how it’s being adapted to what’s destined for an awa...

Eric David Ackerman is an aspiring presence in the world of music, theatre, and film. Hailing from New Jersey, he is currently pursuing his BFA in Acting at the Savannah College of Art and Design and today we get to talk to him about creativity, balancing it all, and an epic album/experience he just dropped - “SPIRALING.” Why is this conversation important? Get ready to be inspired! Eric thrives i...

Meet conductor and author, John Hughes. In this conversation, we discuss John’s new book, Letters to a Young Conductor: Thoughts on Music and Life, all about how to maintain joy in music-making, career development, and how to keep the big picture in mind. This is really the perfect episode following bonus #23 in December and Dr. Robertson in January! To get your primed for the convo, check out thi...

Happy New Year! And what a way to start with this awesome episode!  We’ve started this little mini-series on avoiding burnout thanks to feedback we are hearing as part of ACDA’s Advocacy and Collaboration Standing Committee. The goal of these episodes is to provide our members and listeners with tools to avoid and overcome burnout - one of the leading causes to folks leaving our fabulous career. ...

Meet NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) CEO and President of the NAMM Foundation, John Mlynczak. In this conversation, we talk about what is NAMM and how important it is for us to know the work they are doing, especially as music educators. This episode was incredibly inspirational and exciting as NAMM is continuing the awesome work they’ve been doing while also starting some new huge...

This conversation covers the recently released 2022 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts from the NEA. The decline in arts audiences from 1982 - 2022 as well as an upcoming workshop series designed to empower small-budget arts leaders to drive meaningful change in 2024 with relevance strategist, Ruth Hartt.  Ruth Hartt leverages interdisciplinary insights to champion the arts, foster inclusi...

You’ve met Dr. Steenblik before in his awesome episode about the sight-reading chorus as part of Florida All-State programming. We get to bring him back today, but this time addressing a BIG hot topic - burnout! Get ready for tools, ideas, and so much more — including guest co-host, Alex Gartner! This episode is part of the ACDA National Standing Committee for Advocacy & Collaboration Committe...

Let’s talk about “customer value!” Meet the American Choral Directors Association's newest Director of Membership Programs & Services, Dennis Carpenter. In this episode, you’ll learn all about the path that led Dennis to ACDA, his goals and ideas for the role, and lots of other little tidbits, especially related to advocacy and collaboration as this episode is part of the A&C Committee’s c...

Meet UK Singer/Songwriter Polly Paulusma as we talk about songwriting, motherhood and the music business, mental health, wild swimming…and so much more! This conversation is a fun one! Learn more about Polly: pollypaulusma.com Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DHwpFumLJvs  The Music (ed) Matters Podcast is sponsored by our friends over at Perform International. Thinking of going on t...

Meet Ruth—former opera singer, “compassionate truthteller”, relevance strategist, and arts champion. Her company, “Culture for hire,” addresses the eye-opening perspective shift for arts orgs - it’s not about you!  In this conversation, “The Business of Choir” Co-Author, Alex Gartner joins as co-host as we talk to Ruth about how we can all approach arts marketing and our arts orgs - no matter what...

Let’s talk choir culture! Consultant, author, and educator Allison Russo has dedicated her career to creating more ethical and effective arts learning spaces. She has a BM from Ithaca College and an MM from Boston University, both in Music Education. As an elementary band teacher and non-profit arts leader, Allison has designed and delivered music programming to thousands of students and teachers....

Let’s talk about building thriving middle school choirs through authentic relationships, developing a culture of positivity, and keeping it FUN while creating monster musicians (Jacobs’ phrase in lieu of the more stuffy “independent musicianship” )  Meet Erik Jacobs, a choir director at Willard Middle School in Aldie, VA where he co-directs the Wildcat Chorus program which has over 400 singers in...

Kevin Boushel is a conductor and music educator based in Dublin, Ireland. He is the Chamber Choir Director and a Government of Ireland Scholar at Dublin City University where he is pursuing a PhD under the supervision of Dr Barbara Dignam. In 2022 he was appointed Associate Conductor of the University College Dublin School of Music where he works with the UCD Symphony Orchestra and Philharmonic Ch...

You first met first-year teacher, Mr. Kyle Feather, back in Episode 120 when we got a chance to talk to him on the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL! You heard from him again in Episode 132, after the first concert. In Episode 152, right after spring break, we talked about all the things he is feeling confident with and the things he is still learning. This time, our final installment, we hear from Mr. Feather...

Let’s talk about living into your most authentic version of YOU! Educator, author, and international public speaker, Jen Rafferty started as a middle school music teacher for 15 years in Central New York. She is known for bringing her energy, humor and expertise in her presentations while inspiring educators to stay connected to their "why." Jen is a certified Emotional Intelligence Practitioner a...

Dale Trumbore is a Los Angeles-based composer and writer whose music has been called "devastatingly beautiful" (The Washington Post) and praised for its "soaring melodies and beguiling harmonies deployed with finesse" (The New York Times). Trumbore's compositions have been performed by the Chicago Symphony's MusicNOW ensemble, Conspirare and the Miró Quartet, soprano Liv Redpath, Los Angeles Maste...

Ever wonder what the singers think after their FIRST international choir tour? Yea - me too! And in May, I got to go on tour as the “artistic advisor” with Clemson University Singers, under the direction of Dr. Anthony Bernarducci, as they traveled to London, Cambridge, Canterbury, Rouen, and Paris with Perform International.  In this episode, you’ll hear from singers of all backgrounds - performi...

Kicking off summer with an audiobook sample from "The Business of Choir." Setting up the stage to tell your story and giving you ideas after we just left the Chorus America Conference super inspired. Check out more at BusinessofChoir.com. Order your copy of “The Business of Choir”: https://www.giamusic.com/store/resource/the-business-of-choir-book-g10713 or check out the website, businessofchoir.c...

Transferable lessons from the Jiu-Jitsu mat?! Yes, please! Meet Dr. Jeff Wall, Professor of Music and Director of Choral Studies at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK but also an avid practicer of jiu-jitsu. In this conversation, we connect the dots on what we can apply from the mat to the choral/singing space. You’re going to love this!  Connect with Dr. Wall: www.jefferywall.com www....

In this month’s ACDA Advocacy and Collaboration Curated Episode you get to meet a fellow ACDA Standing Committee Chair, Dr. Joshua Habermann. Habermann chairs the International Activities Committee and in this conversation we explore what they do and why or how you can participate - but we also talk about Dr. Habermann’s work in the professional chamber choir world with the Santa Fe Desert Chorale...

Where are my “avid consumers of music?” This episode is for you! It’s also for those that love rock and roll, want to learn more about the roots of the genre, are thinking of starting a band, learning a new instrument, or figuring out ideas for marketing your musical thing…yes, we cover a lot in this episode! Meet Roberta and Syd, members/creators of the rock and roll band, The Record Players NYC....

Meet Kerry Fergus, a classically trained vocalist with a master's in acting who also blogs and has a passion for helping folks - especially new music readers - find the hidden gems in scores through the power of score study!  In this conversation, we explore 5 starting points for score study, no matter how much or little music reading skills, we look at how exploring these elements can help you in...

Let’s apply Project Management skills and “how to start an organization” experiences in one fun, business brainstorming podcast session!  In this episode, you’ll hear from RISE Chorales’ Director of Operations, Cuffy Sullivan. Cuffy is an expert organizer, has founded multiple choral organizations, and is really great at thinking of the administrative things that help artsy people stay organized a...

Let’s make some transfers! What can choir and music folks learn from the entrepreneur world? This episode is a replay from the Illuminate Podcast, a non-music pod that Dr. Burch hosts and teased out in last week’s episode 154.  In this episode, you get to hear the story of entrepreneur, business coach, and film producer, Kewaan Drayton. He shares his story about building his dreams and how you can...