Find Your Voice with Dr. Mom Music

A follow-up special edition from Episode 7 - Discover how real-time feedback between your ears, brain, and vocal muscles is essential for accurate singing. Learn why many people shy away from singing when they think someone is listening and how you can help your child overcome this fear. If you can talk, you can sing. Embrace your unique voice and don't give up on your dreams of singing. 00:00 Int...

Welcome to 'Find Your Voice' with Dr. Sarah Van Waardhuizen. In this special episode, we explore the heartfelt stories and traditions that keep Christmas music alive in our families. Joined by her mother, Donna Ricks, Dr. Sarah delves into personal holiday memories, the role of music in family traditions, and the transition of Christmas music from communal singing to digital consumption. Through t...

In this episode of Find Your Voice, host Sarah Van Waardhuizen interviews Miss Cynthia, a Central College dance professor, who shares her inspiring journey from late-start dancer to professional showgirl in Vegas and Europe. Cynthia opens up about her personal background, her passion for dance, and her experience with adoption, emphasizing the role of music and dance in creating bonds and fosterin...

In this episode of Find Your Voice , we explore the challenges faced by nearly 6,000 Iowa kids in foster care and the shortage of available homes. We delve into research on stability and belonging, and how music and connection aid in healing. Host Dr. Sarah Van Waardhuizen [Dr. Mom Music] shares her personal journey from foster care to adoption, highlighting the crucial role of music. She introduc...

In this episode of 'Find Your Voice,' we sit down with Mrs. Susan Lyons, a high school science teacher and trombone enthusiast, to explore her journey in both music and education. Susan shares her passion for music, her experience raising funds for new band uniforms, and the unique ways she connects with her students through music and athletics. From small-town roots to her advocacy for music’s ro...

In this episode of “Find Your Voice,” host Dr. Mom sits down with Samantha Robillard from Pella High School. Samantha shares her background in music education, her family's influence, and her experiences as a choir director. She also talks about her mission trips to Kenya and how they've impacted her teaching and personal growth. Listen to Samantha's journey of balancing family, education, and her...

In this episode, Dr. Mom Music sits down with Professor Brad Lampe — longtime music educator from Clarke Community Schools in Osceola, Iowa and current Director of Bands at Central College in Pella, Iowa — to explore what it truly means to build community through music. Brad’s approach to directing isn’t just about perfecting sound or preparing for the next concert. It’s about building relationshi...

In this very first episode, host Dr. Sarah Van Waardhuizen—also known as Dr. Mom Music—shares the vision behind Find Your Voice . With over 20 years of experience as a music educator and professor at Central College, Sarah has seen firsthand how powerful voices can be—whether in the classroom, the concert hall, or everyday life. In this episode, you’ll hear the story behind the podcast, what inspi...