Music (ed) Matters

Vocal pedagogy - the study of the art (and science) of voice teaching - can sound a bit intimidating, but not in this episode! Get your note-taking tools ready - this episode is jammed full of tips, tools, ideas, techniques, and terminology that you can immediately implement with your singers (and use to educate your community and build value). Using these ideas, you will help your singers find th...

How do we think "outside the box" with choral programming? How (and why) should we use this "outside of the box" thinking to bring singers and communities together? In this episode, you’ll hear from Dr. Alissa Mercurio Rowe. Dr. Rowe is an active choral conductor, voice teacher, and soloist. She currently serves as Associate Professor and Director of Choral Studies at Louisiana State University. P...

In this episode, we learn all about the musical journey of Dr. William Powell, a Charles W. Barkley Endowed Professor and Director of Choral Activities at Auburn University. In this role, he teaches choral-related courses, and conducts the Chamber Choir, Men's Chorus, Concert Choir, and co-conducts the Gospel Choir with his wife, Dr. Rosephanye Powell. As we walk through his journey to choir, we e...

Dr. Burch started a 501(c)(3) and in this episode, you get all the details AND her special curated speech presented at this year's inaugural RISE Outreach Fundraiser and Season Kick-off Party at Starland Yard in Savannah, GA. This episode is meant to motivate, inspire, and engage you to step into your most authentic year yet - because when it's the hosts' birthday - everyone get's a present! Learn...

Meet one of the newest members of the ACDA National Standing Committee for Advocacy & Collaboration, Dr. Riikka Pietiläinen-Caffrey. In this episode you’ll hear her unique story into the choral world and then details about her interests related to A&C. Specifically, Dr. Pietiläinen-Caffrey talks about Community College music education, equity, accessibility, and diversity in choirs and mus...

We always love a little collaboration, so when Matt Walker, host of the “Choir Director Corner” Podcast reached out to do an interview and use it as a cross-over, we ran with it! Matt has tons of fantastic resources over on his website and his episodes range in helpful tips and tools you can use right now to insightful interviews. In this episode, Matt interviews “Music (ed) Matters” host, Dr. Emi...

Let's talk about courage, curiosity, and... failing! Yes! In this episode, with Tucson Girls Chorus Artistic and Executive Director, Dr. Marcela Molina, we explore the steps to creative curiosity, meaningful partnership, and impactful community engagement. Specifically, we discuss how to:Identify a need (and communicate it with your team and board)Have conversation and get curious (with all partne...

Meet Dr. Shane Lynch, an award-winning conductor, composer, and music educator, who currently holds the position of Director of Choral Activities at Washington and Lee University. Newsflash - Dr. Lynch is an incredible storyteller! In this episode, he shares his story that leads from physics and radiology, through performing, and onto choral conducting. Through the stories, you’ll learn ideas for...

Let’s talk first days and weeks of choir! In this episode we walk through all the joys of preplanning through the first days in the classroom. We talk team building, learning names, establishing routines, community, and expectations, and all the fun in those first rehearsals. Listen for tips, ideas, inspiration, and fun! Dr Kristen Donaldson is the Director of Choirs at Oconee County Middle School...

Do you remember your first day in the classroom? Your first ever rehearsal? Maybe you're a pre-service teacher interested in knowing what it's like to transition from student teaching or college life into your first job. Meet 1st-year teacher, Kyle Feather who is allowing us to chronicle his adventures in year one. Mr. Feather serves as the assistant director of choirs at Denton High School in Den...

We’ve all experienced it, Artistic Block, the wall that inhibits us from finalizing our season or semester repertoire lists or programs. Don’t worry, you’re not alone! In this episode, Dr. Craig Zamer shares some epic movie quotes, makes some incredible transfers to Stephen King (don’t worry, not the gory stuff), and offers tips for overcoming artistic block through exploring programming like Stor...

Join us as we continue the virtual book tour, this time welcoming guest author of the DEIA specific chapter,Dr. Marshaun Hymon as we discuss the overall content and key concepts from chapter 3, "Diversity in Your Organization's DNA." Learn more about Dr. Hymon https://www.marshaunrhymon.com/ and True Change Alliance https://www.truechangealliance.org/  Order your copy of “The Business of Choir”: h...

Get ready for some incredible tools you can use immediately from ensemble rehearsals to life and everything In between.  In this episode, we talk with visiting assistant professor of choral music education at Stetson University, Dr. Gregory W. LeFils Jr. about transfer for ensemble rehearsals and in life. We cover literally everything and you are destined to walk away from this episode with tools...

Every July the “Music (ed) Matters” podcast usually takes a break, but this summer we are doing a series of replays to celebrate the book, “The Business of Choir” recently released by Alex Gartner and your host, Dr. Emily Williams Burch. In this replay from the Pre-Release Book Tour, you'll hear from choral leadership author, Dr. Ramona M. Wis as she gives tangible examples and evidence to rejuven...

Every July the “Music (ed) Matters” podcast usually takes a break, but this summer we are doing a series of replays to celebrate the book, “The Business of Choir” recently released by Alex Gartner and your host, Dr. Emily Williams Burch. In this replay from the Pre-Release Book Tour, you'll hear from Chorus America CEO Catherine Dehoney who talks with us about the importance of data and intentiona...

Every July the “Music (ed) Matters” podcast usually takes a break, but this summer we are doing a series of replays to celebrate the book, “The Business of Choir” recently released by Alex Gartner and your host, Dr. Emily Williams Burch. In this replay from the Pre-Release Book Tour, you'll hear from Coty Raven Morris who talks to us about the importance of building an intentional culture within y...

Every July the “Music (ed) Matters” podcast usually takes a break, but this summer we are doing a series of replays to celebrate the book, “The Business of Choir” recently released by Alex Gartner and your host, Dr. Emily Williams Burch. In this replay from the Pre-Release Book Tour you'll hear from Dr. G. Phillip Shoultz, III who talks to us about the inherent value of choral singing and the powe...

What started as a simple film review - a choir film, mind you - turned into exploring an incredible career, finding ideas for advocacy, developing tips for starting meaningful collaborations - and so much more! We even get to hear how Billee Eilish started her singing career......spoiler, in choir! Check out the full film review in an upcoming edition of The Choral Journal, but keep an eye out for...

Recorded on the road, but taking the time to recap everything from the Chorus America 2022 Conference: what it was, what we learned, how it flowed, why you should go next year, and other thoughts from your host, Dr. Emily Williams Burch.  Check out the GIA website to get your copy: https://www.giamusic.com/store/resource/the-business-of-choir-book-g10713.  Find out more about Chorus America at Cho...

It’s book release time! That’s right, you first heard about the book in Episode 74, then in the one-on-one interviews with collaborators in the book in Episodes 81, 82, 83, and 95, and then we shared our most recent soft launch of one of the book themes with a conference presentation replay in episode 90. But now, it’s time to get your hands on it! The book is done, printed, and available!  In thi...

Get ready for some incredible tips for teaching that will energize your students and get everyone - even you - enthusiastic about this awesome music world we get to be a part of! Whether you're a new teacher or veteran, there are tons of ideas in this conversation. In this episode, educator and creator of the "Dynamic Music Room," Zach VanderGraff walks us through definitions, examples, and ultima...

Whether you’re a young musician thinking about careers in music, an educator looking to enhance your space with music therapy, a potential candidate for the benefits of music therapy, or just interested in listening to an inspiring story, this episode features Kourtney Tigner, the board-certified music therapist for Hospice Savannah. Kourtney received her master's degree in music with an emphasis...

What do you do when making music “feels lonely?” Dr. Joshua Cheney walks us through the importance of reflection, repertoire selection, and rehearsal pedagogy in order to create excellent choral art through the power of collaboration. In this episode, we talk about what it looks like to make music with our choirs, how to use our choral expertise to guide impactful collaborations within the rehears...

Meet FMEA’s (Florida Music Educator’s Association) Music Educator of the year, Dr. Kelly A. Miller! In this episode, Dr. Miller shares her journey as a music educator while taking us all through the power of asking questions, building community, cultivating student leaders, and living with no regrets! A perfect episode if you’re questioning if you’re in the right career field or suffering from bur...

Meet this month’s Advocacy and Collaboration Curated Episode, Chorus America's VP of Membership and Communication, Liza Beth. In this episode, we talk through steps for advocating as well as ideas for collaborating. Get ready to connect to your "why" while also learning how to utilize the data to support your impact and further tell your story - the glamorous and quiet ones. Let's all join in tell...