Take Note

We're joined by two members of THUD: The Harvard Undergraduate Drummers to talk about what they do and what music educators can take away from THUD.

Joseph Arnold is the director of the Soulforce Arts Institute in Philadelphia and the author of the book, Soulforce: How to Discover Your Artistic Purpose, Create More Freely, and Make Art that Matters. He joins us to discuss the role of the arts in society and how he uses the Alexander Technique to teach.

During the 2025 PMEA Conference, we talked with the 2025 PMEA Outstanding Superintendents - Dr. Philip Domencic from the Cornwall-Lebanon School District and Dr. MaryJo Yannacone from the School District of Springfield Township. Learn about their districts, their support for music education, and advice for music teachers and superintendents on how to support music education in any school.

We're talking with Dr. Missy Strong who is one of the keynote speakers at the 2025 PMEA Conference. Missy talks with us about what to expect from her sessions at the conference and how you can incorporate movement into your music classroom.

We conclude our series getting ready for the 2025 PMEA All-State Festival by talking with the conductors of all six All-State ensembles. Today we talk with Jason Noble, All-State Concert Band Conductor and Rollo Dilworth, All-State Chorus Conductor. Learn about the musical programs and what student participants can expect.

We continue our series getting ready for the 2025 PMEA All-State Festival by talking with the conductors of all six All-State ensembles. Today we talk with Michael Hall, All-State Orchestra Conductor and Dr. Tonya Mitchell-Spradlin, All-State Wind Ensemble Conductor. Learn about the musical programs and what student participants can expect.

We're talking with Dr. Kathy Melago, Professor of Music Education at Slippery Rock University and Slippery Rock University Music Education majors Rose Obergefell and Nate Presutti about their field experience trip to New Mexico. Learn about what the trip is and how it expands their horizons for a career in music education.

We start to gear up for the 2025 PMEA All-State Festival by talking with the conductors of all six All-State ensembles. Today we talk with JD Frizzell, All-State Contemporary A Cappella Ensemble Conductor and Gary Smulyan, All-State Jazz Ensemble Conductor. Learn about the musical programs and what student participants can expect.

We're celebrating Take Note's 100th Edition by talking with PMEA President-Elect Becky Sensor. We take a look back at some guests and share clips of our favorite Take Note memories.

We're joined by Pennsylvania native, Racheal Murray. She talks with us about her career in the entertainment industry and how music influenced her life.

We're joined by Edward Doyle and Wayne Mallette - the candidates for NAfME Eastern Division President. The election is open through February 13th.

We're joined by PMEA's current president, Brett Keith, to look back on 2024 and look ahead to 2025.

We're talking about the Pennsylvania Collegiate Music Educators (PCMEA) with PCMEA President Ellie Vito and PCMEA Advisor Kelly Gumble. Hear about what PCMEA is, what they're dong, and what the current reality for a college music education student looks like.

We're talking with Dr. Jerry Zahorchak about the impacts of the 2024 elections on education and education policy. Jerry was the Pennsylvania Secretary of Education in the Rendell administration and is still active in education policy today.

It's the end of the 2024 marching band season and we're doing a wrap up to it where we talk with Bianca Wallace about current trends in the marching arts and advice for students and instructors.

Mike Buterbaugh, Music Education Advisor at the Reading Musical Foundation, joins us to talk about the importance of collecting data on your music education programs and how you can use it to your advantage.

Dr. Adam Gustafson is an Associate Teaching Professor of Music at Penn State Harrisburg. He joins us to talk about the cultural and musical impacts of Taylor Swift. Hear what he's learned through his research and what the students he teaches have to say about Taylor Swift.

Dr. Sean Powell is the author of "The Ideology of Competition in School Music" and he joins us to discuss the implications of competitive structures in school music programs.

We're talking with Tonia Asel Kaufman, a Pennsylvania music educator, that has just taken on a new PMEA role related to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion - known as JEDI. Learn about the new role and what it means for music educators.

We're joined by NAMM's Senior Public Policy Advisor Mary Luehrsen as she gets ready to retire at the end of September. Mary reflects on her career including her work advocating for music and provide some advice for all of us.

We're joined by well-known conductor, Anthony Maiello. He shares some stories from his career and provides advice for teachers and students.

On this edition of Take Note, we flip the script and the host becomes the guest as we interview Mark Despotakis, PMEA's Director of Public and Government Affairs about his journey to PMEA and he shares some things music educators should keep on their radar.

Music for All's Advocacy in Action Program is a way to get your program recognized but also learn from music education programs doing great things across the country. We're joined by James Stephens, Music for All's Senior Director of Education and Advocacy and Advocacy in Action award winner, Hayley Winslow, from Saint George, Utah to talk about the program and how you can get involved...

We dive into Modern Band and learn about what it is and how it's being implemented into music education programs. Joining us to talk about Modern Band is Dr. Cassandra Eisenreich, Dr. Warren Gramm, and Henry Pearlberg.

Kathy Campbell is a Professor of Music at Seton Hill University and a new member of the PMEA Hall of Fame. Kathy joins us to talk about her career as she is about to begin her retirement.