The Crescendo Music Education Podcast

We're diving into the world of singing games - from classics like "London Bridge" to modern favorites like "Alice the Camel" (yes, we went there 😜). Singing games are a fantastic way to engage your students, promote teamwork, and develop important musical skills like rhythm and pitch. 🎵 Plus, they're just plain FUN! 🤩 So whether you're a seasoned music teacher...

Rohan Hardy is Head of Department for the Arts, with the Queensland Department of Education. A specialist in music curriculum, he is a subject matter expert on the external examination writing team with the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority and is the lead curriculum writer on the national advisory team for the SongMakers program with the Australian Performing Rights Association. His...

Rohan Hardy is Head of Department for the Arts, with the Queensland Department of Education. A specialist in music curriculum, he is a subject matter expert on the external examination writing team with the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority and is the lead curriculum writer on the national advisory team for the SongMakers program with the Australian Performing Rights Association. His...

Wendy Rolls enjoys working with singers of all ages as teacher, conductor and performer. She currently divides her time teaching singing between Brisbane Girls Grammar School, All Hallows’ School and her private studio, as well as conducting an auditioned chamber choir for middle school girls. With extensive choral and classroom music experience, Wendy’s interest in adolescent girls’ singing was s...

Wendy Rolls enjoys working with singers of all ages as teacher, conductor and performer. She currently divides her time teaching singing between Brisbane Girls Grammar School, All Hallows’ School and her private studio, as well as conducting an auditioned chamber choir for middle school girls. With extensive choral and classroom music experience, Wendy’s interest in adolescent girls’ singing was s...

Paul Jarman is a widely acclaimed Australian composer, performer, musical director, conductor and educator. His music has inspired singers and audiences around the world. As a cultural ambassador he has performed extensively throughout Australia, Europe, Asia, North America and the Pacific in over 40 countries with theatre productions, dance ensembles, Aboriginal-Anglo Celtic performance groups, c...

Paul Jarman is a widely acclaimed Australian composer, performer, musical director, conductor and educator. His music has inspired singers and audiences around the world. As a cultural ambassador he has performed extensively throughout Australia, Europe, Asia, North America and the Pacific in over 40 countries with theatre productions, dance ensembles, Aboriginal-Anglo Celtic performance groups, c...

Paul Jarman is a widely acclaimed Australian composer, performer, musical director, conductor and educator. His music has inspired singers and audiences around the world. As a cultural ambassador he has performed extensively throughout Australia, Europe, Asia, North America and the Pacific in over 40 countries with theatre productions, dance ensembles, Aboriginal-Anglo Celtic performance groups, c...

Kaboom Percussion was founded by Catherine Betts and Joshua Webster in 2014 and since then they have taken the world by storm with their own unique, original and enormously successful repertoire. Their popular education programs have been extremely well received and they have performed their highly sought-after  School Shows  to more than 100,000 students across Australia and New Zealand. This hug...

Kaboom Percussion was founded by Catherine Betts and Joshua Webster in 2014 and since then they have taken the world by storm with their own unique, original and enormously successful repertoire. Their popular education programs have been extremely well received and they have performed their highly sought-after  School Shows  to more than 100,000 students across Australia and New Zealand. This hug...

Bill Henry is a seasoned elementary music teacher, presenter, and creator of the popular YouTube channel, Mr. Henry’s Music World, which offers high-quality, entertaining videos for music teachers & kids with millions of views across the channel. Bill is also the co-creator and producer of The Music Podcast for Kids, which was featured in The New York Times as one of the top music audio shows...

Bill Henry is a seasoned elementary music teacher, presenter, and creator of the popular YouTube channel, Mr. Henry’s Music World, which offers high-quality, entertaining videos for music teachers & kids with millions of views across the channel. Bill is also the co-creator and producer of The Music Podcast for Kids, which was featured in The New York Times as one of the top music audio shows...

Dan Walker is one of Australia’s most in-demand choral specialists and has a compassion for composing. He has written music for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Gondwana Choirs and Halcyon. As a performer, Dan is a member of the Clarion vocal quartet, Sydney-based Cantillation, and Pinchgut Opera. He is a guest performer with The Song Comp...

Dan Walker is one of Australia’s most in-demand choral specialists and has a compassion for composing. He has written music for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Gondwana Choirs and Halcyon. As a performer, Dan is a member of the Clarion vocal quartet, Sydney-based Cantillation, and Pinchgut Opera. He is a guest performer with The Song Comp...

Katherine is passionate about sharing the love of music with children of all ages and is well known for the original ideas and creativity that she brings to choral rehearsals, and also with the choral pieces that she composes. Her choral pieces are sung all around Australia and throughout the World. Katherine Ruhle is an early childhood music specialist, children’s choral composer and choral condu...

Katherine is passionate about sharing the love of music with children of all ages and is well known for the original ideas and creativity that she brings to choral rehearsals, and also with the choral pieces that she composes. Her choral pieces are sung all around Australia and throughout the World. Katherine Ruhle is an early childhood music specialist, children’s choral composer and choral condu...

Denise Gagne has authored or edited many publications including the Musicplay: Teach Music Your Way! and MusicplayOnline.com curriculum. Denise has taught instrumental, choral and classroom music from babies and preschool to College levels. She has degrees in music and education, as well as Level 3 certification in both Kodaly and Orff. Denise has authored or edited many publications including the...

Denise Gagne has authored or edited many publications including the Musicplay: Teach Music Your Way! and MusicplayOnline.com curriculum. Denise has taught instrumental, choral and classroom music from babies and preschool to College levels. She has degrees in music and education, as well as Level 3 certification in both Kodaly and Orff. Denise has authored or edited many publications including the...

Australian Michael Griffin is the author of “Metacognition: Teaching Children to Think”. He’s also an educator, keynote speaker, conductor and pianist. Michael’s professional development for staff and enrichment lectures for students and parents examine the factors that impact continuous improvement toward exceptional achievement. Face-to-face sessions,  online courses  and published books, explor...

Australian Michael Griffin is the author of Metacognition: Teaching Children to Think. He’s also an educator, keynote speaker, conductor and pianist. Michael’s professional development for staff and enrichment lectures for students and parents examine the factors that impact continuous improvement toward exceptional achievement. Face-to-face sessions,  online courses  and published books, explore...

Using manipulatives such as Paddle Pop Sticks in the Primary/Elementary Music Classroom is so important. Students need to practice known concepts in many different contexts to ensure understanding. Teachers also need to cater for all learning styles so that the children stay engaged and have fun while learning. Not an easy task! Manipulatives in the music room can really help. Paddle Pop Sticks ar...

Astrid Jorgensen is a Brisbane-based choral conductor, composer, producer, and presenter with an unquenchable thirst for teaching the world to sing. She is the founder director of ‘Pub Choir™’ and it’s online Covid adaptation ‘Couch Choir’, as well as co-creator and co-host of live TV spectacular ‘Australia’s Biggest Singalong!’. Astrid has sung with over 300,000 people worldwide since 2017, inclu...

“Pub Choir is really always about embracing average and letting people be free to be average. I think as a society/culture, we’re very obsessed with trying to be the best and feeling really competitive about stuff, but it’s really quite freeing to feel unimportant.” Astrid Jorgensen on the Crescendo Music Education Podcast Astrid Jorgensen is a Brisbane-based choral conductor, composer, producer,...

Deb Brydon is a primary music specialist who returned to music teaching after working as a Senior Project Writer with Education Queensland’s Curriculum into the Classroom project, writing for Music and The Arts. In 2020 she earned national accreditation as a Highly Accomplished Teacher. She has taught primary school music for over 20 years in both Charters Towers and Brisbane. Deb has been an accr...

Intentional Collaboration is “working at working together”. Music teachers are naturally in an isolating position but it doesn’t have to be isolating. Listen as Deb Brydon explains IC (Intentional Collaboration). Deb Brydon is a primary music specialist who returned to music teaching after working as a Senior Project Writer with Education Queensland’s Curriculum into the Classroom project, writing...