Coloring the Melody

Follow Coloring the Melody
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

Female music teachers of color discussing the realities of life and aiming to break the “norm” in education. Our mission is contributing a different voice in topics such as music, education, faith, and multiculturalism.


    • Jun 9, 2021 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 38m AVG DURATION
    • 14 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from Coloring the Melody with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Coloring the Melody

    Finding Identity and Healing Through Music (Part 2) with Jon Seligman - S02E07

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2021 26:23


    In this episode with Jon Seligman, Nora and Darlene discuss grief, safety in classrooms, and vulnerability. Jonathan Seligman has been teaching choir, band, ukulele, and general music for TK-6th grade at Casillas Elementary for 6 years, creating a new music community from the ground up. Academically, Seligman has received his B.Mus in Music Composition and a MA in Teaching from Point Loma Nazarene University. He has furthered his learning, being trained in ways of Feierabend and being fully Orff-Schulwerk certified. Seligman is also the co-founder of the CVE Collaborative Concert, an annual event that brings students from around Chula Vista to play music together in celebration rather than competition. Seligman's mission in all his groups is to teach beyond music literacy and discipline. While they are vital, his goal first and foremost is for students to be in tune with their musical expression. You can find Jonathan on the following social media platforms: Twitter and Instagram: @mrseligman Chaotic Harmony Podcast: https://www.chaoticharmonyclassroom.com Twitter and Instagram: @CHClasroom On Music and Grief: Using Song to Help a Community in Trauma: https://acemm.org/2021/01/on-music-and-grief-using-song-to-help-a-community-in-trauma/ Forecast Episode 2: https://www.foreshadowmagazine.com/magazine/forecast-ep-2-blessed-are-those-who-mourn

    Finding Identity and Healing Through Music (Part 1) with Jon Seligman - S02E06

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2021 55:56


    In this episode, Nora and Darlene interview Jonathan Seligman and talk about music programs, representation and buzzwords. This is part one of two of the conversation. Jonathan Seligman has been teaching choir, band, ukulele, and general music for TK-6th grade at Casillas Elementary for 6 years, creating a new music community from the ground up. Academically, Seligman has received his B.Mus in Music Composition and a MA in Teaching from Point Loma Nazarene University. He has furthered his learning, being trained in ways of Feierabend and being fully Orff-Schulwerk certified. Seligman is also the co-founder of the CVE Collaborative Concert, an annual event that brings students from around Chula Vista to play music together in celebration rather than competition. Seligman's mission in all his groups is to teach beyond music literacy and discipline. While they are vital, his goal first and foremost is for students to be in tune with their musical expression. You can find Jonathan on the following social media platforms: Twitter and Instagram: @mrseligman Chaotic Harmony Podcast: https://www.chaoticharmonyclassroom.com Twitter and Instagram: @CHClasroom Steve Giddings: @StevesMusicRoom “Songs of the Sun” by Tiffany Barry: https://www.beatinpathpublications.com/TBarry/home.html

    Creating A Safe Space with Katie Norregaard - S02E05

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2021 45:21


    In this episode, Darlene and Nora get to know Katie Norregaard and have a conversation on her work as a teaching artist for children's music online. Katie Norregaard, better known as @misskatiesings on Instagram and TikTok, is a songwriter, music teacher, and filmmaker based in Chicago, Illinois. Her work in creating songs and videos for children online have spread throughout the internet. Through her music, she promotes social-emotional learning, tenderness, and justice. In addition to content creation, Katie teaches virtual music classes to children across the United States. You can find her on Instagram, Youtube, and Tiktok. Instagram: @misskatiesings TikTok: @misskatiesings YouTube: Miss Katie Sings Website: https://www.misskatiesings.com/

    Lifting As We Climb with Franklin Willis - S02E04

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2021 48:37


    Franklin Willis is an African American educator, leader, children's book author, mentor, songwriter, and scholar. He graduated from the University of Memphis with a Bachelor of Music Education, emphasizing in Choral Music. He also earned the Master of Education Degree in Nonprofit Leadership from Belmont University. Most recently, Willis completed the Education Specialist Degree with an emphasis in Instructional Leadership from Tennessee Technological University. As an Elementary Music Coach, he equips teachers with instructional support and necessary resources to strengthen their professional acumen and enhance their classrooms. ​He consistently collaborates with colleagues, community organizations, local businesses, colleges, and universities. He also is passionate to advocate for the importance of music education in schools and develop a curriculum that will lead to students' higher engagement. Through his work, Willis has received national recognition for his commitment to student learning, passion for the profession, and innovative teaching practices. He is a three-time recipient of the CMA Foundation Music Teacher of Excellence Award. To learn more about Franklin's work as a music educator, check out the following platforms: Instagram: @fwillismusic Website: www.fwillismusic.com Clothing Company: www.princerhythmcompany.com

    Inclusivity - Music for All with Anabel Pauline - S02E03

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2021 38:00


    Anabel Pauline is a Colombian, Mexican-American singer, high school choral director, and scholar. She graduated from Cal State University Fullerton with a Bachelor of Music in music Education with Choral Emphasis. Anabel has been a choral director for 5 years. She is a first-generation graduate in her family. Anabel is passionate about inclusivity and advocacy. We are so excited to have her here today to share her passions in creating new ways of helping our communities. You can find her on Instagram and YouTube @shapinghumans. Resources Book: For White Folks who teach in the Hood & the rest of y'all too: Reality Pedagogy and Urban Education (Dr. Christopher Emdin) Instagram: @imterencelester UDL: https://udlguidelines.cast.org/ Website: https://shapinghumans.weebly.com/ Instagram: @shapinghumans YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqJg9k9csw1LyP0nxqLh8JQ

    Activism and Representation Beyond February with Alice Tsui - S02E02

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2021 48:20


    Our first guest on the Coloring the Melody podcast is Alice Tsui! In this episode, Darlene and Alice discuss seeing ourselves in music education, doing better in featuring people of color throughout the school year, and authentically moving beyond the month of February when celebrating Lunar New Year and Black History Month. Alice Tsui is an Asian American/Chinese American pianist, music educator, scholar, activist and lifelong Brooklyn, New Yorker. She graduated from New York University with a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and a Master of Arts in Music Education, and is currently a doctoral candidate (ABD) in music education at Boston University. Alice is the founding music teacher at P.S. 532 New Bridges Elementary, an arts-integrated public elementary school in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, and is on the piano faculty at the Manhattan School of Music Summer program. Alice is a contributor and moderator for Decolonizing the Music Room. As a product of the NYC public school system, Alice is passionate about decolonizing, anti-racist, abolitionist public music education and empowering the individual and collective voices of youth through music as expression. To learn more about Alice's work as a music educator, check out the following platforms: Website: www.musicwithmissalice.com & www.alicetsui.com Instagram: @musicwithmissalice Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/ps532newbridges Alice's resources mentioned in the episode: Fung Bros: “Lunar New Year” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kITSHko2sHc Gong Xi: https://www.carnegiehall.org/Education/Programs/Musical-Explorers/Digital/Program-Six/Qian-Yi/Lesson-2 Xue Hua Piao Piao Lesson: https://yoyochinese.com/blog/learn-viral-chinese-song-xue-hua-piao-piao-eggman-mandarin Harold Simmons: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFgf5B_YL5m9w5gdrBxXxZw Elena Moon Park: https://www.elenamoonpark.com/ Soul Science Lab: https://www.soulsciencelab.com/ Kanneh-Mason Family: http://www.kannehmasons.com/ Two Set Violin: https://www.twosetviolin.com/ Black Violin: https://blackviolin.net/ The String Queens: https://thestringqueens.com/ Keedron Bryant: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJvR2QWXfYBeov-7Y-Fw2Fw Alan Z: https://www.instagram.com/alanzmusic/ All of the artists with Carnegie Hall's Musical Explorers program: https://www.carnegiehall.org/Education/Programs/Musical-Explorers Role Model - Alicia Keys: https://www.youtube.com/user/aliciakeys

    Intentions > Resolutions - S02E01

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2021 22:41


    Instead of making New Year's resolutions, Nora and Darlene reflect on the year 2020 and share their intentions and words for 2021. Follow us on Instagram: @coloringthemelodypodcast

    Intentions Behind Amplifying Voices of Color - S01E07

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2020 34:53


    This time of the month is both Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15- Oct.15) and Filipinx American History Month (Oct. 1-31)! Nora and Darlene go over the background behind these celebrations that highlight their ethnicities, their experiences with encountering music from their own culture, and what kind of intentions that educators need to consider when observing this in their music classrooms.

    Who Sits at Your Table? - S01E06

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2020 36:54


    Nora and Darlene discuss what life experiences and people have brought them to bring to their table.

    Shortcuts - S01E05

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2020 37:38


    As teachers and grad students, Nora and Darlene casually converse over what shortcuts have worked best for them as well as what shortcuts to avoid.

    Toxic Talk - S01E04

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2020 41:30


    Toxicity can be found everywhere - in friendships, in family, or in the workplace. Nora and Darlene discuss identifying healthy friendships, navigating through teacher lounge talk, and recognizing toxic positivity. Find us on Instagram and Facebook. Feel free to email us at coloringthemelodypodcast@gmail.com.

    Thoughts on Social and Emotional Learning - S01E03

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2020 21:45


    What is SEL? Darlene and Nora talk about an overview of Social and Emotional Learning, cultural responsiveness, and the importance of understanding that our students are human too. Instagram Facebook Email: coloringthemelodypodcast@gmail.com

    Breaking Stereotypes - S01E02

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2020 45:26


    In this episode, we will discuss typical Filipino and Hispanic stereotypes that we have encountered ourselves. Darlene will address the myth of the model minority ("All Asians are good at math") and Filipino nurses. Nora will discuss contradictory labels ("Hispanics are either hard workers or uneducated/lazy people") and clarify Hispanics' assumptions of joining gangs. History of Filipino Nurses: https://news.berkeley.edu/2019/05/28/filipino-nurses-in-the-us-podcast/ Instagram Facebook Email: coloringthemelodypodcast@gmail.com

    Colorism - S01E01

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2020 31:35


    Welcome to Coloring the Melody! We are kicking off this podcast discussing our encounters with colorism as Filipina and Hispanic music educators. In this episode, we talk about our childhood and college experiences with financial aid counselors, light-skin obsessions, and a few call-to-action tips. Instagram Facebook Email: coloringthemelodypodcast@gmail.com

    Claim Coloring the Melody

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel