Dr. Steve Shanley, Alan Feirer, and national thought leaders explore current issues in music education, with practical application for K-12 music educators.
Dr. Steve Shanley and Alan Feirer
The Music Ed Insights podcast is a valuable resource that delves into important issues in the field of music education. As someone who may not be directly involved in teaching but has frequent interaction with music educators, I find it extremely beneficial to stay informed about their thoughts and discoveries. This podcast allows me to do just that by providing a platform for educators to share their experiences and knowledge while also offering practical tools for improving music education for all students.
One of the best aspects of The Music Ed Insights podcast is the range of topics covered. From discussions about inclusive teaching practices to conversations about integrating technology into the curriculum, this podcast covers a wide variety of subjects that are relevant for teachers at all levels. The hosts, Steve and Alan, are highly knowledgeable and skilled educators themselves, which lends credibility to the content they present. The interviews are well-produced and engaging, with thoughtful questions guiding the conversations.
Furthermore, this podcast excels in its timeliness and relevance. The issues discussed reflect current trends in music education and address pressing concerns faced by teachers today. By keeping up with these episodes, educators can stay informed about advancements in the field and gain access to best practices that can be implemented in their own classrooms. The format of the podcast is also interesting, making it an enjoyable listening experience.
While it is difficult to find any major flaws with The Music Ed Insights podcast, one minor drawback could be that some episodes might not cater to every listener's specific needs or interests. However, given the diversity of topics covered, there is likely something for everyone at some point in the series.
In conclusion, The Music Ed Insights podcast offers a wealth of resources and thought-provoking conversations that can greatly benefit music educators. With talented hosts who provide practical advice and engaging discussions on various topics within music education, this podcast serves as a valuable tool for teachers at all levels. It provides an opportunity to learn from experienced professionals and discover new approaches to enhance the music education experience for all students. I eagerly look forward to future episodes and the insights they will bring.
In this episode, Steve and Alan explore meaningful ways to spend summer break. They discuss combating isolation by nurturing friendships, pursuing personal interests, and providing support to new teachers. Their conversation offers practical insights into maintaining connections and finding purpose during the break, with a focus on professional and personal well-being.
Recorded in front of a live audience at IBA, Alan and Steve talk with Dr. Rodney Dorsey about maximizing the conference experience, work-life balance, and other lessons learned from a lifetime in music education.
Longtime listener and educator Kyle Engelhardt joins Alan and Steve to talk about the power of bringing in outside clinicians. From leadership development to jazz programming, Kyle shares how working with trusted experts helped elevate his students and strengthen his program. Whether you're a veteran or new to the profession, this is a great reminder that you don't have to do it all alone.
In this episode of Music Ed Insights, Alan and Steve welcome longtime listener Michael Kosiek and Carlisle High School principal Andrea Hoekstra. They share how Carlisle's flexible approach to professional development allows teachers—especially music educators—to focus on learning that's relevant to their subject areas. Hear practical advice for how teachers and administrators can work together to create PD that truly supports professional growth.
In this episode of Music Ed Insights, Alan and Steve unpack what makes a compliment truly meaningful—especially in the classroom or rehearsal setting. From specificity to timing to structure, they share practical ways to reinforce good behavior, boost motivation, and show appreciation in a way that actually sticks. Whether you're working with students or colleagues, this quick tip will help you give compliments that make a difference.
Alan and Steve respond to a message from a listener who asks a bold but important question: Are high school music teachers doing too much? From overloaded calendars to student burnout, they explore what drives the packed schedules—and how to lead strong programs without running ourselves or our students into the ground.
Alan and Steve explore how directors can model effective leadership during a clinic or festival rehearsal. It's tempting to jump in, redirect, or show what you already know—but great leadership in these moments often means knowing when to step back. With practical advice on professional etiquette, communication, and presence, this episode helps you get the most out of your guest clinician—for your students and for yourself.
In this episode, Alan and Steve sit down with Chuck Dickerson, the Founder and Music Director of the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (ICYOLA). Chuck shares his insights on the importance of increasing diversity and representation in classical music, and provides actionable strategies for K-12 music educators to make a difference. From incorporating music across the curriculum to advocating for policy changes, Chuck offers a roadmap for teachers to engage underrepresented students and communities. He also discusses ICYOLA's unique approach of creating a supportive, non-competitive environment to foster a love of orchestral music. Tune in to discover practical ways music educators can empower the next generation of musicians and ensure classical music reflects the diversity of our society.
In this episode of Music Ed Insights, Alan and Steve discuss simple but powerful ways to prepare students for clinics and guest rehearsals. From body language and eye contact to answering questions and teacher prep, this conversation offers practical tips for band, choir, orchestra, and general music teachers—especially during festival season. Help your students make the most of these valuable learning moments with confidence and professionalism.
Steve and Alan learn from Jenny Gee, a professor, researcher, and experienced music teacher, about effective classroom management techniques, especially in the post-pandemic environment. Gee shares practical advice and research-backed strategies that teachers can use to address behavior challenges, build relationships with students, and create engaging, safe learning environments.
In this re-release, Alan and Steve revisit their conversation with Dr. Alice Hammel about how and why students with special needs can and should be included in music classes and ensembles. This episode remains one of the most impactful in Music Ed Insights history, offering practical strategies and a shift in mindset that can help every teacher create a more inclusive and effective learning environment. Whether you're hearing it for the first time or listening again, this discussion is full of valuable insights for all music educators.
Steve and Alan take a fresh look at our talk with New Trier director Matt Temple about performing at a very high level without the pressure or benefit of competition. This was our very first episode.
In this insightful discussion, Dr. Matthew Armstrong, Director of Choirs at Wayne State College, engages co-host Alan Feirer in an exploration of the complex topic of student loyalty to music teachers and programs. They examine the potential benefits and pitfalls of cultivating strong loyalty, drawing on their extensive experiences to provide valuable perspectives for music educators. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of how to foster a healthy, inclusive program culture that balances loyalty with other important considerations. Fun fact: all the male voices in our popular Quick Pro Tips jingle are Dr. Armstrong.
Co-host and composer Steve Shanley gets Dr. Lucas Petersen to share a practical process of evaluating the quality of music written for performance ensembles of beginners in their first couple of years of playing. We'll learn five easy criteria to apply: balance and structure, uniqueness/surprises, consistency, genuineness/ingenuity, and craftsmanship/orchestration.
In this episode of Music Ed Insights, Alan and Steve introduce a second “rule” for music educators: Have a reason for what you do—and what you don't do. They apply this idea to ensemble setup, exploring how different seating arrangements can improve balance, blend, and student engagement. Whether you teach band, choir, or orchestra, this episode offers fresh perspectives on getting the best sound from your group.
Steve and Alan talk with musician, producer, educator, and founder of Hip Hop DNA Kiran Vedula about integrating hip-hop into the music classroom. Kiran shares practical strategies for teaching foundational hip-hop concepts like rhythm, layering, and improvisation, as well as tips for fostering creativity and collaboration with students. They discuss the cultural significance of hip-hop, sampling, and using technology like Soundtrap to make beats. Kiran also shares about his nonprofit Flutes at Dawn and his new album "Good News" aimed at uplifting people's spirits through participatory world music traditions
Alan shares a simple but powerful approach to improve collaboration: using the phrase “in order to do my best work.” Learn how this tactic can help you communicate needs effectively and reduce stress, whether working with colleagues, administrators, or students. This tip is valuable for all music educators—band, choir, orchestra, and general music teachers alike.
In this episode, Alan and Steve talk with educator, podcaster, speaker, and author Theresa Hoover about practical strategies for empowering students in music education. They explore ways to give students more ownership over their learning, including soliciting feedback, incorporating student-led activities, and encouraging creativity and composition. The conversation also covers common challenges and how to overcome them when implementing student-centered approaches. Whether you teach elementary general music or high school ensembles, this episode provides actionable ideas to help your students become more engaged and invested musicians.
In this episode, Alan and Steve talk with educator, podcaster, speaker, and author Theresa Hoover about practical strategies for empowering students in music education. They explore ways to give students more ownership over their learning, including soliciting feedback, incorporating student-led activities, and encouraging creativity and composition. The conversation also covers common challenges and how to overcome them when implementing student-centered approaches. Whether you teach elementary general music or high school ensembles, this episode provides actionable ideas to help your students become more engaged and invested musicians.
Steve and Alan demystify common copyright misconceptions and introduce the ArrangeMe platform, a valuable resource for music educators. Learn how to legally arrange music for your groups, explore the benefits and limitations of ArrangeMe, and discover why copyright matters across band, orchestra, choir, and general music settings. Tune in for practical advice and insights that every music teacher can use.
Steve and Alan talk with professor, author, composer, and choral director Marques Garrett about the importance of diversifying choral programming and elevating non-idiomatic works. Garrett shares fascinating personal experiences learning about the rich musical heritage within historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), where choirs have long championed non-idiomatic compositions by Black artists. Garrett discusses the challenges of broadening repertoire choices, the historical context behind the under-representation of Black composers, and the impact of his efforts to increase awareness and performance of this vital body of choral music. The conversation explores Garrett's programming choices, the nuances of cultural appropriation, and the need for inclusive representation in music education. With a focus on practical strategies and the power of community, this episode offers invaluable insights for music educators and anyone passionate about fostering a more diverse musical landscape.
Steve and Alan talk with professor, author, composer, and choral director Marques Garrett about the importance of diversifying choral programming and elevating non-idiomatic works. Garrett shares fascinating personal experiences learning about the rich musical heritage within historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), where choirs have long championed non-idiomatic compositions by Black artists. Garrett discusses the challenges of broadening repertoire choices, the historical context behind the under-representation of Black composers, and the impact of his efforts to increase awareness and performance of this vital body of choral music. The conversation explores Garrett's programming choices, the nuances of cultural appropriation, and the need for inclusive representation in music education. With a focus on practical strategies and the power of community, this episode offers invaluable insights for music educators and anyone passionate about fostering a more diverse musical landscape.
Steve and Alan talk about the past year and preview a bit of what's coming up in early 2025.
Alan and Steve talk to orchestra director Chris Selby about effective ways to improve musical clarity through intonation and rhythm.
In this episode of Music Ed Insights, Alan and Steve tackle one of the most overlooked aspects of music instruction: articulations. While this topic is essential for band directors working with woodwinds and brass, the conversation also holds valuable insights for orchestra, choir, and general music teachers. Discover why articulations are as crucial as notes and rhythms, and how understanding “music as a language” can elevate your teaching approach.
Steve and Alan explore the ways any K-12 educator can implement the philosophy of music as a student birthright in their classrooms and schools. They discuss strategies for increasing access and opportunities for student creativity and composition, as well as building relationships with administrators to strengthen music education programs. Guest Leila Ramagopal Pertl shares her insights on empowering students as musical beings and serving the whole child through general music.
In this episode of Music Ed Insights, Alan and Steve share a simple strategy to engage students and reduce stress through effective delegation. Learn how to delegate tasks in three categories: Organize, Teach, and Appreciate. From managing classroom materials to teaching peers and showing gratitude, these strategies empower students while giving you more time to focus on what matters. Tune in for practical tips to make your teaching life easier!
Alan and Steve sit down with professor Ryan Scherber to explore ways that teachers can integrate social and emotional learning (SEL) into their music classrooms. Scherber provides an overview of key SEL competencies and emphasizes the importance of understanding trauma-informed pedagogy. The discussion covers specific, actionable strategies that music educators can use to foster critical social-emotional skills, from breathing exercises to collaborative composition projects. Scherber also addresses potential challenges teachers may face when implementing SEL. Listeners will come away with a toolbox of easy-to-use SEL techniques tailored for the music classroom.
In this episode of Music Ed Insights, Alan and Steve introduce a simple "pecking order" strategy to help music educators prioritize planning tasks and reduce stress. Learn how to categorize tasks based on urgency—starting with immediate student needs, teammate collaboration, administrative requests, and parent communication. Tune in for a practical method to streamline your planning and stay focused on what matters most!
Recorded in front of a live audience, Alan and Steve sit down with renowned band director Dr. Kelli Pence to learn from her wealth of experience. Kelli reflects on her early teaching days, sharing the mistakes she made and the strategies she's developed over the years to effectively engage students and manage classroom challenges - including dealing with those dreaded "nasty grams" from parents. Kelli also shares invaluable insights from her mentors, like the legendary Mallory Thompson, on the importance of musicianship, the value of teaching at all levels, and the role of marching band. This conversation is packed with practical wisdom and inspiration for music educators at any stage of their career.
After Alan and Steve give a short acceptance speech for receiving Education Podcast of the Year, Steve shares some very practical tips and encouragement for lightening your load by providing opportunities for local college students.
In this episode, recorded live at the Iowa Bandmasters Association convention in May 2024, we sit down with renowned music education thought leader Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser to discuss the enduring relevance of band programs, effective role modeling for aspiring teachers, and navigating the challenges of modern student engagement. Dr. Tim shares his wisdom and insights gleaned from decades of experience, offering practical advice and inspiration for music educators at all stages of their careers. The conversation includes questions from the engaged audience, providing a dynamic and insightful discussion.
Alan and Steve talk to educator Tim Gonzalez about his experiences, successes, and cheat codes teaching in Title I schools.
Alan and Steve discuss your basic options when you are unhappy with an aspect of your job or life. Learn an effective way to take more control of your fate!
Alan and Steve talk to educator Tim Gonzalez about his experiences, successes, and cheat codes teaching in Title I schools.
Alan and Steve each share one bit of wisdom for tackling the new school year.
Alan and Steve talk with educator and counselor Jane Detweiler-Sutliffe, LLPC, about ways to adjust your teaching to minimize the interference caused by student anxiety and/or teacher burnout.
Guest co-host Dennis Green, longtime radio broadcaster and emcee, joins Steve to give teachers some public speaking tips for the upcoming school year.
Alan and Steve have a fun and free-ranging conversation with conductor, clinician, speaker, author, adventurer and advocate Milt Allen about priorities, the relevance of music education, and anxiety. Insider Program: https://patron.podbean.com/MusicEdInsights
Podcast insider and loyal listener Matt Pries guest hosts to lead Alan and Steve through the lightning round questions that Steve has been putting to every guest for the last three years. Finally, you can learn more about your hosts!
Alan and Steve walk through a blog post from NAfME with four pointers on preserving our voices and coping with overuse. Episode Page: https://www.musicedinsights.com/uncategorized/summer-reading-series-vocal-health-for-music-teachers/ Insider Program: https://patron.podbean.com/MusicEdInsights
Alan and Steve bring back past guest audiologist (and violist) Alyssa Ottmar to discuss new data on ear buds. Do their new features really protect our hearing? Steve asked this question of Alyssa the last time she was a guest, and now she's back with a more definitive and detailed answer. Alyssa Ottmar Episode: https://musicedinsights.podbean.com/e/hearing-health-with-alyssa-ottmar/
After Alan and Steve shared and dissected author and classroom management guru Michael Linsin's blog post “The Big Lie of Childhood Trauma,” they invited him back to the podcast to join the conversation. Linsin says, “Throw out SEL and all of its manifestations. Replace it with better subject-matter teaching, more time on task, higher expectations, weighty responsibility, and the demand for impeccable behavior.” Alan and Steve push to explore the nuances of that point of view.
Alan and Steve discuss their reaction – and the reaction of the comments section – to the latest blog post from classroom management author and expert Michael Linsin, whose episode remains one of our most popular ever. Michael Linsin episode: https://musicedinsights.podbean.com/e/classroom-management-with-michael-linsin/ Insider Program: https://patron.podbean.com/MusicEdInsights
In this episode of Music Ed Insights, Alan and Steve introduce a new "summer selected short readings" series. They kick off with insights from James Clear, author of the popular 3-2-1 newsletter. Discover how Clear's ideas on wealth, handling criticism, and measuring your days can help music educators focus on what truly matters. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion! Insider Program: https://patron.podbean.com/MusicEdInsights
Alan and Steve talk about three things Alan's noticed as he's worked with student leaders this summer related to burnout, social skills, and desire to work. Spoiler: it's good news. Also - one caution for directors. Insider Program: https://patron.podbean.com/MusicEdInsights
Steve and Alan review one specific idea from the Glenn Nierman episode and Steve suggests a way you can implement it easily in the fall. Insider Program: https://patron.podbean.com/MusicEdInsights
Steve and Alan talk with documentary filmmaker Samantha Campbell and legendary music educator Doug Goodkin about the Orff Schulwerk method in action. They discuss making jazz accessible to all ages, using improvisation across the curriculum, and reconnecting students through creativity and playfulness in music. Episode Page Insider Program
Alan and Steve share four practical tips for music educators on how to save time using AI to create lesson plans, compose emails, write letters of recommendation, and summarize feedback. Insider Program: https://patron.podbean.com/MusicEdInsights
Alan and Steve talk with orchestra director and wellness enthusiast Ann Smith about ways to connect performance skills to student wellness. Episode Page: https://www.musicedinsights.com/uncategorized/optimizing-health-wellness-and-happiness-with-ann-smith/ Insider Program: https://patron.podbean.com/MusicEdInsights
Alan and Steve discuss the "bopping" rehearsal strategy, a technique commonly used in drum corps and marching bands but adaptable for all ensemble types. Steve explains how "bopping," or focusing on the beginnings of pitches, helps students improve rhythmic accuracy and self-detect mistakes. Tune in to learn how this approach can enhance your rehearsals, along with tips to overcome its challenges.
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