The Theory Club: A Music Theory and Musicology Podcast

In this episode, I chat all about my past semester of continuing this year's touring season with Opera For The Young, giving my first lecture recital, and formally starting my dissertation research. I also give an update on the podcast release schedule this summer and contemplate the goals I have for the upcoming season.Consider joining the HMA book club for our next meeting in early July! Sign up for free on Substack to get all of the relevant book club information.Opera For The YoungPodcast episode on King Harald's SagaMy recording of King Harald's Saga on YouTubeMy lecture recitalMy SMT-Pod publicationMidwest Graduate Music ConsortiumMy episode with Dr. Louise ToppinGet in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

In this episode, I chat with The Dolphins Quartet (violinists Luke Henderson and Issac Park, violist James Preucil, and cellist Ian Maloney) about their backgrounds in music, their time at The Juilliard School, and how they met and started working together. We also discuss their rehearsal process, how they choose repertoire to perform, how they compose music for themselves, and their collaborations with living composers. Finally, we talk about their experience performing in the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival and their upcoming performance with the festival this summer.Join us for our May book club meeting on Saturday, May 24th at 3:00 pm EST! Find us on Substack to get all of the book club details!The Dolphins Quartet websiteThe Great Lakes Chamber Music FestivalProject Music Heals UsKneisel Hall Music FestivalGet in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

In this episode, I chat with Dr. Cora Palfy (Washington and Jefferson College) about her musical upbringing as a singer, her time studying music theory and cognition at Northwestern, and her music theory pedagogy article on "the hidden curriculum." We also dive into her 2022 book Musical Agency and The Social Listener, which discusses music as an agent that acts upon the listener through narrative. Join us for our next HMA book club meeting in May! Sign up at hermusicacademia.com/book-club to get all of the information about the next meeting!Cora on Academia.eduMusical Agency and The Social ListenerRobert Hatten's A Theory of Virtual Agency for Western Art MusicArnie Cox's "Embodying Music: Principles of the Mimetic Hypothesis"Hidden Brain podcast with Nicholas EpleyMy episode on Suzanne CusickMy episode with Vivian LuongGet in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

In this episode, I chat with Lee Thomas Richardson about Beyoncé's eighth studio album, Cowboy Carter, including its reception by the Beyhive, our favorite (and least favorite) tracks, the nominations and awards the album received at the 2024 Grammys, and Beyoncé's new products that further expand her brand.Join us for our next book club meeting on Sunday, April 27th at 1:30 pm EST! Sign up for the ⁠Substack newsletter⁠ and join the HMA Discord for more information!⁠My episode on Renaissance with ismatu gwendolyn⁠⁠My episode on TikTok music criticism with @hennyondatok⁠⁠My episode on timbre in 1980s pop music with Megan Lavengood⁠⁠Eric Harvey on pop music consumption⁠⁠Vibe Check's review of Cowboy Carter⁠⁠Top Four⁠Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

In this episode, I chat with Lee Thomas Richardson about his musical upbringing as a saxophonist and a vocalist, his path to music theory, and the start of his research on Beyoncé and fandom. We also discuss Beyoncé's eighth studio album, Cowboy Carter. Stay tuned for part two of our conversation!Join us for our next book club meeting on Sunday, April 27th at 3:00 pm EST! Sign up for the Substack newsletter and join the HMA Discord for more information!My episode on Renaissance with ismatu gwendolynMy episode on TikTok music criticism with @hennyondatokMy episode on timbre in 1980s pop music with Megan LavengoodEric Harvey on pop music consumptionVibe Check's review of Cowboy CarterTop FourGet in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

In this episode, I chat with Dr. Shannon Draucker (Siena College) about her musical upbringing as a clarinetist, her experience in an English PhD program at Boston University, and her current pedagogical practices at Siena. We also discuss her recent book Sounding Bodies: Acoustical Science and Musical Erotics in Victorian Literature, as well as her current research on orchestra culture and concert etiquette. The next HMA book club meeting takes place on Sunday, March 2 at 3:00 pm EST! Sign up for the book club newsletter at hermusicacademia.com/book-club.Sounding BodiesShannon's websiteMy episode with Candace BaileyNatural BeautyThe Violin ConspiracySymphony of SecretsGet in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

In this episode, I chat with Dr. Kristin Franseen (Western University) about her musical upbringing as a bassist, her early interest in becoming an orchestral librarian, and her time at McGill University earning a PhD in musicology. We also chat about her first book, Imagining Musical Pasts, and her current research on the intersection of music and gossip, specifically within the supposed feud between Mozart and Salieri. The HMA book club meets this Sunday, January 26th at 3:00 pm EST! Sign up on Substack to get the book and book club emails! Imagining Musical Pasts Kristin's website Kristin's article "Have Quotes about Salieri" Kristin's article "The Salieri Rumor and Why Gossip Matters" Kristin's article "The Song of the Dying Composer" Jazz by Toni Morrison My episode with Jair Gallardo My episode with Brad Osborn My episode with Patrick Nickleson Patrick Nickleson's The Names of Minimalism Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

In this episode, I chat about landing my first lead role with a professional touring opera company (!!), singing in the Laffont Metropolitan Opera competition (!!!), my first publication in Music Theory Spectrum (!!!!), and completing my dissertation proposal (!!!!!!). I also discuss my yearly theme for 2024 and set a new theme for 2025. Join us in the new year for our next book club meeting on Sunday, January 26 at 3:00 pm EST! My article in Music Theory Spectrum Opera For The Young CGP Grey video on yearly themes Cortex episode on yearly themes Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

In this episode, I chat with Dr. Stephen Rodgers (University of Oregon) about his musical upbringing as a pianist, his path to studying music theory at Yale, and his current pedagogical practices at Oregon. We also chat about his art song analysis podcast, Resounding Verse, as well as the field of music theory's response to the public music theory plenary session in November 2023. Our next book club meeting is scheduled for Sunday, December 1st at 3:00 pm Eastern Standard Time! Sign up for the book club on Substack! Resounding Verse Art Song Augmented The Songs of Fanny Hansel Poetry Unbound Song Exploder Switched on Pop Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

In this episode, I discuss our first two official meetings of the HMA book club, HMA on Substack and Discord, and the agreed upon community guidelines for our gatherings. I also introduce the November book club pick, which is A Third University Is Possible by la paperson. Join us for our third synchronous meeting on Sunday, December 1 at 3:00 pm EST! A Third University Is Possible "Trust and Sincerity in Art" HMA on Substack Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

In this episode, I chat with D.C. based violinist Melanie Bates about her musical upbringing and her experience getting back into performance as an adult. We also discuss Black Music Academy, Melanie's grant funded project to educate D.C. students about the history, impact, and repertoire of Black classical musicians. This month, the HMA Book Club is meeting synchronously on Sunday, October 27th at 3:00 pm Eastern Standard Time. Sign up for free on Substack to get the book details and Zoom link! Melanie's website Melanie's upcoming performance (Franklin Park Arts Center) Melanie's interview (Levine Music) Melanie on Facebook Melanie on Instagram Melanie on LinkedIn Sphinx Organization Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

In this episode, I chat with Guilherme Andreas about his musical upbringing in Brazil, his experiences as a flautist and an arranger, and his 2022 debut album Beyond Bossa Nova. We dive into his search for Brazilian classical music for the album, his recording process, and his upcoming projects. Stream Beyond Bossa Nova wherever you get your music! Beyond Bossa Nova Guilherme's website Akropolis Reed Quintet Sphinx Organization Aaron Dworkin's book Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

In this episode, I officially launch the HMA Book Club! I discuss my own relationship to reading, why I think communities of reading are important, and my hopes for how this project might unfold. Our first online book club meeting (relax, just to chat about this episode!) is Sunday, September 29th at 4:00 pm EST. Sign up at hermusicacademia.com/book-club to get the Zoom link and lookout for Her Music Academia on Substack! For Harriet on YouTube Kim's video on Black Women in Luxury Kim's video on The Spectacle of Sexual Liberation Kim's video on Megan Thee Stallion The Truth Will Set You Free, But First It Will Piss You Off! by Gloria Steinem All About Love by bell hooks Dear Ijeawele, Or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie When Chickenheads Come Home To Roost by Joan Morgan The Self-Love Revolution by Virgie Tovar Fearing The Black Body by Sabrina Strings Belly of the Beast by Da'Shaun Harrison My podcast episode with Megan Ihnen Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

In this solo episode, I chat about all of my musical endeavors over the summer, including singing in two opera productions, presenting at the music theory pedagogy conference, and grading exams at the College Board AP music theory grading session. I also discuss reading The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, starting my dissertation proposal (eek!), and I take a listen to my own recorded arias for the Metropolitan Opera competition (double eek!). Finally, I present the new fall podcasting schedule and reveal the next new project for Her Music Academia! Motor City Lyric Opera My recording of "Ach ich fühls" My recording of "Piangero la sorte mia" My recording of "I Want Magic" My recording of "Summertime" Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

In our last summer bonus episode, I chat with Audrey Slote (University of Chicago) about her musical upbringing as a cellist, her path to studying music theory, and her current dissertation project about stylistic and thematic shifts in 2010's pop music. More specifically, we explore Solange's A Seat at the Table and Bon Iver's 22, A Million for evidence of these shifts in style before and after 2016. Audrey's Nicole Mitchell podcast forthcoming in SMT-Pod Audrey's article on Janelle Monáe Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

In this bonus episode, I chat with Dr. Brad Osborn (University of Kansas) about his musical upbringing, his experience in grad school at Florida State and the University of Washington, and how he got into popular music research. We also discuss his latest work on MTV Buzz Clips from the 90's and the music of his metal band, D'Archipelago. Brad's podcast about music and mental health Brad's article in Music and Science Brad on the Dissect Podcast Everything In Its Right Place: Analyzing Radiohead Interpreting Music Video American Popular Music D'Archipelago Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

In this special bonus episode, I chat with Jair Gallardo, the official editor for Her Music Academia! We discuss his musical upbringing inspired by video game music, how we met in community college, and his experiences as a multi-instrumentalist and teacher. We also chat about how he got into audio editing and engineering, his creative process, and some of his current creative projects. Connect with Jair if you need some audio/video engineering services! Jair's Linktree Cubase Cakewalk Bandlab Playing With Something That Runs: Technology, Improvisation, and Composition in DJ and Laptop Performance Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

In this solo episode, I chat all about my last semester of classes, my final papers, and my experience teaching aural skills at the sophomore level. I also discuss embarking on my first archival trips and balancing my research with my various singing endeavors. Finally, I contemplate my yearly theme of imagination and give an update on the podcast's new release schedule. "The Captive Maternal" by Joy James bell hooks lecture "When Malindy Sings" by Farah Jasmine Griffin Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

In our last episode for Women's History Month, I chat with Dr. Rachel Lumsden (Florida State University) about her experiences as a flautist, her time in grad school at CUNY, and the music theory curriculum at FSU. We also discuss how she got into music theory and feminist studies, as well as her award winning MTO article "Music Theory for the 'Weaker Sex': Oliveria Prescott's Columns for The Girl's Own Paper." Thank you for tuning in this season! Stay tuned for the semester in review episode in May! Rachel's MTO article Rachel's chapter in the Oxford Handbook of Public Music Theory Robin James's "Why Is There No Music Analysis in Feminist Theory?" Denise Von Glahn's Circle of Winners Susanne Cusick's "Feminist Theory, Music Theory," and the Mind/Body Problem" Queering the Pitch Marc Hannaford's "Fugitive Music Theory and George Russell's Theory of Tonal Gravity" Stephen Lett's "Making a Home of The Society for Music Theory, Inc." Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

Our third episode for Women's History Month, in which I chat with Dr. Candace Bailey (North Carolina Central University) about her musical upbringing as a pianist, her path to historical musicology, and her time in graduate school at Duke. We also discuss her current music history curriculum at NCCU and her 2021 book Unbinding Gentility: Women Making Music in the 19th Century South. Unbinding Gentility Candace's new article Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

In our second episode for Women's History Month, I chat with Dr. Jan Miyake (Oberlin Conservatory) about her musical upbringing, her path to music theory, and her current tenure as the president of the Society for Music Theory. We also discuss her course "Questioning Genius," which challenges students to analyze a wide range of music and introduces "ungrading" into the classroom. Finally, we finish with a conversation about mentorship. Running To The Noise podcast Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

Our first episode for Women's History Month! I chat with Dr. Louise Toppin (University of Michigan) about her musical upbringing, her experience studying piano and voice, and her time as a graduate student at Michigan. We also discuss her current book project with the Humanities Collaboratory and her African American art song class. Humanities Collaboratory Our Florence Price radio episode Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

For our last episode of Black History Month, I chat with Willard Jenkins about his early interest in record collecting, how he began writing reviews of jazz, and his time in festival management, specifically with the DC Jazz Festival. We also discuss his book project Ain't But A Few Of Us, which features several Black writers, critics, and music academics who write about Black music. Ain't But A Few Of Us: Black Music Writers Tell Their Story Open Sky Jazz DC Jazz Festival Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

On our third episode for Black History Month, I chat with musician, entrepreneur, poet, and spoken word artist Aaron Dworkin (University of Michigan) all about his musical upbringing, his work in arts leadership, and his experience founding the Sphinx Organization. We also chat about his 2023 spoken word album The Poetjournalist, and explore the various intersections of art, storytelling, and Black history. Stream The Poetjournalist Aaron's website Arts Engines Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

In this episode, I chat with Jerome Bell (Eastman School of Music) about his musical upbringing in the church, his experiences in performance and composition, and how he ended up in a music theory PhD program. We also chat about his recent paper that he presented at the Society for Music Theory annual meeting in November 2023, titled "Modal Fluidity in Millennial Gospel," about shifting harmony in the music of Tye Tribbett and Richard Smallwood. Jerome's website Jerome's paper Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

Welcome back to a new season of the show! On our first episode of Black History Month, I chat with pop music critic and commentator Henny all about their musical upbringing, when they began thinking critically about music, and how they got into content creation. We also discuss the use of different scales, modes, and instrumentation in pop music to elicit a sense of promiscuity, danger, or rebellion. Check out Henny's work on all the platforms! Henny's YouTube channel Henny's Substack Henny's Instagram Henny's Patreon Megan Lavengood's MTO article about timbre in 1980's pop music Why Pipe Organ Sound Scary video essay Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

A special bonus episode, in which I chat with composer, pianist, conductor, and coach Raphael Fusco. We talk about his musical upbringing, how he fashioned such a multifaceted career in music, and his time on the faculty at Opera Lucca, an Italian summer young artist program for singers, pianists, and composers (which I got to attend!). We also discuss and listen to his composition La Contesa Canora and dive into his compositional process. Raphael's website Opera Lucca Raphael's YouTube Channel Le parole dei mesi Raphael's opera inSOMNIA "Quarantine Camp" An American Requiem Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

HMA's last episode of the year, in which I review my fall semester! I chat about the classes I took, give an update on my teaching, discuss my big preliminary exam, and contemplate the conversation surrounding the public music theory plenary session at SMT's annual meeting. I also look back at my theme for 2023 and pick a new theme for 2024. Stay tuned for our new season of HMA beginning February 5! Happy holidays to you and yours! Sphinx Connect Music Journalism Insider with Todd L. Burns CGP Grey video about themes Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

Our last episode in the HMA fall season! I chat with Megan Ihnen, a New Orleans based mezzo soprano who collaborates with living composers to commission new works. We discuss her musical upbringing, her work in coaching and entrepreneurship, and her touring duo with alto saxophonist Alan Theisen. We also dive into her workshops on creative placemaking and the role that music making plays in communities. Megan's website Megan's Instagram Megan Ihnen and Alan Theisen presents... Live Music Project The Great Good Place by Ray Oldenburg "Researching Music- and Place-Making Through Engaged Practice" by Aoife Kavanagh Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

Episode seven of our fall season, in which I chat with San Fransisco based soprano Chelsea Hollow about her musical upbringing, our shared experiences in community college, and how she's built her current singing career. We also discuss her 2023 debut album Cycles of Resistance, for which she commissioned twenty-two songs about resistance in eight different languages. Finally, we dive into the intersection of opera, art song, and activism to explore the role of music and artistry in resistance movements. Stream Cycles of Resistance Chelsea's website Chelsea's database of language coaches Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

Part two of my conversation with Dr. Owen Belcher (University of Missouri Kansas City), Dr. Catrina Kim, and Dr. Alan Reese (University of Massachusetts Amherst), where we discuss music entrepreneurship, the "usefulness" of music theory, and their recent MTO article, "Public Music Theory's Neoliberal Learning Outcomes." ⁠Public Music Theory's Neoliberal Learning Outcomes⁠ Andrea Moore's "Neoliberalism and the Musical Entrepreneur" Note Doctors podcast My episode with Dr. Malia Jade Roberson about Music Entrepreneurship A Third University Is Possible by la paperson My lecture on A Third University Is Possible The Education Myth by Jon Shelton Diversity, Inc. by Pamela Newkirk My episode with Dr. Vivian Luong about Music Loving Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

In part one of this episode, I chat with Dr. Owen Belcher (University of Missouri Kansas City), Dr. Catrina Kim, and Dr. Alan Reese (University of Massachusetts Amherst) about their musical upbringings, their time together in grad school at Eastman, and their advice to current music grad students. Stay tuned for part two of our conversation when we chat about their recent MTO article, "Public Music Theory's Neoliberal Learning Outcomes." Public Music Theory's Neoliberal Learning Outcomes Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

In episode four of our fall season, I chat with Chris Jenkins (Oberlin College) about his musical upbringing in New York, his career as a violist, his current work as the Associate Dean of Academic Support at Oberlin Conservatory, and our shared experiences as Black musicians. We also discuss his new book Assimilation vs. Integration in Music Education: Leading Change Toward Greater Equity. The upcoming Theorizing African American Music Conference Assimilation vs. Integration in Music Education Chris's episode of SMT-Pod Olly Wilson's chapter "The Heterogenous Sound Ideal in African-American Music" Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

In episode three of our fall season, I chat with Dr. Patrick Nickleson (University of Alberta) about his musical upbringing in Canada, his background as a guitarist, and his path to musicology. We also discuss his 2023 book The Names of Minimalism: Authorship, Art Music, and Historiography in Dispute, available now through the University of Michigan Press. The Names of Minimalism Philip Ewell's On Music Theory Patrick's upcoming paper at AMS Patrick's radio show Patrick's co-authored essay in The Affect Theory Reader 2 Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

In the second episode of this season, I chat with Dr. Michael Buchler (Florida State University) about his musical upbringing, his time in grad school at Michigan (go blue!) and Eastman, his research on musical theatre, and his current tenure as the President of the Society for Music Theory. We also discuss his current union work and how that led to his research on the intersection of music and labor movements. Here for the Hearing Michael's upcoming plenary session at the College Music Society national conference My performance at the Theorizing African American Music Conference Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

In our first episode of our new season, I chat with YouTuber Cory Arnold (12Tone) all about their musical upbringing, their experiences as a singer, and their journey to making YouTube videos about music theory. Come see Cory and I speak on the Public Music Theory plenary session panel at the Society for Music Theory's annual meeting in November! This episode was edited by Jair G with ⁠ExpMediaProductions.⁠ 12Tone on Youtube 12Tone's Carly Rae Jepsen video 12Tone on Patreon Ghost Notes Podcast Musicking by Christopher Small Adam Neely on Youtube Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

In this recap episode, I chat all about everything I did this summer, from traveling to Italy to sing opera for a month (!!!), to seeing Beyoncé on the Renaissance World Tour in London (!!!!), to the grad student strike at Michigan officially ending (!!!!!). I also discuss what I've been doing for fun this summer (including some book, music, and podcast recommendations) and give an update on what's to come for HMA. Check back for new episodes of the show every Monday starting October 9th! Wishing you the best for your next season! TW: brief mentions of minstrelsy Martha Waters' Regency Vows series (I misspoke, there are actually five books! Weee!) Janelle Monae's The Age of Pleasure Normal Gossip Dumb Dumbs and Dragons Hell or High Rollers Dungeons and Daddies Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

In this episode, I chat with Dr. Teresa Reed (University of Louisville) about her early experiences with music in the Black church, her path to studying music theory at Indiana University, and her time as the dean of music at the University of Louisville. We also chat about her published scholarship, diving into her first book The Holy Profane: Religion in Black Popular Music as well as her latest book You're Likely Not A Racist: Answers for Curious White People. The Holy Profane The Jazz Life of Dr. Billy Taylor Beneath a Heretic's Wings You're Likely Not A Racist Expanding The Canon Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

In this episode, I chat with Dr. Daniel Barolsky (Beloit College) about his early experiences as a double bassist, coming to musicology through listening to recordings, and the current music curriculum at his college. We also discuss his work with Open Access Musicology and Daniel Leech-Wilkinson's book Challenging Performance: Classical Music Performance Norms and How to Escape Them. Daniel's MTO article Challenging Performance Open Access Musicology This episode was edited by Jair G with ⁠ExpMediaProductions.⁠ Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

In part two of our conversation, YouTuber and musician Tayo Omisore (COLORMIND.mp4 on YouTube) and I continue our conversation about "rap covers" and how rap is developing into a canon. We also discuss Tayo's songwriting and production process for his musical interlude segments in his YouTube videos. Tayo's YouTube channel Tayo's Male Friendship video Tayo's Himbo video Tayo's Inflation video Adam Neely's video Tayo's Spotify This episode was edited by Jair G with ⁠ExpMediaProductions.⁠ Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

In this episode, I chat with YouTuber and musician Tayo Omisore (COLORMIND.mp4 on YouTube) all about his musical upbringing with rap, his experiences learning to write music, and the development of his career as a Black musical content creator. We also discuss his video response to music theory YouTuber Adam Neely, who made a video about the absence of "rap covers." Tayo and I offer our perspective as Black musicians and ponder what music theory offers us when studying and discussing rap. Stay tuned for part two of our conversation! Tayo's YouTube channel Tayo's Himbo video Tayo's Inflation video Adam Neely's video Tayo's Spotify This episode was edited by Jair G with ⁠ExpMediaProductions.⁠ Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

In this episode, I chat with Dr. Ben Cornelius-Bates (Duquesne University) about his musical upbringing in Alaska, his path to composition, and his experiences studying the organ. We also discuss how to write music for the organ, particularly within the context of secular music, and talk about timbre in Maan Varjot by Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho for organ and orchestra. Rest in peace to Saariaho, who passed away on June 2, 2023. Ben's IMSLP Ben's recorded organ improvisations The second movement of Maan Varijot Offrande (organ and cello) This episode was edited by Jair G with ⁠ExpMediaProductions.⁠ Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

In this solo episode, I chat all about how my winter semester at the University of Michigan went. I give an update on the grad student strike, my classes, and my teaching. I also explore my yearly theme of simplicity, set new goals for Summer 2023, and discuss the podcast's progress! THANK GAWD this episode was edited by Jair G with ExpMediaProductions! Hire him for all of your video/audio editing needs! Donate to the strike fund GEO's Twitter GEO's Instagram My Staging Blackness term paper Tressie McMillian Cottom Twitter threads (one and two) Oliver Burkeman's 3:3:3 method Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

In this episode, I invite Anna Rose Nelson (University of Michigan) on the show to give us an update on finishing her dissertation (hire her!). We also (in great detail!) break down the ongoing strike at the University of Michigan. Beginning with the very recent history of U-M graduate student workers and lecturers striking in 2020, Anna Rose shares about her experiences organizing with the Graduate Employees Organization on behalf of the School of Music, Theater, and Dance. We discuss how the bargaining with the university over the grad student workers' next three year contract has gone (poorly!) and what has led over 1,000 grad student workers to halt their teaching, office hours, and grading. Finally, Anna Rose shares about how the university's negotiations specifically affect music grad students, and how U-M faculty and undergraduates can support their grad student instructors and researchers. Thanks for your support! Solidarity! (Again, this podcast is absolutely NOT an attestation that either Anna Rose or I are on strike! U-M kindly mind your business!!) Small numbers correction: We mention that our economic ask was about 10% of the $200M we make the university each year. Actually, the highest compensation proposal would cost 33M (closer to 20%) in that first intense bump. Anna's episode on modernist music ⁠GEO's website⁠ ⁠Donate to the strike fund⁠ The 2020 strike ⁠The Rackham proposal⁠ Former President Mark Schlissel The strike FAQ GEO Instagram GEO Picket Crush Instagram ⁠Steve Lett in Music Theory Spectrum⁠ Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

Our last episode for Women's History Month! Today on the show I welcome another Michigan alum Dr. Vivian Luong (University of Oklahoma) to chat about her background as a clarinetist and a pianist, her time studying music theory at Michigan, and her current approaches to theory pedagogy. We also discuss her research centered around feminist music theory and what it means to love music, her MTO article titled "Rethinking Music Loving," and her Engaged Music Theory blog post titled "Feeling Like a Theorist." Our podcast episode on Susanne Cusick's chapter "On a Lesbian Relationship with Music" Vivian's MTO article Vivian's Engaged Music Theory blog post Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

TW: brief mentions of sexual assault For our second episode of Women's History Month, I chat with Dr. Susan McClary (Case Western Reserve University) about her path to musicology, as well as her experiences as an educator and researcher. We also discuss her incredibly influential scholarship centered around gender and sexuality in music by diving into her 1991 book Feminine Endings. Finally, she shares her current teaching philosophies as well as the music she is enjoying. Feminine Endings My SMT-Pod interview with Susan, Phil Ewell and Chris Jenkins My performance at the Theorizing African American Music Conference My podcast episode about Susan's article "Terminal Prestige" with Anna Rose Nelson Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

Our first episode for Women's History Month! Today I chat with Dr. Kyra Gaunt (University at Albany, State University of New York) all about her experiences as a singer, her time studying voice and ethnomusicology at Michigan, and her first book The Games Black Girls Play: Learning The Ropes From Double Dutch To Hip-Hop. We also discuss her forthcoming book PLAYED, featuring her research centered around Black girls dancing on YouTube. Kyra's book Kyra's TED Talk Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

We are finishing off Black History Month with a conversation about Beyoncé! My sister Ismatu Gwendolyn Bangura and I chat all about our personal relationships to her music, the public perception of Beyoncé, and the aesthetics and politics in her latest album, Renaissance. I also feature the voices of some of the Black women and femmes in my community to get their thoughts on the album. In order of appearance, you heard the voices of Erykah Benson, Gaby Kubi, Dylan Keese-Forster, and Ijeoma Opara. A huge thanks to my sister and my friends for being on the show! Thanks to Natalie Krafft for editing the written ⁠transcript⁠ of this episode! YouTube visual companion Donate to the fundraiser Ismatu on Tik Tok Ismatu on Instagram Ismatu on Substack Ismatu on Patreon Ismatu's podcast My first Beyoncé podcast episode Article on Beyoncé performing in Africa Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

In this episode, we are wrapping up Black History Month with some familial history! My younger sister Ismatu Gwendolyn Bangura joins me on the show to discuss our shared musical upbringing, their experiences leading a gospel choir at Northwestern University, and how their relationship to music changed after they became a sex worker. We also chat about their blossoming Tik Tok career and the ways in which they are using art, writing, dance, and poetry in their activism. Finally, Ismatu shares about the fundraiser they've started for our tribe back in Sierra Leone! If you are able, drop a dollar! And stay tuned for part two of our conversation, where we dive into the aesthetics and politics of Beyoncé's album Renaissance! Thanks to Natalie Krafft for editing the written transcript of this episode! YouTube visual companion Donate to the fundraiser Ismatu on Tik Tok Ismatu on Instagram Ismatu on Substack Ismatu on Patreon Ismatu's podcast Lorraine Hansberry interview My first Beyoncé podcast episode Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

Continuing our series of conversations with Black musicians for Black History Month, today Dr. Phil Ewell (Hunter College of City University of New York) joins me on the show to discuss his background as a cellist, his time studying music theory at Yale University, and our shared investment in public music theory. We also examine the whiteness and maleness of music theory through the lens of other scholarship throughout the humanities, in order to explore what anti-racist work in music theory could actually look like. Finally, Phil shares a little about his new book, forthcoming through the University of Michigan press! Thanks to Natalie Krafft for editing the written transcript of this episode! Phil's Music Theory Online article Our podcast episode about Phil's article My time in Phil's residency at the Atlantic Center for the Arts Phil's blog posts SMT-Pod The 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah-Jones The Baptism of Early Virginia by Rebecca Anne Goetz Moral Man and Immoral Society by Reinhold Niebuhr Preorder Phil's book: On Music Theory and Making Music More Welcoming For Everyone Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com

This week we are continuing our conversations with Black musicians for Black History Month! In this episode, I chat with Darrian Dorrough (@94Drow) about his experiences in hip hop, the status of rap research in the academy, and his songwriting and production process. We also discuss his experience hosting a live show on Instagram called the Dope or Nope Show, where he and his collaborators review the music of unsigned artists and producers. Check out 94Drow's album MissFit and his singles wherever you stream your music, and follow the @dopeornopeshow on Instagram! Thanks to Natalie Krafft for editing the written transcript of this episode! 94Drow on Spotify Lupe Fiasco at MIT Dr. A.D. Carson The Dope or Nope Show Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com