Music Ed Insights

Mar 03 2025 103 ep. 21 mins 11
Music Ed Insights Podcast artwork

Dr. Steve Shanley, Alan Feirer, and national thought leaders explore current issues in music education, with practical application for K-12 music educators.

  Education  Music  Arts
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Quick Pro Tip: Exploring the Pros and Cons of Loyalty in Music Programs

Mar 03 2025 17 mins  
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 educato

Quick Pro Tip: Selecting Quality Elementary Literature with Lucas Petersen

Feb 24 2025 21 mins  
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.

Quick Pro Tip: Rethinking Your Ensemble’s Seating Chart

Feb 17 2025 5 mins  
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

Hip-Hop Integration with Kiran Vedula

Feb 10 2025 29 mins  
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 hi

Quick Pro Tip: Use "In Order to Do My Best Work" to Set Clear Expectations

Feb 03 2025 5 mins  
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.

Empowering Students in the Music Classroom with Theresa Hoover

Jan 27 2025 26 mins  
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 co

Quick Pro Tip: Simplifying Copyright and Exploring the ArrangeMe Platform

Jan 20 2025 11 mins  
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 ever

Expanding the Choral Canon: Marques Garrett on Programming Choices Part 2

Jan 13 2025 37 mins  
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 compo

Expanding the Choral Canon: Marques Garrett on Programming Choices Part 1

Jan 06 2025 30 mins  
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 compo

2024 Year in Review

Dec 17 2024 14 mins  
Steve and Alan talk about the past year and preview a bit of what’s coming up in early 2025.