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PODCAST

Music Ed Insights

Dr. Steve Shanley and Alan Feirer

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

education performing arts

All Episodes

5:09

Quick Pro Tip: One Rule in Music - Make it Sound Good...

Music Ed Insights ·

2026/04/06

Just in time for spring contest preparation, Alan and Steve unpack one deceptively simple idea: “There’s one rule in music – make it sound good.” If that’s true, what does it actually look like in rehearsal? Steve breaks the rule into six practical priorities great ensembles share: accurate attacks, correct pitches, the best possible tone, solid blend, clean releases, and a clear melody that’s never covered up. Before you worry about phrasing and dynamics, this short episode gives you a clear

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27:38

Everyone Can Move: Michael Rosales on Movement for...

Music Ed Insights ·

2026/03/31

Alan and Steve talk with choreographer and movement educator Michael Rosales (Carolina Crown, Bluecoats, Santa Clara Vanguard, The Breakdown Camp) about why every student—and every director—can move with confidence. They explore how to use simple, safe movement to teach rhythm and expression, how band and choir directors can lead movement without being “dance people,” and concrete ways K–12 music teachers can weave movement into rehearsals to improve performance, storytelling, and student

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5:58

Quick Pro Tip: Do You Hold Your Students to Standards...

Music Ed Insights ·

2026/03/24

Steve and Alan take on a touchy but important topic: the gap between what we ask from students and what we actually model ourselves. They admit their own everyday hypocrisies (hello, phones at stoplights and slow email replies) and then connect it to the music room: punctuality, effort, communication, reflection, and how we respond when others drop the ball. You’ll hear the difference between healthy human imperfection and being a walking counter-example, plus a simple challenge for the week: choose

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27:46

Teaching the Bigger Picture: Russ Gershon on Context,...

Music Ed Insights ·

2026/03/11

Composer, bandleader, and educator Russ Gershon (Either/Orchestra) joins us to explore how music becomes a window into history, geography, and human connection. Russ shares how he uses songs like “Proud Mary” with K–4 students to teach rivers, steamboats, and timelines; how storytelling and context make improvisation less scary for teens; and what Ethiopian modes and rhythms can offer our ensembles and ears. We also dig into how a Harvard philosophy degree shapes his musical life, why he sees

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9:46

Quick Pro Tip: Rethinking Flex Charts for All Ensembles

Music Ed Insights ·

2026/03/02

Steve and Alan take on the bad reputation of “flex” music and make the case for using flexible-instrumentation charts as a musical tool, not a last-resort compromise. They compare band culture to choir and orchestra traditions, talk honestly about attention spans and rehearsal efficiency, and explain how fewer parts can actually mean more learning and less boredom. You’ll hear practical ideas for using flex charts to teach style, time, tone, and teamwork in concert band and jazz band, plus why this

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30:17

José Antonio Zayas Cabán connects Latin Jazz,...

Music Ed Insights ·

2026/02/23

Grammy-nominated saxophonist, educator, and activist José A. Zayas Cabán joins us to connect what’s happening on the streets of the Twin Cities with what happens in our music rooms. He shares firsthand experiences of the recent Twin Cities ICE presence, the trauma and courage in his community, and the economic fallout for immigrant neighbors and local businesses. From there, we dig into the universal pull of Latin jazz and African diasporic rhythms, why students move so naturally to this music, and

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10:42

Quick Pro Tip: Making the Most of Your Honor Ensemble...

Music Ed Insights ·

2026/02/16

Alan and Steve share practical strategies for conducting honor bands, choirs, and orchestras without burning everyone out. They walk through smart programming (including why you must have one easier “win” piece), how to structure the first read-through, when to cut music, and how to build student confidence quickly so the experience feels challenging, musical, and genuinely rewarding.

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28:14

Building Musical Community: Stacey Ryan on School of...

Music Ed Insights ·

2026/02/09

Stacey Ryan of School of Rock joins Alan and Steve to unpack a new social-impact study showing how ensemble music-making boosts students’ happiness, confidence, and teamwork over time. They discuss data on mental health and motivation, strategies for building belonging in K–12 music programs, the All Stars touring model, and why partnerships between school music programs and School of Rock can be mutually beneficial. Stacey also shares lightning-round favorites from Boston restaurants to Paul

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25:56

Classic Episode Re-Release: Lee Nelson on Choral...

Music Ed Insights ·

2026/02/03

Alan and Steve invite you to revisit our third episode, and find that many of the tangents were intriguing, helpful, and thought-provoking for all educators. We’ll be back with a new guest next week.

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9:25

Quick Pro Tip: When to be Human...and When to be...

Music Ed Insights ·

2026/01/26

Alan and Steve explore a surprising communication skill for music educators: knowing when to write warm, story-driven messages—and when to strip things down to simple, factual, policy-based communication. They talk about how over-explaining can actually weaken your position with parents, administrators, and outside entities, and offer practical examples of short, clear, “transactional” language that still fits a human-centered teaching philosophy.

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10:14

Quick Pro Tip: Handling Angry Parents Without Losing...

Music Ed Insights ·

2026/01/19

Alan and Steve tackle one of the toughest parts of the job: responding to upset parents by email, text, phone, or conference. They walk through how to move emotional conversations to the right channel, listen and summarize without getting defensive, name a shared goal for the student, set clear boundaries around what you can and can’t do, and know when to loop in administrators—so advocacy becomes partnership instead of combat.

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9:23

Quick Pro Tip: Why “Attitude Is Everything” Can Miss...

Music Ed Insights ·

2026/01/12

Alan and Steve question the classic slogan “attitude is everything” and explain why it can unintentionally shame students who are already having a rough day. Instead of trying to “fix” someone’s mindset, they suggest a more practical approach: focus on observable behavior, name its impact on the ensemble, and make clear, doable requests. The result is a healthier culture where students can have imperfect feelings and still show up with meaningful effort.

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11:04

Quick Pro Tip: Pride, Hubris, and Your Ensemble Culture

Music Ed Insights ·

2025/12/18

Alan and Steve respond to a listener question about ensemble pride and dig into the fine line between healthy confidence and toxic hubris in competitive groups—whether it’s show choir, marching band, jazz band, or orchestra. They connect ideas like humility, empathy, narcissism, the Dunning–Kruger effect, and imposter syndrome to the way we talk about our own programs and other ensembles, offering practical questions directors can use to check the culture they’re building.

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5:50

Quick Pro Tip: Make Your Program Notes Do More Work

Music Ed Insights ·

2025/12/08

Alan and Steve dig into why writing program notes matters more than you think—not just for the audience, but for you and your students. They share practical tips on researching and personalizing notes, avoiding jargon, highlighting student performers, deciding when to speak from the stage, and even using ChatGPT to draft print and spoken versions that match the quality of your ensemble’s performance.

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9:15

Quick Pro Tip: Smarter Advocacy Without Sounding Like...

Music Ed Insights ·

2025/12/01

Alan and Steve draw on Alan’s 19 years in the classroom and 15 years in the corporate world to reframe how music educators advocate for their programs. Instead of leaning on “we work nights and weekends,” they suggest focusing on what’s truly unique about teaching—rigid schedules, limited autonomy, and underfunded programs—and how to talk to administrators, board members, and community leaders in the language of investment and student outcomes.

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27:51

Why Have Ensembles in Schools? With Travis J. Cross...

Music Ed Insights ·

2025/11/24

As we head into concert season, we want to make sure our new listeners hear this classic episode with Dr. Travis Cross who, among other gems, lays out the case for the large ensemble. Whether you need inspiration for the next stretch, more ideas for advocacy, or you’re just a fan of the brilliant Dr. Cross - this episode is a classic for a reason. Enjoy Part 2.

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26:06

Why Have Ensembles in Schools? With Travis J. Cross...

Music Ed Insights ·

2025/11/17

As we head into concert season, we want to make sure our new listeners hear this classic episode with Dr. Travis Cross who, among other gems, lays out the case for the large ensemble. Whether you need inspiration for the next stretch, more ideas for advocacy, or you’re just a fan of the brilliant Dr. Cross -- this episode is a classic for a reason. Enjoy.

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44:38

Unleashing Creativity: Accessible Music Education for...

Music Ed Insights ·

2025/11/11

Steve and Alan have an enlightening conversation with Dr. Rhoda Bernard, Founding Managing Director of the Institute for Accessible Arts Education. Rhoda shares groundbreaking insights into creating inclusive music classrooms. She discusses the challenges educators face in reaching students with diverse learning needs, offering practical strategies to remove barriers and unleash creativity. From understanding processing differences to implementing peer-assisted learning, Bernard provides a

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4:40

Bonus Quick Pro Tip - What is the Grand Master Scale?

Music Ed Insights ·

2025/11/07

Alan referenced the Grand Master Scale in our last Quick Pro Tip, and a listener wrote in to ask “What IS the Grand Master Scale and how do you implement it?” Alan answers those questions here.

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9:13

Quick Pro Tip: The Macro-Rehearsal Structure That...

Music Ed Insights ·

2025/11/03

Steve asks Alan about a rehearsal strategy that works especially well for students with anxiety, ADHD, or autism—and Alan explains why a clear and consistent rehearsal structure actually helps all students thrive. This tip sets the stage for our upcoming full episode with Dr. Rhoda Bernard, who will explain how universal design in music education lifts the floor for everyone, not just those who need accommodations.

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145 results

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