Episodes

49 minutes ago
49 minutes ago
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.

Monday Mar 24, 2025
Classroom Management Strategies with Jenny Gee
Monday Mar 24, 2025
Monday Mar 24, 2025
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.

Monday Mar 17, 2025
Does it hold up? Including Students with Special Needs with Alice Hammel
Monday Mar 17, 2025
Monday Mar 17, 2025
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.

Monday Mar 10, 2025
Does it hold up? The Non-Competitive Ensemble, three years later
Monday Mar 10, 2025
Monday Mar 10, 2025
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.

Monday Mar 03, 2025
Quick Pro Tip: Exploring the Pros and Cons of Loyalty in Music Programs
Monday Mar 03, 2025
Monday Mar 03, 2025
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.

Monday Feb 24, 2025
Quick Pro Tip: Selecting Quality Elementary Literature with Lucas Petersen
Monday Feb 24, 2025
Monday Feb 24, 2025
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.

Monday Feb 17, 2025
Quick Pro Tip: Rethinking Your Ensemble’s Seating Chart
Monday Feb 17, 2025
Monday Feb 17, 2025
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.

Monday Feb 10, 2025
Hip-Hop Integration with Kiran Vedula
Monday Feb 10, 2025
Monday Feb 10, 2025
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

Monday Feb 03, 2025
Quick Pro Tip: Use "In Order to Do My Best Work" to Set Clear Expectations
Monday Feb 03, 2025
Monday Feb 03, 2025
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.

Monday Jan 27, 2025
Empowering Students in the Music Classroom with Theresa Hoover
Monday Jan 27, 2025
Monday Jan 27, 2025
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.