Talking Up Music Education: Recent Episodes
The NAMM Foundation
Talking Up Music Education is a podcast from The NAMM Foundation hosted by Mary Luehrsen that celebrates music learning through conversations with artists, teachers and students, music business professionals, and thought leaders who are passionate about music education.
Mark Phillips, acting president of the Historic Black College and Universities Band Directors Consortium, shares thoughts on the importance of a “complete education” including the arts, creating exposure for students to experience full instrumentation in ensemble performance, and pivoting the organization’s conference to online.
Music educator Anne Fennell reflects on the joy of teaching music, the limitless potential for creativity in music learning and re-imagining music education.
Staff from the Museum of Making Music- Carolyn Grant and B.J. Morgan- reflect on the universal language of music, pivoting to online programming, and the museum’s re-design for their 2021 reopening.
Composer Eric Whitacre was inspired to write Sing Gently; a new piece to share through Virtual Choir 6. In a time of crisis and isolation Whitacre discusses his creative process and how to get involved in this global Virtual Choir 6 phenomenon.
Mandi Jackson, Executive Director Music Haven shares thoughts about equity and access to music education and virtual music as a life line for students in New Haven, Connecticut.
As the youngest of five children, Victor Wooten’s musical family needed a bass player. The rest is history. In this episode, the 5-time GRAMMY award-winning musician talks about his Center for Music and Nature, dubbed “Wooten Woods,” a retreat center for musicians and students outside of Nashville, Tennessee and the journey that every person can take to make music – as natural as learning to speak. Recorded LIVE at The 2020 NAMM Show.
A special “Flipping the Script” episode recorded LIVE at The 2020 NAMM Show features John Mlynczak interviewing Mary Luehrsen, Executive Director of The NAMM Foundation. The usual host of host of Talking Up Music Education, Luehrsen shares strategies for taking passion-to-action, the mosaic of music ed, and counting your blessings.
Violinist Laura Escudé chats with Mary Luehrsen about her early beginnings as a music student playing in orchestras and her career creating and designing live shows for herself as well as other artists like Kayne West, The Weeknd, Demi Lovato and many more. Recorded LIVE at The 2020 NAMM Show.
Scott Page, musician, technologist, entrepreneur and performer, is widely recognized as the saxophonist/guitarist for Pink Floyd, Supertramp and Toto. Chatting with Mary Luehrsen at The 2020 NAMM Show, he reflects on his professional life of playing the trumpet and sax, his ever-expanding career options and being kind to everyone you meet.
Grand prize winners of the first-ever A Cappella at NAMM, student leaders of UCLA’s ScatterTones discuss their performance at the Grand Rally for Music Education, opening up for Bobby McFerrin, and the confidence they gain when singing together. Recorded LIVE at The 2020 NAMM Show.
NAMM member Mark Despotakis discusses the importance of bringing everyone to the table to advance music education advocacy efforts, the value of attending The NAMM Show as a music educator, and being part of the “SupportMusic Coalition.”
Arts education leader Eric Booth spent the last 13 years working with El Sistema-inspired programs that bring music education opportunities to children and youth that also propel community connections. Booth talks about his beginnings as a Broadway actor, moving to Tanzania and Venezuela as a teacher, and working with The NAMM Foundation to grow a new El Sistema program in a Texas/Mexico border community where realities of immigration impact students and their families.
Steve Venz, Chief Program Officer of Little Kids Rock -a NAMM Foundation grantee- shares his insight as a devoted music education advocate including a review of resources
available to teachers and administrators to serve as champions for music education in their communities.
Stephanie Landino, senior at Millersville University, PA chats about attending The 2019 NAMM Show through the GenNext program and how it boosted her college-to-career path.
Chris Martin, president and CEO of Martin Guitar, discusses his recent role as Founding-Chair of The NAMM Foundation. Martin chats about a few things he finds to be remarkable, namely picking up a ukulele for the first time, digital technology and the meaning and rewards of donating to The NAMM Foundation.
Mike Reisman, President of MKTG, reflects on the life and loves of his late wife Liz Reisman: playing the flute, a vision for music education opportunities, and activism for elephants in Thailand. Reisman shares the reasons to creating The Liz Reisman Fund for School Music Education in The NAMM Foundation.
Robert Morrison, founder of Quadrant Arts Education Research, the nation’s leading arts education research and intelligence organization, joins host Mary Luehrsen to discuss the Drum Corps experience and what he did to change marching ensembles for years to come.
Bernie Williams joins guest host Joe Lamond, president and CEO of NAMM, at NASMD. Bernie shares how his resiliency and determination in both baseball and music led to overall excellence in both fields.
NAMM Young Professionals (NAMM YP) is a network of music industry professionals under the age of 40. Several NAMM YP’ers joined us live at NASMD to talk about their roles in the music products industry, and the windy roads that led them to their current careers: Mark Despotakis, Progressive Music; Stephanie Murphy, DANSR; Nick Averwater; and Ryan West, West Music.
Mike Meyer- of Meyer Music and current president of the National Association of School Dealers- discusses his motivation for making sure music education programs are present in communities across the country. In this podcast episode Mike highlights supporting music education in schools and how to help music educators get more kids playing music.
Fred Schiff of All County Music chats about how music is bringing layers of healing to the Parkland, Florida community after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018. Sitting down with Mary Luehrsen at NASMD, Fred talks about how music has helped the community of Parkland move forward and rise up. His company gave away 50 trombones in 50 different schools to recognize Alex Schachter, a freshman band student who was killed during the shooting.
Peter Luongo and 16 members of the Peter Luongo Ukulele Experience stop in for a lively discussion about learning literacy - learning a language, a code, and a methodology. He talks about the method of teaching from the Langley school district, and the limitlessness of learning. He also graces us with several performances, to end our last live podcast episode from The 2019 NAMM Show.
Sam Gronseth from Paradise, California sits down with Mary Luehrsen to talk about the remarkable work that he's done to bring hope and healing through the Butte Strong United Choir from Butte County, California. His community was devastated by the 2018 Camp Fire. Sam got heavily involved by taking musicians, both young and old, on performances on the road. We also talk about his incredible music education career, and how he continues to learn and grow through his local music educator association.
Rich Redmond is a professional percussionist, music educator, and a motivational speaker. As a traveling musician, he has a versatility and wide range of accomplishments, including acting. He was in the drumline, and ended up getting his bachelor's degree in music education with percussion emphasis at Texas Tech. He’s now in Nashville, which he says is always about storytelling. We discuss his musical career, acting, and how there’s currently a new evolution of country music.
Len Horowitz from History of Recorded Sound in Culver City, California devoted his professional recording engineering career to analog restoration. He talks about recording technology through the years, and the changes that have revolutionized the industry. The History of Recorded Sound teaches or helps young people listen to music again as an audio-only format and how to appreciate music and audio. The language of the recording industry is discussed in detail and is a riveting learning experience.
Jonathan Dely joined us at the Grand Rally for Music Education. As a jazz trumpeter, he fronts a very diverse and eclectic group of musicians. He talks about his journey from Wall Street to “The Main Stage,” and how being an academic has helped foster his love of music.
J. Dash discusses his musical career, the fellowship of musicians, and advocacy for music education. He plays an original composition, and talks about his virality. J. is active on Facebook, and enjoys sharing his music and enthusiasms with his audience. J. Dash also talks about his education in computer science and scoring movies and television.
Mary Luehrsen chats with members of the historic black college and university, HBCU Band Directors’ Consortium. Guests are Thomas Warner Jr. who currently serves as assistant director of bands at North Carolina A&T State University, Professor Roxanne Stevenson who directs bands at Chicago State University and presides over their new program called Gospel Music, and Al Davis who is director of bands and assistant professor of music at St. Augustine's University in Raleigh, North Carolina. the HBCU Band Directors’ Consortium is a collaboration of historically black colleges and universities in Atlanta, Georgia.
Gibson artist Gina Chavez got her start in the Austin Independent School District where she discovered a love of singing. From the moment she discovered her dad’s guitar tucked away in a closet she’s been playing to audiences all over the world seeking to connect to audience and to connect them with each other. A true cultural phenomenon, Gina performs her song, “ Miles de Millas,” LIVE at The 2019 NAMM Show.
Conductor and Composer Eric Whitacre shares his love of music and astrophysics and talks about how they intersect for him. A musical child, Whitacre has always been deeply moved by music, and by choral expression in particular. Composer of the Virtual Choir(s) as well as the film, “Deep Field.” Whitacre’s compositions pair perfectly with images from the Hubble Telescope Deep Field images.
Black Violin’s Kev Marcus and Wil Baptiste stopped by to catch up with Mary Luehrsen before opening The 2019 NAMM Show with their “90 minutes of fury” performance for an audience of thousands. Kev and Wil talk about their musical and professional growth over the past 22 years of friendship and performing together that includes shifting their perspective on the term “crossover.”
Guest host Claire Kreger-Boaz, Senior Project Manager at The NAMM Foundation talks to Randy Barnett, recipient of the 2018 John Patrick Hughes Parent/Booster award. He is one of many parents who have gone above and beyond to support music programs that played a key role in their children’s lives. Special guests include the award’s namesake, John Patrick Hughes and his son, Patrick Henry Hughes. Recorded LIVE at The 2018 Bands of America Grand Nationals.
Guest host Claire Kreger-Boaz, Senior Project Manager at The NAMM Foundation chats with Joshua Simonds, Executive Director of the Percussive Arts Society about his first love, the piano; when he was presented with the opportunity to play the xylophone by Mrs. Clauss; and what an international service organization’s role should be in local advocacy efforts. Recorded LIVE at The 2018 Bands of America Grand Nationals.
Guest host James Stephens, Director of Advocacy and Educational Resources at Music for All talks with band directors and drum majors from American Fork High School in Utah, Camdenton High School in Missouri, and O’Fallon High School in Illinois about some of the “ingredients” required to create a successful band program. Recorded LIVE at The 2018 Bands of America Grand Nationals.
Guest host Mark Goff, owner of Paige’s Music explores, through an in-depth interview with Eric Martin, President and CEO of Music for All, Bands of America, how the largest Grand Nationals Marching Band competition ever in Music for All, Bands of America’s history came to be and what Music for All is doing to promote access to music education for urban communities such as Indianapolis. Recorded LIVE at The 2018 Bands of America Grand Nationals.
Guest host Marcia Neel, Senior Director of Education at Yamaha talks with Dr. Reginald McDonald, Director of Bands at Tennessee State University (TSU), Keyana Cole, TSU senior and clarinet section leader, John Hague, Director of Bands at Crispus Attucks High School in Indianapolis and Daiquon Dupree, student leader of the drumline at Crispus Attucks about how marching band becomes family, opens doors and is the one thing no one ever regrets doing. Recorded LIVE at The 2018 Bands of America Grand Nationals.
Gator Cases CEO Crystal Morris is on a quest to grow her company; to continuously learn and innovate as a leader; and to encourage other women to become leaders in the music product industry. She does all of this through mentoring junior colleagues and by establishing the Smart Women in Music (SWIM) Fund, with NAMM Chair and President/CEO of West Music Robin Walenta and Executive Vice President of Heid Music DeDe Heid, which supports professional development opportunities for women in the music products industry. To donate to the SWIM Fund please visit nammfoundation.org/donate/smart-women-in-music.
Nashville-based drummer and percussionist Aaron "A Train" Smith played drums with Motown greats, including on The Temptations hit, "Papa Was a Rolling Stone," but his humble musical roots began at home with his mother. From being drafted during the Vietnam War to playing punk rock for the 77s to his career in Christian rock to his volunteer work with the Jazz Workshop, the "A Train" shows no sign of slowing.
Kala artist, vocalist, and America's Got Talent contestant Mandy Harvey found her voice after a devastating hearing loss that derailed her plans to become a vocal teacher. Through family encouragement and the realization that at her core, she was a musician who just happens to be deaf, Harvey relearned to play music and to sing by feeling the vibrations of the instrument along with the assistance of a visual tuner. She shares her inspirational story and performs LIVE from Summer NAMM.
NAMM Chair and President and CEO of West Music Robin Walenta and Executive Vice President and Co-owner of Heid Music DeDe Heid discuss their motivation for starting the Smart Women in Music (SWIM) Fund (with Gator Cases CEO Crystal Morris), which promotes leadership training and mentoring opportunities for women in the music products industry.To donate to the SWIM Fund please visit nammfoundation.org/donate/smart-women-in-music.
American folklore scholar and former Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts Bill Ivey explores ideas for how to achieve meaning and purpose in life through art and music as American society moves away from work and wealth as a means to fulfillment.
2018 American Eagle Award honorees Cheryl Bentyne, Alan Paul, and Janis Siegel of The Manhattan Transfer share their musical origin stories, including the evolution of the iconic jazz vocal group. They explore the importance of vocal training as part of caring for your instrument, and the hard work that goes into maintaining a lifelong musical career.
Professional vocalist and musician Thomas Claxton just might be the hardest working musician you haven't heard of... yet. With more than 300 performances per year, all over the U.S., Claxton performs original material as both a solo artist and with his band, "The Myth." He also can play more than 1,800 cover songs and was Rockwell UnScene Magazine's "Best Male Vocalist" in 2014 and 2015. Special thanks to Cole Clark USA for the guitars made available for the podcast.
Country music band Parmalee was raised on a diet of southern rock, country, and blues. They've played on country music’s biggest stages, landed on the top of Billboard’s Country chart, and have 30 million combined streams on Spotify. Special thanks to the CMA Foundation as well as Fender Musical Instruments Corp. and Cole Clark USA for the guitars made available for their performance on the podcast.
Mike DiCesare, co-founder and President of Jamboxx shares his commitment to making a product that allows everyone to play music, regardless of ability. The Jamboxx is an electronic, USB-powered, breath-controlled instrument styled after a harmonica that plays digital MIDI notes. Notes are played by sipping or puffing via the mouthpiece. Moving the mouthpiece left or right determines which note is played. https://www.jamboxx.com/our-instruments
Arabian Prince got his start in Compton where his mother was a piano teacher and his father was a radio talk show host. He developed an affinity for technology at a young age and began paying around with synthesizers, echo boxes, and computers to make new sounds. His career took off when he co-founded N.W.A. and he continues to write songs, produce, and DJ—in addition to his big philanthropic project, Open Labs.
Forte Tenors Josh Page, Alok Kumar, and Zach Page talk about finding their voices as young men; their musical influences; training like a tenor; performing in operas all over the world; and the role of social media for professional musicians.
Vanessa Carlton, 2018 NAMM Foundation SupportMusic Champion Award recipient, gets real with host Mary Luehrsen about becoming a super star before she was ready; settling in to her freedom as a songwriter; parenting as a touring musician; and her philanthropic work with Nashville schools.
NAfME and The NAMM Foundation have worked together on music education advocacy initiatives for many years. In this episode of Talking Up Music Education, host Mary Luehrsen catches up with NAfME’s Mike Blakeslee and Denese Odegaard as they discuss the current landscape of music education—and how to effectively prepare music teachers to ask for support from their administration.
Partners and collaborators from AEP, NAESP and The NAMM Foundation get specific on how to create resources that are accessible and informative for decision-makers in education—and how to spread the message that arts and music are part of a well-rounded education that develops academic and emotional intelligence in children.
Multi-instrumentalist and five-time Grammy-nominated CMA artist Hunter Hayes went from playing a toy accordion to becoming proficient in playing the guitar, piano, and actual accordion—among dozens of other instruments. In a heart-to-heart chat with host Mary Luehrsen, Hayes shares his love for antique timepieces; his belief that all kids should grow up with music; and his hope that nerd culture is more than just a passing fad.
Iconic music and video innovators Ok Go performed at the 2018 NAMM Foundation Celebration for Music Education at The NAMM Show on January 25. Drummer Dan Konopka stopped by earlier that day to chat about the band’s origin story; receiving his first drum kit at nine years old; and how no one in the band managed to get sick among “60 vomit incidents” during the filming of their groundbreaking video for their hit song, “Upside Down & Inside Out.”
Bass guitarist Bunny Brunel’s musical journey was anything but a straight line to playing alongside jazz legends Chick Correa, Herbie Hancock, and Wayne Shorter. The two-time Grammy-nominated bass player shares his journey from teaching himself to play piano as a child in France, to attending Ecole Hoteliere de Nice for hospitality, to becoming a seriously advanced student of the upright bass at the Conservatory in Nice, to finding his way to his own unique melody.
International performance artists, the Masumi Trio, found each other against all odds while enrolled at the Los Angeles College of Music. Masumi, who is the trio’s lead singer is from Japan; Diego, drummer, is from Mexico; and Bruno, lead guitarist, hails from Brazil. The three musicians discuss when each had their “aha” moment, leading them to pursue music full time; the practicalities of sustaining a career in the music industry; and live performance as a way to have a conversation with strangers.
The recipient of the 2017 Patrick John Hughes Parent/Booster Award, Greg Hooper of Powder Springs, GA, and Patrick John Hughes, who the award is named after, sat down with host Mary Luehrsen to share moving stories and anecdotes of supporting their kids’ band activities despite serious physical and, at times, overwhelming, emotional challenges.
Three band directors and three drum majors from three different states sit and chat with Host Mary Luehrsen about their journey to Music for All-Bands of America Grand Nationals Marching Band competition. The conversation expands beyond the national competition to explore what makes these music programs so successful and how having a great program is the best advocacy tool.
Indiana Arts Education Network (IAEN) founder, former NAMM Chair, and Owner of Paige’s Music Mark Goff explains how he remains “relentlessly positive” in his advocacy efforts with the Indiana State Department of Education to ensure that all children in his state reach their full potential, which includes music education as part of the school day.
While Indianapolis was transformed into a marching band city for the 2017 Grand Nationals championship, Music for All President Eric Martin talks with host Mary Luehrsen about the hard work, commitment, values, and transformative experience of preparing for the “Super Bowl” of high school marching band competitions.
Phil Madeira is a multi-award winning, multi-instrumentalist, who has played alongside the likes of Emmylou Harris, Elvis Costello, Garth Brooks, and more. In this podcast episode, Madeira talks about his musical beginnings as a drummer in his high school marching band, his current piano-centric solo record, and playing in front of millions on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
Artie Kornfeld is a legendary songwriter, producer, and music promoter, and the man behind the Woodstock Festival. In this special episode recorded at Summer NAMM, Kornfeld reflects on making all-state in his high school honor band, meeting Fats Domino in his dining room, and wanting peace to reign at Woodstock.
Towne is a Nashville-based powerhouse duo featuring Steevie Steeves, a Pennsylvania -bred, music theater geek, and Jon Decious, a Kentucky boy and former bassist for a punk-rock band. The two talents unexpectedly crossed paths at Skip Ewing’s Horse and Writer Seminar in Wyoming where they immediately connected musically. In this special episode recorded at the Summer NAMM Show they share their musical beginnings, thank their favorite music teachers, and give a powerful LIVE performance of their song, “Hang Ups,” with Decious playing a left-handed Cole Clark acoustic guitar.
Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Kristian Bush talks about his career diversity, from writing and recording the theme song to "Say Yes to the Dress," to writing music for a video game monster called "Shugabush" designed in his image, to his record-breaking country music duo, Sugarland.
Country Superstar Crystal Gayle who is best known for her #1 crossover hit, “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue,” shares insights about growing up in a musical family, the importance of her favorite music teacher, and why being honored for an American Eagle Award for making contributions to a musical life in America—at Summer NAMM—was so significant.
Anaheim and NAMM have formed a great partnership that benefits NAMM attendees, citizens of Anaheim, the city of Anaheim, and NAMM. Mary Luehrsen and Jay Burress, President & CEO of Visit Anaheim, discuss this symphonic partnership.
New York Times columnist, David Brooks, and Kathy Fletcher, Director, Turnaround Arts Initiative discuss the important work that Turnaround Arts does through the strategic use of the arts.
When Linda Wagner took over as Anaheim Elementary Schools Superintendent, there were no music programs in any of the schools. Linda shares the steps that Anaheim is taking to achieve their goal of having a fully supported music program in every school.
Bernie Williams joins us live from the 2017 NAMM Show to discuss the influence music has had in his life, earning a college degree later in life, and how his musical abilities have grown over the last several years.
Savannah Buist, Katie Larson, Michael Dause started making beautiful music in Traverse City, Michigan in 2012 and are quickly gaining attention. Billboard magazine named them one of the top breakout bands after hearing them play SXSW in 2015, and they delighted the crowds at the 2017 NAMM Show.
Director of Education at the Sphinx Organization, Xavier Verna reveals how the Sphinx Organization is overcoming a lack of diversity in the arts with camps, scholarships, and competitions for black and latino students.
Black Violin duo Kev Marcus and Wil B. share their story of growing up in Fort Lauderdale, attending Dillard High School of Performing Arts, and their belief that the arts allow students to open their minds and dream.
Recorded LIVE at NAMM 2017, music producer Terry Wollman joins Mary Luehrsen to discuss how the role of the producer and how to serve the artist and the song.
Musical coalitions are a powerful way to accomplish mutual goals. Heather Noonan, Vice President for Advocacy for the League of American Orchestras says that having really strong coalitions effects engaging national efforts and working strategically together is crucial for success.
Arts Education Partnership director, Jane Best, discusses the work of the Education Commission of the States. Jane talks about the work the organization is doing to support theater arts, dance, drama, visual arts, and of course, music.
Jeff Poulin, Arts Education Program Manager at Americans for the Arts, discusses his work with arts and culture legislation. He shares his views on how community arts and cultural organizations work to increase public school arts education programs and gives information about Shared Endeavor.
Laurie Schell, Director of Music Makes Us, shares her success story of how the city of Nashville is helping advance music education. Through the work of Music Makes Us and the Music City Advisory Board, 60% of their students are involved in music education.
Recorded Live at the 2017 NAMM Show, Bill Pelto, executive director, The College Music Society and Mary Luehrsen have a conversation about how NAMM's GenNext program helps support and train the next generation of music teachers.
David Dik, National Executive Director of Young Audiences Arts for Learning, discusses the importance of arts standards and giving teachers the ability to have flexibility within those standards that will equip students with the skills and methodology for success.
Recorded LIVE at NAMM 2017, Leo Coco discusses his role working with policy makers in Washington DC and accomplishment he has helped achieve as an advocate for music education.
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee sits down with Mary Luehrsen to discuss how he successfully helped legislation that requires all public school students to participate in music and the arts.
Recorded LIVE from The 70th Annual Midwest Clinic! A Conversation about “Radical Inclusiveness” in music and the arts with Eric Booth, Co-Author of Playing for Their Lives: The Global El Sistema Movement for Social Change Through Music. Featuring student performances by The Chicago El Sistema Exchange.
Eric Martin, President/CEO of Music for All guest hosts inspiring discussion with Ryan Edgmon, Mustang High School Band Director; C.J. Hinds, Mustang H.S. Drum Major; Richie Williams, Paragould H.S. Band Director, Paxton Poff, Paragould H.S. Drum Major; and Marcia Neel, Yamaha Corp. of America Senior Director of Music Education.
Jeff Poulin, Arts Education Program Manager of Americans for the Arts guest hosts a conversation that includes updates about the newly formed, statewide music and arts education advocacy effort in Indiana. Hear from IAEN organizers Mark Goff, NAMM Chairman, Pres/CEO of Paige’s Music; Lane Velayo, Indiana Music Education Association Executive Director; and Ronny Lau, National Association for Music Education Policy Advisor.
Guest host Dan Del Fiorentino caught up with country music legends and American Eagle Award Recipients Emmy Lou Harris and Vince Gill at The 2016 Summer NAMM Show in Nashville, TN. Harris and Gill talk about early musical influences, music as a communication tool, and the joy of living a musical life.
The NAMM Foundation’s executive director Mary Luehrsen talks about ESSA, the new federal education law, and shares ideas on what music and arts education advocates can do NOW to assure that opportunities for music and arts education are available to EVERY child!
Ben Folds, critically acclaimed composer and singer-songwriter and the legendary Ben Vereen, actor, singer and dancer join guest host Joe Lamond for this special 2016 Presidential Election episode recorded LIVE from the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, PA.
NYT columnist David Brooks, Pres. of AFTA, Bob Lynch, and Pres. of NAMM Joe Lamond join host Mary Luehrsen for this special 2016 Presidential Election episode recorded LIVE from the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, OH.
U.S. Department of Education Secretary John B. King talks with Mary Luehrsen the new federal education law (ESSA), which defines music and arts as part of a well-rounded education.
Band and orchestra directors, students, and leaders in music education advocacy come together at the 2016 Music for All National Festival in Indianapolis, Indiana to discuss how this experience cultivates community that extends beyond the classroom.
The Grand Rally for Music Education was recorded LIVE at The 2016 NAMM Show and features performances by the internationally acclaimed Canadian Brass as well as Mary Luehrsen's informative interview with—and musings by—Grammy-award winning artist “Weird” Al Yankovic.
Black Violin performs and talks music education with Mary Luehrsen at The 2015 Midwest Clinic. Performances by—and interview with—Black Violin’s Kev Marcus and Will B. Includes conversation with former orchestra teacher, James Miles.
LIVE from Music for All-Bands of America: Band Kids Rock! (Part 3 of 3), Tom Meyer, owner of Meyer Music, interviews Patrick John Hughes Booster/Parent Award-winner Derek Greer and all-star drum majors Noah Burgess from Blue Springs, MO; Jace Davison from Broken Arrow, OK; and Brian Boydston from Keller, TX
LIVE from Music for All-Bands of America: Building State Coalitions the Relentlessly Positive Way (Part 2 of 3), Director of Market Development at Progressive Music Mark Despotakis of Progressive Music interviews President/Owner WH Paige & Company and NAMM Board Chairman Mark Goff and Tom Meyer, owner of Meyer Music
LIVE from Music for All-Bands of America: Behind the Scenes of Grand Nationals (Part 1 of 3), President/Owner WH Paige & Company and NAMM Board Chairman Mark Goff interviews President and CEO of Music for All Eric Martin
MusicEd Update: Shanghai, China Conference, Editorial Director at NAMM Deb Brada interviews Director of International Affairs at NAMM Betty Heywood and Music Educator, Performing Arts Dept. Chair at Mission Vista High School Anne Fennell
A Mayor’s Last Day: saluting a Legacy of Support for Music Education, interview with former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean
The Precious Music Curriculum: Build it and they will come, interview with Dr. Nola Jones, Coordinator of Visual and Performing Arts for Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools
Expanding Music Education: It’s OK to be Iterative! Interview with Laurie Schell Director, Music Makes Us, Metro Nashville Public Schools.