Education Through Music Podcasts

Episode 20: Inside the Modern Band Movement

February 5, 2025

Episode 19: Dr. Alice Hammel

October 31, 2024

“Until we start understanding each other, how can we play together? How can we be together? Not just musically, but as a society…” 

– Dr. Alice Hammel 

In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Alice Hammel–renowned music educator, scholar, author, and clinician–dives into the transformative power of music education and how it can be used as a tool for building inclusivity and understanding.

Drawing from her rich experiences working with students with disabilities and differences, Dr. Hammel shares how adapting traditional teaching methods and creating inclusive environments can help all students to thrive.

Dr. Hammel also reflects on her 15+ years collaborating with ETM teachers, emphasizing the unique energy and experiences that they bring and how they’re creating spaces where all students feel seen and heard.

Tune in for an inspiring and enlightening conversation. And remember to subscribe so you never miss an episode. 

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Episode 18: Community Voices

September 10, 2024

Did you know that music education can have immense benefits for the entire community?

In this episode of Education Through Music: The Podcast, host Noah Teachey sat down with principal Greta Ratjen, music teacher Jess Parr, students, and their parents from our partner school P.S. 72. During the 2023-2024 school year, Greta and Jess worked with ETM to start a new band program. The results have been incredible – from boosting attendance and confidence to bringing the whole neighborhood together.

Tune in to hear first-hand accounts from three of the students in band, their parents, Greta, and Jess. And don’t miss the chance to hear snippets from the band’s recent concert!

Episode 17: ETM’s Workforce Development Program

August 2, 2024

Over half of NYC schools do not have a full-time certified music teacher on staff. This reality, in combination with a national teacher shortage, has caused music educator vacancies at far too many schools. In response, ETM launched its Music Teacher Workforce Development Program during the 2023-2024 school year to create pathways for musicians interested in teaching music to receive the opportunity, training, and support they need to navigate the process of becoming certified teachers.

In this episode, we go inside ETM’s pioneering workforce development program to understand the origins and impact of the initiative during its first year. We speak with ETM leadership, instructional supervisors, master teachers, and ETM’s first cohort of interns for a holistic perspective on how ETM is uniquely building the next generation of qualified music educators in NYC schools.

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Episode 16: With Gina Costanza

June 4, 2024

This spring, we connected with Gina Costanza, a music educator who has spent the last 18 years teaching general music and chorus and is currently the president of the Music Educators Association of New York City (MEANYC).

It’s clear: Gina truly loves what she does. In our conversation, we learn how she was inspired to pursue the profession as a student as well as some of the challenges during the early years of teaching. She also shares her unique experiences teaching students across New York City, the impact that MEANYC has in NYC’s music education community, and where she sees music ed going in the future. Tune in to hear from a passionate educator who, day in and day out, works to ensure that music provides a space for healing, community, and growth for her students.

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Episode 15: ETM’s Model in Action

February 16, 2024

What are the steps to establishing a great music program?

In this episode, we take a behind-the-scenes look at ETM’s unique and exemplary model for music education. ETM’s Davian Alleyne (Teacher at P.S. 236), Stephanie Nantell (Senior Director of Programs), and Arielle Lewis (Instructional Supervisor) share the many levels of planning and support that go into making a successful program. We also hear from the Principal of P.S. 236 and a parent of students at the school to learn about the impact music education has made on the community, starting from the first day of school to its culminating winter concert.

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Episode 14: With Deb Confredo

January 30, 2024

In this two-part episode, we speak with Dr. Deb Confredo, Professor of Music Education at Temple University and President-Elect of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). A 43-year veteran music educator, Deb shares with us her early inspirations to pursue music education, the trajectory of her career, as well as the origins and development of the Music Teacher Profession Initiative, which was was formed in 2021 by NAfME to identify barriers to equity in music teacher recruitment, education, and retention. Tune in to this insightful conversation from one of the leading voices in music education today.

READ THE FULL TRANSCRIPT: PART 1, PART 2

Episode 13: On Leadership with ETM CEO, Janice Weinman

January 5, 2024

To kick off 2024, we speak with none other than the CEO of Education Through Music, Dr. Janice Weinman. Weinman boasts a five decade career, including top leadership positions of international and national non-profit organizations. She also served in two presidential administrations and was recently named a 2023 Politics NY and amNY Metro Power Player in Education for her contributions to the field. Weinman joins us for a robust discussion about the impact of her early music education experience, her approach to leadership, and how she applies her lifelong commitment to advancing educational equity to ETM’s work and mission.

Episode 12: The Case for Modern Band

December 8, 2023

Modern band can be a tremendously popular and educational music offering, especially for a school that is starting a new music program. To prove this, we look no further than the success of the modern band at All Hallows High School, an ETM partner school located in the Bronx.

For nearly 40 years, All Hallows lacked a formal music program and in the short span of two years, the band has risen to perform at venues such as Yankee Stadium, PAC NYC, and countless venues throughout its community. In this episode, we sit down with the students, alongside teacher Alfredo Hernandez and school leaders Paul Fontana and Principal Nick Corrado, to discuss the role that music education has played in shaping the school community and building a sense of brotherhood. Tune in to learn about the band’s evolution from inexperienced newcomers to performers that continue to push themselves to greater heights.

Episode 11: Culturally Responsive Music Education with Ashley Cuthbertson

November 3, 2023

Episode 10: What Makes for Great Music Programs?

September 20, 2023

Episode 9: With Jessica Peresta

August 3, 2023

This summer, we had the privilege to speak with Jessica Peresta, veteran music educator and founder and CEO of The Domestic Musician. Jessica started her teaching career at a low-income elementary school in Tulsa, OK, and over several years, built a successful program that won her Teacher of the Year and Teacher of Today awards. She currently is the elementary music teacher at The Hill School, as well as the host of The Elementary Music Teacher podcast, the author of the book “Make A Note: What You Really Need To Know About Teaching Elementary Music”, on the Teacher Advisory Board at Teacher Vision, and the professional development coordinator for F-flat Books.

As the school year approaches, we chat about tools and strategies that first year music teachers can prepare for over the summer as they get ready to enter their classroom and schools. Tune in to learn about Jessica’s time-tested practices for developing habits, building relationships, developing lessons plans, and more – great insight for early career and seasoned music educators alike! Learn more about Jessica’s work at: www.thedomesticmusician.com

Episode 8: Inside ETM’s Inaugural High School Composition Contest

June 23, 2023

In this month’s special episode, we explore the origins and impact of ETM’s inaugural high school composition contest. The contest was based upon the ETM-authored music technology curriculum unit, “Trap Beats for Change,” in which high school students produce an original composition by creating a trap beat and incorporating audio samples that promote a social justice cause. We speak with students, teachers, and ETM support staff to tell the story of this unique ETM experience and share clips of the moving student submissions that address issues of gun violence, racism, women’s rights, and climate change. Tune in to listen to the voices of the ETM community and our talented partner school students as they share the inspiration and process behind their work.

Episode 7: Music Education is a Right – How to Advocate for Music Education with Naomi Fernandez

May 10, 2023

This month we had the pleasure of speaking with Naomi Fernandez, Associate Director of Curriculum and Professional Development at ETM, to discuss the importance and practice of advocating for music education in our schools. Naomi is a veteran music educator who brings to ETM an unmatched level of experience teaching in the classroom, building K-12 music programs, developing culturally responsive curriculum and teacher training, and supporting early career music educators. Here she speaks about the practical ways educators can advocate for a robust and supported music program at their schools, and why she believes music education is a right for every child.

Episode 6: What steps can teachers take to center Black history in their music programs?

February 19, 2023

In this month’s episode, Noah sits down with fellow Instructional Supervisor Elijah Thomas to discuss approaches to centering Black History in the music classroom this month and every month. Their insightful conversation explores the role that music education has in shaping culture and its ability to inspire innovative ways for students to understand and respond to the truth of our country’s history. A number of influential teaching and community-building resources are highlighted in the discussion as well, available below.

Books

For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood, Chris Emdin
We Want to Do More Than Survive, Bettina Love
Can’t Stop Won’t Stop, Jeff Chang
Total Chaos, Jeff Chang
Hip Hop Genius, Sam Seidel

Networks and other resources

Episode 5: What makes for an excellent school concert?

January 24, 2023

In this month’s two-part episode, Noah is joined by Marta, Joe, and Alfredo, ETM Teachers who recently led successful concerts at their partner schools. They discuss concerts that have inspired them, what they have brought to their teaching careers from their experiences as performers, and the best practices and advice they would share with early career music teachers preparing for their first student performances.

Episode 4: How can the music classroom teach trust and care?

December 19, 2022

In our fourth episode, Noah sits down with ETM music teacher Arielle Lewis to discuss the role that music education plays in teaching trust and care. Arielle speaks about her personal experiences coping in the classroom in the midst of personal turmoil, as well as the redemption she experienced through building her music programs and preparing for her ukulele ensemble’s special holiday performance this season.

Episode 3: What is the place of technology in the music classroom?

November 14, 2022

In our third episode, Noah sits down with Dr. Jim Frankel, veteran music educator and Founder/Director of MusicFirst, to discuss the many ways in which technology amplifies the impact of a complete music education and serves as a facilitator for accessibility in the music classroom.

Episode 2: What do early career music educators need to know?

October 17, 2022

In our second episode, Noah leads a round table discussion among ETM Instructional Supervisors to explore what early music teachers need to know to build an inclusive, supportive learning environment, while offering encouragement and guidance to music teachers at the beginning of their careers.

Episode 1: Why do we need music in schools?

September 9, 2022

In our first episode of ETM: The Podcast, Noah sits down with Education Through Music Teachers to discuss the value of music in schools. They reflect on their own lives as music students and connect their formative, personal experiences to the important work they do now as music teachers at under-resourced schools across New York City.