Music (ed) Matters

Y'all, this episode is motivational, vulnerable, and so fun! It features a little inspo from your host & some little snippets from choir members. It will also walk you through some tips for creating your own ensemble community. We hope it motivates and inspires you! Thanks for listening and enjoy!! (Happy Summer!) This episode is sponsored by Perform International - check them out at Perform_International.com -- and stay tuned for some fun episodes coming from choir tours around the globe this summer!

Back in Episode 183, you learned all about "Sing Democracy 250" - where did the idea come from, who is behind it, and why should it matter to you and your singing communities? Today is our second installment of meet the composer, where you get to hear from the commissioned composers who are writing the two new works just for the project. Check out episode 186 for part 1. Today, we’re speaking with Dr. Brandon A. Boyd. In case you missed it, you can now apply to be one of the choirs participating in Sing Democracy 250! All you have to do is pop over to their website and submit an application. It is free and as long as you are a 501c3 and commit to perform the music between March 1 and December 31 of 2026, they will send you the music discussed in today’s episode, along with the rest of the program, for free! Learn more and apply today at https://www.singdemocracy250.org/. You can also watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/R7c-W8sHxCs Sign up for the newsletter to stay up to date in all things related to this project at https://www.singdemocracy250.org/. Looking for more "Sing Democracy 250" details? Check these details:Jonah Herzog (SD250 Program Associate) - jonah@singdemocracy250.orgTina Sayers (SD250 - 50 States Program Director) - tina@singdemocracy250.org Listeners can also contact our team by emailing info@singdemocracy250.org with regards from Gary Aamodt and Celia Ellingson (co-founders) Website - singdemocracy250.org / Facebook / Instagram - @singdemocracy250 This episode was brought to you by our friends at Perform International. Tons of fabulous trips you can join in or plan one from scratch. Check them out at https://perform-international.com/. Want to support the Music (ed) Matters Podcast AND get a special patron only bonus episode each month? Check out https://www.patreon.com/musicedmatters.

Kicking-off the new year sharing one of the best real-life dream stories! Want to know what it takes to live out the NYC Acting Dream? In this episode, we talk to singing actor and educator, Hannah Thompson as she shares her journey from high school choir to "Phoebe" in the off-broadway Friends, the Parody Musical. A great listen for singing actors as well as educators preparing those singing actors :) You can also watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZGqQunWZ2uY This episode was brought to you by our friends at Perform International. Tons of fabulous trips you can join in or plan one from scratch. Check them out at https://perform-international.com/. Want to support the Music (ed) Matters Podcast AND get a special patron only bonus episode each month? Check out https://www.patreon.com/musicedmatters.

What does 90210, Friends, and the Office have in common? Today's guest, Assaf Gleizner, was part of the creative team that turned them into parody musicals! In this episode (a rebroadcast from The Illuminate Pod), Assaf shares the musical journey that lead to writing musicals - and a ton of fun stories along the way! You can also watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/YqyVKTfwXjg This episode was brought to you by our friends at Perform International. Tons of fabulous trips you can join in or plan one from scratch. Check them out at https://perform-international.com/. Want to support the Music (ed) Matters Podcast AND get a special patron only bonus episode each month? Check out https://www.patreon.com/musicedmatters.

Choir, community, and more! Catch this story of how the Tacoma Refugee Choir got its start and where it has gone (and is going) from founder, Erin Guinup! You can also watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/woMSUZ_UM-k This episode was brought to you by our friends at Perform International. Tons of fabulous trips you can join in or plan one from scratch. Check them out at https://perform-international.com/. Want to support the Music (ed) Matters Podcast AND get a special patron only bonus episode each month? Check out https://www.patreon.com/musicedmatters.

Looking for some FUN ideas and seeking ENERGY? This is a great episode to start with! Erik listened to the podcast a few episodes back with all my fav engagers and warm-ups and we are calling this the "follow-up" or level 2 :) Links and episode notes below - we hope you enjoy! (You can also watch this episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/oDbu9YCT-yE) Outline:What brings us joy?SLYC StickExplanation about summer camp cultureRubber SpotExplanation SCAD teaching policy (SPARK)Lecture, Demo, ApplyNow - Rubber spots- THE BOMB FOR SO MANY THINGSUse for intervalsScalesQuality of chordsIDEASTik Tok Counting TrendSLYC- Numbers VersionMaria Ellis (Girl Conductor)- Solfege VersionChoir Olympics SlidesCREDIT: Juliana Woodill and Luke Frels from Fairfax, VATeachable Course: Navigating the New School Year With ConfidenceCREDIT: Anola Douglas, Manassas, VAMemorization RaceRelay RacesBoomwhackersUse what you have: Chairs- rhythm, intervals, musical chairs with rhythm WRAP IT UPIT’S JUST CHOIR- Tucker Biddlecombe: Session on balance of lifeBring it back to what brings YOU joy? The energy bus- CHEESY BUT GOOD This episode was brought to you by our friends at Perform International. Tons of fabulous trips you can join in or plan one from scratch. Check them out at https://perform-international.com/. Want to support the Music (ed) Matters Podcast AND get a special patron only bonus episode each month? Check out https://www.patreon.com/musicedmatters.

Do you read to your singers? Are you a singer who likes to read? I love the series Carolyn Sloan has created which brings the orchestra and opera to folks in a fun, easy to read book with fabulous drawings and….it’s one of those books that comes with it’s own music on the side… I LOVE THOSE! My “survey of performance” class loved when I read them the book on opera! But this episode isn’t just about the book… In this episode, Carolyn shares some incredibly motivational and inspirational words and I left the conversation so uplifted and excited to share it with the world! Arts folks, especially recent grads, this is a must listen. Can’t wait to hear what you think! Check out this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/dHeClYATlB8 The Music (ed) Matters Podcast is sponsored by our friends over at Perform International. Thinking of going on tour domestically or abroad, want to take a solo tour, or team up with a dynamic festival? PI offers the best educationally sound and culturally significant experiences! Check them out, and tell them Emmy sent you :) Perform-International.com Order your copy of “The Business of Choir" - check out the website, businessofchoir.com. Join us over at Patreon.com/MusicEdMatters for monthly meet-ups, monthly bonus episodes, special content, and more!

In honor of SCAD graduation, this week we bring you senior and soon to be grad, Ayden Behn! In this conversation, we talk through how Ayden approaches new albums (like the Arianna Grande album from earlier this year) and then we dive into playlists, music, and more! This episode makes me fall even more in love with music - we hope you enjoy! Just SOME of Ayden’s FavoritesPixar’s Soul, 2020Amore mio aiutami, 1968Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, 2004Singin’ in the Rain, 1952Bohemian Rhapsody, 2018The Wizard of Oz, 1939Forrest Gump, 1994Call Me by Your Name, 2017Funny Face, 1957Disney’s Sleeping Beauty, 1937Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, 1980Saltburn, 2023 A link to my fantasy playlist :)https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0BIK8fUs0p0Qt8rdGPJrc7?si=Dar6uonkSzmgAk82rS0X7w&pi=u-x29Y9SeSSq6a Check out this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9bRMuMKR0r0 The Music (ed) Matters Podcast is sponsored by our friends over at Perform International. Thinking of going on tour domestically or abroad, want to take a solo tour, or team up with a dynamic festival? PI offers the best educationally sound and culturally significant experiences! Check them out, and tell them Emmy sent you :) Perform-International.com Order your copy of “The Business of Choir" - check out the website, businessofchoir.com. Join us over at Patreon.com/MusicEdMatters for monthly meet-ups, monthly bonus episodes, special content, and more!