🎻 Orchestra Teaching, PD in Your Pocket & Practical Music Education | Angela Ammerman | Episode 127

In this episode of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast, Dr. Charles Laux sits down with Angela Ammerman—music education professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, author, guest conductor, and creator of the viral “PD in Your Pocket” series for music educators.

Angela shares her journey back to higher education, her work building a Master’s degree in Music Education for Practicing Educators, and how she supports orchestra and string teachers through practical, classroom-ready strategies. This conversation is packed with ideas you can use immediately, whether you teach elementary strings, middle school orchestra, high school orchestra, or collegiate music education.

🎼 Topics covered include:

• Practical professional development for music teachers

• Movement, breathing, and body awareness in string teaching

• Recruitment and retention strategies for orchestra programs

• Teaching English Language Learners in music classrooms

• Reducing teacher talk to improve student musicianship

• Empowering students to become confident, independent musicians

• Using social media and short-form video for music teacher PD

• Building access to music education in rural and underserved areas

👩‍🏫 About Angela Ammerman

Angela Ammerman is a music education professor at UT Knoxville, director of the UTK String Project, and author of The Music Teacher’s Guide book series. She is a frequent clinician and guest conductor and connects with thousands of educators through her Instagram account @musicteachersguide.

🎧 Listen to Episode 127 of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast for inspiration, practical strategies, and encouragement for orchestra teachers at every stage of their careers.

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