133: Dr. Brenda Brenner — Changing Lives Through Strings

In Episode 133 of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast, Dr. Charles Laux welcomes one of the most influential leaders in string education, Brenda Brenner.

Dr. Brenner serves as the Eugene O’Brien Bicentennial Executive Associate Dean and Professor of Music Education at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where she specializes in string pedagogy and applied violin. A Past President of the American String Teachers Association, board member of the Midwest Clinic, and co-director of the IU String Academy since 1993, Dr. Brenner has shaped generations of performers and teachers.

In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Brenner shares:

• The evolution and impact of the IU String Academy

• The powerful story behind the Fairview Project, where every first and second grader in a Title I school learns violin as part of the curriculum

• Research connecting early instrumental instruction to cognitive, academic, and social growth

• Why healthy physical setup and body awareness are foundational in string pedagogy

• The influence of master teachers like Mimi Zweig and Paul Rolland on her approach

• How to train future teachers to think diagnostically and teach efficiently

• Why mistakes are “just information” — and how that mindset transforms learning

• Reflections on 34 years in higher education and what the future holds for music education

From grocery-store moments that reveal music’s lifelong impact to big-picture conversations about access, equity, and lifelong learning, this episode is a powerful reminder of why we do this work.

If you believe in the transformative power of early string instruction — and want practical wisdom from one of the most respected voices in our field — this episode is a must-listen.

🎻 Listen now and be inspired to build programs that truly change lives.

Brenda Brenner is the Eugene O’Brien Bicentennial Executive Associate Dean and Professor of Music Education at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. A specialist in string music education, she teaches applied violin and courses in violin and string pedagogy.

Brenner earned Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Music Education degrees from Wichita State University and both a Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts in violin performance from the Eastman School of Music.

Since 1993, she has served as co-director of the IU String Academy, where her students have performed in major venues across the United States and toured internationally throughout Europe, Asia, and South America. She also directs the Fairview Project, a program in which every first- and second-grade student in a Title I school learns violin as part of the curriculum while she researches the cognitive, academic, and social impacts of early instrumental music instruction. She is a past president of the American String Teachers Association and serves on the board of The Midwest Clinic.

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