In this episode of That Music Podcast, Bryson is joined by Nick Dolan to explore the transformative power of community in the music classroom. Nick shares his journey from doing it all himself to empowering students as "little leaders," fostering responsibility, collaboration, and a deeper connection to music.

Together, they discuss practical ways to involve students in the music-making process and the impact these approaches have on building a strong classroom community. They also tackle the challenge of letting go of perfection and embracing the beautiful chaos that comes with student-driven performances.

Nick offers insights on engaging the broader school community—families included—in these collaborative experiences and previews his upcoming master class, where he’ll dive deeper into strategies for integrating leadership roles, enhancing collaboration, and aligning community-based practices with music standards.

Whether you’re looking to build stronger connections in your classroom or empower your students to take ownership of their learning, this episode is packed with inspiration and actionable ideas!

Episode Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

 10:45 Strategies for Fostering Student Leadership in Music Education

17:43 Examples of Community-Based Music-Making for Early Learners

25:28 Key Takeaways from Dolan’s Masterclass

Links and Resources: 

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