This is one of those episodes you’ll want to save and share! Meet this month’s Advocacy and Collaboration Curated Episode, a cappella guru, Deke Sharon. Deke is the mastermind behind the mash-ups and musical masterpieces from all the Pitch Perfect Movies as well as the Sing Off! TV Show. In this episode, we cover everything from lessons learned on set, his choral upbringing (he started singing in choir at age 5), all of his entrepreneurial adventures, and throughout he shares life-changing and empowering advocacy and collaboration tips! Great ready for some energy and tons of ideas as we talk about making connections and changing lives through music!

Learn more about and connect with Mr. Deke Sharon: 

https://www.dekesharon.com/bio-2/ 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deke_Sharon 

dekesharon.com 

capublishing.com 

Talks with Google referenced in episode: https://youtu.be/gB2Teglru-s 

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/vUFgsfQl3Tc 

Join us over at Patreon.com/MusicEdMatters for monthly meet-ups, monthly bonus episodes, special pre-release book content, and more!

Support the companies that make The Music (ed) Matters Podcast possible: 

—Kaleidoscope Adventures - find your adventure today, kaleidoscopeadventures.com/. 

— The Kinnison Choral Company - check out their quality resources - or get your tracks made today - at KinnisonChoralCo.com. 

**Show music originally written by Mr. Todd Monsell

**Show photography provided by Dr. Dan Biggerstaff

James Berry currently works as the Director of Fine Arts at Hilton Head Christian Academy. He began his musical career as a classically trained pianist but has branched out as a multi-instrumentalist into various styles of music, including directing a multitude of musical theater productions, but his favorite genre being jazz - and y’all, I’ve heard him live - he’s incredible! Originally from Portland, Maine, and a graduate from Gordon College and Boise State University, Mr. Berry has 15+ years of music education experience and is the co-founder and camp director of the Hilton Head Jazz Camp, which attracts a world-class 20 full-time faculty and 110 aspiring jazz students from across the country every July.  

In this episode we talk about versatility, removing limits, creativity, starting new programs, and more! This is a special band/jazz episode, especially for my secondary music methods folks - but the stories will make you smile! 

Learn more about James Berry: hhjazzcamp.com, bearnotchstudios.com, https://www.linkedin.com/in/bearnotchstudios/, and hhca.org. 

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/6VDmaOVKj5s. 

Join us over at Patreon.com/MusicEdMatters for monthly meet-ups, monthly bonus episodes, special pre-release book content and more!

Support the companies that make The Music (ed) Matters Podcast possible: 

—Kaleidoscope Adventures - find your adventure today, kaleidoscopeadventures.com/. 

— The Kinnison Choral Company - check out their quality resources - or get your tracks made today - at KinnisonChoralCo.com. 

**Show music originally written by Mr. Todd Monsell

**Show photography provided by Dr. Dan Biggerstaff

Meet choral educator and musical theater mastermind, Augusto Gil - or Augie! In this teacher spotlight episode, we not only talk about Mr. Gil’s story as a music educator and performer, we also dive into fostering student-to-student relationships and student-to-teacher relationships, creating teachers who understand and can teach the voice, and ways for promoting performing teachers. Tons of takeaways in this one - can’t wait to hear what you think! 

Learn more about Augie Gil or improvingarts.com. 

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/WJ2rhCzf6H0.  

Join us over at Patreon.com/MusicEdMatters for monthly meet-ups, monthly bonus episodes, special pre-release book content, and more!

Support the companies that make The Music (ed) Matters Podcast possible: 

—Kaleidoscope Adventures - find your adventure today, kaleidoscopeadventures.com/. 

— The Kinnison Choral Company - check out their quality resources - or get your tracks made today - at KinnisonChoralCo.com. 

**Show music originally written by Mr. Todd Monsell

**Show photography provided by Dr. Dan Biggerstaff

Making a Band...before YouTube and telling the musical story of leading with heart! Lessons from Life and My Papaw Williams

It's time to celebrate 100 episodes and the "Music (ed) Matters" Podcast's upcoming 2nd Birthday! What better way to celebrate than sharing inspirational stories?

This episode is extra special - you get to meet my Papaw, my dad's dad, the original musical human in our family.

We talk about what it was like starting a band, touring, and recording throughout the 70s and 80s and the impact of goal setting and leading with your heart!

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/j_imi40Z3fk. 

Join us over at Patreon.com/MusicEdMatters for monthly meet-ups, monthly bonus episodes, special pre-release book content, and more!

Support the companies that make The Music (ed) Matters Podcast possible: 

—Kaleidoscope Adventures - find your adventure today, kaleidoscopeadventures.com/. 

— The Kinnison Choral Company - check out their quality resources - or get your tracks made today - at KinnisonChoralCo.com. 

**Show music originally written by Mr. Todd Monsell

**Show photography provided by Dr. Dan Biggerstaff

What’s a “creative architect?” How can we focus our energy “so students can find their voice?” And really, “where are all the women?” We answer all these and more in this conversation. Through the power of sharing her personal journey, experiences overcoming burnout, and the sheer saving power of music, Dr. Meredith Bowen inspires and teaches us about the importance of representing women in our literature and rehearsal spaces and how we can do just that! 

Learn more about Dr. Meredith Bowen http://meredith-y-bowen.com/ and singmirabai.org. 

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/SMHaLdrlCSI 

Join us over at Patreon.com/MusicEdMatters for monthly meet-ups, monthly bonus episodes, special pre-release book content, and more!

Support the companies that make The Music (ed) Matters Podcast possible: 

—Kaleidoscope Adventures - find your adventure today, kaleidoscopeadventures.com/. 

— The Kinnison Choral Company - check out their quality resources - or get your tracks made today - at KinnisonChoralCo.com. 

**Show music originally written by Mr. Todd Monsell

**Show photography provided by Dr. Dan Biggerstaff

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Dr. Edie Copley, President-Elect for the National American Choral Directors Association and a regents’ professor emeritus at Northern Arizona University. In this episode, Dr. Copley shares her journey in the choral profession, the purpose of vulnerability, and how to ultimately give back through service to the profession.

Read Dr. Copley’s full bio here.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/374m5aWlCp4 

Join us over at Patreon.com/MusicEdMatters for monthly meet-ups, monthly bonus episodes, special pre-release book content, and more!

Support the companies that make The Music (ed) Matters Podcast possible: 

—Kaleidoscope Adventures - find your adventure today, kaleidoscopeadventures.com/. 

— The Kinnison Choral Company - check out their quality resources - or get your tracks made today - at KinnisonChoralCo.com. 

**Show music originally written by Mr. Todd Monsell

**Show photography provided by Dr. Dan Biggerstaff

A candid and jam-packed conversation between podcast hosts Chris Munce of The Choralosophy Podcast and Emmy Burch of Music (ed) Matters. We both love to chat, especially with each other, so in this conversation we cover everything from using enneagrams to understand motivation and impact our students, getting adventurous and attending other regional conferences, and all that comes with being “better conversation activists.” This one was super fun to record - hope you enjoy! 

As promised, here’s the link to the awesome summer camp Chris and Emmy will be at together this summer. Grab a singer and come hang! https://kantoreikc.com/educational-outreach/. 

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/H2MsndIpdOA.

It’s easy to support the podcast world and join the community over at Patreon.com/MusicEdMatters. In addition to bonus video and episode content, members get monthly meet-ups, monthly bonus episodes, special pre-release book content, and more! Chris Munce has a dynamite Patreon page as well (and super cool swag), check him out at Patreon.com/Choralosopy. 

Support the companies that make The Music (ed) Matters Podcast possible: 

—Kaleidoscope Adventures - find your adventure today, kaleidoscopeadventures.com/. 

— The Kinnison Choral Company - check out their quality resources - or get your tracks made today - at KinnisonChoralCo.com. 

Choralosophy also has some incredible affiliates, check them out: https://choralosophy.com/show-sponsors/. 

**Show music originally written by Mr. Todd Monsell

**Show photography provided by Dr. Dan Biggerstaff

Although we begin this episode as a "band" episode for my music ed students, Dr. Shelley Jagow brings life lessons and "power" to the table as we literally discuss the impact music can have....when we explore fundamentals, utilize our individual life experiences, explore various options and possibilities, and intentionally program repertoire. Get ready to "be the model" as we work together to build better citizens in the world through the massive power of music (and music education).

Learn more about and connect with Dr. Shelley Jagow https://www.shelleyjagow.com and check out the textbook I use in secondary band methods that lead me to her: https://www.giamusic.com/store/resource/teaching-instrumental-music-second-edition-10377. 

Want to know more about the festival we talked about in the episode: Silver Melted into Sound Festival to support the music of underrepresented composers https://liberal-arts.wright.edu/music/silver-melted-into-sound.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_PRK_moyn3c. 

Join us over at Patreon.com/MusicEdMatters for monthly meet-ups, monthly bonus episodes, special pre-release book content, and more!

Support the companies that make The Music (ed) Matters Podcast possible: 

—Kaleidoscope Adventures - find your adventure today, kaleidoscopeadventures.com/. 

— The Kinnison Choral Company - check out their quality resources - or get your tracks made today - at KinnisonChoralCo.com. 

**Show music originally written by Mr. Todd Monsell

**Show photography provided by Dr. Dan Biggerstaff

As the Executive Director for the Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra, Dr. Amy Williams lives out her passion of the togetherness that comes with music. In this conversation, we talk about how she went from being THAT kid who was swinging the flute on her stand, to picking up a bassoon all the way to a DMA and how those degrees and experiences prepared her for massive success in the arts admin world. (There are some great interview tips too!)

Learn more about Dr. Amy Williams (https://savannahphilharmonic.org/amy/) and The Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra (savannahphilharmonic.org). 

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/SOT6gMEv-4k 

Join us over at Patreon.com/MusicEdMatters for monthly meet-ups, monthly bonus episodes, special pre-release book content and more!

Support the companies that make The Music (ed) Matters Podcast possible: 

—Kaleidoscope Adventures - find your adventure today, kaleidoscopeadventures.com/. 

— The Kinnison Choral Company - check out their quality resources - or get your tracks made today - at KinnisonChoralCo.com. 

**Show music originally written by Mr. Todd Monsell

**Show photography provided by Dr. Dan Biggerstaff

Bonus Release recorded LIVE from Southern Region ACDA in Raleigh, 2022: 

Today’s panel is comprised of 6 educators and advocates. Combined, they bring a wide variety of experiences to the table including: K-12, collegiate, and community choir. 

Maria A. Ellis - ‘Girl Conductor’ - is a Music Education Consultant, Creator of Diverse Music Resources, and Conductor. Jasmine Fripp - ‘The Passionate Black Educator’ -  is a Music Curriculum Specialist and Anti-Racist Education Trainer. Kanisha Howard - the ‘Connected Black Educator - is a music educator and musician based in Georgia. Dr. Chantae D. Pittman is a high school choral director, adjudicator, researcher, and music education equity advocate. Christina Vehar - the ‘Full of Heart Educator’ - is a middle school choral and theatre director, advocate, clinician, and graduate student at Florida State University. The panel is being moderated by Dr. Emily Williams Burch, the coordinator of music education at the University of South Carolina - Aiken, the founding artistic director of RISE Chorales in Savannah, GA, and the host of the “Music (ed) Matters” podcast. 

This session features an interactive panel discussion that will utilize action-based perspectives emphasized by diversity, social-emotional learning, and culturally-relevant pedagogy to apply to real-world classroom scenarios. Session attendees will have an opportunity to submit questions about how to actively approach classroom scenarios, and the panel will then discuss practical ways to support both students and the director in selected scenarios.

The video of this episode and all handouts are available, especially for the Patrons of pod. It’s super easy to support the podcast and join the community over at Patreon.com/MusicEdMatters. In addition to this video, Patreon get monthly meet-ups, monthly bonus episodes, special pre-release book content and more!

Follow the panel on their social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Clubhouse. 

Maria A. Ellis (Girl Conductor)

Jasmine Fripp (The Passionate Black Educator)

Kanisha Howard (The Connected Black Educator)

Dr. Chantae Pittman (TheeDocP)

Christina Vehar (fullofheARTeducator)

Support the companies that make The Music (ed) Matters Podcast possible: 

—Kaleidoscope Adventures - find your adventure today, kaleidoscopeadventures.com/. 

— The Kinnison Choral Company - check out their quality resources - or get your tracks made today - at KinnisonChoralCo.com. 

**Show music originally written by Mr. Todd Monsell

**Show photography provided by Dr. Dan Biggerstaff