Joining Lisa in episode 54 is Josiah Birai, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Cheza Music School, a Nairobi-based in-home music school dedicated to helping children and families experience music in a joyful, structured, and confidence-building way. Josiah speaks about the way he and his colleagues support their students’ musicking and performing. Kenyatta University Senior Lecturer Dr. Elizabeth A. Andang’o responds with insights on music education in Kenya, emphasizing the importance of considering how music supports children’s identity and self-knowledge. Elizabeth also shares her research working with grandmothers in Kenya, highlighting the grandmothers’ deliberate use of music to cultivate relationships with their grandchildren as well as to pass along religious values.

Episode 54 shownotes:

Cheza Music School, Nairobi Web Page

Josiah Birai’s faculty page

Cheza Music School Facebook

Cheza Music School Instagram

Elizabeth A. Andang’o’s faculty page

Elizabeth A. Andang’o’s article, “The role of music in shaping children’s self-knowledge and identity: Perspectives from an African setting” 

In Episode 53, Lisa interviews pianist, cross media artist, and music educator, Dr. Fang Ting Huang. Fang Ting creates immersive new-media installations and interactive musical experiences that integrate technology, arts, and music. Fang Ting reflects on her musical childhood in Taiwan, her studies in Europe, and her career as a cross media artist and musical collaborator. Responding to Fang-Ting’s interview is Dr. Melody Liao, a professor of early childhood education, practitioner of Dalcroze Eurythmics, and advocate for early childhood music education. Melody shares insight from her exploratory music-making as a child in rural Taiwan and her current research on the use of loose parts in early childhood music spaces.

Episode 53 Shownotes:

Fang Ting Huang’s YouTube channel 

Fang Ting’s new video performance, Coco’s Piano Diary Ep. 1

Fang Ting Huang’s new media performance of "On My Way”

Fang Ting Huang’s performance of Debussy’s “L’isle Joyeuse” on location by the sea

Behind-the-scenes video of filming “L’isle Joyeuse” on location

Melody Liao’s webpage with more information on her research

Penn State Research-to-Practice Tip Page on Loose Parts & Early Childhood Play

Research videos from Melody’s research on loose parts: (1) Loose parts in in-between spaces, (2) loose parts musical play on a playground fence

Melody Liao’s research on loose parts in early childhood education, “The Possibilities of the In-Between Space: A Case Study on Creating a Music Environment in a Preschool Setting”

In our first episode of season 8, Lisa interviews Margaret Fagan. Margaret Fagan is a folk musician and former early childhood Montessori music teacher. Margaret and her husband, folk guitarist Bob Fagan, are the founding members of Australia’s pre-eminent folk music family, “The Fagans.” Margaret reflects on her own musical childhood and describes ways children in Australia are included in community musicmaking. Drawing from her experience as an early childhood teacher, music educator and children’s author, Dr. Amanda Niland responds to Margaret’s interview with insight from her long career in early childhood education.  Amanda joined the Early Childhood team at the University of Sydney in 2016 where she currently serves as Senior Lecturer and Program Director of the Master of Teaching Early Childhood.

Episode 52 Shownotes

Margaret & Bob Fagan “Landmarks on the Journey” album

Margaret & Bob Fagan join son James Fagan, host, on “Sheffield Live TGIF” radio show (2024)

Youtube Recording, Margaret & Bob Fagan at 2022 National Folk Festival in Canberra, Australia

Youtube Recording, The Fagans, “The World Turned Upside Down”

Amanda Niland’s research article on children’s literature: “Picture Books, Imagination and Play: Pathways to Positive Reading Identities for Young Children”

Amanda Niland’s research article on children’s musical play: “Singing and playing together: A community music group in an early intervention setting”

Amanda Niland children’s books

Announcing Season 8 of Parenting Musically! Parenting Musically is supported by Case Western Reserve University. The podcast is hosted by Dr. Lisa Huisman Koops, professor of music education at Case Western Reserve University.

In our final episode of season 7, Lisa interviews Joan Ellison, songstress and revivalist of the Great American Songbook. Joan is known internationally for her restoration and revival of Judy Garland’s repertoire from her golden Hollywood years, live concerts, studio recordings, and television shows. Joan shares how she became a part of the “Judy Garland Family” and reflects on the importance of musical places in her own musical journey, from Judy Garland’s childhood home to Severance Hall. Co-host George Blake picks up the themes of musical place in Joan’s conversation within the fabric of the concepts of “home” and “away” in “There's No Place Like Home” and “Over the Rainbow” in The Wizard of Oz.Thank you to our audio engineer Davey Berris, Lead Digital Video Specialist at MediaVision at CWRU for his work as audio engineer on this podcast. We’re grateful to CWRU PhD student Lauren Hodgson for her work behind the scenes with editing transcripts. Thanks to CWRU Music Dept. chair Nate Kruse for his departmental support. Gratitude to CWRU for supporting this season of Parenting Musically.

Joan’s Website

Joan’s Facebook and Instagram

Joan’s Touring Schedule

Joan Ellison sings “Over the Rainbow”

Joan Ellison Sings "Chicago" in the National Concert Hall in Dublin

James Rhodes Parenting Musically podcast episode (discussed in Episode 51)

Joining Lisa this week is daughter-father duo Theresa J. May and James May. Theresa is a professional trumpeter, educator, and advocate from Shaker Heights, Ohio. James May is a native Clevelander and was the founder, music director and bandleader of Gabriel’s Horns®, a 21-piece inter-generational community jazz-praise big band from 2002 -2023. Theresa and James discuss the importance of joy in musicking, Theresa’s work with Afrofuturism, and reflect on mentoring young musicians. Season 8 co-host George Blake expands on themes of autonomy, fun, and blossoming brought up in the interview.Mid-episode music credit: “Afrofuturism: Black Lives Will Exist in the Future,” performed by Theresa J. May and Megan Denman, composed by Shanyse Strickland. Additional performance credits listed at link. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1luwWjOISvQ

Theresa’s website

Theresa’s Facebook and Instagram

Youtube video of Theresa’s Afrofuturism project

Accompanying context on Afrofuturism project

Gabriel's Horns performs at Trinity Cathedral (Cleveland, 2021)

Cleveland.com article about Gabriel's Horns and the Salvation Army

Gabriel’s Horns Facebook page

In Episode 49, Lisa interviews Jason Patrick Meyers, Cleveland-based singer-songwriter, music liaison to Cleveland’s Brite Winter Festival and radio host of NEORocks on WJCU 88.7 FM. Jason shares stories of key musical places in his artistry, from stage to hospital to festival to radio. We also explore ways to be engaged in music that go beyond the expected. Season 7 co-host George Blake extends the reflections with context on musical places such as the Grog Shop and the Beachland Ballroom. Together we discuss the power of music-evoked autobiographical memories.

Jason’s Website

YouTube video of Jason’s song NICU (And I See You)

Brite Winter Festival - February 21, 2026

Roots of American Music - Cleveland

Jakubowski & Ghosh (2021) article “Music-Evoked Autobiographical Memories in Everyday Life”

Joining Lisa this week is Talise Campbell, Associate Professor of Music at Oberlin College & Conservatory and Executive Founding Artistic Director and Choreographer of Djapo Cultural Arts Institute. Djapo Cultural Arts Institute is a professional performing arts company specializing in the preservation and understanding of African diasporic works through performances, school assemblies, residencies, and workshops. In today’s episode, Talise reflects on the theme of musical place through her artistic work as a dancer, choreographer, teacher, and leader. Season 7 co-host George Blake provides context on musical influences and places Talise describes. He also connects Talises’s insights about the importance of broadening children’s and family’s musical exposure to the ideas of musical hopes and dreams in parenting musically.

Mid-episode music credit: “Sandia: Of the Blood” performance, created by Talise Campbell and Weedie Braimah, performed by Djapo Cultural Arts Institute Company. Recorded by Ideastream Public Media. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzU5xEstS60

Episode 48 Shownotes

Djapo Cultural Arts Institute website

Youtube, “How dances are created at Cleveland’s Djapo Cultural Arts Institute to honor West Africa”

Youtube, Talise Campbell - "Talent is nothing without character"

Karamu House Archives housed @ CWRU

The Cultural Arts Center @ Disciples Christian Church (Cleveland Heights)

In Episode 47, Lisa is joined by Beata Begeniova-Fedoriouk and Alexander Fedoriouk. They are two members of the ensemble Harmonia, which is a Cleveland-based ensemble presenting Eastern European folk music through concerts, festivals, workshops, media appearances, and recordings. Beata is the vocalist of the group and Alexander specializes in the cimbalom. In their interview, Beata and Alexander speak about the people and places central to their artistic journeys as well as reflecting on the role of musical place in their performances today. Season 7 co-host George Blake discusses the power of musical connection and provides further context on some of the instruments featured in the ensemble Harmonia..

Harmonia’s website

Youtube video featuring Alexander Fedoriouk on cimbalom

Youtube video featuring Beata Fedoriouk’s vocals

Harmonia recordings

Harmonia Facebook page

In Episode 46, Lisa interviews Mari Sato, a Cleveland-based violinist who has enjoyed a rich and varied career as a solo, orchestra and chamber musician. Mari shares her reflections on the role of musical place in her career as well as thoughts on how being a professional musician influenced her parenting. In the second half of the episode, Season 7 co-host George Blake sets the stage for our exploration of musical place this season. He also provides further context on composer John Luther Adams and his work with musical place.

YouTube video of performance of John Luther Adams’s work “The Wind in High Places”- No Exit New Music Ensemble String Quartet with special guest Mari Sato 

YouTube video of performance of Margaret Brouwer’s work “All Lines Are Still Busy” for solo violin and narrator