Today’s episode addresses performance—not just standing on a stage or playing for a camera, but the little performances we have to do all of the time, this ubiquitous visibility in the digital world that is far beyond what we experience in the in-person world.

Dr. Matthew Arau is the founder of Upbeat Global, an organization that aims to inspire positivity through leadership and music throughout the United States and around the world. He joins me in today’s discussion as we share what helps us weather our storms with a peaceful heart, and to find joy every day.

The secret to happiness can be hard to uncover amidst the uncertainty of this back to school season. So for this episode, I sat down for a candid, casual conversation with my good friend Michelle Rose to talk about just that.

Today I bring on Bob Morrison—one of the most influential people in music education—to join me for this conversation about the future. We’ll discuss the data being collected now that will help us make smart decisions for us and our students. If you want to know what the future of music education should be and will be, this is the episode for you.

I bring on the formidable and inspiring Christine Bass—one of the most prolific adjudicators and clinicians in the coral world (and for good reason). If you're looking for practical ways to improve yourself as a singer, and improve your students as singers, you won't find a more practical approach than what she will provide in this episode.

For today’s episode I brought in my friend Shawna Long, an award-winning music technology teacher who recently transitioned from teaching middle school music technology classes to teaching elementary music. A teacher of her caliber so celebrated for her successes could probably have chosen any position that she wanted. Today we'll explore why we might transition between jobs and how we can do it most successfully.

This week’s episode recaps a webinar I recently hosted that wasn't really a webinar at all! Not a lesson, not a lecture—it was a work session. I brought on my friend and colleague Jessica Peresta to help walk us through exactly how to plan for next school year—no matter what the situation will be.

In this episode I welcome my dear friend Mia Ibrahim to discuss how to know when to be transparent with your students about who you are outside of the music classroom, and how this can affect your relationships with your students, your colleagues, your administration, and the community.

My goal in this episode is to try offering a handful of answers and a whole lot of validation towards whatever you are feeling right now. Whether you’re feeling frustration, silliness, joy, gratitude, anger, or fear—whatever you’re feeling—it is validated.

In just a matter of a few weeks, the whole world has changed. It is with mixed feelings that I welcome our new reality. Change is never easy, and exponential change is hardest of all. Our teacher hearts ache for connection with our students.