In Episode 126 of the Orchestra Teacher Podcast, Dr. Charles Laux sits down with master elementary string educator Susan Ott Rodberg for an inspiring and deeply practical conversation about building strong string programs from the very beginning.Susan is a National Board Certified Teacher in Early/Middle Childhood Music and Orchestra, a Suzuki-trained violinist, and a passionate advocate for access to high-quality string education. With nearly three decades at U.B. Kinsey Palmview Elementary School of the Arts in West Palm Beach, Florida, she has shaped generations of young musicians—some of whom return years later with children of their own!In this episode, Susan shares her journey from Suzuki violin training (including meeting Dr. Shinichi Suzuki) to discovering her true calling in elementary orchestra education. She discusses teaching students as young as kindergarten, designing developmentally appropriate systems that emphasize posture, setup, and musical independence, and helping students earn the right to play a real instrument through intentional preparation.Listeners will hear Susan’s philosophy on: • Teaching K–5 orchestra in a Title I, arts-focused magnet school • Blending Suzuki principles with traditional classroom instruction • Building left-hand setup, posture, shifting, and even vibrato at the elementary level • Classroom management strategies that are simple, positive, and effective • Why modeling, consistency, and community relationships matter more than any single method book • Repertoire she returns to year after year that truly works for young string playersSusan also offers invaluable advice for new teachers, emphasizes the importance of mentorship and professional organizations, and reflects on what has never changed in her 30-year career: putting students first and building a solid technical foundation from day one.This episode is packed with wisdom, encouragement, and actionable ideas for any orchestra teacher, especially those working with beginners and elementary programs.🎻 Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your approach with young string players, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.— SPONSORS AND AFFILIATE LINKS —Looking to plan a great orchestra trip? Kaleidoscope Adventures has been planning performance travel beyond expectations for more than 30 years. ⁠https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/the-orchestra-teacher-podcast/⁠Want to find some classic repertoire or looking for something different and new? Check out Keiser Productions!https://www.keiserproductions.comLooking for things on Amazon?  Use my affiliate link:⁠https://amzn.to/3RkfRLk⁠Do you keep a monthly budget?  If not, try You Need a Budget!  It’s a great app/website that helps keep your finances on track.⁠https://tinyurl.com/TheOrchestraTeacherYNAB⁠Do you have cable?  Cut the cord and check out YouTube TV!  It works on mobile, Smart TVs, the web and more!⁠https://tv.youtube.com/referral/r22irzcuy7jshi⁠Resources and more information at ⁠www.orchestrateacher.net⁠

The Orchestra Teacher Podcast – Episode #125

Guest: Sheldon Fisher

In Episode 125 of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast, we sit down with Sheldon J. Fisher, a master teacher whose career represents the very best of long-term program building, musical integrity, and service to the profession.

A retired orchestra director from Fulton County Schools near Atlanta, Georgia, Sheldon led ensembles that performed on some of the most respected stages in music education, including the GMEA State Convention, ASTA National Conference, The Midwest Clinic, and Carnegie Hall. In this wide-ranging and reflective conversation, Sheldon shares the thinking behind those successes—focusing not on trophies or destinations, but on daily habits, musical standards, and student-centered teaching.

Throughout the episode, Sheldon discusses:

• Building a culture of consistency and excellence over time

• Programming with purpose and teaching students how to listen

• Rehearsal strategies that prioritize musical independence and ensemble awareness

• The role of mentorship, professionalism, and humility in a long teaching career

• What changes—and what stays the same—after retirement

Sheldon also talks about staying musically active beyond the classroom. He currently serves as co-conductor of the Fulton County Youth Orchestra, works as a rehearsal pianist for Tolbert-Yilmaz Dance Studio in Roswell, Georgia, and remains highly involved as an adjudicator, guest conductor, and clinician, sharing his experience with teachers and students across the region.

This episode is full of wisdom, perspective, and thoughtful reflection from an educator who understands that great orchestra teaching is about far more than performances—it’s about people, process, and purpose.

🎻 Whether you’re just starting out or thinking about the legacy you want to leave, Episode 125 offers invaluable insight from Sheldon Fisher.

— SPONSORS AND REFERRAL LINKS —

Looking to plan a great orchestra trip? Kaleidoscope Adventures has been planning performance travel beyond expectations for more than 30 years. 

⁠https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/the-orchestra-teacher-podcast/⁠

Want to find some classic repertoire or looking for something different and new?  Check out Keiser Productions!

https://www.keiserproductions.com

Looking for things on Amazon?  Use my affiliate link:

⁠https://amzn.to/3RkfRLk⁠

Do you keep a monthly budget?  If not, try You Need a Budget!  It’s a great app/website that helps keep your finances on track.

⁠https://tinyurl.com/TheOrchestraTeacherYNAB⁠

Do you have cable?  Cut the cord and check out YouTube TV!  It works on mobile, Smart TVs, the web and more!

⁠https://tv.youtube.com/referral/r22irzcuy7jshi⁠

Resources and more information at ⁠www.orchestrateacher.net⁠

The Orchestra Teacher Podcast – Episode #124

In the Classroom, On the Podium, and in the Dirt: Ashley Braithwaite’s Orchestra Life

We’re kicking off 2026 with an inspiring conversation featuring Ashley Braithwaite, an award-winning orchestra educator from Utah whose passion for teaching, leadership, and lifelong musicianship shines through everything she does.

Ashley has been teaching privately since 2005 and in the public schools since 2013. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Viola Performance from the University of Utah and a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education from Utah State University. Her impact as an educator has been widely recognized, including honors as Teacher of the Year, Cluster Teacher of the Year, and Utah’s featured “Director Who Makes a Difference” in SBO Magazine (2019).

In this episode, Ashley shares her journey from viola performance major to leading seven orchestras across a middle school and high school, serving more than 300 students—all while feeding her own program. We dive into the rewards and pressures of vertical alignment, thoughtful long-term curriculum planning, and what it really takes to build strong fundamentals that last well beyond the classroom.

Ashley also discusses:

• Standards-based assessment and practical strategies for managing large programs

• Building student independence through tone, technique, and self-evaluation

• Repertoire favorites and “hidden gems” for middle and high school orchestras

• Her leadership roles with ASTA, UMEA, and the National Orchestra Festival

• Why professional learning, festivals, and collaboration matter so deeply for teachers and students alike

Outside the classroom, Ashley is an avid chamber musician who has performed throughout Europe, an enthusiastic supporter of Suzuki and Federation experiences, and—when she’s not teaching—can often be found outdoors enjoying motocross, hiking, fly fishing, and life in the dirt under the sun.

This wide-ranging conversation is full of practical insights, honest reflections, and big-picture inspiration for orchestra teachers at every stage of their careers—and it’s the perfect way to start a new year of the podcast.

🎻 Listen in and get inspired as we launch 2026 with Ashley Braithwaite on the Orchestra Teacher Podcast!

— SPONSORS AND REFERRAL LINKS —

Looking to plan a great orchestra trip? Kaleidoscope Adventures has been planning performance travel beyond expectations for more than 30 years. 

⁠https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/the-orchestra-teacher-podcast/⁠

Want to find some classic repertoire or looking for something different and new?  Check out Keiser Productions!

https://www.keiserproductions.com

Looking for things on Amazon?  Use my referral link:

⁠https://amzn.to/3RkfRLk⁠

Do you keep a monthly budget?  If not, try You Need a Budget!  It’s a great app/website that helps keep your finances on track.

⁠https://tinyurl.com/TheOrchestraTeacherYNAB⁠

Do you have cable?  Cut the cord and check out YouTube TV!  It works on mobile, Smart TVs, the web and more!

⁠https://tv.youtube.com/referral/r22irzcuy7jshi⁠

Resources and more information at ⁠www.orchestrateacher.net⁠

🎉 New Sponsor Announcement for 2026! 🎉

We’re excited to announce Keiser Productions as an official 2026 sponsor of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast!

In this video, you’ll get to know Keiser Productions, a leading publisher dedicated to high-quality string and orchestra music for educators and students. Joining us are Matt Keiser, President & CEO of Keiser Productions, and Cameron Law, String Editor, who share insight into the company’s mission, their commitment to music education, and how their publications support orchestra teachers at every level.

If you’re looking for engaging repertoire, thoughtful editing, or music created with real classrooms in mind, check out this introduction to what Keiser Productions brings to the orchestra community.

👉 Learn more and explore their catalog:

🌐 https://www.keiserproductions.com

Thank you to Keiser Productions for supporting orchestra educators and for sponsoring The Orchestra Teacher Podcast in 2026!

Episode #123 — Gretchen Wyder Zunic: How to Build a Thriving, Student-Centered Orchestra Program

In this episode of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast, Charles sits down with Gretchen Wyder Zunic, Head Orchestra Director at Upper Arlington High School and a 31-year veteran of music education. Gretchen shares her inspiring journey from her early teaching years in Findlay and Hilliard to building a powerhouse orchestra program in Upper Arlington—now home to six high school orchestras and rapidly growing middle-school ensembles.

Gretchen discusses what it takes to create a student-centered learning environment, how to program for multiple skill levels, and why today’s teachers must adapt to changing student needs, administrative structures, and post-COVID expectations. She dives into her approach to repertoire selection, developing independent musicianship, and her creative “music shopping” project that empowers students to explore and choose meaningful literature.

We also talk about the importance of discipline, responsibility, and community in orchestra classrooms—and why music education cultivates skills that benefit students for life. Gretchen opens up about the differences between middle school and high school teaching, the reality of modern educational pressures, and her nomination for the Manilow Music Teacher Award, which could bring $10,000 in new instruments to her program. 

Vote for Gretchen here!  https://tradablebits.com/tb_app/540010

If you’re a string teacher, orchestra director, or music educator looking for inspiration and practical ideas, this episode is full of wisdom, laughter, honesty, and heart.

– SPONSORS & REFERRAL LINKS –

Looking to plan a great orchestra trip? Kaleidoscope Adventures has been planning performance travel beyond expectations for more than 30 years. 

⁠https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/the-orchestra-teacher-podcast/⁠

Looking for things on Amazon?  Use my referral link:

⁠https://amzn.to/3RkfRLk⁠

Do you keep a monthly budget?  If not, try You Need a Budget!  It’s a great app/website that helps keep your finances on track.

⁠https://tinyurl.com/TheOrchestraTeacherYNAB⁠

Do you have cable?  Cut the cord and check out YouTube TV!  It works on mobile, Smart TVs, the web and more!

⁠https://tv.youtube.com/referral/r22irzcuy7jshi⁠

Resources and more information at ⁠www.orchestrateacher.net⁠

— BIOGRAPHY —

Gretchen Wyder Zunic is the Head Orchestra Director at Upper Arlington High School in Columbus, now in her 31st year of teaching. She leads six high school orchestras and supports middle school string programs. Gretchen previously taught in Hilliard and Findlay City Schools and holds degrees from Bowling Green State University and The Ohio State University, where she earned the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award.

She is the Past-President of the Ohio String Teachers Association, Co-Chair of the Central Ohio String Festival, an active OMEA Adjudicator, and serves on the boards of the Youth Philharmonic of Central Ohio and the Vivo Music Festival. Her many honors include two Upper Arlington Golden Apple Awards, Distinguished Alumni recognitions from Princeton City Schools and BGSU, and being named the 2020 Ohio Teacher of the Year by OSTA.

Her orchestras frequently perform at nationally adjudicated events and at the OMEA Conference, and she has led student performances across the U.S., Canada, the Bahamas, and China. Gretchen is also a sought-after guest conductor and clinician and performs as a member of the Columbus String Quartet.

#TheOrchestraTeacherPodcast #OrchestraTeacher #MusicEducation #StringEducation #OrchestraDirector #SchoolOrchestra #StringTeacher #MusicTeacher #GretchenWyderZunic #UpperArlingtonOrchestra #StudentCenteredLearning #OrchestraRehearsal #MusicPedagogy #StringPedagogy #ManilowMusicTeacherAward #BarryManilow #OSTA #OMEA #ASTA #YouthOrchestra #OrchestraProgram #TeachingStrings #MiddleSchoolOrchestra #HighSchoolOrchestra #MusicEdCommunity #OrchestraLife

🎻 Episode #122 — The Orchestra Teacher Podcast

Guests: Daryl Silberman & Matthew White, Orchestra Directors at Scullen Middle School (Naperville, IL)

In this energizing episode, Dr. Charles Laux welcomes the incredible teaching duo Daryl Silberman and Matthew White, who have transformed the Scullen Middle School orchestra program through collaboration, creativity, and a deep commitment to student belonging.

Daryl and Matt share how their unique team-teaching model brings out the best in both teachers and students—using humor, trust, and complementary strengths to create a vibrant, inclusive learning environment. They discuss:

✨ Building a positive classroom culture

✨ Their “Habits of Mind” system that fosters kindness and responsibility

✨ Creating a space where every student sees themselves represented

✨ Improvisation, electric strings, and developing creativity

✨ Monthly “Be Curious,” “Do Something,” and “You Belong” calendars

✨ Special grade-level projects and identity-based music learning

✨ Innovative room setup (yes…they cut the backs off their chairs!)

✨ Grant writing, technology integration, and using AI for teaching

✨ The importance of trust, collaboration, and modeling artistic growth

Whether you team-teach or work solo, this episode is packed with ideas you can bring into your own orchestra room—insights that will inspire your teaching and nurture student connection.

🔗 Connect with Daryl and Matthew

Daryl: [email protected]

Matthew: [email protected]

https://www.instagram.com/scullenorchestra/

📚 Resources:

https://www.daryls.com

https://sites.google.com/ipsd.org/mrwscullenorchestra/home

#OrchestraTeacherPodcast #MusicEducation #OrchestraTeaching #StringEducation #TeamTeaching #MiddleSchoolOrchestra #MusicEd #MusicTeachers #OrchestraDirectors #StringPedagogy #CreativeTeaching #InclusiveTeaching #MusicClassroomCulture #ElectricStrings #ImprovisationInMusic #ScullenMiddleSchool #NapervilleSchools #StudentBelonging #HabitsOfMind #MusicEdLife #TeacherInspiration #EdTechInMusic #MusicEdPodcast #StringTeachers #OrchestraLife #MusicEdCommunity

— REFERRAL LINKS —

Looking to plan a great orchestra trip? Kaleidoscope Adventures has been planning performance travel beyond expectations for more than 30 years. 

⁠https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/the-orchestra-teacher-podcast/⁠

Looking for things on Amazon?  Use my referral link:

⁠https://amzn.to/3RkfRLk⁠

Do you keep a monthly budget?  If not, try You Need a Budget!  It’s a great app/website that helps keep your finances on track.

⁠https://tinyurl.com/TheOrchestraTeacherYNAB⁠

Do you have cable?  Cut the cord and check out YouTube TV!  It works on mobile, Smart TVs, the web and more!

⁠https://tv.youtube.com/referral/r22irzcuy7jshi⁠

Resources and more information at ⁠www.orchestrateacher.net⁠

🎙️ The Orchestra Teacher Podcast – Episode #121

In this episode, The Orchestra Teacher Podcast host Dr. Charles Laux sits down with Dr. Annalisa Chang, orchestra director at Roswell High School and former professor at Clayton State University, to discuss her inspiring journey from higher education back to the high school classroom.

Dr. Chang shares her insights on what it’s like to make the transition from college teaching to public school, how she’s building a thriving orchestra program at Roswell, and the powerful impact of her school’s United Sound inclusion ensemble, which connects students with disabilities to music-making through peer mentorship.

Listeners will gain valuable ideas and inspiration around:

🎻 Creating inclusive learning environments through student leadership

🎵 Building culture, rapport, and connection with students

📚 Balancing administrative tasks, assessments, and musical growth

🎶 Repertoire selection and programming for diverse ensembles

🎧 Maintaining professional balance while teaching full-time

Dr. Chang also talks about her unique teaching model that incorporates peer mentors and teaching assistants, the value of collaboration across departments, and exciting plans for her program — including a joint trip to Universal Studios with the band and choir!

Whether you teach in public schools, higher ed, or youth orchestras, this conversation is filled with warmth, humor, and practical wisdom for every music educator.

#TheOrchestraTeacher #OrchestraTeacherPodcast #MusicEducation #DrCharlesLaux #DrAnnalisaChang #StringEducation #OrchestraEducation #RoswellHighSchool #MusicTeachers #OrchestraDirectors #InclusionInMusic #UnitedSound #MusicPedagogy #OrchestraLife 

— BIOGRAPHY —

Annalisa C. Chang is Director of Orchestras at Roswell High School in Roswell, Georgia. Prior to this position, she served as Associate Professor of Music and Director of Music Education at Clayton State University. At Clayton State, Dr. Chang taught general music education courses, string methods, music for early childhood, music appreciation, and supervised student teachers. She was named the 2022-2023 Gene Hatfield Teacher of the Year by the CSU College of Arts and Sciences and received the 2023 Pearson Excellence in Higher Education Award in the Transformational Thought Leadership category. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she served as the Director of the CSU Music Preparatory School.

Her research on string teacher education, the inclusion of students with disabilities in string classrooms, and equitable access to music education has been presented at state, national, and international music education conferences. Her work has been published in the String Research Journal, the Florida Music Director, and the ArkMEA Journal.

​As a clinician, Dr. Chang has presented sessions on teaching students with disabilities, string education, classroom management, and traditional (folk) music instruction in the schools at many state in-service conferences, the American String Teachers Association National Conference, and the Midwest Clinic.

Dr. Chang holds degrees in Music Education from Florida State University (Ph.D), and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (M.M., B.M) where she was a North Carolina Teaching Fellow.

acchang.com

roswellorchestra.org

— REFERRAL LINKS —

Looking to plan a great orchestra trip? Kaleidoscope Adventures has been planning performance travel beyond expectations for more than 30 years. 

⁠https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/the-orchestra-teacher-podcast/⁠

Looking for things on Amazon?  Use my referral link:

⁠https://amzn.to/3RkfRLk⁠

Do you keep a monthly budget?  If not, try You Need a Budget!  It’s a great app/website that helps keep your finances on track.

⁠https://tinyurl.com/TheOrchestraTeacherYNAB⁠

Do you have cable?  Cut the cord and check out YouTube TV!  It works on mobile, Smart TVs, the web and more!

⁠https://tv.youtube.com/referral/r22irzcuy7jshi⁠

In this episode, The Orchestra Teacher Podcast host Dr. Charles Laux welcomes Dr. Nathaniel (“Nat”) Parker, Director of Orchestral Studies at Kennesaw State University and Artistic and Executive Director of the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestras (GYSO).

Dr. Parker shares his journey from a “reformed bassoonist” to a collegiate conductor, offering deep insights into teaching, programming, and leadership in orchestral education. The conversation explores how KSU’s music program continues to grow, the exciting developments within GYSO, and the importance of thoughtful repertoire selection, youth mentorship, and professional balance.

Listeners will gain practical advice and inspiration on topics such as:

🎵 Effective rehearsal strategies and student engagement

🎵 Building strong youth orchestra programs

🎵 Programming for growth and diversity in repertoire

🎵 The evolving role of conductors and ensemble leadership

Dr. Parker also discusses his work in commissioning new pieces, the upcoming 20th anniversary of GYSO, and the value of cultivating independent, self-motivated students and musicians.

#TheOrchestraTeacher #OrchestraEducation #MusicEducation #DrCharlesLaux #DrNathanielParker #KennesawStateUniversity #YouthOrchestra #GYSO #OrchestraTeacherPodcast #OrchestraConducting #StringEducation #MusicTeachers #ConductingEducation #OrchestraRehearsal #MusicPedagogy

— BIOGRAPHY —

A talented and versatile musician, Nathaniel F. Parker has conducted professional orchestras in the United States, Peru, Russia, Poland, England, and the Czech Republic. Equally at home working with professionals and training future generations of musicians, Dr. Parker is Director of Orchestral Studies and Associate Professor of Music at the Kennesaw State University Bailey School of Music. Concurrent appointments include the positions of Associate Conductor of the Georgia Symphony Orchestra, the Dr. Bobbie Bailey Artistic Director of the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestras (GYSO), and Music Director and Conductor of the GYSO Symphony. Parker’s work as a conductor, scholar, and educator has been recognized by the New World Symphony (FL), Tanglewood Music Center, the American Prize, the College Music Society (CMS), the American String Teachers Association (ASTA) and the College Orchestra Directors Association (CODA), among others. He is also the recipient of a Citation of Excellence in Teaching from the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association. Parker earned graduate degrees in orchestral conducting from Michigan State University (DMA) and Bowling Green State University (MM). He also earned a BM in Bassoon Performance, magna cum laude, from Arizona State University. His mentors and teachers include Raphael Jiménez, Leon Gregorian, Stephen Osmond, and Emily Freeman Brown (conducting), and Jeffrey Lyman and Catherine Lewis (bassoon).

https://facultyweb.kennesaw.edu/nparke22/index.php

KSU Bailey School of Music: https://www.kennesaw.edu/arts/academics/music/index.php

KSU Summer Orchestra Directors Symposium: https://www.kennesaw.edu/arts/academics/music/community-programs/clinics-workshops/summer-orchestra-directors-symposium.php

Georgia Symphony Orchestra: https://www.georgiasymphony.org/

Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestras (GYSO): https://www.georgiasymphony.org/gyso/

— REFERRAL LINKS —

Looking to plan a great orchestra trip? Kaleidoscope Adventures has been planning performance travel beyond expectations for more than 30 years. 

⁠https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/the-orchestra-teacher-podcast/⁠

Looking for things on Amazon?  Use my referral link:

⁠https://amzn.to/3RkfRLk⁠

Do you keep a monthly budget?  If not, try You Need a Budget!  It’s a great app/website that helps keep your finances on track.

⁠https://tinyurl.com/TheOrchestraTeacherYNAB⁠

Do you have cable?  Cut the cord and check out YouTube TV!  It works on mobile, Smart TVs, the web and more!

⁠https://tv.youtube.com/referral/r22irzcuy7jshi⁠

In this episode of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast, Dr. Charles Laux sits down with Darren Sacks, one of Greater Boston’s leading double bass educators, to discuss how young bassists can transform their playing and mindset to reach new levels of success.

Sacks shares his journey from discovering the double bass on a high school field trip to building a thriving studio that prepares students for competitive auditions across the country—including the MMEA All-State Festival, Interlochen, CASMEC, and top conservatories such as Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music.

Listeners will hear insights on developing efficient practice systems, audition strategies, and the mindset needed for long-term growth. Sacks and Dr. Laux also dive into practical teaching topics such as right-hand setup, standing vs. sitting posture, German vs. French bow technique, and how orchestra teachers can better support their bass sections.

Whether you teach bass or simply want to help your students practice smarter, this episode offers valuable takeaways for educators and performers alike.

🎧 Guest Bio:

Darren Sacks teaches double bass at the University of Massachusetts Boston and works with the Boston Music Project and El Sistema Somerville. His students consistently earn top placements in regional and national youth programs. A performer with the Cape Symphony, Portland Symphony, Boston Philharmonic, and more, Sacks holds degrees from the Hartt School and Boston Conservatory and is passionate about helping serious young bassists bridge the gap between school orchestra and elite audition success.

http://www.darrensacksbasscoach.com

Facebook Teaching Page: https://www.facebook.com/people/Darren-Sacks-Bass-Coach/61579266980559/

Facebook Group: "Parents of Young Double Bassists | Audition Prep & Success Tips"

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1154710079820381

— REFERRAL LINKS —

Looking to plan a great orchestra trip? Kaleidoscope Adventures has been planning performance travel beyond expectations for more than 30 years. 

⁠https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/the-orchestra-teacher-podcast/⁠

Looking for things on Amazon?  Use my referral link:

⁠https://amzn.to/3RkfRLk⁠

Do you keep a monthly budget?  If not, try You Need a Budget!  It’s a great app/website that helps keep your finances on track.

⁠https://tinyurl.com/TheOrchestraTeacherYNAB⁠

Do you have cable?  Cut the cord and check out YouTube TV!  It works on mobile, Smart TVs, the web and more!

⁠https://tv.youtube.com/referral/r22irzcuy7jshi⁠

Resources and more information at ⁠www.orchestrateacher.net⁠

#doublebass #bassauditiontips #bassauditionpreparation #bassteaching #doublebassteacher #basspedagogy #orchestrateacherpodcast #charleslaux #darrensacks #musiceducation #stringeducation #basstechnique #howtopracticebass #bassauditionstrategy #bassstudents #youthorchestraaudition #musicauditions #bassauditionadvice #howtoteachbass #UMassBostonbass #BostonMusicProject #ElSistemaSomerville #doublebasspracticetips #bassauditionmindset #bassbowgrip #FrenchbowvsGermanbow #standingvssittingbass #doublebassposture #bassperformancetips #studentmotivation #musicmindset #practiceefficiency #orchestraeducationpodcast

118. Repertoire, Routines, and Fresh Perspectives with Abby Miles, Dublin City Schools (OH)

In this episode, Dr. Charles Laux welcomes Abby Miles, orchestra director at Eversole Run Middle School in Dublin City Schools, Ohio. Abby shares her journey from studying music education at Baldwin Wallace University to teaching 5th–12th grade in Perrysburg, where her ensembles performed at the OMEA State Conference and the ASTA National Orchestra Festival.

Now in her seventh year of teaching, Abby reflects on the lessons she learned from strong mentors, the challenges of starting her career during the pandemic, and the transition from high school to middle school orchestra. She also discusses her approach to programming repertoire that resonates with students, the importance of routine and structure in the classroom, and her favorite teaching tool—ClassroomScreen.

Abby’s passion for inclusive, high-quality music education shines through as she shares practical strategies for engaging young musicians and creating meaningful learning experiences.

— BIOGRAPHY —

Abigail is the orchestra director at Eversole Run Middle School in Dublin City Schools. She earned her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baldwin Wallace University in 2019. Before joining Dublin City Schools in 2025, Abigail taught 5th–12th grade orchestra in Perrysburg Schools in Perrysburg, Ohio, where her ensembles consistently earned superior ratings at OMEA Large Group contests. Her groups also performed at the OMEA State Professional Development Conference and the 2024 National Orchestra Festival in Louisville, Kentucky, as part of the ASTA National Convention. 

In addition to her work in the classroom, Abigail is an active performer and conductor. She has conducted the Baldwin Wallace University Middle School Strings Camp, Ohio State Morning Strings Camp and actively performs her cello throughout the state of Ohio. Abigail is passionate about providing inclusive, high-quality music education and fostering a lifelong love of music in her students.

Link mentioned in the podcast: https://classroomscreen.com

— REFERRAL LINKS —

Looking to plan a great orchestra trip? Kaleidoscope Adventures has been planning performance travel beyond expectations for more than 30 years. 

⁠https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/the-orchestra-teacher-podcast/⁠

Looking for things on Amazon?  Use my referral link:

⁠https://amzn.to/3RkfRLk⁠

Do you keep a monthly budget?  If not, try You Need a Budget!  It’s a great app/website that helps keep your finances on track.

⁠https://tinyurl.com/TheOrchestraTeacherYNAB⁠

Do you have cable?  Cut the cord and check out YouTube TV!  It works on mobile, Smart TVs, the web and more!

⁠https://tv.youtube.com/referral/r22irzcuy7jshi⁠

Resources and more information at ⁠www.orchestrateacher.net⁠

#TheOrchestraTeacherPodcast #MusicEducation #PodcastForTeachers #OrchestraPodcast #MusicTeacherLife #PodcastForEducators #StringTeacherPodcast #MusicEdPodcast #TeacherPodcast #OrchestraTeacher #StringEducation #OrchestraLife #StringPlayers #StringTeacherLife #OrchestraClass #TeachingStrings #MusicEd #TeachingMusic #StringsMatter