Talking Up Music Education

Mark Phillips, acting president of the Historic Black College and Universities Band Directors Consortium, shares thoughts on the importance of a “complete education” including the arts, creating exposure for students to experience full instrumentation in ensemble performance, and pivoting the organization’s conference to online.

Staff from the Museum of Making Music- Carolyn Grant and B.J. Morgan- reflect on the universal language of music, pivoting to online programming, and the museum’s re-design for their 2021 reopening.

Music educator Anne Fennell reflects on the joy of teaching music, the limitless potential for creativity in music learning and re-imagining music education.

Composer Eric Whitacre was inspired to write Sing Gently; a new piece to share through Virtual Choir 6. In a time of crisis and isolation Whitacre discusses his creative process and how to get involved in this global Virtual Choir 6 phenomenon.

Mandi Jackson, Executive Director Music Haven shares thoughts about equity and access to music education and virtual music as a life line for students in New Haven, Connecticut.

Grand prize winners of the first-ever A Cappella at NAMM, student leaders of UCLA’s ScatterTones discuss their performance at the Grand Rally for Music Education, opening up for Bobby McFerrin, and the confidence they gain when singing together. Recorded LIVE at The 2020 NAMM Show.

As the youngest of five children, Victor Wooten’s musical family needed a bass player. The rest is history. In this episode, the 5-time GRAMMY award-winning musician talks about his Center for Music and Nature, dubbed “Wooten Woods,” a retreat center for musicians and students outside of Nashville, Tennessee and the journey that every person can take to make music – as natural as learning to speak. Recorded LIVE at The 2020 NAMM Show.

Scott Page, musician, technologist, entrepreneur and performer, is widely recognized as the saxophonist/guitarist for Pink Floyd, Supertramp and Toto. Chatting with Mary Luehrsen at The 2020 NAMM Show, he reflects on his professional life of playing the trumpet and sax, his ever-expanding career options and being kind to everyone you meet.

A special “Flipping the Script” episode recorded LIVE at The 2020 NAMM Show features John Mlynczak interviewing Mary Luehrsen, Executive Director of The NAMM Foundation. The usual host of host of Talking Up Music Education, Luehrsen shares strategies for taking passion-to-action, the mosaic of music ed, and counting your blessings.

Violinist Laura Escudé chats with Mary Luehrsen about her early beginnings as a music student playing in orchestras and her career creating and designing live shows for herself as well as other artists like Kayne West, The Weeknd, Demi Lovato and many more. Recorded LIVE at The 2020 NAMM Show.