This page is dedicated to driving a conversation for choral musicians with the PHILOSOPHY of Choral Music at the heart of every post and podcast episode. Topics will be wide ranging from the technical aspects of our jobs and careers all the way to the artistic interpretations and values that make us who we are as artists. Join me in this conversation in which I hope we can learn from each other.
Episode 291: Wrestling With AI in the Arts with Beth Philemon
Jun 05, 2026
Show notes
Should would we reject AI, or embrace it? Or maybe neither? Like all new technologies, there will be problems. Early adopters, and late ones, and some that NEVER get on board. In what areas can AI tools help artists and educators be better at their jobs? But also, which AI tools are a genuine threat to the arts and artists?
Today I am joined by Beth Philemon, and we are diving headfirst into a topic that makes a lot of people in the arts deeply uncomfortable: artificial intelligence. I know the immediate reaction for many of you is absolute frustration or exhaustion. You see AI and you think about copyright theft, corporations exploiting artists’ hard work without consent, and the massive environmental footprint of these data centers. Those are incredibly valid, serious concerns, and we are not here to gloss over them or pretend they don’t matter.
So if you are aggressively anti-AI, I want you to stick around for this exact conversation. Beth and I spend a good chunk of this episode wrestling with those ethical minefields, the realities of intellectual property, and what this technological shift means for the future of composing. But we also look at a very practical paradox: how keeping a human firmly in the loop of these tools might actually protect our time. We discuss how automation can handle the brutal administrative and data tasks that burn teachers out, ultimately freeing us up to spend more time focused on the embodiment of our art form—real human connection and real singing. It’s a nuanced look at a messy topic, and you won’t want to miss it. Let’s jump in.
Choralosophy presented by Ludus. Visit Ludus.com/choralosophy for the cutting edge in fine arts ticketing and marketing solutions.
Tune in now on YouTube or your favorite podcast app!
Tune in, and have your thinking stimulated and challenged. Then, weigh in yourself with your related ideas and experiences on Facebook in the Choralosophers group or over on choralosophy.substack.com Also, don’t forget to grab a reading rope for your classroom wall from the shop! Music Reading Rope
For future rehearsal clips, find me on TikTok, Insta and FB!
Sign up for an annual membership and save over $50 by entering Choralosophy at checkout! Save 15% on monthly or annual subscriptions.
Beth Philemon is a choral conductor and AI strategist based out of Raleigh, NC. She consults on enterprise AI transformation and data strategy for organizations ranging from Fortune 500 companies to performing arts institutions, translating fluently between corporate strategy and artistic leadership. With more than fifteen years on the podium across K–12, collegiate, church, and community ensembles – and ongoing work as a guest clinician and conductor – she works at an intersection most people are told to choose between: artistry and strategy. She holds an MM in Choral Conducting from Northern Arizona University and an MBA from North Carolina State University. She founded Choir Baton in 2017 to grow the choral community via social media. Today Choir Baton provides online education for new, emerging, and returning community singers via the CB Academy and for choir teacher-conductors via CB Institute, in addition to the Choir Baton Podcast. Her mission is #MorePeopleSinging for lifelong musicianship. For more information visit ChoirBaton.com or BethPhilemon.com
Enter Choralosophy at Checkout for a 5% discount when you shop for folders, robes and other gear for your choir program! www.mymusicfolders.com and www.mychoirrobes.comRyanMain.com is now expanding to a family of composers! Visit endeavormusicpublishing.com and of course, enter Choralosophy at checkout for a 10% discount!
Episode 290: Ethical Choral Gatekeeping with Samuel Grace
May 29, 2026
Show notes
Is there even such a thing as “Ethical Gatekeeping?” In modern discourse, the term seems to always be a negative. Maybe some gates need a keeper.
Today’s conversation hits incredibly close to home as we pull back the curtain on power dynamics, public perception, and the hidden structures that dictate taste and legitimacy in choral music.
Joining the show is Dr. Samuel Grace, a conductor and music director from Minnesota whose recent doctoral dissertation directly explores the theoretical models of network gatekeeping in our field. He breaks down the multi-layered pipeline of how music gets created, how publishers and professional organizations decide what gets heavily marketed, and how peer conversations ultimately influence what you choose to put on your concert programs.
While contemporary popular culture tends to use “gatekeeping” strictly as a pejorative term for exclusion, we look at it through a rigorous academic lens—as an unavoidable, organic force that manages information overload and shapes cultural value.
Choralosophy presented by Ludus. Visit Ludus.com/choralosophy for the cutting edge in fine arts ticketing and marketing solutions.
Tune in now on YouTube or your favorite podcast app!
Tune in, and have your thinking stimulated and challenged. Then, weigh in yourself with your related ideas and experiences on Facebook in the Choralosophers group or over on choralosophy.substack.com Also, don’t forget to grab a reading rope for your classroom wall from the shop! Music Reading Rope
For future rehearsal clips, find me on TikTok, Insta and FB!
Sign up for an annual membership and save over $50 by entering Choralosophy at checkout! Save 15% on monthly or annual subscriptions.
Samuel Grace is a Twin Cities-based conductor known for his thirst for new music and creative collaborations. Samuel serves as Director of Music Ministry at St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church where he oversees four choirs. He is also Founding Artistic Director of MPLS (imPulse). Now in its 12th season, MPLS (imPulse) builds choral communities by performing living music, embracing the singer experience, and fostering novel collaborations. In his free time, Samuel can often be found riding his bike or cooking with his family. Samuel holds degrees from Gustavus Adolphus College (B.A.), The University of Minnesota (M.M.), and Indiana University (D.M.).
Episode 289: Voice Change Isn’t Just for Adolescents with Joanne Bozeman
May 22, 2026
Show notes
This episode is GUEST HOSTED by Beth Munce! Our voices continue to change through our lives. This can affect us as directors, but also the singers under our charge. One of the most tumultuous vocal changes outside of the famous “boy in puberty” is the woman’s voice in Perimenopause and Menopause. Since, I have no experience directly, or indirectly with this topic, my wife took over the studio and nailed it!
In this episode, Joanne Bozeman—a researcher, voice teacher, and expert on hormonal impacts on the voice—shares her personal and professional insights into how menopause and perimenopause influence vocal health. Beth Munce sits down with Joanne in a personal, vulnerable AND information rich episode. Joanne also recently co-authored “Singing Through Change” which is a must read for anyone who wants to be informed on the topic.
Whether you’re a singer, voice teacher, or a woman experiencing these changes firsthand, this conversation offers clarity, reassurance, and practical guidance.
Choralosophy presented by Ludus. Visit Ludus.com/choralosophy for the cutting edge in fine arts ticketing and marketing solutions.
Tune in now on YouTube or your favorite podcast app!
Tune in, and have your thinking stimulated and challenged. Then, weigh in yourself with your related ideas and experiences on Facebook in the Choralosophers group or over on choralosophy.substack.com Also, don’t forget to grab a reading rope for your classroom wall from the shop! Music Reading Rope
For future rehearsal clips, find me on TikTok, Insta and FB!
Sign up for an annual membership and save over $50 by entering Choralosophy at checkout! Save 15% on monthly or annual subscriptions.
Joanne Bozeman, a graduate of the University of Arizona, has been a singing teacher for nearly 50 years. As a faculty member of Lawrence University’s Conservatory of Music, she taught singing and related courses, and was an actively performing soprano, specializing in recital repertoire, oratorio, and chamber music. Joanne developed a keen interest in the relationship of hormones with voice and the female lifespan, and co-authored the book, Singing Through Change: Women’s Voices in Midlife, Menopause, and Beyond, released in 2020. Her other serious interest concerns the singing voice and hypermobile conditions and postural orthostatic tachycardia (POTS.) Joanne is a frequent presenter for many organizations, including the National Association of Teachers of Singing, the International Congress of Voice Teachers, the British Voice Association, Pan American Vocology Association and numerous voice education collectives. Retired from academia, Joanne continues to be engaged with the voice community as an independent teacher and researcher.
Enter Choralosophy at Checkout for a 5% discount when you shop for folders, robes and other gear for your choir program! www.mymusicfolders.com and www.mychoirrobes.com
Bensoussan, Yael, et al. “Menopause and the Voice: a Narrative Review of Physiological Changes, Hormone Therapy Effects, and Treatment Options. Menopause, 33(2), 2026, 232-241. DDOI: 10.1097/GME.0000000000002636
Episode 288: When we are Forced to Choose…
May 15, 2026
Show notes
Between process or performance.
Between our philosophy and our job.
Between what’s best for kids and what our colleagues want
Give Them Tools Part 1
How do we navigate the conundrum of a performance based institutional system with the “slower at first” tools based philosophy that we know is best for long term growth? How do we convince an administrator to be patient while we program build?
In this special episode, I give a detailed response to an audience letter all the way from Kenya. No matter where in the world you lead ensembles, especially educational ones, you will identify with this person’s problem.
Tune in, and have your thinking stimulated and challenged. Then, weigh in yourself with your related ideas and experiences on Facebook in the Choralosophers group or over on choralosophy.substack.com Also, don’t forget to grab a reading rope for your classroom wall from the shop! Music Reading Rope
7 Years of Choralosophy: The View from the Other Side of the Mic by Chris Munce
Seven years ago, Choralosophy was an experiment. Today, it’s a career. It is a job, no different than your job, albeit a bit more public? Today is the show’s 7th birthday. Here is what I’ve learned:
For future rehearsal clips, find me on TikTok, Insta and Facebook
Enter Choralosophy at Checkout for a 5% discount when you shop for folders, robes and other gear for your choir program! www.mymusicfolders.com and www.mychoirrobes.comRyanMain.com is now expanding to a family of composers! Visit endeavormusicpublishing.com and of course, enter Choralosophy at checkout for a 10% discount!
Episode 287: Give Them Tools and Let Them Build Part 4 (Rhythm)
Apr 30, 2026
Show notes
Part Four are the rhythm tools: Rap the words, Takadimi, count singing. Each have their roles, and particular problems that they help to solve. In this episode, peek into some rehearsals where students demonstrate their tool selection and application.
Give Them Tools Part 1
Beat is felt in the body, constructed in the brain, and CAN be taught. Rhythm is the next layer of time division. Choirs are notorious for not being great at it… Mine are no exception. A few years ago I got tired of choirs that struggle with rhythm and beat. So, we began installing more tools. We are nowhere near where we need to be, but we are getting there!
In Part 4, we will go through the various rhythm tools that solve 99% of rhythm problems for singers, and players alike. We STILL want students to hear music happening, as fluently as language, in their head. And as Carol Krueger said wisely in episode 90, we want them to “be able to grab a score, and go sit under a tree and read it like it’s Moby Dick.” But how do we do this? (Pitch is only one part of the puzzle. Be sure to go back to Part 1-3 if you
The secret is the sequence, the repetition and the QUESTIONS! The ones we ask, and eventually the ones they learn to ask.
Tune in, and have your thinking stimulated and challenged. Then, weigh in yourself with your related ideas and experiences on Facebook in the Choralosophers group or over on choralosophy.substack.com Also, don’t forget to grab a reading rope for your classroom wall from the shop! Music Reading Rope
7 Years of Choralosophy: The View from the Other Side of the Mic by Chris Munce
Seven years ago, Choralosophy was an experiment. Today, it’s a career. It is a job, no different than your job, albeit a bit more public? Today is the show’s 7th birthday. Here is what I’ve learned:
For future rehearsal clips, find me on TikTok, Insta and Facebook
Enter Choralosophy at Checkout for a 5% discount when you shop for folders, robes and other gear for your choir program! www.mymusicfolders.com and www.mychoirrobes.comRyanMain.com is now expanding to a family of composers! Visit endeavormusicpublishing.com and of course, enter Choralosophy at checkout for a 10% discount!
Episode 286: Give Them Tools and Let Them Build Part 3 (Pitch)
Apr 22, 2026
Show notes
Part Three is the Solfége or Pitch tool: Give Them Tools and Let Them Build is based on a premise. We are not the music makers. Our students are. So, are we teaching them songs? Or the tools used to build songs? So, what do we do if the students don’t know what the pitches sound like? Teach them how to figure it out!
Give Them Tools Part 1
The scaffolding began at birth. The audio library is more advanced than you think. Begin introducing both the sound and the sight… BUT… don’t let the sight get ahead of the sound AND the muscular coordination required to reproduce it fluently.
In Part 3, we dig out the first tool. Solfége. We want students to hear music happening, as fluently as language, in their head. And as Carol Krueger said wisely in episode 90, we want them to “be able to grab a score, and go sit under a tree and read it like it’s Moby Dick.” But how do we do this?
The secret is the sequence, the repetition and the QUESTIONS! The ones we ask, and eventually the ones they learn to ask.
Tune in, and have your thinking stimulated and challenged. Then, weigh in yourself with your related ideas and experiences on Facebook in the Choralosophers group or over on choralosophy.substack.com Also, don’t forget to grab a reading rope for your classroom wall from the shop! Music Reading Rope
7 Years of Choralosophy: The View from the Other Side of the Mic by Chris Munce
Seven years ago, Choralosophy was an experiment. Today, it’s a career. It is a job, no different than your job, albeit a bit more public? Today is the show’s 7th birthday. Here is what I’ve learned:
For future rehearsal clips, find me on TikTok, Insta and Facebook
Enter Choralosophy at Checkout for a 5% discount when you shop for folders, robes and other gear for your choir program! www.mymusicfolders.com and www.mychoirrobes.comRyanMain.com is now expanding to a family of composers! Visit endeavormusicpublishing.com and of course, enter Choralosophy at checkout for a 10% discount!
Episode 285: Teach Choir Like Band. And Band Like Choir with Matthew Arau
Apr 10, 2026
Show notes
What can vocal and instrumental music education learn from each other? At what point does specialization become uneccessary siloing of what should be a “music ‘education” profession?
Matthew Arau is the guest. Yes… ANOTHER band teacher…
Back in January, I accidentally attended Matthew’s session at the recent Missouri Music Educator conference. You read that right. I went into a room where choir things normally happen. But when I heard Matthew teaching people about the importance of audiation, vocalization and all of the internalized music comprehension concepts in a band class, I stayed glued to my seat. After the session, I introduced myself, and now we are here.
In this episode, Matthew Arau, an instrumental educator and leadership author, shares innovative strategies for integrating vocalization into instrumental and band education. He is also a passionate advocate for Mindfulness, and the “inner work” of the conductor/teacher as a leader in their environments. We discuss how to achieve a kind of teacher peace and how this can improve our attitude about work, but also can influence classroom management and culture. Music educators of all stripes won’t want to miss this episode.
Choralosophy presented by Ludus. Visit Ludus.com/choralosophy for the cutting edge in fine arts ticketing and marketing solutions.
Tune in now on YouTube or your favorite podcast app!
Tune in, and have your thinking stimulated and challenged. Then, weigh in yourself with your related ideas and experiences on Facebook in the Choralosophers group or over on choralosophy.substack.com Also, don’t forget to grab a reading rope for your classroom wall from the shop! Music Reading Rope
For future rehearsal clips, find me on TikTok, Insta and FB!
Sign up for an annual membership and save over $50 by entering Choralosophy at checkout! Save 15% on monthly or annual subscriptions.
Internationally renowned speaker, author, and conductor, Dr. Matthew Arau empowers people to their shatter limiting beliefs, unlock their full potential, and orchestrate their lives in alignment with their values and vision. As the founder and CEO of Upbeat Global and author of the bestselling book, Upbeat! Mindset, Mindfulness, and Leadership in Music Education and Beyond, Dr. Arau believes in the power of gratitude and joy to make meaningful, transformative change from within. Drawing on his 29 years as a conductor, music educator, leadership expert, and professor, Matthew empowers educators, entrepreneurs, and executives to create inner harmony and rekindle their inner spark through focusing on well-being, purpose, and mindset.
Enter Choralosophy at Checkout for a 5% discount when you shop for folders, robes and other gear for your choir program! www.mymusicfolders.com and www.mychoirrobes.com
Additionally, Dr. Arau is an Associate Professor of Music and the Chair of the Music Education Department and Symphonic Band Conductor at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, a Conn-Selmer Education Clinician, and the Leadership Editor for GIA Publications. Dr. Arau has guest conducted, led professional development, and presented clinics on leadership, mindfulness, overcoming burnout, growth mindset, rehearsal techniques, and creating positive cultures in 40 states and 4 continents in person. Thousands of high school students and educators have attended his Upbeat! Leadership Workshops across the United States to develop their leadership skills and reach for their fullest potential. In addition to being in demand as a keynote speaker, presenter, and professional development facilitator, Dr. Arau has conducted honor bands in Australia, Thailand, Greece, Cyprus, and Malaysia, and All-State honor bands across the United States.
Dr. Arau draws on a deep reservoir of fifteen years of experience as a successful middle school and high school band director in Loveland, Colorado, where he led his bands at Walt Clark Middle School and Loveland High School to numerous honor performances and championships and pioneered the Leadership Symposium. He lives with his wife Merilee in Neenah, Wisconsin accompanied by their sugar glider, Flash, and two Dachshunds, Savannah and Eli.
RyanMain.com is now expanding to a family of composers! Visit endeavormusicpublishing.com and of course, enter Choralosophy at checkout for a 10% discount!
Episode 284: Is the Ensemble Model Outdated? With Kevin Droe
Apr 03, 2026
Show notes
I’ve said for a long time that music education is at a crossroads—but depending on who you ask, we’re either evolving… or we’re missing the point entirely. Are traditional school music programs—band, choir, orchestra—reaching enough students? And if not, why?
There’s a growing narrative in music education right now that what we’ve been doing for decades just isn’t working anymore. My guest today, Kevin Droe, makes that case in a recent TED Talk—arguing that if we don’t rethink school music programs, we risk losing students altogether.
Now, I want to say this up front: Kevin’s not coming at this from the outside. He’s a music educator, a band director, someone who clearly believes in what we do. And I think that matters.
But I also think some of the assumptions behind this argument need to be examined a little more carefully.
Is 20% participation really a crisis—or actually pretty strong for an elective?
Are we excluding students—or just not offering every possible pathway?
And what does meaningful expansion actually look like in a real school setting?
This conversation is honest, respectful, and at times… a little challenging. Which probably means it’s one worth having…
Choralosophy presented by Ludus. Visit Ludus.com/choralosophy for the cutting edge in fine arts ticketing and marketing solutions.
Tune in now on YouTube or your favorite podcast app!
Tune in, and have your thinking stimulated and challenged. Then, weigh in yourself with your related ideas and experiences on Facebook in the Choralosophers group or over on choralosophy.substack.com Also, don’t forget to grab a reading rope for your classroom wall from the shop! Music Reading Rope
For future rehearsal clips, find me on TikTok, Insta and FB!
Sign up for an annual membership and save over $50 by entering Choralosophy at checkout! Save 15% on monthly or annual subscriptions.
Kevin Droe, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Music Education at the University of Northern Iowa. He specializes in teaching undergraduate and graduate music education. Alongside his teaching and research responsibilities, Kevin Droe is the founder of the UNI Spectrum Project. This initiative offers children with differing abilities a weekend of music, movement, drama, and art activities. His research focuses on special populations, innovative music education, and popular music.
Enter Choralosophy at Checkout for a 5% discount when you shop for folders, robes and other gear for your choir program! www.mymusicfolders.com and www.mychoirrobes.com
In 2018, Kevin established AmpCamp, an annual summer popular music youth camp. In 2022, he launched Spectrum JamFest, an annual youth music festival. Kevin Droe teaches workshops in audio, modern band and popular music education throughout Iowa. When not teaching and researching, Kevin is the drummer for Corn Riot, a punk metal band made up of faculty and staff of the UNI School of Music. He holds degrees from the University of Northern Colorado and a Ph.D. in music education from The Florida State University.
RyanMain.com is now expanding to a family of composers! Visit endeavormusicpublishing.com and of course, enter Choralosophy at checkout for a 10% discount!
Episode 283: Beyond the Buzzwords Live at SWACDA
Mar 27, 2026
Show notes
A one of a kind event happened at this year’s convention of the Southwest Region of American Choral Directors. We gathered a panel of thoughtful professionals and an inquisitive crowd of colleagues and had an “unsafe” conversation in public. And what do you know? No one threw tomatoes!
Are we speaking a language our communities actually understand?
In this special live episode recorded at the Southwest ACDA conference, we move past the performative “curated consensus” of the professional bubble. For seven years, Choralosophy has been a space for the conversations we’re often disincentivized from having—and this panel is no exception. I was joined in Albuquerque by Odell Zeigler, Clelyn Chapin, Heather Orr and Reginal Wright for a lively and informative discussion you won’t want to miss.
We dive deep into the terminology that defines our field: Excellence. Rigor. Access. Equity. These words matter, but through overuse, they risk becoming social signals rather than clear objectives. If we can’t define what we mean to the “normal” people—the parents, administrators, and taxpayers who sustain our programs—we risk losing them entirely.
In this episode, we tackle:
The “existential” threat of insular language.
Whether Excellence and Access always align, or if we’re ignoring the trade-offs.
Navigating the tensions of gender balance and repertoire origins with nuance instead of reaction.
What is equity?
It’s time to be precise, be brave, and look beyond the buzzwords to the future of the choral profession.
Choralosophy presented by Ludus. Visit Ludus.com/choralosophy for the cutting edge in fine arts ticketing and marketing solutions.
Tune in now on YouTube or your favorite podcast app!
Tune in, and have your thinking stimulated and challenged. Then, weigh in yourself with your related ideas and experiences on Facebook in the Choralosophers group or over on choralosophy.substack.com Also, don’t forget to grab a reading rope for your classroom wall from the shop! Music Reading Rope
For future rehearsal clips, find me on TikTok, Insta and FB!
Sign up for an annual membership and save over $50 by entering Choralosophy at checkout! Save 15% on monthly or annual subscriptions.
Reginal Wright is a renowned composer, conductor, and educator whose compositions blend melody, rhythm, and text into powerful musical narratives that engage both performers and listeners. An accomplished composer, his works are performed widely and cater to choirs of all levels from beginning ensembles to advanced collegiate and professional groups. With over 25 years of experience, he has received numerous awards for his work in middle and high school education. As a conductor, he fosters collaboration and artistry in choirs of all levels, helping them reach their full potential.
Enter Choralosophy at Checkout for a 5% discount when you shop for folders, robes and other gear for your choir program! www.mymusicfolders.com and www.mychoirrobes.com
Dr. Clelyn Chapin serves as the Associate Director of Choirs at University of Northern Colorado where she leads choral ensembles and teaches courses in choral music education. As a frequent presenter and clinician, Clelyn focuses on non-hierarchical rehearsal practices and making individual vocal technique accessible and efficient in the choral rehearsal. Her scholarly work centers on creating collaborative rehearsal spaces and amplifying the work of women composers. Before joining the faculty at UNC, Clelyn spent 14 years teaching and conducting secondary, collegiate, and community ensembles in Texas, Colorado, and Michigan. She completed her Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting at Michigan State University, studying under Dr. David Rayl and Dr. Sandra Snow, and holds a Master of Music Education from the University of Northern Colorado.
RyanMain.com is now expanding to a family of composers! Visit endeavormusicpublishing.com and of course, enter Choralosophy at checkout for a 10% discount!
Heather Orr serves as Assistant Director of Choral Activities at Texas A&M University, where she conducts the freshman ensembles Bella Voce and Legacy Voices. She previously spent 30 years in public school music education as Head Choir Director at Montgomery High School in Texas. Orr is a frequent clinician, adjudicator, and presenter, with expertise in treble choir tone development and effective rehearsal strategies. Her ensembles have presented nine invited convention performances at the TMEA, SWACDA, and ACDA. Orr holds a Master of Arts in Vocal Pedagogy from The Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from Heidelberg College, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Music Education. She is the mother of four grown children, grandmother to three grandsons, has been married for 32 years, and they are now navigating life as empty-nesters with their dog, Nugget.
Odell Zeigler, IV, is the Director of Choirs at the Visual & Performing Arts Academy at Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk. He leads Concert Choir, Women’s Chorale, Men’s Chorus, and Mixed Chorus, and teaches Music Appreciation and AP Music Theory. Odell is an active clinician, adjudicator, and speaker who presents regularly at All-State and All-Region conferences across the country. He deeply values time with his family, taking great joy in watching his children grow in their academic pursuits and sports, and in sharing family vacations together each year.
Episode 282: Music Literacy is MORE Than Pushing Buttons
Mar 20, 2026
Show notes
Among the more misunderstood, mischaracterized, and confusing topics discussed on this show is Literacy. What is it? What is it not? It’s time to include a wider lens here beyond vocal and elementary general classrooms. Instrumental music has its own pitfalls. Let’s compare notes.
Rethinking Music Literacy: Beyond Button Pushing. Finally! Another “music is a language nerd.” Any others out there? We must unite.
In this episode, we explore the core difference between technical skills and true musical literacy, emphasizing how a holistic approach can transform music education. David Davis, an instrumental and elementary music educator who is trying to pivot from traditional practices, shares insightful ideas on how to cultivate musicianship rooted in understanding, improvisation, and language.
The critical distinction between technical proficiency and literacy in music
Why teaching music as a language fosters improvisation and comprehension
The analogy of typewriters and language immersion to explain musical skills
How current pedagogies often emphasize button pushing over real understanding
The role of notation systems in culturally diverse music learning
Practical strategies for early aural foundation building
How a shift in pedagogy can lead to more expressive, fluent musicians
This episode invites educators to critically examine how we teach and interpret music literacy. Moving beyond mere button pushing to cultivating language fluency in music equips students for improvisation, creativity, and lifelong musicianship. The conversation underscores that pedagogy—how we teach—is the most significant factor shaping future musicians’ ability to truly understand and express music across genres and cultures.
Choralosophy presented by Ludus. Visit Ludus.com/choralosophy for the cutting edge in fine arts ticketing and marketing solutions.
Tune in now on YouTube or your favorite podcast app!
Tune in, and have your thinking stimulated and challenged. Then, weigh in yourself with your related ideas and experiences on Facebook in the Choralosophers group or over on choralosophy.substack.com Also, don’t forget to grab a reading rope for your classroom wall from the shop! Music Reading Rope
For future rehearsal clips, find me on TikTok, Insta and FB!
Sign up for an annual membership and save over $50 by entering Choralosophy at checkout! Save 15% on monthly or annual subscriptions.
David Davis is a band, orchestra, and general music educator in Minnesota committed to systemic change in music education. A GRAMMY semifinalist and Yamaha “40 Under 40” educator, he designs curricula that prioritize cultural responsiveness, inclusivity, student voice, and research-based pedagogy. He also serves on NAfME’s Council of Innovations, on Minnesota’s Music Educator Association’s board, and is an Education Minnesota Racial Equity Advocate.
Enter Choralosophy at Checkout for a 5% discount when you shop for folders, robes and other gear for your choir program! www.mymusicfolders.com and www.mychoirrobes.comRyanMain.com is now expanding to a family of composers! Visit endeavormusicpublishing.com and of course, enter Choralosophy at checkout for a 10% discount!
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