The Crescendo Music Education Podcast
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© 2025 The Crescendo Music Education Podcast
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Supporting, connecting and inspiring music educators.
171 Episodes
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Welcome back to the show! Today, Aileen sits down with Debbie O’Shea for a powerful and inspiring conversation about her brand-new book, The Stalagmite Effect. Debbie shares the story behind the metaphor, the experiences that shaped the book, and how slow, steady growth can transform both teachers and students. If you already know Debbie from her “Manipulatives in the Music Room” podcast, you’re going to love this deeper look into her thinking and the reflections that led her to write The Sta...
In this episode, we’re diving into Part 2 of my conversation with the wonderful Daria — world music performer, educator, and cultural bridge-builder who has been sharing songs and traditions from around the globe for over four decades. If you tuned into Part 1, you’ll remember we explored how music is learned in traditional cultures — how it’s woven into everyday life, passed down through families, stories, and community rituals. Today, we’re taking that conversation even further. We’ll talk ...
I’m absolutely thrilled to be joined once again by the wonderful Daria. Many of you will remember her from our earlier conversations in Episodes 138 and 139, where she shared her deep passion for world music and for teaching children through authentic, hands-on musical experiences. Today, we’re exploring a topic that I think will really strike a chord — how music is learned in traditional cultures. In many parts of the world, music isn’t something that’s formally taught — it’s something that’...
If you caught Part 1, you’ll remember Jessie as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander songwoman, composer, and cultural leader. She’s also the founder of Jessie’s Classroom and author of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Songbook. In our last episode, Jessie shared her story — from the Mission Songs Project to creating resources that help teachers embed Indigenous perspectives in music education. Her insights were powerful, practical, and full of heart. In Part 2, we’re diving even...
Today, I’m honoured to welcome Jessie Lloyd. Jessie is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander songwoman, composer, and cultural leader. She’s also the founder of Jessie’s Classroom and the author of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Songbook. Many listeners will know Jessie for her incredible work with the Mission Songs Project, which has helped bring powerful Indigenous voices and histories to life through song. Jessie is deeply respected for her advocacy in embedding Indigenous pe...
Today, we’re welcoming back Bernie Heard for another wonderful conversation. Bernie is the Director of the Music in Me Teacher Mentoring Program with the Australian Youth Orchestra. She leads a national team and works with education systems across Australia. Together, they help teachers bring more singing and music into classrooms every day. In this episode, we’re exploring an exciting project — ABC Let’s Sing. Bernie has played a key role in bringing this initiative to life with the ABC. It’...
Welcome to Crescendo Chat — the podcast where we explore inspiring ideas, passionate people, and the power of music education. Today, I’m absolutely delighted to welcome Bernie Heard. Bernie is the Director of the Music in Me Teacher Mentoring Program with the Australian Youth Orchestra, where she leads a national team and works closely with state education systems to ensure primary teachers have access to mentoring, professional learning, and the resources they need to deliver high-quality m...
Welcome back to the podcast! Today we continue our powerful conversation with Louka Parry, education futurist, learning strategist, and CEO of The Learning Future. In Part 1, Louka shared how music education connects to education transformation and helps students build essential human capabilities. If you haven’t listened to that episode yet, be sure to go back—it sets the stage beautifully. In this Part 2, we go even deeper. We explore how music education strengthens social-emotional learnin...
Welcome back to the podcast! Today we’re joined by someone who is truly reshaping the way we think about learning and the future of education—Louka Parry. Louka is an education futurist, learning strategist, and the CEO and Founder of The Learning Future. His mission? To transform educational systems so they can better equip learners with the essential human capabilities they need to thrive in the world ahead. His work has taken him around the globe, collaborating with organizations like the ...
Welcome back to the podcast! Today we continue our inspiring conversation with Dr. Rhoda Bernard, the Founding Managing Director of the Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education and Assistant Chair of the Music Education Department at Berklee College of Music. In Part 1, Dr. Bernard shared her incredible journey in music education, her vision for accessible arts education, and a behind-the-scenes look at her upcoming book. If you haven’t listened to that episode yet, we highly recommend...
Welcome back to the podcast! Today, we are thrilled to be joined by a very special guest, Dr. Rhoda Bernard. Dr. Bernard is the Founding Managing Director of the Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education and the Assistant Chair of the Music Education Department at Berklee College of Music. Her academic journey is extraordinary — she earned a Bachelor of Arts in government from Harvard University, a Bachelor of Music in jazz voice from New England Conservatory, and both her Master of Edu...
Welcome back to Thriving in Challenging Schools. In our last episode, we looked at practical strategies to help you survive the day-to-day chaos. Today, we’re shifting the focus to something even more powerful: building relationships in crisis. Because here’s the thing—sometimes your toughest students are also the ones most desperate for connection. I’ll never forget the Year 6 boy who asked me to marry him, or the one who swore he’d stolen and eaten the teacher’s pythons. These moments might...
Welcome back to Thriving in Challenging Schools. This is Episode 2 of our series, and today we’re diving into something every teacher in a tough environment needs: practical survival strategies. Let me ask you this—what if I told you a coffee machine could actually save your sanity? Or that the secret to surviving a challenging school might already be sitting in the boot of your car? Sounds a bit crazy, right? But these are the kinds of real-world, low-cost, zero-permission-needed strategies ...
Are you finding that behaviour management is becoming more and more difficult? Every year, schools seem to include a greater number of children with special needs, often with little or no additional support. If you want to hear what I’m doing, the changes I’m making, and the mindset shifts that are helping me stay afloat after 40 years in education — then you’re in exactly the right place. This episode is about how we can reset, reframe, and rebuild our confidence — not by chasing perfection,...
Welcome back to The Crescendo Music Education Podcast! If you tuned in to Part 1 of our conversation with Joel Copeland, you already know what a powerful and grounded voice he brings to the world of music education and leadership. And if you haven’t listened to that episode yet—press pause and go back! It’s packed with stories and insights that lay the foundation for what we’re diving into today. In this second part, we go even deeper into Joel’s journey—especially his experience becoming a n...
Hey friends, and welcome back to the Crescendo Music Education Podcast —the podcast where we explore the heart and craft of music education, one inspiring conversation at a time. Today’s episode is a special one. I had the privilege of hearing our guest speak at the HALT Summit in Canberra, and his keynote left a lasting impression. There was something about the way he spoke—grounded, clear, and deeply human—that stayed with me. He reminded us that impact doesn’t end at the classroom walls… i...
Today’s episode is extra special—and honestly, a little bit emotional—because I’m sitting down with my dear friend and colleague, Deb, to celebrate the live launch of my brand-new book, The Stalagmite Effect. Now, if you know Debbie like I do, you know she’s one of the busiest, most passionate educators out there. So naturally, my first question to her was… Why on earth write a book? Aren’t you quite busy enough already? But here’s the thing—this isn’t just any book. It’s personal. It’s heart...
Welcome back to part two of our conversation with the wonderful Erin Elliott! If you tuned in to part one, you already know Erin is a creative force in the elementary music classroom—bringing joy, structure, and sparkle to every lesson she teaches. In this second half of our chat, we dive even deeper into the real-life rhythms of music teaching. Erin shares more of her favorite classroom strategies, her passion for recorders (yes, recorder geeks unite!), and how she stays grounded and efficie...
Today’s guest is someone who brings joy, creativity, and solid musicianship into every corner of her classroom—and beyond. Erin Elliott has been sharing the joy of music since 2008 and is currently a K-5 elementary music teacher in northern Indiana. But her reach goes far beyond those school walls—she’s also the teacher-author behind From Do-Re-Mi To You, where she shares practical ideas and inspiration with music educators around the world. Erin has taught everyone from curious kindergartner...
Welcome back to Part 2 of our conversation with the inspiring Leanna O’Brien! If you caught Part 1, you already know that Leanna is passionate about bringing music to life through movement—and helping educators feel confident doing it. In this second half of our chat, we go even deeper. Leanna shares practical examples of how she brings movement into the classroom, explains how it reinforces key music concepts, and gives us some of her favorite “nuggets of fabulous” for music teachers everywh...
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