NCMEA Podcast

North Carolina music programs are facing difficult times ahead. North Carolina's school districts face a budget cliff—the collision of expired federal COVID relief funds, declining enrollment, rising costs, and shifting state and local revenue. In this episode, NCMEA Advocacy Committee co-chairs James Daugherty and Jeremy Tucker join host Howie Ledford to break down how we got here and, more importantly, what music educators can do about it.Topics include:Defining advocacy and why it should start well before a program is threatenedUsing enrollment data, attendance trends, and student stories to build a compelling caseInviting legislators, board members, and community members into classrooms — not just performancesWhy the December–February course registration window is make-or-break for secondary program numbersBuilding coalitions with PTOs, athletic boosters, and other alliesNew NCMEA resources, including a guide for when a program or position is threatened and talking points for administratorsNAfME's Music Education Rapid Response PlanReach the NCMEA Advocacy Committee anytime at [email protected] from show: https://www.forbes.com/sites/richardfowler/2026/08/04/americas-school-budget-crisis-isnt-ending-its-entering-a-dangerous-new-phase/

Episode 36: Mentorship, Music Publishing, and Mastering the Beat with Matt EdwardsIn this episode, we sit down with Matt Edwards. Matt is the Mentoring Committee Chair for the NCMEA. He retired in 2025 after a 29-year career as a high school band director — 23 of those years spent teaching the band program at Fuquay-Varina High School in Wake County, NC. He is also in his 13th season conducting the Triangle Youth Brass Band, a nine-time North American Brass Band Championship winner. We talk through the nuts and bolts of the mentoring program — how pairings work, who qualifies as a mentor or mentee, what a typical mentoring relationship looks like week to week, and how to sign up through the NCMEA website. Matt also shares the story of his own mentor, longtime director John Enloe, and how that relationship shaped both his teaching philosophy and his career.We also step outside the podium to explore a lesser-known path in music: Matt's role as a copy editor for a music publisher, proofreading and refining scores before they reach conductors and students — a great reminder for young musicians that careers in music extend well beyond performing and teaching.Finally, Matt walks us through his go-to rehearsal technique for building ensemble pulse and subdivision — a simple, tool-free "numbers game" he's used with all his classes.

Episode DescriptionIn this episode of the NCMEA Podcast, host Howie Ledford sits down with Professor Scott Wynne and Professor Liz May from Appalachian State University to discuss the upcoming Peak Summit.The PEAK Summit (Professionals and Educators Audio K(C)onference) is a unique event hosted by App State in collaboration with the Carolina section of the Audio Engineering Society (AES). Designed specifically for audio industry professionals and educators, the conference offers advanced, vertical training, in-depth signal-flow analysis, and hands-on workshops—including DIY gear-building sessions such as assembling microphone boosters and tube amplifiers.The guests highlight the schedule, the extensive list of high-profile industry sponsors (such as API, Solid State Logic, Shure, and DPA), and the event's educational value, including the availability of Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credits for educators.Dates: July 23rd – July 26thLocation: Appalachian State University (Hayes School of Music), Boone, North CarolinaPass Options: All-access passes or individual day passes for Friday and Saturday.For more information, schedule details, and registration, visit the official page mentioned in the episode:music.appstate.edu/peaksummit

In this episode of the NCMEA Podcast, host Howie Ledford sits down with Billie Feather. She is the Commercial Guitar Professor and the Popular Music Ensembles Coordinator at UNCG. She graduated from UNCSA with a bachelor's degree in Classical Guitar and a bachelor's degree from NC Central in Jazz Guitar.  Her master’s degree is in Guitar from UNCSA with a focus on both Jazz and Classical Guitar.  She also has a professional artist certificate in Audio Engineering from UNCSA.  And to top all that off, she has bilateral hearing loss.  We go into depth on how she manages her hearing loss in her classroom, gig life, and audio engineering. If you have ever been curious about how people who are hard of hearing, then this episode chronicles her challenges and successes as a hard-of-hearing musician.

Episode Description – NCMEA Podcast with Andrew BeachIn this episode of the North Carolina Music Educators Association Podcast, host Howie Ledford sits down with Andrew Beach, Orchestra, Modern Band, and Piano teacher at Southwest Guilford High School and co-chair of the NCMEA Popular Music Committee.Andrew shares insights into the growing world of popular music education and the work of the NCMEA Popular Music Committee in supporting teachers across North Carolina. The conversation explores what a popular music program can look like in today’s classrooms, how educators can begin building programs at their own schools, and the importance of creativity, accessibility, and culturally responsive teaching in music education.Listeners will also learn about several exciting initiatives hosted by the committee, including SoundForge, the Singer-Songwriter and Music Producer Showcase, and professional development opportunities designed to help teachers bring modern band, songwriting, and music production into their curricula.Andrew also shares his own journey into popular music education, discusses the power of community among music educators, and describes one of his favorite classroom activities—“Terrible Solos,” a creative exercise designed to break down the fear of improvisation and encourage students to embrace musical risk-taking.Whether you’re a band, orchestra, chorus, or music technology teacher, this episode highlights ways that popular music education can expand opportunities for students and connect classrooms to the music students are already passionate about.