Music Ed Insights

Dr. Steve Shanley and Alan Feirer
  • 5.0 (22)
  • Education
  • Updated Biweekly

Dr. Steve Shanley, Alan Feirer, and national thought leaders explore current issues in music education, with practical application for K-12 music educators.

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  1. Jul 8

    Excellence Doesn’t Have a Number: Susan Smith on Small Band Empowerment

    Alan and Steve talk with Susan Smith live at the Iowa Bandmasters Association Conference about small band empowerment, smart repertoire choices, adjudication, and what it means to teach the students in front of you. Susan challenges the idea that smaller programs should have lower standards, reminding directors that success is about culture, musical growth, and meaningful experiences—not just size or ratings. Along the way, she offers practical advice for young teachers, festival judges, mentors, and anyone working to build a strong program with the kids they actually have.

  2. Jul 1

    AI Can’t Play Your Trumpet: Why Music Education Matters More Than Ever

    Alan and Steve respond to Mia Silverio’s Prof G article “What AI Is Doing to School,” which raises serious concerns about students outsourcing writing, attention, and critical thinking to AI. Rather than treating the article only as doom and gloom, they see an advocacy opportunity for music educators: band, choir, orchestra, jazz, and other fine arts classes still require students to think, listen, problem-solve, practice, make mistakes, and improve in real time. They discuss how music may be one of the best places in school for students to build the very skills AI can tempt them to avoid.

  3. Jun 24

    Cynthia Johnston Turner Live at IBA: Product, People, and Improvisation in the Band Room

    Recorded live at the 2026 Iowa Bandmasters Association conference, Alan and Steve sit down with conductor and educator Cynthia Johnston Turner for a candid conversation about what really matters in the band room. Cynthia unpacks how she moved from a fear‑ and product‑driven rehearsal culture to one centered on psychological safety, inclusion, and community—without lowering musical standards. She shares practical ideas for engaging 21st‑century learners, balancing “old school” structure with modern expectations, setting healthy boundaries with students, and bringing improvisation and creativity into the concert band setting through clear rules and low‑risk experiments. Band directors at all levels will find honest reflection, concrete strategies, and permission to separate their self‑worth from how the ensemble sounds. For just $5 per month, become a Music Ed Insights Insider to receive early access, ad-free episodes and more! https://musicedinsights.supercast.com/

  4. May 28

    Quick Pro Tip: Getting Students to Meet Deadlines

    Alan and Steve dig into a common teacher frustration: students who don’t take deadlines seriously. Alan shares a practical approach to setting deadlines that actually mean something—by clearly explaining the “why,” distinguishing between preferred and true drop-dead dates, and avoiding fake or inflated due dates that desensitize students. Steve adds perspective as someone who struggles with deadlines himself, highlighting how transparency and consideration for others’ time can motivate better follow-through. This short episode offers a concrete communication model educators can use right away to build trust, reduce chaos, and help students grow into more responsible adults. For just $5 per month, become a Music Ed Insights Insider to receive early access, ad-free episodes and more! https://musicedinsights.supercast.com/

  5. May 20

    MindShifting for Music Teachers: Turning “I Can’t” into “Perhaps I Can” with Mitch Weisburgh

    Alan and Steve talk with educator and mind‑shifting coach Mitch Weisburgh about how music teachers can help students—and themselves—move from limbic “survival mode” into resourceful, resilient, and collaborative mindsets. They explore how to respond when students say “I can’t do this,” how to use music itself as a powerful self‑regulation tool, and how small shifts in language, silence, and curiosity can transform behavior and engagement in the music room. Mitch also shares practical strategies for navigating conflict with colleagues and administrators, advocating for music programs, and catching our own brains when they’re “lying” to us. Become an Insider for early access, ad-free episodes and more!

  6. May 13

    Quick Pro Tip: A Fast, Effective Way to Review This Year and Plan the Next

    Alan and Steve share a fast, practical debrief tool you can use after a concert, contest, trip, marching season, or school year: WWW/TALA — What Went Well and Take A Look At. Built on Alan’s longtime approach to project improvement, this quick tip shows music teachers how to gather useful feedback in just a few minutes, avoid over-talking the debrief, and save the right notes so next year’s planning is smarter from day one.

  7. May 6

    Beats, Bands, and Attention Spans: A Conversation with Amani Roberts

    DJ, author, and music business professor Amani Roberts joins Alan and Steve to unpack how today’s students are listening to and creating music—and what that means for K–12 music educators. In this episode, they discuss: Why teens prefer singles and short-form content over full albums Strategies for teaching deep listening using artists like Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar The rise of beat-making and bedroom producers, and what’s lost when theory and ensemble work fade Simple ways to get started with GarageBand, DAWs, and found sounds in your classroom How declining school music programs are reshaping the skills of working artists today Amani also shares highlights from his book on the history of R&B groups, his life as a touring DJ, and a few personal favorites—from a memorable Tina Marie concert to a go-to Vegas restaurant.

  8. Apr 28

    Lessons from Student Travel: Live from Walt Disney World with Alan & Steve

    Student trips are more expensive and more complex than ever—so are they still worth it? In this episode of Music Ed Insights, Alan and Steve return to the very same Disney resort room where they recorded a student travel episode two years ago to unpack what they’ve learned from nearly 30 years of group travel. They explore the non‑negotiables that make trips work: staff‑led communication and hype, crystal‑clear expectations and time boundaries, and intentional chaperone selection and preparation. They also dig into early organizational moves like rooming lists, how to handle rising costs and “entitled” questions from parents, and what to do when (not if) something goes wrong. Along the way, they highlight how travel helps students navigate money, public transportation, shared spaces, and life’s inevitable curveballs—while building resilience, empathy, and community for both students and adults.

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5
out of 5
22 Ratings

About

Dr. Steve Shanley, Alan Feirer, and national thought leaders explore current issues in music education, with practical application for K-12 music educators.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Steve Shanley and Alan Feirer
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    110
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2021 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Music Ed Insights
  • Provider
    Feirer Enterprises, Inc.

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