Beyond the Essential Elements with Charlie Menghini

Charles Menghini

Beyond the Essential Elements with Charlie Menghini goes beyond the method book to explore the real-world challenges of teaching band and orchestra. Through conversations with directors working in schools today, composers, and music education leaders, Charlie shares practical ideas, honest perspectives, and inspiration you can bring back to your students. From the first rehearsal to the future of your program, these are essential conversations about the work teachers do every day.

Episodes

  1. 1d ago

    Perform Early and Often

    Marcia Neel talks about building confidence in your students and the culture of your music community. She believes the first 60 days are the most important and once you have the students enrolled, you need to shift your energies to retention, keeping the kids involved and excited by performing early and often. This is textbook information on how to recruit and retain students in your band or string program.

  2. Oct 28

    Establish Your Routines Early and Revisit Them Often

    Kris Bartels teaches at Corpus Christi Parish School in Waukesha, Wisconsin where she has a thriving elementary band program; recruiting about 95% of all fifth graders.  She discusses the importance of having structured routines, strong communication with parents, and a student-centered approach to classroom management.

  3. Oct 21

    Helping Kids Feel Better About Themselves

    "We not only teach our content, we also teach our personality." Brian Cole started with 18 names in his first sixth grade string class and 33 years later, his program has grown to over 650 students in grades 5 - 8. Clad in their signature hockey jerseys, ensembles from Horizon Middle School in Moorhead, MN have performed at state and national conventions including the ASTA National Convention and the Midwest Clinic. Joining for part of the conversation is Dr. Robert Gillespie, Co-Author of the Essential Elements Method for Strings and a strong influence on Cole's teaching

  4. Oct 14

    Building the Trust by Explaining the Why with Erin Cole Steele

    Erin Cole Steele, Ambassador for the Essential Elements method for band,  acclaimed director, clinician, conductor and Clinical Assistant Professor at Arizona State University shares her secrets to getting students to buy in and perform at their best.  She talks about building trust with your students by explaining the why.  Get out your notebooks for this podcast - class is in session!

  5. Oct 7

    From Teacher and Student to Lifelong Friends

    In Episode 2 of Beyond the Essential Elements with Charlie Menghini, Charlie welcomes his longtime mentor, teacher, and best friend, Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser. Their story began in 1971, when Charlie was Dr. Tim's student. More than five decades later, their relationship has grown from teacher and student to colleagues and the closest of friends. In this warm, personal, and often humorous conversation, Charlie and Dr. Tim share stories from the many years they have spent together and reflect on the experiences and people who have shaped their lives as musicians, educators, and friends. Dr. Tim also explores an important lesson for every teacher: people become interested—and remember—when what we teach is relevant to their survival. It's a powerful reminder that great teaching is about much more than delivering information; it's about helping students understand why what they are learning matters. Join Charlie and Dr. Tim for stories, laughter, wisdom, and more than 50 years of friendship—all while going Beyond the Essential Elements.

  6. Sep 25

    Welcome to Beyond the Essential Elements Podcast

    Welcome to the very first episode of Beyond the Essential Elements with Charlie Menghini—a new podcast featuring essential conversations about teaching band and orchestra. Great music programs begin with great teaching, but great teaching often means dealing with challenges that go far beyond the method book. In this introductory episode, Charlie shares how the idea for Beyond the Essential Elementscame about, explains the format of the podcast, and offers a preview of what listeners can expect in future episodes. Along the way, Charlie will talk with outstanding band and orchestra directors who are working in classrooms every day, as well as composers, authors, and leaders in music education. Together, they'll explore real-world challenges, share practical ideas, and offer strategies that teachers can put to work in their own programs. Whether you teach beginning students or advanced ensembles, Beyond the Essential Elements is about sharing ideas, solving problems, and helping teachers build stronger music programs—one conversation at a time. Great teachers. Great ideas. Meaningful conversations that go beyond the method book.

  • 6 Episodes

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About

Beyond the Essential Elements with Charlie Menghini goes beyond the method book to explore the real-world challenges of teaching band and orchestra. Through conversations with directors working in schools today, composers, and music education leaders, Charlie shares practical ideas, honest perspectives, and inspiration you can bring back to your students. From the first rehearsal to the future of your program, these are essential conversations about the work teachers do every day.

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