Tune Me In

MENZA
  • 0.0 (0)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Tune Me In Podcast is New Zealand's first subject association podcast, created by MENZA to explore music through an education lens. Hosted by music teacher and PhD student Jessica Brown, the podcast features renowned authors, academics, and classroom educators discussing current topics in music education. Operating within a bicultural model, it offers practical classroom insights alongside research-informed perspectives, serving as a companion to the Tune Me In Magazine and providing accessible professional development for music educators and anyone interested in music education.

Episodes

  1. 12/14/2025

    Tune Me In Episode 9: Wiremu Sarich

    Description to come

    25 min

  2. 11/24/2025

    Tune Me In Episode 8:

    Description to come...

    18 min

  3. 11/17/2025

    Tune Me In Episode 7: What makes a "Music City" with Shain Shapiro

    In today's episode, I talk about Music Cities with Shain Shapiro. Shain Shapiro, PhD is one of the world’s leading music and cultural policy thinkers. He is the founder and chairman of economics consultancy Sound Diplomacy, founder and director of the global nonprofit Center for Music Ecosystems and author of This Must Be The Place: How Music Can Make Your City Better. Shain has pioneered the work of music cities and music ecosystem policy, where music is written into how cities and places plan and invest in their future.

    24 min

  4. 11/10/2025

    Tune Me In Episode 6: Spotify's Data Alchemist, Glenn McDonald

    In today's episode, I have a chat with ex-Spotify employee and author of the book, You Have Not Yet Heard Your Favourite Song: How Streaming Changes Music, Glenn McDonald. In our conversation, we dig into the dreaded algorithm and how it actually makes recommendations and much, much more. Glenn McDonald is a former employee of Spotify who was responsible for grouping and naming genres at the company. Often described by media as a "data alchemist", he created the music discovery website Every Noise at Once.

    45 min

  5. 11/03/2025

    Tune Me In Episode 5: Peter O'Connor

    In today's episode, I chat with renowned educator Peter O'Connor. Peter is a professor of education and director of the Centre for Arts and Social Transformation at Waipapa Taumata Rau, the University of Auckland. He is a passionate advocate of the arts and arts education. In our conversation, we dig into the challenges music and the arts are currently facing. Peter is 100% authentic and doesn't pull his punches, but he does leave us with hope. This episode is one of my favourites. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

    37 min

  6. 10/27/2025

    Tune Me In Episode 4: Martin Emo

    In this episode, I talk music education with Digital Technology in Education specialist Dr Martin Emo. Dr. Martin Emo is a Lead Adviser for Learning Design in the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education, where he serves as Learning Area Lead for Arts, Social Sciences, Health and Physical Education. Based in sunny Whakatū (Nelson), Martin brings over two decades of expertise in curriculum development, assessment, pedagogy, and digital technology in music education. Music and education have been the driving forces throughout Martin's career, shaping his approach to creating engaging learning experiences that leverage digital technology. Beginning as a secondary school teacher 20 years ago, he has since held diverse roles with NZQA, the Ministry of Education, and MENZA, as well as consulting in the commercial education space with industry leaders including Serato, Ableton, and Melodics. Martin's extensive experience spans teaching in schools, mentoring educators to optimise curriculum implementation, and consulting on various projects involving the management and review of educational resources in digital technology for both public and private sector clients. He specialises in translating research insights into practical, data-driven strategies that create tailored learning solutions addressing the unique challenges faced by organisations and their students. His academic credentials include a Master's degree and PhD in music education—the latter completed while listening to his entire vinyl collection over five years. As a performing musician, Martin has explored a wide variety of genres, from classical piano and jazz combos to live laptop electronica and trumpet in a Cuban son band. Recent projects have included Buskudara, a genre-bending street band, and PressRoll, a live electronica duo. Currently, his main musical output is as DJ Tunesifter, where he spins vinyl and digital sets across the Funk, Soul, Jazz, Hip-Hop, and Latin spectrum.

    40 min

  7. 10/20/2025

    Tune Me In Episode 3: Jeni Little

    In this episode, I chat with the fabulous Jeni Little. Jeni Little has been teaching music for 38 years and has had the pleasure of teaching students at all levels, from early childhood through to tertiary education. She is passionate about community music - specialising in singing groups including Heaven Bent, One Voice, and currently Local Vocals. Currently, the Learning Area Lead of Performing Arts at Hobsonville Point Secondary School, she is dedicated to innovative and inclusive music education. A former chair of MENZA, Jeni now sits on the Board of the New Zealand Music Commission and continues to work closely with MENZA through the Safer Spaces in Music Education initiative she began in 2021. When she isn’t teaching, she is passionate about crafting (knitting/crochet, sewing, and embroidery), and she also spends a lot of time in her beloved garden.

    41 min

  8. 10/13/2025

    Episode 2: Ginnie Thorner and Duncan Ferguson

    In this episode, I talk with educators Ginnie Thorner and Duncan Ferguson about their work co-writing "The Aurora Stone" with their students. Ginnie Thorner thoroughly enjoys working in all aspects of drama. For the past30 years she has been engaged in drama practice of one kind or another as an educator. She is a specialist dance and drama teacher in Christchurch, working with students aged 5-18 years, and also works with teacher trainees at NZGSE. Ginnie's work focuses on drama for inquiry— in science, humanities, and building hope. She has a real passion for genuine student-devised work, and helps students use theatre to express their ideas and thinking about the world. Duncan Ferguson is the Head of Music at St Andrew's College and the founder of Learning Ideas. You might have seen his Prizegiving productions of "Stairway to Heaven" and "Viva la Vida" which have amassed 4 million views across social media. If you want to keep up to date with music technology news and releases of excellent new software, please follow Leaning Ideas on Instagram and Facebook: www.instagram.com/learningideasmusic www.facebook.com/learningideasnz

    22 min

  9. SEASON 1, EPISODE 1 TRAILER

    Welcome to the Tune Me In Podcast!

    In this launch episode, I introduce the Tune Me In Podcast and share the vision behind New Zealand's first subject association podcast. The episode features voices from the recent MENZA conference, where attendees share the intentions and whakataukī that guided them through the gathering. These brief, heartfelt reflections offer a snapshot of the music education community's values, aspirations, and the cultural wisdom that informs their practice, setting the tone for meaningful conversations to come throughout the season.

    7 min

  10. 10/09/2025

    Episode 1: Conversations with Emily Wilson and Wiremu Sarich

    In this episode, I have two short discussions. First up, I talk indigenous teaching and learning with Emily Wilson. Next, I have a chat with Wiremu Sarich about play and indigenous games as a powerful tool for teaching and learning.

    19 min

Trailer

About

The Tune Me In Podcast is New Zealand's first subject association podcast, created by MENZA to explore music through an education lens. Hosted by music teacher and PhD student Jessica Brown, the podcast features renowned authors, academics, and classroom educators discussing current topics in music education. Operating within a bicultural model, it offers practical classroom insights alongside research-informed perspectives, serving as a companion to the Tune Me In Magazine and providing accessible professional development for music educators and anyone interested in music education.

Information

  • Creator
    MENZA
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © MENZA
  • Show Website
    Tune Me In