Beyond the Measure: A Podcast for Music Educators
Listen as Christian, a young composer, and Kara, a young choir director, interview music teachers of all kinds in order to learn everything they can about music education. This is the perfect podcast for beginning and veteran music educators alike, as well as composers and music students. Whether you teach choir, band, orchestra, or something else, all are welcome! It's time to go beyond the measure.
Brought to you by Christian Fortner Music.
Episodes
37 episodes since 2022
#37: Student Connection as the Foundation of Music-Making | With Mike Lunney
Welcome to the first episode of Beyond the Measure - Season 2!Many of us get so caught up in creating music that we forget that we are actually creating leaders. Student leadership and connection is the foundation of everything else we ...
September 09, 2024
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Episode 37
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53:15
#36: The Importance of Honesty to Students... And Yourself | With Tanatchaya Chanphanitpornkit
Welcome to end of "Season 1" of Beyond the Measure! Our final guest is Tanatchaya (Tanya) Chanphanitpornkit, who is the orchestra director of many different ensembles, including the Crescendo Orchestra at the New York Youth Symphony. We discuss...
May 27, 2024
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Episode 36
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1:01:50
#35: How To Grow Your Conducting Skills | With Andrew Kim
We've all heard that there is much more beneath the "tip of the iceberg" when it comes to conducting, but what does that actually look like? And what best practices can we do as conductors to grow as music educators?This week, Dr. Andre...
February 05, 2024
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Episode 35
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1:02:55
#34: Acknowledging What Skills Need to Improve | With Andrea Cruz
Being in a profession like music education comes with a lot of scrutiny. This can cause a lot of stress on us and make us afraid to be truly vulnerable - and not just with other people, but with ourselves. It’s important to take time to look in...
January 22, 2024
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Episode 34
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45:39
#33: Creating the Right Tone - in Music AND in Leadership | With Brandon Farren
This week, Brandon Farren, head choral director at Canyon High School, joins us to discuss how directors can maintain a healthy tone in their ensemble - both from a musical perspective and from the students' perspective. Download the sh...
November 27, 2023
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Episode 33
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47:50
#32: The Future of Music Education | With Stephen Cox
In this episode, Grammy Award-winner Stephen Cox joins us to discuss how the current systems in the music education field will make an impact on the future of our profession. What are we doing now that is working? What's not working? And what c...
November 13, 2023
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Episode 32
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1:07:19
#31: Finding Balance and Renewal in the Music Profession | With Frank Eychaner (Part 2)
This is the second part of our interview with Dr. Frank Eychaner, Director of Choral Activities at the University of Central Arkansas. Frank discusses ways that music educators can continue to renew themselves and take the right steps toward st...
October 30, 2023
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Episode 31
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34:20
#30: What Excellence Looks Like as a Music Teacher | With Frank Eychaner (Part 1)
Enjoy the first part of our interview with Dr. Frank Eychaner, who is the Director of Choral Activities at the University of Central Arkansas. In this episode, Frank talks about how music directors can have mental and emotional sustainability i...
October 16, 2023
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Episode 30
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41:39
#29: Big Schools vs. Small Schools - Is There A Difference? | With Jason Jones
This week, we welcome Jason Jones to the podcast, who is the band director at Central High School in San Angelo, Texas. Jason has much experience in both large and small music programs, and he tells us about what sort of differences you can fin...
September 11, 2023
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Episode 29
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47:05
#28: How Student Leaders Can Positively Contribute to Classroom Culture | With Sarah Gleason (Part 2)
In the second part of our interview with the New Canaan High School Choir Director, Sarah Gleason provides simple ways that student leaders can help influence others to be all-on-board with the purpose of success for an ensemble.Downloa...
August 28, 2023
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Episode 28
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38:35
#27: Creating Community Through Student Leadership | With Sarah Gleason (Part 1)
This is the first part of our two-part interview with Sarah Gleason, Choral Director of the New Canaan High School Choir. In this episode, Sarah stresses the importance of community in an ensemble as the foundation of success in all other areas...
August 14, 2023
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Episode 27
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37:16
#26: Evolving Concerts to Engage Audiences | With Jeff Goolsby
Dr. Jeff Goolsby, Director of Choral Activities at Abilene Christian University, joins us to discuss how he came to be a choir director and how he takes many different avenues to create a unique concert experience. We no longer live in an age w...
July 31, 2023
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48:53
#25: Fostering a Culture of Success in an Ensemble | With Troy Robertson
This week, we have Dr. Troy Robertson, head choral director at Tarleton State University, join us on the show! Troy has worked with many different choirs across the country and tells us what he believes are the most important foundations of any...
January 30, 2023
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Episode 25
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44:09
#24: The True Purpose and Practice of Conductors | With Miguel Harth-Bedoya
In this week's episode, we have the privilege of talking to Miguel Harth-Bedoya, conductor of the Baylor University Symphony Orchestra and Director of Orchestral Studies. With many years of experience conducting orchestras all around the ...
January 16, 2023
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Episode 24
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55:53
#23: How Composers Can HELP Music Educators | With Luke McMillan
This week, we sit down with composer Luke McMillan, who is very well-known for creating accessible marching shows for small school band programs. Luke tells us how he came to become a full-time composer and the strategies he uses to be a resour...
December 19, 2022
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Episode 23
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54:02
#22: Creating Enthusiasm Through Ensemble Innovation | With Darcy Radcliffe
Darcy Radcliffe, former orchestra director at Abilene and Cooper High Schools, created a new type of string orchestra ensemble called Revolution Strings. After experiencing many incredible successes with the group, she has joined us on this wee...
November 21, 2022
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Episode 22
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48:53
#21: How Band Directors Handle an Onslaught of Necessary Planning | With Jon Kraemer
For music educators, the constant task of having to observe, evaluate, and improve is imperative for having a successful experience for students. However, this habit, paired with the overwhelming amount of tasks needed to be done each week can ...
November 07, 2022
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Episode 21
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56:24
#20: Uniting Different Ensembles and Experiences | With Allison King
We are very excited to bring our first guest with an orchestral background onto the show! Mrs. Allison King is the orchestra director at L.D. Bell High School in Hurst, Texas. Allison brings a variety of insight for directors finding their firs...
October 24, 2022
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Episode 20
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1:05:06
#19: How to Keep Your Students Accountable in the Music Classroom
It can be hard leading a rehearsal when your students don't have the motivation to try in your classroom. In this week's episode, we discuss different ways you can incentivize your students to come to class with an attitude and expectation of s...
October 10, 2022
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Episode 19
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29:51
#18: How to Discipline Your Students and Earn Their Respect | With Reece Kingcade
One of the hardest aspects of teaching for many people is disciplining students while keeping them engaged and enjoying the class as a whole. In this episode, Mr. Reece Kingcade, Head Choral Director at Cooper High School, joins us to discuss h...
September 12, 2022
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Episode 18
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1:15:27
#17: From Composer, to Teacher, to Administrator: A Variety of Leadership Positions | With Jeffrey Cottrell
Dr. Jeffrey Cottrell is the Associate Dean of the School of Music at Hardin-Simmons University. He is also the director of the HSU Jazz Band, a private instructor of low brass, an active performer, and award-winning composer. In this week's epi...
August 29, 2022
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Episode 17
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1:05:42
#16: The Makers of Music and the Dreamers of Dreams
As the school year begins, we wanted to simply share with you all some words of encouragement. Please take them to heart as you begin and continue throughout the school year, and remember that what do matters. What you do changes lives. And the...
August 15, 2022
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Episode 16
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14:46
#15: 12 Accessible Tools to Make Your Life Easier in the Music Classroom
As the new school year begins, we wanted to share 12 tools that can help you in your everyday tasks in the music classroom. Most of these are either free or very cheap and can make a big difference!Follow our official
August 08, 2022
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Episode 15
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42:48
#14: How to Work with Middle Schoolers in the Music Classroom | With Lyndsey Ransford
Everybody knows it: Middle Schoolers are quite the adventure to work with in any classroom, but especially in a musical setting. Lyndsey Ransford, Head Choral Director at Craig Middle School, joins us on this week's episode to talk about the be...
August 01, 2022
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Episode 14
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58:25
#13: How Classroom Structure Sets the Stage for Success | With Wendy Weeks
This week, Wendy Weeks, head choral director at Abilene High School, joins us to talk about the importance of having structure in your classroom from day 1, and how it affects the rest of the teaching and learning experience for both you and yo...
July 25, 2022
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Episode 13
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1:11:00