The summer holidays are a great opportunity to catch up on your reading and podcasts. To help you along, the I Can Compose team have compiled a list of top music education podcasts (in no particular order) and their favourite recent episodes to get you started – with thanks to Naomi Wellings for her excellent recommendations! Just click on each heading to access the podcast.
1. The Music Education Podcast hosted by Chris Woods
Chris Woods has been hosting and producing The Music Education Podcast since September 2020. It’s brought to you by SoundStorm and sponsored by Longy School of Music. Check out:
- Episode 43 – How to Practise with piano teacher, composer and author (“How to Practise Music” Hal Leaonard) Andrew Eales
- Episode 64 – ‘An Honest Reflection on Music Ed Now’ with Phil Castang, who reflects on his career and experiences in music education.
- Episode 73 – ‘Social Media as a Music Educator and More” with Vaughan Fleischfresser
2. The Why Music Podcast hosted by Nate Holder
The Why Music Podcast was created especially for curious children and young adults who want to find out about a range of musicians from around the world. Join Nate Holder and a few special guests to explore different musicians and their music throughout history. Check out:
- Episode S2E9 R.D.Burman – The Prince Of Music. Learn all about one of the most influential film composer in history!
- Episode S2E7 Yoko Kanno – Fasten your Seatbelt! Find out about the award-winning Japanese composer Yoko Kanno.
3. Music for Education and Wellbeing hosted by Anita Holford
This music education podcast offers inspiration and practical advice from people involved in music education, community music, music therapy and more. Learn how you can break down barriers to music, through communications, advocacy and inclusive practice. Check out:
- Episode 40 – All about data on the impact of music on attainment with James Dickinson of Hull Music Service, where they crunched the numbers and found that pupils having music lessons outperformed their peers considerably!
- Episode 38 – With James McPherson, MD of Music Leaders UK, a new music course and award for secondary school age students aims to address the numbers of students dropping music from year 10 onwards.
4. Teaching Notes – Music Teachers’ Association Podcast hosted by Patrick Johns
The Music Teachers’ Association’s podcast covers all aspects of music education, both in the UK and beyond. Interviews with music teachers sit alongside chats with industry professionals and education experts. Check out:
- Episode 102 – Prof. Martin Fautley discusses music education over the last 40+ years, including the biggest changes, trends that might return and current challenges, concluding with powerful messages for all in music education.
- Episode 89 – Dr Kirsty Devaney discusses her research into barriers faced by female composers, and young people’s perception of what it means to be a composer; and Jimmy Rotheram chats about primary music education, with guidance for non-specialist teachers.
5. LPO Offstage hosted by YolanDa Brown
MOBO Award-winning saxophonist and presenter YolanDa Brown sits down with LPO (London Philharmonic Orchestra) players, world-leading artists and special guests to talk all things classical music. Hear fascinating stories, take a peek behind-the-scenes, deep dive into iconic music and get to know the wonderful people behind the instruments. Check out:
- Holst’s The Planets Revisited with composer Colin Matthews, flautist Juliette Bausor and conductor Edward Gardner
- Saint-Saens’ “Organ” Symphony with organist and conductor Anna Lapwood
- What are you listening to? With Principal timpanist Simon Carrington and violinist Alice Ivy-Pemberton
6. Music, Learning, Conversation hosted by Jonathan Savage and Andy Scott
This music education podcast explores the intersections between music, education and learning that lead to innovative practices. Hosted by Andy Scott and Jonathan Savage, Music. Learning. Conversation. explores these themes with guests from across the music industry and beyond.Â
