Have a guest recommendation? Let us know!

We had the honor of sitting down with Dr. Loyd Hawthorne to learn how he impacted the lives of countless students over the course of his career. From conducting all-state choirs to traveling across the state of Texas to recruit for his program, Dr. Hawthorne tells us the secret to making a difference in the lives of students: Intentionality.

Are you an HSU Choir Alumni? Sign up for the 2024 Homecoming Alumni Choir!
https://connectnow.hsutx.edu/register/HC24AlumniChoir

About Dr. Loyd Hawthorne: https://www.hsutx.edu/about-hsu/dr-loyd-hawthorne/

Download the show notes for this episode HERE.

Follow our official Instagram page and become a part of the community!

Browse Kara's TPT Store!

Want a free piece of music for your ensemble to perform? Join Christian's mailing list!
https://www.christianfortnermusic.com/mailings

Have a guest recommendation? Let us know!

In the second part of our interview with Mary Jane Phillips, we learn the story behind her ensembles' successes - and how great tone quality in her groups was the foundation of that success. She also gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how her "SOS" and "Choir Hacks" materials came to be - as well as a glimpse of what's currently in the works!

Download the show notes for this episode HERE.

Follow our official Instagram page and become a part of the community!

Browse Kara's TPT Store!

Connect with Mary Jane Phillips on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maryjane.selfphillips

Check out "Choir Hacks!"
Teachers Pay Teachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/choir-hacks-by-mary-jane-phillips
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562501451587

SOS: Simplifying Our Sight Reading: https://www.brileemusic.com/blb009-sos-3a-simplifying-our-sight-reading.html
Making Sight Reading Fun: https://www.amazon.com/Making-Sight-Reading-Fun-Students/dp/1495057232

Want a free piece of music for your ensemble to perform? Join Christian's mailing list!
https://www.christianfortnermusic.com/mailings

Have a guest recommendation? Let us know!

We are excited to welcome Mary Jane Phillips onto the show, who is a well-known mentor for choir directors across the country and co-author of the SOS sight-reading books. She is also the creator of “Choir Hacks,” her TPT store materials. Mary Jane joins us to discuss how to manage the middle school classroom and handle the many obstacles that can arise, from class behavior to unsupportive admin! This episode is a must-listen regardless of the ensemble you teach.

Download the show notes for this episode HERE.

Follow our official Instagram page and become a part of the community!

Browse Kara's TPT Store!

Connect with Mary Jane Phillips on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maryjane.selfphillips

Check out "Choir Hacks!"
Teachers Pay Teachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/choir-hacks-by-mary-jane-phillips
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562501451587

SOS: Simplifying Our Sight Reading: https://www.brileemusic.com/blb009-sos-3a-simplifying-our-sight-reading.html
Making Sight Reading Fun: https://www.amazon.com/Making-Sight-Reading-Fun-Students/dp/1495057232

Want a free piece of music for your ensemble to perform? Join Christian's mailing list!
https://www.christianfortnermusic.com/mailings

Have a guest recommendation? Let us know!

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 do in the classroom, and our success as a group depends on it. The goal, therefore, is to make the group greater than the sum of its parts. Teaching the music is easy, but having the students work well together is hard. So how do we do it?

We are so excited to welcome our very first guest of the season, Mr. Mike Lunney, who is a retired band director that now spends his time mentoring music teachers. In this episode, Mike emphasizes the importance of connecting students together regardless of background, and how it makes the difference between "average" and "extraordinary."

Download the show notes for this episode HERE.

Follow our official Instagram page and become a part of the community!

Browse Kara's TPT Store!

Connect with Mike on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mike.lunney.9

Listen to the "Ask Mike" podcast: https://ntunemusic.com/askmike/
N-Tune Music: https://ntunemusic.com/
Culture Code, by Daniel Coyle: https://www.amazon.com/Culture-Code-Secrets-Highly-Successful/dp/0804176981/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
Atomic Habits, by James Clear: https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-Proven-Build-Break/dp/0735211299

Want a free piece of music for your ensemble to perform? Join Christian's mailing list!
https://www.christianfortnermusic.com/mailings

Have a guest recommendation? Let us know!

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 with Tanya the significance that honesty and vulnerability can hold in earning the trust of students - from elementary age-levels all the way to the best of the best!

Download the show notes for this episode HERE.

Follow our official Instagram page and become a part of the community!

Browse Kara's TPT Store!

Connect with Tanya!
Email: tchanphanitpornkit@nyys.org
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bass.icallytanya/

Learn More:
New York Youth Symphony: https://www.nyys.org/
Girls Who Conduct: https://girlswhoconduct.org/
Manhattan School of Music: https://www.msmnyc.edu/faculty/tanatchaya-chanphanitpornkit/

Want a free piece of music for your ensemble to perform? Join Christian's mailing list!
https://www.christianfortnermusic.com/mailings

Have a guest recommendation? Let us know!

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. Andrew Kim of the New York Youth Symphony and Conducting Institute joins us to share his story of how he became a conductor and what we can do to cultivate a life of powerful music-making and fulfillment.

Download the show notes for this episode HERE.

Follow our official Instagram page and become a part of the community!

Browse Kara's TPT Store!

Connect with Dr. Kim!
Website: https://www.andrewkimconductor.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/j_andrewkim/

Learn More:
New York Youth Symphony: https://www.nyys.org/
The Conducting Institute: https://conductinginstitute.org/

Want a free piece of music for your ensemble to perform? Join Christian's mailing list!
https://www.christianfortnermusic.com/mailings

Have a guest recommendation? Let us know!

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 the mirror and ask ourselves “What am I struggling with in the classroom?” and “What steps can I take to get better at it?”

Mrs. Andrea Cruz, Choir Director at Caprock High School in Amarillo, Texas, joins us on this week's episode to discuss how music directors can learn to look in the mirror and ask the honest questions.

Download the show notes for this episode HERE.

Follow our official Instagram page and become a part of the community!

Browse Kara's TPT Store!

Connect with the CHS Choir!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caprockHSchoir/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caprockhschoir/

Want a free piece of music for your ensemble to perform? Join Christian's mailing list!
https://www.christianfortnermusic.com/mailings

Have a guest recommendation? Let us know!

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 show notes for this episode HERE.

Follow our official Instagram page and become a part of the community!

Browse Kara's TPT Store!

Connect with the Canyon High School Choir!
Website: https://sites.google.com/canyonisd.net/canyonhighschoolchoir/home?authuser=0
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/canyonhstxchoir/

High Plains Choral Society: https://www.highplainschoralsociety.org/home

Want a free piece of music for your ensemble to perform? Join Christian's mailing list!
https://www.christianfortnermusic.com/mailings