THE FLIPSIDE
The Flipside is a space for rethinking music education. Through honest reflection, bold ideas, and real-world experiences, this blog challenges traditional assumptions and explores what music learning can become. From modern band and inclusive practices to creativity, community, and lifelong musicianship, The Flipside looks beyond “the way it’s always been” and asks what truly serves students.
The Embodiment Phase: Designing for Participation
Designing Musical Growth – Essay 3
What happens after students learn the notes? Too often, we assume expression will naturally follow. In this essay, I introduce the Embodiment Phase—the point where students move beyond simply producing music and begin participating through their whole body. Discover why movement isn't
Before the Band Room: What School Music Forgot
School music often centers on large ensembles, but that model represents only a small slice of how humans have historically made music. This article explores how participatory traditions—singing, improvising, and playing in small groups—shaped music for centuries, and why modern band reconnects classrooms with these deeper roots of human music-making.