The Beginning

Higher Music Education News is my new creative project intended to connect all of those who lead, teach at, or are interested in the work of conservatories, schools, and departments of music around the globe. For many years, I have noted a lack of a curated resources which provide information, inspiration, and motivation for those of us in the field. This site is several years in the making and is intended to share resources and begin a dialogue for us all.

With my 25-year background in teaching and higher music education leadership, I have been incredibly fortunate to regularly liaise with thinkers and leaders in North America, Europe, South Korea, Southeast Asia, and China. As a result of my network and my experiences with organizations such as the College Music Society - CMS (USA), the National Association of School of Music – NASM (USA), the National Association of Music Executives at State Universities – NAMESU (USA),  Seven Springs (USA), the Association Européenne des Conservatoires – AEC (EU), the Southeast Asian Directors of Music – SEADOM (ASEAN), and others, I am fortunate to learn about and see up close innovative initiatives, interrogate new ways of considering disruptions in the field, meet fascinating and invigorating thinkers, and engage in  new experiences all along the way. I hope to bring those all of that together into this one place and broadly share it for the benefit of the international community.

The Higher Music Education podcast will feature interviews of leaders, faculty members, staff members in the sector, case studies of successful programs or initiatives, discussions of emerging trends in tertiary music instruction, and spotlights on organizations which are influential in the field. Alongside the podcast, my blog will provide an opportunity for me to muse about the things I see and experience, commentaries on books or articles I have read, and anything else of that catches my fancy. I hope that others in the field will consider serving as guest bloggers and look forward to sharing this platform with colleagues around the globe.

I am not yet sure the frequency of the blog posts and podcast episodes, but I hope to work toward a regular pace for them both in the coming months. I ask that you please comment on the posts, provide feedback through the website, consider sharing entries with friends and colleagues, and when there are topics you would like me to cover, please let me know! It is important to me that all of you help to shape the content of this work to have the largest possible impact on the field.

I do not yet have a clear expectation of what the future will hold for this project, but I look forward to the conversations which I hope will evolve from it. Please be in touch, provide feedback, and most of all, share your thoughts on that which we cover to continue to advance our work globally.