Parenting Musically – Details, episodes & analysis

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Parenting Musically

Kids & Family

Frequency: 1 episode/20d. Total Eps: 72

Parenting Musically explores ways to make music an important and meaningful part of our families’ lives. This podcast features interviews with well-known musicians and their parents paired with interviews with music education researchers. Join us to discuss stories and research related to the musical lives of families. Parenting Musically is grateful for season collaborators, guests, and respondents. The podcast is hosted by Dr. Lisa Huisman Koops, professor of music education at Case Western Reserve University and is supported by Case Western Reserve University.

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Score global : 38%

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Episode 58: Season 8 Recap with Lili Levinowitz & Susan Darrow

Friday, May 8, 2026 • Duration 31:15

To recap season 8, Lisa talks with Lili Levinowitz, Ph.D., Director of Research at Music Together Worldwide and a Professor Emeritus of Music Education (Rowan University) and Susan Darrow, Music Together Worldwide CEO. Lili, an early childhood music researcher, educator, and teacher educator, coauthored the Music Together® curriculum. She spent years training teachers globally, and still regularly presents at national conferences and webinars. Susan Darrow started teaching Music Together in the early 1990s and became CEO of Music Together Worldwide in 2015. She continues to lead the organization with vision, creativity, and a deep commitment to connection. Lily and Susan reflect with Lisa on the many guests and stories shared in Season 8, discuss culturally responsive curriculum, and share insights into engagement through musicking and their experiences with teaching and parenting musically.

Episode 58 Show Notes

Music Together Website

Research studies on Music Together classes

Music Together Blog

Instagram: @musictogetherworldwide

YouTube: @musictogether

Facebook: @musictogether

Article by music teacher Carey Crows describing the process of re-evaluating songs with a troubled past - contains many additional links to resources and articles on this topic

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Episode 57: Natalia Moreno Buitrago with guest host, Erin Meissner

Thursday, April 23, 2026 • Duration 31:03

In this week’s episode, guest host Erin Meissner interviews fellow doctoral student, Natalia Moreno Buitrago. Erin talks with Natalia about the focus of her doctoral work, Desde el Principio, a class Natalia co-founded with her advisor, Dr. Eugenia Costa-Giomi, at Ohio State University. Desde el Principio is a community-based music program for infants and caregivers that integrates Latin American repertoire and bilingual approaches. Through this work, Natalia studies how everyday musical experiences, such as singing, movement, and shared listening, can strengthen family relationships, support emotional development, and foster cultural connection.

Description of Natalia’s music program, Desde el Principio

Overview of offerings at The Ohio State University’s Community Music School

Article, “Global Arts + Humanities grant to support Latinx families engagement in music learning” about Natalia and Dr. Costa-Giomi’s work

Natalia’s Advisor, Dr. Eugenia Costa-Giomi

The Center for Latin American Studies at The Ohio State University

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Episode 56: Florence K & Aimée Gaudette-Leblanc

Thursday, April 9, 2026 • Duration 28:33

In this week’s episode, Lisa interviews Florence K, award-winning musician, author, and mental health advocate. Florence talks with Lisa about her experience growing up in a musical household and the bond of touring musicians. She also addresses the challenges of being a professional musician. In her current work as a PhD candidate in clinical psychology at the University of Quebec in Montréal, she explores the complex link between mood, creativity, and well-being in the performing arts. Joining in the conversation is Dr. Aimée Gaudette-Leblanc. Aimée is a professor and researcher whose work focuses on early childhood development, parent-child relationships, and the role of arts and culture in family well-being. Aimée shares insight into the family ensemble, sensitive and responsive parenting, and the joy of observing your children musicking.

Florence K’s artist page

Florence K shares “My Story” in The Catalyst, publication of The Mental Health Commission of Canada.

Florence K’s co-authored article, “Exploring the well-being of professional female musicians: a self-determination theory perspective” in Frontiers in Psychology

Aimée’s co-authored article, “The implications of participating in a Music Early Learning Program for parental sensitivity and socioemotional functioning in children aged 2–5 years: A randomized control trial” in Psychology of Music

Aimée’s faculty homepage

Sesame Street song “Put Down the Duckie” discussed in episode

Episode 55: Helena Rodrigues and Vivian & Tiago Madalozzo

Wednesday, March 25, 2026 • Duration 39:28

Joining Lisa in episode 55 is Dr. Helena Rodrigues, Artistic Director of Companhia de Musica Teatral (CMT), an organization championing musical experience and the arts for social and human development. Dr. Rodrigues founded the Laboratory of Music and Communication in Childhood and is a professor in the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences at the University of Lisbon. She talks with Lisa about CMT, community engagement, and the influences of Gordon’s Music Learning Theory and Trevarthen’s Communicative Musicality on her work in Portugal.

Joining in the conversation are Vivian and Tiago Madalozzo. Vivian Madalozzo is a PhD candidate in Childhood Studies at the University of Minho and Dr. Tiago Madalozzo is Assistant Invited Professor at the Department of Arts, School of Education, at the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança and at the Department of Education, at the Douro Higher Institute of Educational Sciences. Both are researchers and educators focusing on early childhood music and teacher training. The Madalozzos discuss their experience engaging their community through early childhood music education in Brazil. They also reflect on Helena’s work with CMT and share personal insights about parenting musically in Portugal.

Episode 55 shownotes:

Companhia de Musica Teatral (CMT) webpage

Companhia de Música Teatral - BebéBabá video (Youtube)

Companhia de Música Teatral Bebé-Plim-Plim video (Youtube)

Helena’s co-authored article, “Music for mothers and babies living in a prison: A report on a special production of ‘BebéBabá’”

Further articles and books about Helena’s work and the work of CMT

Episode 54: Josiah Birai and Elizabeth A. Andang’o

Wednesday, March 11, 2026 • Duration 27:28

Joining Lisa in episode 54 is Josiah Birai, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Cheza Music School, a Nairobi-based in-home music school dedicated to helping children and families experience music in a joyful, structured, and confidence-building way. Josiah speaks about the way he and his colleagues support their students’ musicking and performing. Kenyatta University Senior Lecturer Dr. Elizabeth A. Andang’o responds with insights on music education in Kenya, emphasizing the importance of considering how music supports children’s identity and self-knowledge. Elizabeth also shares her research working with grandmothers in Kenya, highlighting the grandmothers’ deliberate use of music to cultivate relationships with their grandchildren as well as to pass along religious values.

Episode 54 shownotes:

Cheza Music School, Nairobi Web Page

Josiah Birai’s faculty page

Cheza Music School Facebook

Cheza Music School Instagram

Elizabeth A. Andang’o’s faculty page

Elizabeth A. Andang’o’s article, “The role of music in shaping children’s self-knowledge and identity: Perspectives from an African setting”

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Episode 53: Fang Ting Huang & Melody Liao

Wednesday, February 25, 2026 • Duration 41:49

In Episode 53, Lisa interviews pianist, cross media artist, and music educator, Dr. Fang Ting Huang. Fang Ting creates immersive new-media installations and interactive musical experiences that integrate technology, arts, and music. Fang Ting reflects on her musical childhood in Taiwan, her studies in Europe, and her career as a cross media artist and musical collaborator. Responding to Fang-Ting’s interview is Dr. Melody Liao, a professor of early childhood education, practitioner of Dalcroze Eurythmics, and advocate for early childhood music education. Melody shares insight from her exploratory music-making as a child in rural Taiwan and her current research on the use of loose parts in early childhood music spaces.

Episode 53 Shownotes:

Fang Ting Huang’s YouTube channel

Fang Ting’s new video performance, Coco’s Piano Diary Ep. 1

Fang Ting Huang’s new media performance of "On My Way”

Fang Ting Huang’s performance of Debussy’s “L’isle Joyeuse” on location by the sea

Behind-the-scenes video of filming “L’isle Joyeuse” on location

Melody Liao’s webpage with more information on her research

Penn State Research-to-Practice Tip Page on Loose Parts & Early Childhood Play

Research videos from Melody’s research on loose parts: (1) Loose parts in in-between spaces, (2)

Episode 52: Margaret Fagan & Amanda Niland

Wednesday, February 11, 2026 • Duration 31:54

In our first episode of season 8, Lisa interviews Margaret Fagan. Margaret Fagan is a folk musician and former early childhood Montessori music teacher. Margaret and her husband, folk guitarist Bob Fagan, are the founding members of Australia’s pre-eminent folk music family, “The Fagans.” Margaret reflects on her own musical childhood and describes ways children in Australia are included in community musicmaking. Drawing from her experience as an early childhood teacher, music educator and children’s author, Dr. Amanda Niland responds to Margaret’s interview with insight from her long career in early childhood education. Amanda joined the Early Childhood team at the University of Sydney in 2016 where she currently serves as Senior Lecturer and Program Director of the Master of Teaching Early Childhood.

Episode 52 Shownotes

Margaret & Bob Fagan “Landmarks on the Journey” album

Margaret & Bob Fagan join son James Fagan, host, on “Sheffield Live TGIF” radio show (2024)

Youtube Recording, Margaret & Bob Fagan at 2022 National Folk Festival in Canberra, Australia

Youtube Recording, The Fagans, “The World Turned Upside Down”

Amanda Niland’s research article on children’s literature: “Picture Books, Imagination and Play: Pathways to Positive Reading Identities for Young Children”

Amanda Niland’s research article on children’s musical play:

Parenting Musically Season 8 Trailer

Wednesday, February 4, 2026 • Duration 01:18

Announcing Season 8 of Parenting Musically! Parenting Musically is supported by Case Western Reserve University. The podcast is hosted by Dr. Lisa Huisman Koops, professor of music education at Case Western Reserve University.

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Episode 51: Joan Ellison & George Blake

Wednesday, November 19, 2025 • Duration 30:28

In our final episode of season 7, Lisa interviews Joan Ellison, songstress and revivalist of the Great American Songbook. Joan is known internationally for her restoration and revival of Judy Garland’s repertoire from her golden Hollywood years, live concerts, studio recordings, and television shows. Joan shares how she became a part of the “Judy Garland Family” and reflects on the importance of musical places in her own musical journey, from Judy Garland’s childhood home to Severance Hall. Co-host George Blake picks up the themes of musical place in Joan’s conversation within the fabric of the concepts of “home” and “away” in “There's No Place Like Home” and “Over the Rainbow” in The Wizard of Oz.Thank you to our audio engineer Davey Berris, Lead Digital Video Specialist at MediaVision at CWRU for his work as audio engineer on this podcast. We’re grateful to CWRU PhD student Lauren Hodgson for her work behind the scenes with editing transcripts. Thanks to CWRU Music Dept. chair Nate Kruse for his departmental support. Gratitude to CWRU for supporting this season of Parenting Musically.

Joan’s Website

Joan’s Facebook and Instagram

Joan’s Touring Schedule

Joan Ellison sings “Over the Rainbow”

Joan Ellison Sings "Chicago" in the National Concert Hall in Dublin

James Rhodes Parenting Musically podcast episode (discussed in Episode 51)

Episode 50: Theresa J. May + James May & George Blake

Wednesday, November 5, 2025 • Duration 33:59

Joining Lisa this week is daughter-father duo Theresa J. May and James May. Theresa is a professional trumpeter, educator, and advocate from Shaker Heights, Ohio. James May is a native Clevelander and was the founder, music director and bandleader of Gabriel’s Horns®, a 21-piece inter-generational community jazz-praise big band from 2002 -2023. Theresa and James discuss the importance of joy in musicking, Theresa’s work with Afrofuturism, and reflect on mentoring young musicians. Season 8 co-host George Blake expands on themes of autonomy, fun, and blossoming brought up in the interview.Mid-episode music credit: “Afrofuturism: Black Lives Will Exist in the Future,” performed by Theresa J. May and Megan Denman, composed by Shanyse Strickland. Additional performance credits listed at link. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1luwWjOISvQ

Theresa’s website

Theresa’s Facebook and Instagram

Youtube video of Theresa’s Afrofuturism project

Accompanying context on Afrofuturism project

Gabriel's Horns performs at Trinity Cathedral (Cleveland, 2021)

Cleveland.com article about Gabriel's Horns and the Salvation Army

Gabriel’s Horns Facebook page