10/1/26 - Penn State Blue Band

What do students need from music education today? This edition of PMEA's Take Note podcast was recorded on October 12, 2026 during the PMEA District 8 Professional Development Day held at the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit.Hear from Dr. Bernadette Boerckel, Chief Outreach Officer at the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit; Emily Brumbaugh, Loyalsock Township School District elementary music teacher and former PMEA Advocacy Council Chair; Esau Jones, musicteacher at St. James School in Philadelphia and Philadelphia Freedom Band Jazz Ensemble Director; and Dr. Sam Faulkner, Clinical Director of Psychological Services at the CentralSusquehanna Intermediate Unit.Together, they discuss how music programs can respond to students’ changing needs while offering meaningful, rigorous musical experiences. Topics include belonging, engagement, creativity, access, advocacy, and student well-being, and how educators can balance musical growth and performance goals with the benefits of making music together.

On this episode of PMEA's Take Note podcast we talk with Lisa Platow. She is Associate Director of the Museum of Music Technology in Harleysville, PA. The museum holds rare synthesizers, guitars, and recording gear tied to artists like Stevie Wonder, Pink Floyd, and Keith Emerson.She talks about how the museum preserves music history and how educators and students can use it to explore the link between sound, technology, and creativity.

In this special on-the-road edition of PMEA’s Take Note, we spend Homecoming Saturday with the Penn State Blue Band, going behind the scenes from rehearsal to pregame, halftime, and the postgame performance.Hear from Blue Band alumni, Director Dr. Greg Drane, current student musicians, and more about the traditions, preparation, community, and family that make the Blue Band such a special part of the Penn State experience.

We're talking with Dr. Alice Hammel as she shares practical strategies for building inclusive music classrooms and ensembles. Tune in for insight on accessibility, collaboration, and helping every student participate meaningfully in music education.

Join us for a conversation with Rachel Hales from Rock Lititz about the live-event industry hub, her career path, and the many opportunities Rock Lititz offers for students and emerging professionals interested in production, design, technology, and entertainment careers.

Join us for a conversation with Greg Bimm on this episode of PMEA's Take Note podcast. Greg is the Band Director Emeritus at Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights, IL and he shares stories from his career, lessons he has learned along the way, and thoughts on what makes music education so meaningful.

This edition of Take Note was recorded live at the PMEA Leadership Summit on July 20, 2026 at The Penn Stater Conference Center. PMEA's Executive Committee: Susan Basalik, Rebecca Sensor, and Brett Keith, update what's currently happening in PMEA.

We're talking with Joe Sensor and Kristina Andrei about their participation in this summer's Phantom Regiment Alumni Corps. Learn about their participation in Phantom Regiment, why they're participating in the alumni corps, and the lessons they'll take back to their students.

Dr. Daniel Johnson, editor of the new two-volume publication Music Education in Rural America, joins us to explore the unique landscape of rural music programs. We examine both the challenges and the often-overlooked strengths of these communities, and share practical insights on how educators can leverage those strengths to build thriving, sustainable programs.

On this edition of Take Note, we talk with Marko Marcinko, the Founder and Artistic Director of the Pennsylvania Jazz Alliance. We learn about the Pennsylvania Jazz Alliance and their plans to help celebrate America 250 throughout Pennsylvania.