The Crescendo Music Education Podcast

Supporting, connecting and inspiring music educators.

The Crescendo Music Education Podcast is a education podcast hosted by Debbie O'Shea, with 207 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Debbie O'Shea hosts The Crescendo Music Education Podcast, a education show with 207 episodes published.

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  Episode #205

  From Percussion to Podcasting: Finding Your Path Through Music with Mark Taylor | 205

  Sep 27, 202623 min

  Welcome to the Crescendo Music Education Podcast . I’m Debbie O’Shea, and I’m so glad you’re here. Today, I’m joined by fellow podcaster, musician, and educator Mark Taylor . Mark is a professional percussionist with more than 25 years of experience. He’s also the Vice Chair of the National Association for Primary Education in the UK. And he’s the founder and host of the Education on Fire podcast , which has now shared more than 500 conversations with educators from around the world. Mark believes children need opportunities to discover what they love. Music played an important role in helping him discover his own path. In Part 1 of our conversation, we go back to where it all began. Mark shares how a school music programme introduced him to percussion and opened a world of possibilities. We talk about his career as a professional musician, his journey into education, and what inspired him to start podcasting. We also explore the teachers, mentors, and experiences that shaped his life along the way. There’s so much to unpack in Mark’s story, so let’s get started. Where to find me: Crescendo Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crescendocommunity Official Crescendo Page: https://www.facebook.com/CrescendoMusicEd/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CrescendoMusicEd Twitter: https://twitter.com/crescendomusic LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-o-shea-62a3741b/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CrescendoDeb Support the show

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  Episode #204

  Building Community and Advocating for Music Education | 204

  Sep 20, 202643 min

  Welcome back to the Crescendo Music Education Podcast . If you haven't listened to Part 1 of my conversation with Michael Jones, I encourage you to go back and start there. We explored Michael's journey into music education and the experiences that have shaped his career. In Part 2, we continue the conversation. We dive into building strong music programmes, creating professional communities, and advocating for music education in our schools. Michael also shares practical advice for classroom teachers, leadership insights, and his vision for the future of music education. As always, you'll leave this episode with ideas you can apply in your own classroom and fresh inspiration for the important work you do every day. Let's jump back into my conversation with Michael Jones. Where to find me: Crescendo Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crescendocommunity Official Crescendo Page: https://www.facebook.com/CrescendoMusicEd/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CrescendoMusicEd Twitter: https://twitter.com/crescendomusic LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-o-shea-62a3741b/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CrescendoDeb Support the show

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  Episode #203

  Creating Opportunity Through Music Education | 203

  Sep 13, 202635 min

  Welcome to the Crescendo Music Education Podcast . I'm Debbie O'Shea, and I'm so glad you're here. Today, I'm joined by Michael Jones. Michael is the Director of Music at Villanova College in Queensland. He's also the Artistic Director of the Queensland Catholic Colleges' and Schools' Music Festival and the founder of both the Queensland Catholic Music Education Conference and the Catholic Music Directors' Network. Michael has spent more than 20 years creating opportunities for young people through music. He's built music programmes, led festivals, and connected music educators across Queensland. In Part 1 of our conversation, we explore Michael's journey into music education. We talk about the teachers and experiences that shaped him, the importance of creating opportunities for students, and why accessible, quality music education matters for every child. Whether you teach in a primary classroom, direct an ensemble, or simply want to inspire young musicians, you'll find plenty of ideas and encouragement in this conversation. Let's get started. Where to find me: Crescendo Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crescendocommunity Official Crescendo Page: https://www.facebook.com/CrescendoMusicEd/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CrescendoMusicEd Twitter: https://twitter.com/crescendomusic LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-o-shea-62a3741b/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CrescendoDeb Support the show

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  Episode #202

  Tried & True: 2 MORE Rhythm Games | 202

  Sep 6, 202616 min

  Welcome to the podcast! I'm Debbie O'Shea, and I'm so glad you've joined me. This podcast is all about supporting, encouraging, and inspiring music educators with practical ideas you can use in your classroom straight away. Whether you're a beginning teacher or have years of experience, my hope is that each episode leaves you with something new to try and reminds you why music education is such a rewarding profession. Today, we're talking about one of my favourite teaching tools: rhythm games. Over the years, I've discovered that some activities come and go, but there are a handful of rhythm games that I return to time and time again because they never fail to engage students and build real musical understanding. They're simple to set up, adaptable for different year levels, and, best of all, students absolutely love them. In this episode, I'll share four of my go-to rhythm games, explain how they work, and talk about why they've earned a permanent place in my teaching toolkit. We'll explore how these games help students develop a steady beat, improve rhythmic accuracy, strengthen listening skills, and build confidence—all while having fun. Whether you're looking for a warm-up, a transition activity, an informal assessment, or simply a new way to reinforce rhythm concepts, I hope you'll come away with an idea you can use in your very next lesson. So, let's get started and dive into some rhythm games that work every time. Where to find me: Crescendo Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crescendocommunity Official Crescendo Page: https://www.facebook.com/CrescendoMusicEd/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CrescendoMusicEd Twitter: https://twitter.com/crescendomusic LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-o-shea-62a3741b/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CrescendoDeb Support the show

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  Episode #201

  Tried & True: 2 AMAZING Rhythm Games | 201

  Aug 30, 202621 min

  Welcome to the podcast! I'm Debbie O'Shea, and I'm so glad you're here. Whether you're a brand-new music teacher or you've been in the classroom for years, this podcast is designed to support, encourage, and inspire you with practical ideas you can use right away. Each episode is packed with strategies, teaching tips, and real classroom experiences to help make your music lessons more engaging, more effective, and more joyful—for both you and your students. Today, we're kicking things off with one of my favourite topics: rhythm games. If you've spent any time in an elementary music classroom, you know that rhythm games have a special kind of magic. They capture students' attention, get everyone involved, and create meaningful musical learning without students even realising how much they're practising. Some games come and go, but there are a handful that I return to year after year because they work every single time. In this episode, I'll share a few of my all-time favourite rhythm games, explain how they're played, and, more importantly, why they're so effective. We'll talk about how these games build steady beat, develop rhythmic accuracy, encourage active listening, and foster ensemble skills—all while students are having fun. Whether you're looking for a quick warm-up, a transition activity, an engaging way to reinforce a new concept, or even an informal assessment, I hope you'll discover a game you can try in your own classroom this week. So, let's jump in and explore some rhythm games that your students will ask to play again and again. Where to find me: Crescendo Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crescendocommunity Official Crescendo Page: https://www.facebook.com/CrescendoMusicEd/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CrescendoMusicEd Twitter: https://twitter.com/crescendomusic LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-o-shea-62a3741b/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CrescendoDeb Support the show

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