From June 4-8, I attended the Association for Popular Music Education (APME) conference in Memphis, TN – hosted by the University of Memphis. For those who don’t know, I’ve been a long-time member of APME – I was on their board from 2014-2020, and in the last four years of my term, served as both Vi...

As songwriting educators with years of experience at both high school and collegiate levels, we've seen common patterns in what can make—or break—a song. Whether you're a seasoned songwriter or guiding students through their first compositions, these five elements can elevate a song from good to tru...

Self-doubt and Creativity

This past week, I was reading The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin. Gifted to me by a dear colleague, this book has been one that I've come back to time and time again when I feel creatively stuck or in need of inspiration. 

As I was preparing to write a blog po...