In this special episode of Beyond The Stand, I wrap up Season 1 by sharing major announcements and key takeaways from my capstone project journey.

Announcements:

• My Master’s degree is officially complete – thank you for all your support!

• This episode marks the end of Season 1, which is also the completion of my capstone project.

• Planning for Season 2 is already underway (and one interview is recorded!).

• I’ll be taking a short break to settle into the school year before launching Season 2.

• I’ve launched a GoFundMe to help with production costs, technology, site management, and marketing for Season 2. You can support here: https://gofund.me/05130db2

What I’ve Learned:

1. I’m not alone – There’s a growing network of educators teaching popular and commercial music.

2. It’s both/and – We can grow traditional programs by adding popular music education, not replacing them.

3. Student voice matters – Involving students from the start is the first, practical step to building a successful PME program.

Season 2 will focus more on practical strategies and tools educators can use right away. Please share this podcast so more teachers can join the conversation and find the confidence to teach popular music in their own programs.

In Part 2 of my conversation with students Brody Watson and Audrey Priddy, we move beyond what happens in the classroom and into the deeper impact of Popular Music Education on their lives.

We talk about:
How music helped them find identity, confidence, and creative freedom
The overlap between music, theater, and visual art
What they think school music programs often miss—and how to make space for more students
Why this kind of learning might just be the future of music education

This episode is a powerful reminder of why we do what we do and what students are capable of when we listen, trust, and give them room to lead.

What does Popular Music Education actually feel like for the students living it every day?

In this episode, I’m joined by two of my students: Brody Watson, a guitarist and drummer who’s been with the program all four years, and Audrey Priddy, a pianist and artist who joined more recently with a strong background in visual art and theater.

Together, we talk about:
Why PME felt different from other classes and why it clicked
How creativity, collaboration, and freedom have shaped their growth
What makes a class “rigorous” from a student’s perspective
How music became a space of belonging, identity, and discovery

If you’ve ever wondered what students really think about this model of music education, Brody and Audrey bring honest, thoughtful insight into how popular music can change a classroom...and maybe a life.