Episode 63 – Recruiting in the Music Room: Putting Students at the Heart of the Process 

Recruiting in the Music Room: Putting Students at the Heart of the Process

In episode 63, Kathryn and Theresa talk to Angela Ammerman, a passionate music educator in Northern Virginia. Angela discusses innovative recruitment strategies for music programs, emphasizing the critical role of student and community involvement in building and sustaining vibrant music education environments. Highlighting her own experiences and insights from her book, “The Music Teachers Guide to Recruitment and Retention,” Angela shares effective tactics such as utilizing student-led concerts, leveraging favorite teachers to attract more students, and creating visual enrollment goals to motivate and engage current students in the recruitment process. 

Angela  underscores the importance of making music programs accessible and appealing to a broader audience by fostering a sense of belonging and community within the program. Her approach is grounded in the belief that every student should have the opportunity to experience the transformative power of music education, and she advocates for collaborative efforts to achieve this goal. Angela’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of musicians and music lovers is obvious throughout the interview. Angela was previously featured on Episode 24 of the podcast, talking about empowering English language learners in the music classroom