Building the Work: How to Teach Popular Music with Purpose

So you believe in popular music education, but how do you actually do it?

In this episode, I’m joined again by Dr. Steve Holley and Dr. Chris Burns to explore the practical side of PME: what it looks like in the classroom, what support teachers need, and how to build meaningful programs from the ground up.

We discuss:
Where to start if you're new to Modern Band
What a PME curriculum can include (beyond just playing pop songs)
How to assess creativity, collaboration, and musical growth
How to shift school culture and gain support for new ideas

Whether you're launching your first popular music class or refining a growing program, this episode offers encouragement, clarity, and actionable ideas from two of the field’s most thoughtful practitioners.