Making Musicians

In this episode, Allison sits down with Niki Reading of School of Rock in Bend, Oregon to explore how music education can become a powerful engine for connection, confidence, and creativity. They discuss why music is “the most accessible of the arts” and how it can bring people together in meaningful ways. Niki shares how School of Rock Bend builds a safe, inclusive community where students of all ages collaborate, listen, and grow — not through competition, but through constructive feedback and shared experience. She also breaks down the school’s unique structure designed to help students take risks, navigate failure, and build real confidence on and off the stage. This conversation is all about resilience, belonging, and the transformative power of making music together.

On this episode, Allison speaks with Brevan Hampden, drum set professor, and founder and director of the Latin Jazz Ensemble at University of North Carolina Greensboro. He is also a performer with a focus on Afro-Cuban jazz. They dive into emotional intelligence, intersectionality, neurodivergence, and trauma within the framework of music instruction. Brevan Hampden

Allison sits down with Dr. Rachel Drury, research lecturer and co-lead of the MA music psychology program at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, a World Top Ten institution for music and performing arts education. They discuss Rachel’s work in children’s hospice and the creation of BabyO , Dr. Drury’s interactive opera for infants. They cover the significance of process and product in music composition and taking a human rights based approach to artistic instruction. Homepage | Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

Allison speaks with Dr. Amanda Moreno, a music education specialist at Ball State University, for a thoughtful conversation on the somatic practice of body mapping and its impact on musical learning. They explore how the midbrain, nervous system, and emotional regulation shape students’ experiences, and why flexibility within a teaching plan can prevent burnout. Dr. Moreno also shares how understanding who students are — and what they truly need — leads to more responsive, grounded, and effective instruction. Balance Mascot - The 6 Places of Dynamic Balance Seated Balance Focused on the Pelvis and Sitting Bones Skull with Atlas and Atlantis Vertebrae & Atlanto-Occipital Joint Clavicle, Scapula, Humerus, Radius, Ulna, and Bones of the Wrist and Hand

Allison welcomes Adam Brooks, a middle‑school performing arts teacher at the Carroll School in Massachusetts, for a conversation about what it takes to help kids feel seen. They explore how creativity, collaboration, and thoughtful program design can boost students’ confidence, build trust, and create environments where children feel supported and understood. Adam also shares how he develops curricula that students genuinely connect with — and why meeting kids where they are matters most.

In this episode, Allison Wilkinson speaks with marriage therapist and leadership advisor, Paul Elmore. They explore topics such as transference, trauma, incompetence tolerance, congruence in conversation, appropriate discomfort, and failing well. Paul is also a cohost of the Secure Marriage podcast and founder of ⁠securemarriage.com⁠. http://paulelmore.com/eimi Join the conversation: http://patreon.com/MakingMusicians

Join Allison and Kindermusik International’s CEO Kelly Green as they discuss the neurological benefits of music making, how to engage more dads in music making with their kids, and why the 0-6 age is crucial to developing brains. Dad Blog with Activities and "SuperDad Soundtrack": https://www.kindermusik.com/mindsonmusic/new-dad-album-superdad-soundwaves/ This was the Fatherhood Conference podcast and interviews: https://youtu.be/IaK1DzVwJD8 And here is a link to the research done on our Intergenerational program: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/aging/articles/10.3389/fragi.2025.1448293/full