Beyond the Stage

Harold stone is a legend in the music business. At the 2022 CMEA Conference, Drew had the pleasure of talking with Harold. Though the conversation went well over an hour, it only scratched the surface of a life lived in music and devoted to promoting music education and participation.

In part two of our interview, Harold remembers a no-so-fond memory of when his daughter was discouraged from pursuing the flute. This led to a great discussion on the role of music educators in early instruction and how a small shift in mindset can make all the difference to a kid.

We dive deeper into the many companies he has worked for, from Coon to Getzen, Leblanc, to Roth, and the varied roles and responsibilities he had at each stop along the way. The one consistent theme throughout is his commitment to music education.

#BeyondTheStage

Drew had the opportunity to speak with Danielle Gillespie at the 2022 Colorado Music Educator’s Association conference in Colorado Springs. Danielle is owner of Music @ Mainstreet, a private music studio in Parker, CO, and has an extensive background in vocal music. An Alum of the Colorado Springs Children's Chorale and heavily involved in musical theatre all through school, she went on to study classical voice performance at the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music and graduated in 2014 with a Bachelor of Music, with advanced coursework in vocal pedagogy and choral conducting.

In Part 2 of our conversation, we talk about how even as a K-6 teacher in Korea, music still found her. We discuss the importance of knowing your part (and the value of supporting roles), how ensembles reinforce the skills of team building and empathy, the value in trying out new musical styles, and the future plans for growth and expansion of Music @ Mainstreet.

Drew had the opportunity to speak with Danielle Gillespie at the 2022 Colorado Music Educator’s Association conference in Colorado Springs. Danielle is owner of Music @ Mainstreet, a private music studio in Parker, CO, and has an extensive background in vocal music. An Alum of the Colorado Springs Children's Chorale and heavily involved in musical theatre all through school, she went on to study classical voice performance at the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music and graduated in 2014 with a Bachelor of Music, with advanced coursework in vocal pedagogy and choral conducting.

In Part 1 of our conversation, we talk about the winding path that took her from studying international business to owning a lesson studio. We discuss how her studio creates a network for performers and encourages participation in the local musical community, how quitting piano as a kid has helped her to inspire students to stick with music making, and how online lessons made weathering the storm of the last two years possible.