Episodes

Whether you're an educator, a musician, or simply someone seeking growth and connection, this episode will resonate deeply with you. Join us as we learn from Jennifer Hanford, Head Band Director at James Bowie HS, and her wisdom and passion for nurturing the next generation of musicians and leaders. Join us as we delve into the transformative power of vulnerability and the importance of making mistakes in front of our students.

Kendall Santos has established herself as a visionary leader in her band program, and during this episode, we delve into the significance of leadership in creating your band program. She shares her insights on fostering a positive and inclusive environment, emphasizing that talent knows no boundaries when it comes to race, gender, background, or any other label society might impose. The heart of our conversation centers on the tough but crucial discussions about female identity within our com...

Creating a safe and uplifting environment in any educational program is crucial, and Cori sheds light on the strategies she employs to foster collaboration, respect, and camaraderie among her students. We also discuss the significance of empathy and understanding in building strong teacher-student relationships, paving the way for an inclusive and harmonious learning space. Send in a voice message!

Work-Life balance is one of the toughest things to navigate especially in the music education space. In this episode, I sit down with Jana Harvey from Flower Mound HS to discuss on how she has maintained a healthy mindset and work-life balance. Send in a voice message!

Women representation in the drumming and percussion world is steadily growing year over year but there's still a lot of work that needs to be done. Brittany Baptista and I talk about our experiences being the only woman in our career as percussionists. Send in a voice message!

Regardless of fancy awards and high rankings, the impact left on students is the heart of a program's success. In this episode, I am joined by Katie VanDoren, Director of Bands at Vandegrift High School where we explore the true measure of program success, centered around student impact. Tune in to this episode for an inspiring discussion that highlights the meaning of success, balancing motherhood as a Head Band Director, and lessons learned from performing with Carolina Crown. Send us a voi...

It's finally here! Welcome to Fem Forte--your new favorite source for inspiring interviews with female music educators and performers. If you're excited for what's to come, help us get the word out by sharing a screenshot of this episode on your socials and tagging @FemFortePodcast. Amanda DeFrees is the host of Fem Forte and currently serves as the Director of Media at Ultimate Drill Book. Amanda has worn multiple hats throughout her career as a performer, musician, and media professional. Ama...

Explore how learning from our own missteps and teaching with a distinctive voice shapes our exceptional journey. Tune in now for insights that inspire individuality and innovation in education.

We talk about the importance of creating a safe space in music for young women to feel empowered and thrive as individuals and how creating an all-women based camp can impact the future generation.

It's finally here! Welcome to episode one of Fem Forte-- a podcast where we celebrate women in music and performing arts. Learn about the "why" behind Fem Forte as host Amanda DeFrees sits down with Luke and Josh Gall from Ultimate Drill Book and shares the story behind the process from idea generation to implementation. Amanda DeFrees is the host of Fem Forte and currently serves as the Director of Media at Ultimate Drill Book. Amanda has worn multiple hats throughout her career as a performer...