How do you teach students to read music? For Margaret Jenks, it’s about teaching them that they already know how to. Jenks roots her teaching in attention: noticing rhythm, noticing patterns, noticing absence, and most importantly, noticing each other. The best teachers do not work from a checklist—rather, they teach intention and intentional listening. They guide students toward a greater awareness of the world.

Theme Music

“Mr. Gentle and Mr. Cool” written by Duke Ellington and Laura Rembert Sony/ATV Harmony (ASCAP) / Music Sales Corporation (ASCAP) o/b/o itself and Tempo Music 
Performed by Sean Jones and NYO Jazz

Margaret Jenks Episode

“Groovin’ Hard” written by Don Menza 
Croma Music (ASCAP) 
Performed by Jazz Express

“Fuzzy Caterpillar Song” written by Patty Zeitlin 
Bullfrog Ballades (ASCAP) / Budde Music, Inc. (ASCAP)

“Little Snowflake” written by Troy McDonald and Devon Charles Thagard 
WC Music Corp. (ASCAP) o/b/o Skyship Music Limited

Improvise

There are countless ways to teach music, but what makes a music teacher “great”? Through a series of enlightening conversations with extraordinary educators, this six-part series offers invaluable answers and insights. Learn about the unique approaches and personal histories of masterful music teachers, discover what drives them to teach, and be inspired by stories of their life-changing successes.

All episodes will be available in fall 2023.