The Fourforty (440) with Eric Branner
The FourForty Podcast is where musicians and music teachers share their journeys as educators, entrepreneurs, and creative leaders. Each conversation explores the real work of building a meaningful career in music... and the impact it makes beyond the studio.
The Fourforty (440) with Eric Branner
MTNA at 150: Creating Artist Citizens and the Future of Music Teaching
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Brian Shepard, CEO of the Music Teachers National Association, joins the FourForty Podcast for a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation about the past, present, and future of music teaching.
As MTNA approaches its 150th anniversary, Brian reflects on the organization’s founding mission, the role of community and association in a digital age, and why studio music teachers remain essential cultural leaders. We explore the idea of artist citizens—students who may never pursue music professionally, but who carry a lifelong appreciation for beauty, creativity, and the arts.
Brian also shares his own non-linear career path from music education to marketing to executive leadership, offering valuable insight for young professionals navigating their place in the music world.
This episode is a hopeful, grounding reminder of why music teaching matters, and why it always will.
Learn more about MTNA here...
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