Why I Started Beyond the Stand

Welcome to Beyond the Stand! I’m Jeremy Bryant—music educator, Army National Guard bandsman, and host of this podcast. This blog post accompanies the introductory episode of the show, where I share the heart behind the project and why I believe this conversation matters.

Why This Podcast

Like many music educators, my path started in traditional band programs. I loved them, learned from them, and built my identity around them. But when I stepped into a new role teaching commercial music at the high school level, a role shaped in part by my experiences in the Army National Guard Band, I realized just how much I didn’t know.

I had no podium. No concert cycle. No score to follow.

What I did have were creative, curious, passionate students, and the responsibility to give them a music education that was every bit as meaningful and rigorous as anything in a traditional setting.

So I started asking questions. Big ones.

• What makes popular music education “legit”?

• How do we build structure around student-led creativity?

• Where’s the line between freedom and chaos?

• Can popular music and traditional music coexist in a meaningful way?

This podcast is my attempt to find the answers, and to share what I learn along the way.

Who You’ll Hear From

Throughout the season, I interview teachers, leaders, and students who are doing the work—some in schools, some in universities, some on national stages. They challenge my assumptions. They echo my doubts. And most importantly, they give me (and hopefully you) ideas we can actually use.

We’ll talk about things like:

• Why student voice matters

• How to teach with creativity and structure

• What it means to make room for all kinds of music—and all kinds of learners

• 
  

What to Expect

New episodes of Beyond the Stand will release every Tuesday, with blog posts like this one offering summaries, key takeaways, and reflections.

Thanks for joining me on this journey. If you're an educator, musician, or just someone passionate about what music can mean to young people, this podcast is for you.

Let’s go beyond the stand...together.