Annie Ray | The Heart of Teaching Music - Ep. 4

This week’s episode of The Heart of Teaching Music features Annie Ray, Orchestra Director and Performing Arts Department Chair at  Annandale H.S., VA. Annie shares about some of her many unique projects in the music education space, including Crescendo, an ensemble composed of special education students, and Fairfax County’s parent orchestra, a group that has seen great musical and social success. Plus, she talks about Motherhood and Music Education–a new initiative seeking to build a supportive community of music educators who are also mothers (motherhoodandmusiceducation.com).Without people, there is no music. Join hosts Julia Baumanis and Scott Edgar as they explore the heart of teaching music. Each week, they sit down with inspiring leaders in music and music education to share stories of identity, belonging, and making a difference through music.Together, they uncover how music education nurtures growth—not just musically, but socially and emotionally. With engaging conversations, diverse voices, and opportunities for listeners to ask questions, this podcast invites music educators to embrace life-skill development and discover the power of Music for ALL.This episode is sponsored by GIA Publications. Learn more about GIA’s music education offerings, including Julia and Scott’s personal favorites, here: ⁠⁠giamusic.com/hotm⁠⁠.Read more about Annie's parent orchestra: https://hub.yamaha.com/music-educators/learn-peers/case-studies/parent-orchestra-gets-the-whole-family-involved/.