Every student’s musical voice is shaped by who they are... their culture, language, gender, race, ability, and lived experiences. In this episode, we explore how those identities influence learning, expression, and belonging in music education.

Host Sid Adams shares stories from the classroom and the field... from a Korean student seeing their culture reflected through the folk tune Arirang, to a trans man’s experience of being misidentified in choir... reminding us how deeply identity and inclusion intertwine in our musical spaces.

The episode closes with five practical strategies for educators who want to make identity a living part of their teaching practice:
1️⃣ Build Awareness Through Reflection — Notice patterns of participation, praise, and access in your classroom.
2️⃣ Reimagine Representation Through Repertoire — Choose music that reflects and expands the identities of your students.
3️⃣ Reconsider Structures and Language — Examine the systems and words that shape who feels they belong.
4️⃣ Make Space for Identity Through Dialogue — Invite students to share the sounds and stories that shape them.
5️⃣ Model Growth and Vulnerability — Lead with humility, openness, and a willingness to keep learning.

Through storytelling and reflection, this episode offers concrete ways to center identity in music education — helping every student feel seen, heard, and valued in the ensemble and beyond.