Rodney Dorsey & Stanford Thompson | The Heart of Teaching Music - Ep. 5
Rodney Dorsey & Stanford Thompson | The Heart of Teaching Music - Ep. 5  
Podcast: Music for All Podcast Network
Published On: Thu Apr 09 2026
Description: This episode features two key leaders of Equity Arc, a national coalition whose mission and programming address the structural inequities in classical music that result in the field’s systemic lack of racial and ethnic diversity. Stanford Thompson is Equity Arc’s Executive Director, and Rodney Dorsey is a Professor of Music at Florida State University, who will be conducting the 2026 Equity Arc Wind Symphony. Together with Julia and Scott, they discuss the importance of representation and how mentorship and support for young BIPOC (Black, indigenous, and people of color) musicians is crucial in addressing racial inequity in the classical music space. Learn more at equityarc.org.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.Check out Stan's recent blog post about the effects the executive order discussed in the episode has had on Equity Arc: stanfordleon.substack.com/p/the-cost-of-standing-still