We’re excited to share our latest podcast episode featuring an inspiring conversation between Julie Chambers and Mandy Ballreich, a passionate and experienced elementary general music teacher in Worthington, Ohio.

In this episode, Mandy takes us through her lifelong connection to music—from singing as a toddler in grocery store aisles to her current work shaping young musicians in the classroom. She shares how her early exposure to quality music education and ensemble participation shaped her path and continues to influence her teaching today.

Julie and Mandy dive into the deeper purpose of music education: its power to build confidence, teach persistence, and create meaningful community experiences. They reflect on how music teaches us to embrace imperfection and stay adaptable—a lesson that resonates far beyond the classroom.

Mandy opens up about her own journey with performance anxiety, sharing honest stories from her college years and highlighting the importance of supportive mentors and trusting relationships in musical spaces. She also talks about the joy of using the ukulele in her teaching, the rejuvenation she finds through her church’s worship band, and how music continues to ground her even on the busiest days.

Listeners will gain insight into Mandy’s thoughtful teaching practices, including her year-long curriculum project, her love for Kodály and Orff methodologies, and the simple systems—like organizing song lyrics in binders—that make a big difference in a busy music room. As she reflects on her evolution as a teacher, Mandy emphasizes the shift from focusing solely on literacy to prioritizing joyful, student-centered music-making.