- 2 hours 5 minutes#95 - Dr. Evan Tobias
Robby chats with Evan Tobias (Associate Professor of Music Education at Arizona State University) about imagining new possibilities for music teaching in a rapidly shifting digital landscape–from rethinking what curriculum even means, to the everyday tools that power his research, writing, and thinking.
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Chapters and Notes
00:00:00 Greetings first
00:08:41 Introductions second
Evan Tobias, Arizona State University
00:26:04 What possibilities that exist when music teachers use technology in different ways
Weight of Light: A Collection of Solar Futures
00:54:38 What is curriculum?
Podcast Episode 4: Music Curriculum Perspectives with Brian Laakso
Hal Leonard Modern Band Series
01:11:25 Research and writing tools: writing, interviews, reading…lots! Connecting ideas across many mediums…
Scite.AI - used to scan across databases, answer questions
Hazel - file management
DEVONthink - store, organize, work
zotero - collect, organize, annotate, cite, and share research
PDF Expert - PDF editing
TextSniper - extract text from images
01:26:07 Surveys
Qualtrics - creating surveys
Calendly - scheduler that integrates with calendars
TextExpander - type a keystroke that fills in email body or other text
Keyboard Maestro - automate applications or websites
Fantastical - give your calendar superpowers
Craft - you know it, you love it
01:42:35 Interviews
Descript - record, edit, transcribe
Snipd - AI-powered podcast app
Airtable - database to help keep track of where people are in the project
Notion - database in place of Google Doc
OmniFocus - Task management
ClickUp - Task and project management
Reader - PDF reader
Speechify - listen to text/PDF files
Please don't forget to rate the show and share it with others!
1 May 2026, 12:54 am - 43 minutes 59 seconds#94 - The Many Notes Apps of Robby Burns
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Support Music Ed Tech Talk
Become a Patron! Buy me a coffee
Chapters
- 00:00:00 - Intro & Thank You Patron Supporters
- 00:02:42 - Apple Creator Studio Suite & Affinity (owned by Canva)
- 00:10:39 - What's New in AI
- 00:14:55 - The Many Notes of Robby Burns: Apple Notes | Evernote | Bear | DEVONthink | Drafts
- 00:22:30 - Personal Knowledge Management: METT #58 - Building a Second (Music Teacher) Brain | Obsidian | Craft | Notion
- 00:30:41 - What Am I Actually Using These Days: Obsidian Plugins | Things | GoodNotes | Todoist | Hookmark
- 00:42:08 - Summary & Overall Philosophy
Where to Find Us
- Robby - robbyburns.com
Please don't forget to rate the show and share it with others!
31 March 2026, 9:02 pm - 36 minutes 1 second#93 - Apps I'm Using
00:00:00 Music and Introduction
00:01:41 Thank you, Patreon Subscribers!
00:02:15 Apple Announcement
Apple Creative Studio launched January 28th, 2026
Educator Bundle has been Discontinued
00:09:06 What's New in AI
00:10:16 Apps in My Workflow: On My Mac
00:29:42 Apps in My Workflow: On My iPhone
00:31:45 Apps in my Workflow: On My iPad
1 March 2026, 2:54 am - 1 hour 16 minutes#92 - Hamburgers All the Way Down, with Will Kuhn and Jaye Mateyko
00:00:00 Welcome, Intros, and a TI:ME Feature
00:10:25 Listener Question - what sources do you follow to stay afloat on tech tools and ongoings in and outside the field of music education?
00:16:55 Chart-Topping AI Country Song
Using Suno* to make demos
00:27:03 Automation Station
Craft - a PKM that's hot
Drafts - working with Craft
Loop - Nice lookin' Google Doc
00:33:20 Segue: Tahoe Issues, iOS 26 Issues, System Issues
00:35:47 Favorites of 2025
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Apps: Sequel, Finch, Final Cut Pro
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Music: Bon Iver, David Matthews, Fred Again…, Tame Impala + Justice
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Computing Device: Apple Watch Ultra, Mac mini m4, JAYE'S BRAIN
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Other Tools and Materials: Miyoo Mini Plus, Nintendo Switch, PAID StudioOne, Ableton Move
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Books: Ideology of Competition in School Music, Nuclear War: A Scenario, Adam Curtis documentaries, fiction, broadly, War & Peace (via Footnotes & Tangents), Meditations
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Other Media:
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Robby:
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Hard games such as Hollow Knight
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Movies - Arrival
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Show - Pluribus
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Will:
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Shows - Pluribus
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Game - Balatro
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Movie - Mulholland Drive
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Jaye
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Movies - Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning
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Sports - Cricket
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Museums - The MLB Hall of Fame
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Misc!
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@Robby
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Presentations and Awards - TMEA
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Life - Babys, Costco Executive
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@Jaye
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Finances - upgraded American Airlines credit card
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Travel - Munich, Vienna, Prague by train; Seeing the Cardinals in St Louis
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Will
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Project: Funkhaus.music
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01:14:15 Predictions! No show note spoilers…
01:20:48 Tired/Wired Lightening Round
31 January 2026, 3:27 pm -
- 1 hour 24 minutes#91 - Theresa Returns!
In this episode of Music Ed Tech Talk, Robby sits down with Theresa Hoover to discuss AI guidance in music education, creativity in the classroom, task management for educators, and what's new in their professional lives. Topics include NAfME guidance on AI, next-gen Siri, automation workflows, and listener questions about sustaining creativity in a distracted world.
Support Music Ed Tech Talk
Show Notes & Links
Intro & Community
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00:00:00 – Hello and welcome
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00:00:30 – Thanks to new Patreon supporter, Drew Ross
News, Blogs, and AI Updates
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00:01:23 – Theresa's newest blog on COPPA and FERPA** - https://offthebeatenpathinmusic.com/play-it-safe/
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Affinity creative apps
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00:10:30 – What's New in AI
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Next-gen Siri (expected 2026)
AI Guidance in Music Education
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00:16:15 – Released guidance in the music education world
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Yamaha: AI in the Music Classroom
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NAfME: Guiding Principles, Frameworks, and Applications for AI in Music Education
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Classroom policy framing
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Alignment language for administrators
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Practical classroom use cases
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Moises AI Studio — AI-generated, tempo- and harmony-aware accompaniment stems for student compositions and arranging
Higher Ed & Classroom Practice
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00:24:15 – What is emerging from Theresa's undergraduate classes?
Automation Station
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00:26:34 – Automation Station & task management
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Concert planning task templates
Ask METT
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00:32:21 – Listener question from Kate Bateman
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How do you manage teaching creativity and having opinions about music in a world where kids won't concentrate on anything for longer than a minute?
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Reference: Drive by Daniel Pink
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00:41:51 – What is music for for kids?
What's Up With Theresa
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00:45:18 – New job update
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Wrapping up the doctorate
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00:52:08 – Is it finally time for forScore and an Apple Pencil?
What's Up With Robby
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01:00:14 – New OS and first impressions of Apple Vision Pro
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The "wow factor" is actually wow
Music Picks
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01:13:38
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Robby: The New Tango – Gary Burton & Astor Piazzolla
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Theresa: Afterglow – Saint Motel (Oct. 2025)
Wrap-Up
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01:17:39 – Where to find Theresa
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Pass the Baton - https://passthebatonbook.com/pass-the-baton-podcast/
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01:20:20 – Farewell… plus Q&A on Theresa's dissertation on music teachers and educational podcasts
Chapters
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00:00:00 – Welcome & Intro
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00:00:30 – Patreon Shout-Out
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00:01:23 – COPPA, FERPA, and Blogs
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00:10:30 – What's New in AI
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00:16:15 – AI Guidance in Music Education
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00:24:15 – Undergraduate Teaching Insights
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00:26:34 – Automation Station
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00:32:21 – Ask METT
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00:41:51 – What Is Music For?
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00:45:18 – What's Up With Theresa
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00:52:08 – forScore & Apple Pencil
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01:00:14 – What's Up With Robby
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01:13:38 – Music Picks
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01:20:20 – Final Q&A & Farewell
Where to Find Us
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Robby: robbyburns.com
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Theresa: theresahoover.com
30 December 2025, 8:52 pm -
- 1 hour 14 minutes#90 - New Hardware! Lockscreens! Homescreens! Tech Workflows! with Jaye Mateyko
00:00:00 Cold Open Cold Open: Marvel Slop & Anniversary Release of TMNT
Holiday Curtain Lights https://twinkly.com/
A small diversion into…bars!
Aloha Bars https://aloha.com/
David Protein Bars https://davidprotein.com/
00:10:10 Brand (clap) New (clap) Apple (clap) Products
Robby: New AirPods, New iPhone, New Watch
Pro 17: Used as computer-away-from-desk, really good pictures
Apple Watch Ultra: Much more computery. Stacked with
information. Alarm for when to end classes, water, and more!
Working on myself using my watch!
Jaye: New iPhone
Sweet Baby Air - becoming computer-away-from-desk
Tech in Schools: Digital Cameras on the Rise
Check in and Track Places https://swarmapp.com/
Fantastical Calendar https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fantastical-calendar/id718043190
00:28:03 Lock Screens/Home Screens
Jaye wants to customize MORE!
Referenced Throughout: The Demon Dogs
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/89-do-it-for-the-demon-dogs-with-dr-david-macdonald/id1078105776?i=1000728963549
Agile Tortoise https://agiletortoise.com/
Drafts
Simple Scan
Taking Notes with Draft, ft. Greg Pierce https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taking-notes-with-drafts-featuring-greg-pierce-season/id1078105776?i=1000411001646
Marco Polo https://www.marcopolo.me/
Focus Friend https://apps.apple.com/us/app/focus-friend-by-hank-green/id6742278016
One Sec https://one-sec.app/
00:47:20 Robby teachers Jaye how to use new buttons! First, Camera!
00:49:04 Action Button
00:51:08 Control Center
00:53:30 Liquid Glass
00:54.53 Three Quick Workflows (put him on the clock folks)
Notion https://www.notion.com/
01:08:33 Music Picks!
Robby: D'Angelo, rest in peace <3
Dilla Time https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilla_Time
Jaye: IAM - L'école du micro d'argent https://open.spotify.com/album/3atPIVCVIIgak6KeB1ANnK?si=vpaAN3RmSkSHcw-V38zheA
Jaye's Buddy: https://www.raminamirarjomand.com/
30 November 2025, 11:28 pm - 1 hour 50 minutes#89 - Do it for the Demon Dogs, with Dr. David MacDonald
Back to School! In this episode, Robby and David cover Apple upgrades, Obsidian and Craft workflows, automation shortcuts, learning resources, AI in education, and much more.
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Subscribe to the Podcast in…
Apple Podcasts | Overcast | Castro | Spotify | RSS
Support Music Ed Tech Talk
Chapters
00:00:00 – iPhone Replacement Plans
00:04:25 – Replacing Apple Watch with Real Watch, Replacing Apples with more Apples
00:11:00 – iOS Windows - Beta Problem or Just Hosed?
00:15:15 – Obsidian (for a minute)
00:17:17 – Just kidding, Finale News
00:26:46 – Okay NOW Obsidian…
00:27:38 – …and Craft
00:45:35 – Video Series Learning Resources??
00:50:54 – Search terms and how to find the basics
00:59:20 – Automation Station: Robby's "Let's Go To Work" Shortcut
01:11:30 – Siri News - SirAI
01:16:11 – Technology Dreams
01:22:55 – David Bullies Robby…
01:24:25 – Is EVERYONE cheating their way through college? AI in Education
01:33:18 – NAfME's AI Guidance Document
Show Notes and Links
• Patreon – Music Ed Tech Talk
• Obsidian
• Cory Meals – Building a Second Music Teacher Brain
• Craft
• Things
• David Sparks – MacSparky Courses
• Udemy
• NYMag – Everyone is Cheating Their Way Through College
Where to Find Us
Robby – robbyburns.com
David - davidmacdonaldmusic.com
Please don't forget to rate the show and share it with others!
28 September 2025, 10:15 pm - 1 hour 25 minutes#88 – Features Coming to Your Apple Devices This Fall
Dorico and Ableton updates, Big Tech Keynotes, and new automation workflows.
Show Notes and Links
• Dorico 6 release announcement
• MuseClass Shuttering It's Service
• Sam Altman and Jony Ive AI device project
• Sky App
• I'm With Her – See You Around
• Hvalfugl – En Dag | Oktober EP
• More like K-BOP, amirite? by David MacDonald
Subscribe to the Blog
Subscribe to the Podcast in…
Apple Podcasts | Overcast | Castro | Spotify | RSS
Support Music Ed Tech Talk
Become a Patron!
Where to Find Us
• Robby - robbyburns.com
• Will - willkuhn.com
Please don't forget to rate the show and share it with others!
24 August 2025, 6:34 pm - 48 minutes 31 seconds#87 – School Music License, with Brenna C. Horn-Cronin
Brenna C. Horn-Cronin, Executive General Manager at School Music License, joins the show to discuss how the service empowers music educators to navigate performance licensing ethically and efficiently. We cover administrative advocacy, the future of licensing in education, pricing structures, and more.
Show Notes and Links...
School Music License Resources
• School Music License Website
• Email: [email protected]
• Promo Code: TechTalk10 – 10 % off your first purchase!
Referenced Podcast
Chapters
00:00:00 – School Music License Overview
00:06:20 – Working for and with teachers, and calming the fears of "gotchas"
00:08:27 – How the service has positively affected teachers
00:12:10 – What's coming next?
00:13:35 – Pricing Tiers
00:16:20 – Administrative Advocacy
00:17:58 – Small Scale Licenses
00:20:40 – The importance of educating educators and keeping up with technology
00:22:00 – Visions for other areas of Music Education
00:30:10 – BREAK! Podcasting About Podcasting
00:35:10 – Encouraging LESS technology use (during performances) – how and why
00:42:45 – School Culture and giving credit where credit is due
⸻
Subscribe to the Blog…
Subscribe to the Podcast in…
Apple Podcasts | Overcast | Castro | Spotify | RSS
Support Music Ed Tech Talk
Where to Find Us
Robby – robbyburns.com
Will – willkuhn.com
30 June 2025, 1:41 pm - 1 hour 4 minutes#86 - Apple Report Card, with Will Kuhn
Websites are back! Robby redid his blog and Stream Deck setups. The Metallica concert in Vision Pro is awesome. AI tools for musicians have always been useful, and we do some music picks. Big topic: Will and I grade Apple.
Subscribe to the Blog…
Subscribe to the Podcast in…
Apple Podcasts | Overcast | Castro | Spotify | RSS
Support Music Ed Tech TalkBecome a Patron!
Buy me a coffee
Chapters00:00:28 - Thanks again, Molly!
00:00:52 - RobbyBurns.com, WordPress!
00:03:48 - Blog Highlights & Websites Are Back
00:13:19 - Ableton Updates
00:17:50 - Yamaha SEQTRAK
00:19:35 - Vision Pro + Metallica
00:24:36 - AI Tools for Musicians
00:34:03 - Automation Corner
00:43:15 - Apple Report Card
00:58:37 - Music Picks and Media Recs
Show NotesIntro
Thanks to our supporters and a special shoutout to Molly.
News and Mini Topics
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The blog has moved! MarsEdit + WordPress
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Recent blog posts:
AI
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Will's presentation: AI tools for studio musicians
Automation Corner
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Robby redid his Stream Decks at home and at work
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Related:
Big Topics
Music Picks
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Robby
-
Will
Where to Find Us-
Robby - robbyburns.com
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Will - willkuhn.com
Please don't forget to rate the show and share it with others!
1 June 2025, 12:56 am -
- 1 hour 31 minutes#85 - Roast My Homescreen, with Jaye Mateyko
Jaye joins the show to discuss how our homescreens reflect our tech setups and most-used apps.
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Subscribe to the Podcast in…
Apple Podcasts | Overcast | Castro | Spotify | RSS
Support Music Ed Tech Talk
Chapters
• 00:00:00 – Welcome to the show, Jaye, and the new Music Ed Tech Team
• 00:02:25 – Thank you, Molly!
• 00:03:41 – I…moved…my blog…to Wordpress
• 00:07:11 – Tradeshow Talk
• 00:12:50 – What a shock, we're back on stationary
• 00:20:00 – Desks, The Series
• 00:22:50 – The Very First "Roast My Home Screen"
• 00:28:25 – Quick Pivot back to Tradeshows, but really it's a rant about Contacts
• 00:37:07 – Focus Settings and "Roast My Home Screen"
• 01:06:16 – Health Apps
• 01:17:30 – The Pump, by Arnold
• 01:23:30 – Music and Media Recommendations
Show Notes
• See Ya Space Cowboy on Substack
• Music Ed Tech Talk on Patreon
• Technology Institute for Music Educators (TI:ME)
• Pilot Vanishing Point Fountain Pens - Goulet Pens
• ClickUp
• Podcast: "I Don't Want a Valuable Life Lesson…" (Ep. 69)
• Readwise Reader Now Syncs Highlights to Apple Notes – Music Ed Tech Talk
• Apple iPhone Support – Differentiate or Tone Down Colors
• Björk – Post (Official Shop)
• Ibrahim Maalouf Official Site
• Dolphin Hyperspace on Minaret Records
Please don't forget to rate the show and share it with others!
23 March 2025, 9:30 pm - More Episodes? Get the App