Our Story
About Common Time
Music education is one of the most demanding and most important professions in the world. Common Time exists to make world-class professional development accessible to every educator who does it — regardless of where they teach, what resources they have, or where they are in their career. Each week, we sit down with the best in the business: conductors, educators, administrators, and artists who have something real to say. No fluff. No filler. Just the conversations that change how you think, teach, and lead.
Common Time has been accessed in 63 countries — reaching music educators on every populated continent.
The Mission
Common Time exists to bring world-class professional development to music educators everywhere — regardless of where they teach, what resources they have, or where they are in their career. We believe every music educator deserves access to the insights, strategies, and inspiration that elevate their work and, ultimately, the students they serve.
The Podcast
Each week, hosts Dr. David Clemmer and Dr. John Pasquale sit down with some of the most respected names in music education, conducting, and ensemble leadership. Conversations range from rehearsal pedagogy and program culture to graduate study, recruiting, and personal growth as an educator. Honest, practical, and always grounded in the reality of the classroom.
The Name
In music, “common time” — the 4/4 time signature — is a universal. It’s the meter that underlies everything from marches to symphonies. We chose it because we believe there’s a common pulse that connects all music educators: a shared commitment to the craft, to their students, and to the enduring power of music.
The Community
The Common Time Collective is our private Facebook community — a space for music educators to connect, share, and grow together between episodes. It’s where the conversations that start on the podcast continue, and where educators from across the country support one another in the work that matters most. Join the Collective →