Arts Educators Save the World Lin-Manuel Miranda & Bobby Lopez w/Barbara Ames REDUX (Part 1)
Sep 4, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Robert Lopez, both acclaimed composers and former students of Barbara Ames, reminisce about their elementary music teacher's profound impact. They share how Barbara transformed student theater and inspired original musicals, sparking their passions for songwriting. Listen as they recount vivid memories of early performances, discuss the evolution of their creative talents, and highlight the importance of collaboration and confidence learned in her classroom. It's a heartfelt tribute to the power of arts education!
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Mentorship Shapes Artistic Trajectories
- The hosts frame the episode around mentors shaping artists' lives through education.
- They position Barbara Ames as a pivotal educator who influenced multiple major musical theater artists.
Fourth-Grade To Sixth-Grade Musical Explosion
- Robert Lopez and Lin-Manuel Miranda recall Miss Ames creating annual sixth-grade musicals that became the "point of school."
- They describe a four-hour extravaganza where Barbara accompanied nonstop and students performed mashups and originals.
Teacher's Musical Journey And Practical Flexibility
- Barbara traces her path from early piano lessons to Juilliard training and teaching in Brooklyn before Hunter.
- She adapted repertoire for students and emphasized enabling kids to sing comfortably by transposing keys.
