Arts Educators Save the World Lin-Manuel Miranda & Bobby Lopez w/Barbara Ames REDUX (Part 2)
Oct 7, 2025
In this engaging conversation, Lin-Manuel Miranda, the Tony-winning mastermind behind Hamilton, reflects on arts education and his philanthropic efforts. Joined by Robert Lopez, co-creator of Frozen, they reminisce about their childhood music teacher, Barbara Ames, who nurtured their talents. The trio discusses how arts programs unveil hidden potentials in students and the transformative power of music. Lin-Manuel shares his current initiatives aimed at increasing access to arts education, while Barbara's heartfelt memories highlight the lasting impact of mentorship.
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Start With Students' Existing Assets
- Erica explains that teaching should start with what students already know to build new learning connections.
- Barbara practiced this by drawing on students' cultural and musical assets to teach new skills.
Shy Student Teaches A Dance Onstage
- A student who never spoke taught a TikTok dance onstage and suddenly expressed himself to 100 peers.
- The principal revealed he was the most marginalized kid in the school and had never spoken before this moment.
Use Popular Work As A Teaching Portal
- Lin-Manuel Miranda created the Educator-focused Hamilton program to turn the show into a curriculum portal.
- He advises using a popular work as a jumping-off point for students to create their own historical projects.
