Parenting Musically explores ways to make music an important and meaningful part of our families’ lives. This podcast features interviews with well-known musicians and their parents paired with interviews with music education researchers. Join us to discuss stories and research related to the musical lives of families. Parenting Musically is grateful for season collaborators, guests, and respondents. The podcast is hosted by Dr. Lisa Huisman Koops, professor of music education at Case Western Reserve University and is supported by Case Western Reserve University.
For episode 61, Lisa talks with Marisa Silva Rocha, a Portuguese-American Fadista, podcast host, children’s book author and illustrator, and entrepreneur. Marisa has enjoyed singing since she was a child, has loved Fado music since her late teens and began singing Fado in 2016. Marisa released her first single, "Alfama," in 2021, and her first album in 2022, The album features 8 traditional Fados with her own twist, as well as her original fado composition. Marisa is the author of four children’s books, including the newly released picture book What is Fado? In this episode, Marisa shares the cultural context of the Portuguese musical genre Fado and her motivation in creating a children’s book to share this music. We also discuss the centrality of emotion in Fado music and how talking with kids about emotion in music can be a way to engage in parenting musically. Lisa reflects on finding new music to listen to as a family as well as the idea of soundscapes.
Marisa Silva Rocha’s https://marisarod89.wixsite.com/msrfado (https://www.sarahsharp.com/)
Marisa’s Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/marisarod89)
Marisa’s YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@marisasilvarocha)
Marisa’s Instagram (http://instagram)
Marisa’s new book, What is Fado? (https://www.amazon.com/What-Fado-Marisa-Silva-Rocha/dp/B0H1F27JG9)
Book: Music, Education and Multiculturalism (https://global.oup.com/ushe/product/music-education-and-multiculturalism-9780195106091), by Terese M. Volk
Podcast: Parenting Musically Episode 45 (https://open.spotify.com/episode/73desZW1ZO6PBivtld42mt), on songwriting to address childhood trauma with Katurah Christenbury (mailto:kl78173@appstate.edu) (starting at minute 19)
YouTube video with Canadian psychologist Caroline Buzanko (https://www.youtube.com/live/G5Q-9U5jD5U?si=fShh1HcV-TI_QED7) talking about the use of recorded music for emotional regulation with families
Book: Danté Plays His Blues - A Heartwarming Picture Book About Expressing Feelings Through Music for Kids (Ages 4-8) (https://www.amazon.com/Dant%C3%A9-Plays-Blues-Allen-Wells/dp/0063216256/ref=sr_1_4?crid=CAXDEOM5M5VD&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Ec-fjj6pKVfTdp2HaYlC7gkLKG7dnDJQVnX0mosOwYG0J9fdiZo09XrDSzzu2SiYXmx7C5rJL93R7E8nRYV5fJFcZTe6miCHTuJP_yZosiiH3Qc256t5wYAsfVXXNvMfu00L5oCeuYlWpyg77w3SVTW9r3z1ZgCW5Mo32UYDxQVQI3_WLrh52A5TaqN6Q9YW4WD9dlPQFSpI2-zlwHEBnPTN8MUIZwP5I60m8A3QrWc.LzW0ki10Va0IC_NL6TX3N9CkGn7WyyRPQC5Ox5iEg7Y&dib_tag=se&keywords=music+for+emotional+expression+children&qid=1785334795&sprefix=music+for+emotional+expression+children%2Caps%2C113&sr=8-4)
23 Sept 2026
Episode 60: Sarah Sharp
This week’s episode features Sarah Sharp. Sarah is an Austin Texas-based jazz singer and songwriter whose signature sound fuses jazz, vintage pop, folk, and cinematic storytelling.
She released her debut album, Deja Vü, on May 15 via Spaceflight Records. This luminous debut blends intimate, nocturnal arrangements with her incredible vocal prowess. For the podcast Sarah shares the story of her album’s development, how her career has been shaped by motherhood, and what’s on the creative horizon. Lisa makes connections to the importance of being role models for our kids in the areas of creativity and challenge as well as the centrality of community in musical pursuits.
Mid-episode music credit: "Sweet Lotus Blossom," performed by Sarah Sharp (vocals), Mitch Watkins (guitar), Masumi Jones (drums), John Fremgen (upright bass), Sean Giddings (piano). Written by Sam Coslow and Arthur Johnston, Blue Pie Publishing USA. From Sarah Sharp's album Deja Vü, Spaceflight Records. www.sarahsharp.com (http://www.sarahsharp.com/)
Sarah Sharp’s Website (https://www.sarahsharp.com/)
Sarah’s Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sarahsharpatx/)
Sarah’s Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/sarahsharpatx)
Deja Vu album (https://ffm.to/fullalbumdejavu)
Article: “A Home away from Home”: The World of the High School Music Classroom (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.2307/3345373)
Article: The Role of the Family Context in the Development of Emotion Regulation (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-9507.2007.00389.x?casa_token=S3HyXXGrvK0AAAAA%3AlmChXMMopr9yD1VDdreGpuPRIfNvFHiLJz28jjs-yXSqLnFV_7vzi8zXySzTq1ePx1sfNF98TEPDyI4lRQ)
Book: Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience (https://www.harpercollins.com/products/flow-mihaly-csikszentmihalyi?variant=32115404013602), by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
9 Sept 2026
Episode 59: Jane Timmons-Mitchell
Kicking off season 9, Lisa interviews Jane Timmons-Mitchell, Ph.D. Jane is a clinical child psychologist with 40 years of experience. With her son Stephen, a mechanical engineer, she wrote the book “Our Guide to Navigating ADHD, How to Embrace Challenges, Develop Grit, and Flourish,” published by Greenleaf Books. Jane is an Associate Clinical Professor in the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. She launched a private practice called Junction Psychological Services Corporation in 2000. She has been awarded grants and contracts at the federal, state, and local levels and authored multiple publications. In this episode Jane reflects on the role of music in navigating raising her son Stephen. Lisa responds with reflections on music lessons with neurodivergent children and a celebration of recognizing children’s and families’ strengths.
Jane and Stephen’s new book, “Our Guide to Navigating ADHD, How to Embrace Challenges, Develop Grit, and Flourish (https://www.porchlightbooks.com/products/our-guide-to-navigating-adhd-jane-timmonsmitchell-9798886454956)”
Washington Post article about music and attention (https://www.washingtonpost.com/parenting/2022/02/15/music-parenting-kids-attention/)
Dr. Erin Hopkins’s blog about music practice strategies for neurodivergent kids (https://www.neurodivergentmusiceducation.com/blog/support-strategies-for-students-with-adhd-andor-autism)
Episode 17 of Parenting Musically: Erin Hopkins on Neurodiversity in Family Musicking (https://open.spotify.com/episode/5f5oU8jU3nzmPMkiGSKCZf?si=425bfa2aaf044edc)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
13 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
6 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 36 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
42
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
77
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