The Music Teacher Who Broke the Rules — By Setting Them with Joan Koenig

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When my deaf son got his cochlear implants, I faced a huge challenge: convincing him to wear these uncomfortable devices to learn about a sense he’d never known—sound.

Our saving grace? Music class.

But not just any music class. At Joan Koenig’s school, my son didn't just hear music; he saw it, felt it, and understood it. Surrounded by live pianos, harps, and dancing kids, the vibrations and rhythms made sound make sense for the first time. He wasn't just learning to fit in; he was being welcomed into a new world of connection.

Joan’s approach to teaching is anything but ordinary. Here are the key takeaways from our chat on the All Brains Grow podcast.

1. Fun Doesn't Mean Chaos (It Means Better Rules)

Walk into her classroom, and you’ll see a secret: the most joyful classrooms often have the clearest rules.

“When the rules are clear—simple ones about respect—there’s more room for fun,” Joan says. Kids know that a silly joke is welcome, but shouting is not. Teachers use musical cues—a little tune on the piano—to tell kids to line up or sit down, so there’s no yelling. This structure makes kids feel safe, letting their creativity run wild.

2. A Laughing Child is a Learning Child

Forget the old-school idea that learning must be serious to be valuable. Science now backs what Joan knew instinctively: happy brains learn better.

“When children are happy, hormones like dopamine are released that facilitate learning,” she explains. “When they're stressed, cortisol creates a brain fog.” So, that joy you see in her students? It’s not a distraction—it’s a brain-boosting superpower.

3. Inclusion is a Mindset, Not a Policy

When I nervously called the school after my son’s diagnosis, I expected hurdles. Instead, the director simply said, “Whatever you need, we’ll figure it out.”

That support was everything. True inclusion isn’t just about having the resources; it’s about having the heart. It’s about every child, of all abilities, knowing they belong and even getting their own special "hello" song.

The Bottom Line: Let's Redefine "Hard"

We often think if learning isn’t hard, it isn’t working. But does preparing kids for a tough world mean their childhoods have to be joyless?

Joan believes the awareness of life’s hardships will come soon enough. School doesn’t need to be a drill for it. By making learning playful and engaging, we’re not building a bubble—we’re building a foundation of confidence and resilience that will help them navigate any challenge.

Ready to rethink learning? Tune into my full conversation with Joan Koenig on the All Brains Grow podcast! Search for "The Music Teacher Who Broke the Rules — By Setting Them" on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.

Joan Koenig is the founder of L’école Koenig and author of “The Musical Child.”

Hear the full story on the podcast.