If you had told my 20-something year old self that I would walk away from my “dream job” at the age of 30, I never would have believed you. When I was 23 years old, I was so fortunate to land the job of my dreams. Teaching high [...]
A few weeks ago, I was on a Facebook forum for music teachers. Someone posed a question about popular music education—the essence of the post was prodding at the philosophy of music educators and whether or not they view popular music as a valid area of study. And, [...]
“I’m so shocked.” My previous principal spoke that phrase nearly 20 times when I told him I was leaving the school and the profession. I couldn’t help but wonder, “How can he be shocked?” None of my coworkers were. Though many expressed authentic gratefulness for my time and [...]
Dr. Martina Vasil is the Assistant Professor of Music Education at The University of Kentucky. In this post, she shares lessons learned from a research project she completed during her doctoral studies. During that study, she observed children at play to learn more about their musical interactions [...]
"I'm on sabbatical." I said these words over and over again this past year, explaining to folks why I was suddenly home with my kids and not in the classroom. Since graduating from college in 2007, I have spent every year teaching. Teaching, conducting, writing, studying, planning. [...]
Some of Steve's student's performing Change can be difficult. But oftentimes, challenging the status quo yields remarkable results. As our traditional definition of teaching and learning continues to transform, what are a few ways we, as music educators, might be able to facilitate these modifications [...]
Travel: An Interactive Museum Follow Naarah's adventures on Instagram @callender_abroad Imagine visiting a country with a culture completely different from yours: the food, mannerisms, and societal expectations. In this moment, this life seems exciting, like walking through an interactive museum. You’re encouraged by friends and [...]
“The greatest use of a life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.” - William James Being a first year teacher is hard. There’s a lot to think about and often too little time to prepare. You’ll meet more people and learn more names [...]
The struggle is real. School is just around the corner, your classroom is taking shape, and you are in the throes of planning for the new school year and all of its possibilities. In addition to endless to-do lists, you most likely will be required [...]
My Background In high school, I had a thing for guitar players. I remember playing in a cover band (I was the keyboardist), amazed at how my guitar player would pick up melodies by ear and translate them to his instrument. I loved watching videos of Joan [...]