These interactive online workshops offer you insights, skills, and resources to transform your classroom, engaging students through cross-cultural exchange that centers their lived experience. Spend 40–minutes with us on Wednesday evenings at 8:00 p.m. ET and learn new ways to connect with your students that you can put into practice immediately. Please register to receive the Zoom link.
Changemakers in the Music Classroom
FREE VIRTUAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS FOR MUSIC EDUCATORS
Empower your students to take ownership of their learning with culturally responsive teaching.
Want to take your studies further? Learn more about Longy’s Master of Music in Music Education program offered both in-person and online!
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Workshop Schedule
OCTOBER 2
OCTOBER 23
NOVEMBER 20
JANUARY 22
FEBRUARY 19
MARCH 26
APRIL 30
Eric Jimenez and Justin McLean | Eric & Justin’s Classroom Connections: Top 10 Ways to Make Equity Actionable
October 2, 2024 • 8:00 pm EST
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Join Eric Jimenez and Justin McLean from The Score Podcast for an engaging workshop that takes equity from buzzword to action. In this session, they’ll share their top 10 strategies for making your classroom responsive, going beyond repertoire to incorporate culturally relevant teaching, practical equity strategies, and meaningful student engagement. You’ll walk away with concrete ideas you can implement immediately, helping you bridge the gap between theory and practice in your teaching. Whether you’re a seasoned educator or just starting, this session will equip you with the tools to create a more inclusive and impactful learning environment.
Eric Jimenez is an experienced educator and co-host of The Score Podcast, who passionately explores topics of equity, CRT, and culturally responsive teaching strategies. Through his work, he empowers teachers to create classrooms where every student feels valued and engaged. Eric’s insights are rooted in years of experience and a deep commitment to actionable change.
Justin McLean is a dynamic educator and co-host of The Score Podcast, which delves into the practical aspects of equity in music education. He is dedicated to helping teachers translate theory into practice, ensuring that their classrooms are responsive and inclusive for all students. Justin focuses on culturally relevant teaching, bringing knowledge and passion to his work.
Stefano Marchese | Empowering Student Engagement and Facilitation Through Music-Making
October 23, 2024 • 8:00pm EST
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In today’s educational world, student engagement and strong teacher-student connections are a must. Discover a fresh approach with project-based learning, student choice, and hands-on music-making to meet these needs. This exciting shift transforms teachers into skilled guides, helping students build vital skills. Flexible for any setting, this model is rooted in culturally responsive teaching and emphasizes critical thinking, exploration, and feedback. Learn practical strategies from music education and tech to bring this model to life, creating a dynamic environment where students are active, empowered participants in their learning journey.
Stefano Marchese is an award-winning Italian singer-songwriter and educator. He teaches at Berklee College of Music and collaborates with the University of Massachusetts Amherst. A teaching artist at Eliot K-8 Innovation School, he presents at international music education conferences and publishes work on culturally responsive teaching and music technology.
Dr. Drew X Coles | Identifying Your Product: Building Your Brand
November 20, 2024 • 8:00pm ET EST
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Uncover the unique product that emerges from your personal and professional intersections as a music educator. This session guides participants through the process of clarifying their individual personal & professional brands by crafting a business card that reflects your identity and values in subtle yet guiding ways. Ways of leveraging this brand identity to inform practices, efforts, and evaluate new opportunities will be explored. Finally, we will develop a concise style and policy guide— one’s personal branding blueprint—detailing how participants present their product and engage with your clients on a service level. Empower your brand to stand out and resonate in the world of, and intersectional spaces surrounding, music education.
Dr. Drew X Coles is a producer, serial entrepreneur, educator, and scholar, whose work spans across multiple realms of the music industry and higher education. As a faculty member at Teachers College, Columbia University, he leads a cutting-edge hybrid graduate degree program in Music and Music Education.
Benjamin Nourse Gross | Pop open that case… no, not with a needle!
January 22, 2025 • 8:00pm EST
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Phrasal verbs are ubiquitous in American English communication: let’s pick up from measure 36; could you fill in on viola tonight?. In the classroom, we rely on informal language to communicate complex topics in words with which our pupils are most familiar. If our audience, however, is comprised of non-native speakers, how and when do we need to adjust the vocabulary of our instruction to allow for understanding? In this session, we will explore non-native speakers’ access points to language, the definition & function of phrasal verbs, and strategies to communicate & teach English Language Learners effectively.
Benjamin Nourse Gross is a lifelong language learner & current TEFL-certified instructor of English as a Second Language. A David Phelan World Languages award winner from Newton North High School, Benjamin received a BA in Spanish Language & Literature from a University in Vermont. Having studied Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, & Attic Greek scholastically, he continues his personal study of German, Hebrew & Persian today.
Dr. Pam Klena | Mentorship Matters: Connection for Women* in Band
February 19, 2025 • 8:00pm ET
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“Mentorship Matters: Connection for Women* in Band” is an inclusive and collaborative session tailored for women band directors across all stages of their careers. This session provides a unique opportunity to connect and build a supportive intergenerational music community of women. Together we will discuss, develop and share strategies/resources for connection and mentorship in our field. By focusing on continued mentorship, this session aims to empower women band directors, helping them approach their professional journeys with confidence and resilience. All people are welcome to learn more about women in band, support their efforts, and help create spaces where women can connect.
*This is an inclusive definition of female which includes cis- and trans-gendered women, those who are nonbinary, gender non-conforming, and anyone who identifies as female in a way that is significant to them.
Dr. Pam Klena, Assistant Professor of Music at Oakland University, conducts the Symphonic Band and teaches music education and conducting. She holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts from UNC Greensboro, with research on gender diversity in wind band conducting. She serves as President of Women Band Directors International and is an active conductor and presenter.
Jonathan Rappaport | Respecting the Student’s Musical Mother Tongue
MARCH 26, 2025 • 8:00pm ET
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A basic tenant of the Kodály approach is that students should initially be learning authentic folk music of their own cultural backgrounds, what Kodály referred to as the student’s “musical mother tongue.” This validates each student’s musical heritage while teaching other students from varied cultural heritages respect and understanding of one another. Once a teacher finds good material, we will examine what we do with a piece of music, as well as the process for determining a variety of pedagogical, cultural, and social uses of each song. Through this song analysis, we will unpack basic philosophical underpinnings of the Kodály Concept.
Jonathan C. Rappaport is the co-founder and director emeritus of the Kodály Music Institute, Boston. An experienced music educator with 38 years in public education, Jonathan is also a conductor, pianist, singer, composer, and arts advocate. He has authored 5 books and composed over 30 choral and instrumental works. He is considered a foremost American expert of the Kodály approach, having studied at the Liszt Academy of Music (Budapest) with many of the first generation of Hungarian master teachers who worked directly with Kodály.
Melissa Salguero | Inspiring Creativity and Resilience in the Classroom
APRIL 30, 2025 • 8:00pm ET
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In this engaging session, award-winning music educator Melissa Salguero shares her journey of transforming challenges into opportunities within the music classroom. Discover innovative strategies to inspire creativity and resilience in students, even when resources are limited. Melissa will provide practical tips on fostering a positive classroom culture, integrating technology, and encouraging student ownership of learning. Attendees will leave with a toolkit of ideas to enhance their teaching practices, ignite their students’ passion for music, and create a lasting impact. Join us for an inspiring discussion that goes beyond the notes and into the heart of what it means to teach music.
Melissa Salguero is a passionate and innovative music educator, known for her creative approach to teaching and her ability to inspire students. As a Grammy Award-winning teacher, Melissa brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to making music education accessible, engaging, and impactful for all students.
