Connecting the Music Standards to Culturally Relevant Contexts

Professional Learning Workshop for K-12 Music Educators

Tuesday, May 7th from 6-8pm EST

Registration is closed. Join our email list for future opportunities!

Workshop Description

High levels of engagement in music instruction require learning that is purposeful, meaningful, and culturally relevant to our young musicians, however understanding how music standards translate into relevant music contexts and engaging instruction can prove to be a challenging task

In this workshop, K-12 music educators will explore moving beyond instruction that focuses solely on simple music concepts and techniques by beginning to build the skills to unpack music standards for culturally relevant, real-world contexts. Participants will be able to identify connections between standards and real-world contexts of music making so that they can provide opportunities for culturally relevant music instruction that engages all learners in meaningful, standards-based, rigorous, music learning.

Workshop Objectives

You will:

  1. Know why connecting music standards to culturally relevant contexts leads to greater student engagement and deeper levels of learning
  2. Understand how to unpack music standards to clarify what learners must know, understand, and be able to do.
  3. Be able to identify real-world contexts of music making that are connected to a specific music standard and culturally relevant to your learners

Workshop Resources

Included with registration, all participants will receive:

  • Participant workbook
  • Additional Resources list
  • PD Certificate for 2 hours

Feedback from workshop participants

“The biggest struggle I had was where to start. I teach in a school that is continually stating that we need to be culturally responsive but never truly gave specifics on where to start or what it may look like in a music classroom. Being culturally responsive is so much more than diversifying our repertoire in that the musical skills and ideas are supports to our big overall concept. I was able to see a new perspective on teaching music, a way to make it more meaningful for students. I will rethink how I structure my lessons with the focus more on connecting ideas that can be applied in other content areas rather than isolated music specific skills.” Elizabeth Roorda, K-5 General Music, Band, and Chorus. Troy, NY.

“My biggest takeaway was to choose authentic and reliable materials and design lessons that present students with an opportunity to learn more about and express themselves, as well as learn more about people and cultures different from them.” Emily Lindblad, Elementary Music Educator, Chesterfield County Public Schools, Virginia

Workshop Logistics, Registration, & Fees

Audience: K-12 music educators (all disciplines of music education)

Time: 2 hours

Location: Virtual

Registration Fee: $49 per participant (Group rate: $44 for groups of 5+)

Registration options: Open enrollment registration is currently closed, join our email list for future opportunities!

**Want us to bring this workshop to you? Click here to book a call to discuss options for a consultant to facilitate the workshop for your school, district, or organization!

Here’s what music educator, Maureen Dunn, shared about our professional learning offerings!:

“Ashley's default of being highly organized and deeply tuned in with her students makes learning with her a thought-provoking and joyous experience! After years of searching and reflection, I finally feel as though I have tangible steps in meeting my individual students’ needs and providing a sense of belonging in our music room for all, thanks to learning with Ashley! My students will definitely have more autonomy and ownership of their learning. I highly recommend A. Cuthbertson Consulting, LLC to all music educators. The impact - both personally and professionally - will be felt for years to come.” Maureen Dunn, Tantallon Senior Elementary School, HRCE, Nova Scotia, Canada

Hear what teachers & instructional leaders say about our professional learning offerings here!

About the Facilitator

Ashley Cuthbertson, M.Ed, NBCT (she/her)is the Founder & CEO of A. Cuthbertson Consulting, LLC, an educational consulting firm that helps K-12 music educators connect with their learners so they can engage students of all backgrounds and abilities in high quality music instruction that develops skills for both inside and outside the music classroom. Ashley’s approach centers culturally responsive pedagogy as the key lever to ensuring equitable pathways to success for the diverse and ever-changing needs of today’s music learners.

Described as an “engaging and charismatic” teacher educator, Ashley has served hundreds of music educators across the U.S. and internationally, helping them to take action towards equitable music learning by connecting music instruction to the cultural frames of reference of their students to more easily attract, engage, and retain students in their music programs. Music educators report that her professional learning programs are “engaging”, “safe”, and provide strategies that “will have a positive impact” on their students.

A Nationally Board Certified Teacher, Ashley holds a Master’s in Education, as well as certifications in the Kodály approach and Arts integration. Ashley has over fourteen years of experience in education as a general music educator, choral educator, a band educator, a K-12 musicianship instructor, a private lessons instructor, lead teacher, new teacher coach, adjunct professor, curriculum writer, speaker, and consultant.

A passionate advocate for music education, Ashley additionally serves the National Association for Music Education as a member of the Music Education Policy Roundtable and the Virginia Music Educators Association as chair of the DEI Council.

Hear what teachers & instructional leaders say about our professional learning offerings here!