A research-based, sequential professional learning curriculum for music educators seeking to make culturally responsive & relevant teaching a cornerstone in their instructional practices

Why most professional learning for music educators is unsuccessful

There are many professional development options available that provide a “taste” or “introduction” to culturally responsive teaching for music educators, however they are unsuccessful with creating lasting change and impact because they are:

1. Not on-going, sustained learning (“one and done” or a series of workshops on unrelated topics)
2. Not job-embedded or provide on-going implementation support
3. Not differentiated, or speak to the goals of teachers at different points in their professional journey
4. Not focused on practical, tested, classroom strategies
5. Not part of a larger plan, leading to low motivation from teachers (seems like another passing “fad”)
6. Not data driven, or measure effectiveness on teacher’s practices and impact on students

Shifting the landscape of music education to make culturally responsive & equitable instruction the cornerstone, and not an “add-on”, requires a well-developed, and sequential professional learning plan that takes music educators from uncertainty and misconception, to clarity and confidence.

And that’s where The Responsive Music Educator™ PD Curriculum comes in!

Organized into four major topics, this research-based, sequential professional learning curriculum provides a clear roadmap and practical, time tested strategies for application in K-12 music classrooms.

Topic 1: Developing a Mindset for Equity in Music Education

Topic 2: Cultivating an Affirming Music Learning Environment

Topic 3: Selecting Repertoire Through a Culturally Responsive Lens

Topic 4: Designing Culturally Responsive Music Curriculum & Instruction for Variability

Here’s what makes what we do different:

1. On-going & sustained: no more “one-and-done”; each topic is organized into a series of live workshops or self-paced modules that provide sequential learning
2. Intensive: more than a “knowledge dump”; each live workshop series and course provides a deep dive into the topic in order to develop knowledge, skill development, and teacher dispositions
3. Collaborative: all teachers participating in live workshops or enrolled in courses receive membership to our online Professional Learning Community which includes discussion boards, and our live virtual office hours for coaching & feedback
4. Job-embedded: all learning is designed around key actions teachers can take in their classrooms immediately
5. Data-driven: all live workshops and courses include a pre & post assessment in order to measure effectiveness on teacher learning and student impact
6. Classroom-focused: all learning is designed to support classroom learning, teachers additionally receive curricular resources to support implementation

Here’s how it works!

1. Assess: Teachers take an assessment to determine which topic will be their next best step
2. Select: Teachers choose their PD series or self-paced course and take a pre-PD assessment to gather baseline data about their current instruction and impact on student learning
3. Engage: Teachers engage in the topic’s PD series (live workshops, or self-paced course) and implement what they learned in their classroom with on-going coaching support through monthly office hours or one-on-one coaching sessions.
4. Measure: Teachers complete a post-PD assessment to gather data on their current instruction and impact on student learning after having engaged in the PD
5. Reflect: Teachers reflect on their learning, impact on student learning, and make a plan for next steps

Learn more about each series!

Developing a Mindset for Equity in Music Education

Music educators learn how to develop a lens for equity that allows them to understand how bias can affect student learning, develop skill towards cultural proficiency, and learn how to identify obstacles and barriers in common music policies, practices, and procedures.

Participants will engage in learning activities for critical self-reflection, examining program policies & procedures, and role-playing to understand various scenarios along the cultural proficiency continuum.

*Available as a 3-Part Live Workshop Series, or Self-Paced Online Course

Cultivating an Affirming Music Learning Environment

Music educators dive deep into what it means to cultivate a music learning environment that provides safety, purpose, and the sense of belonging students need in order to take the risks needed for high quality, culturally responsive, rigorous music learning. 

Participants will engage in learning activities to understand the levels of culture and how to leverage them to better understand learners, asset based thinking, and strategies for classroom management and facilitation that promotes learner agency and accountability.

*Available as a 3-Part Live Workshop Series, or Self-Paced Online Course

Selecting Repertoire Through a Culturally Responsive Lens

Music educators learn a step-by-step process for identifying, authenticating, and connecting repertoire in order to support a culturally responsive pedagogical approach.

Participants will receive numerous resources for selecting diverse repertoire with respect and authenticity, as well as feedback on how to best utilize repertoire within a culturally responsive approach.

*Available as a 3-Part Live Workshop Series, or Self-Paced Online Course

Designing Culturally Responsive Music Curriculum & Instruction for Variability

Music educators learn key moves they can make in order to shift music curriculum beyond simple facts and skills, to a robust approach that engages learners in deep understandings by centering culturally relevant & responsive contexts of engaging with music. 

Educators will learn how to translate music standards into culturally relevant, real-world learning experiences, how to create culturally relevant unit & concert programs, and how to apply the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Principles to design daily lesson & rehearsal plans for variability. 

*Available as a 3-Part Live Workshop Series, or Self-Paced Online Course

Ready to get started?