Reimagining the arts as a vehicle for innovation, leadership, and lifelong success.
Ashley Cuthbertson 
Listen to this blog post by clicking the player below! First designated in 1979 as Black Music Month by President Jimmy Carter, June was officially declared Black Music Month by presidential proclamation in 2000. In President Joe Biden’s 2024 Proclamation, he notes that “Black music is a staple of American art and a powerhouse of … Read more
Listen to this blog post by clicking the player below! In my last blog post, I shared several programming structures that you can use to center student voice and choice in your ensemble classrooms (click here to check out that post!). But what could a rehearsal look like that intentionally centers culturally responsive practices? Remember, … Read more
Listen to this blog post by clicking the player below! In the traditional ensemble setting, the music director typically makes all the programming decisions for what the ensemble will perform. These programming decisions are typically informed by what the director thinks is appropriate technique-wise for the musicians, what the director thinks students may be interested … Read more
Listen to this blog post by clicking on the player below! In my last post, I shared that my initial career aspiration in music was to become the principal flutist of a major metropolitan symphony orchestra. As I changed my path and decided to go into music education, my first few years of teaching consisted … Read more
Listen to this blog post by clicking on the player below! In honor of March being Women’s History Month, I’m continuing my Song of the Month series with “Umoja” by Valerie Coleman. I first learned about Valerie Coleman during my undergraduate studies at James Madison University. At that time, she was a member of the … Read more
Listen to this blog post by clicking on the player below! Culturally Responsive Music classrooms attend to the identities and unique strengths of learners, and also move them towards independent musicianship through skillfully crafted instruction and learning experiences. A key factor in high quality instruction is assessment. Not to be confused with grading, assessment is … Read more
Listen to this blog post by clicking on the player below! A key part of my framework for Culturally Responsive Music Education is the use of rich and diverse musical materials. Our learners need to see themselves reflected in the music we present, they need to see others different from them, and they need to … Read more
Listen to this blog post by clicking on the player below! In honor of Black History Month, today I’m continuing my monthly Song of the Month Series with “Lift Every Voice and Sing”! An important song every one of us should know, and a song that personally holds a lot of significance and memories of … Read more
Listen to this blog post by clicking on the player below! For many music educators around the U.S., February is a time to pull out lessons on Black musicians and composers, jazz & blues, spirituals, and hip hop. And while I love all of those things, today I want to challenge you to challenge your … Read more
Listen to this blog post by clicking on the player below! Hey music educators! An important part of a Culturally Responsive Music Education is utilizing learning moves that move students from dependent to independent learners. Today, I’m sharing one strategy to support deep thinking that you can use in your classroom. And as always, be … Read more