Monthly Community Webinar Series
Live monthly webinar series for arts educators & instructional leaders
April webinar registration now open!
“Designing Culturally Responsive Music Curriculum”
Wednesday, April 16th from 6:30-8:30pm EST
Live webinar via Zoom for K-12 music educators & instructional leaders
Cost: free!
April: Designing Culturally Responsive Music Curriculum
Webinar Description
A truly culturally responsive music curriculum goes beyond simply adding diverse songs and activities—it requires intentional design that prioritizes real-world contexts of engaging with music in order to foster deep engagement in music learning that develops students’ cognitive learning skills.
In this webinar, K-12 music educators and instructional leaders will learn steps for designing a culturally responsive music curriculum that aligns with national and state music standards, honors the cultural frames of reference of learners, and develops critical skills for success both inside and outside the music classroom through rigorous learning experiences.
**Come live to get a free copy of my “Curriculum Examples from Culturally Responsive Music Units” for general music, vocal, and instrumental classes!**
Webinar Objectives
You will:
- Know the core principles of culturally responsive and relevant curriculum design.
- Understand how to align curriculum to culturally relevant design principles and standards-based learning.
- Be able to apply a framework for evaluating music curriculum through a culturally relevant lens.
Who’s this webinar for?
This webinar is for K-12 music educators & instructional leaders who are looking for structured strategies to reimagine their arts programs through a culturally relevant lens that builds essential skills for success both inside and out the arts classroom.
Upcoming Monthly Community Webinars
April 16th, 2025 – Designing Culturally Responsive Music Curriculum (Music As a Vehicle™: From Theory to Practice Series) – register now!
May 14th, 2025 – Instructional Strategies for Variability in Music Programs (Music As a Vehicle™: From Theory to Practice Series) – sign up for a notification when registration opens!
Feedback from previous webinar participants
“I was blown away by all you shared. I wrote fast notes but still want to review the webinar. Your presentation gently touched on so many specific things I wish to address and improve with instruction. I loved the approach of cultural relevance and doing a deep dive that honors the intention and origin of the music. I appreciated your final reminder about making small shifts! Everything was meaningful, well presented, and abundant!” – Susie Rising, Music Educator, Baltimore County Public Schools
“We have been discussing culturally responsive classrooms in staff meetings and it was great to see a music lesson example. “ – Amy Deloria, Music Educator, Maryland
“This was one of the best workshops I’ve ever attended and I’ve been teaching for 38 years! It tied together all the different strategies and multiple levels of learning in a doable way.” – Beth Evans, Music Educator, Alexandria, Virginia
Hear what teachers & instructional leaders say about our professional learning offerings here!
About the Facilitator
Speaker | Author | Arts Consultant
Ashley Cuthbertson, M.Ed, NBCT, is a nationally recognized arts consultant, speaker, and author of Music As a Vehicle: A Practical Guide to Implementing Culturally Responsive Teaching in Today’s Music Classrooms.
Her work explores how the arts are a vehicle for building the skills needed for success in school, career, and life—skills like collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, leadership, and perseverance.
As the founder and principal consultant of A. Cuthbertson Consulting, Ashley partners with schools, districts, and organizations to reimagine arts education through a culturally relevant lens to build critical skills for success. She helps K-12 schools and districts develop equitable program policies, cultivate affirming learning environments, and design culturally responsive curriculum and instruction that provide pathways to success for all learners. She also works with organizations beyond education, helping them apply arts-based strategies to strengthen team culture, enhance leadership, and foster collaboration.
Described as an engaging and charismatic educator, Ashley’s professional learning programs are widely praised for their practical, actionable strategies that empower educators to make an immediate impact on student learning. Educators and leaders consistently share that her work is engaging, thought-provoking, and transformative.
Before founding A. Cuthbertson Consulting, Ashley was a dedicated PK-12 music educator, teaching general music, choral, and band in public, private, and charter schools across diverse communities. She consistently received highly effective teacher ratings, recognized for her ability to advance students’ musicianship skills while creating culturally responsive, learner-centered classrooms. Beyond the classroom, she served as a district teacher leader, supporting the growth of fellow educators, and as an adjunct professor at Loyola University Maryland and the University of Maryland Baltimore County.
A passionate advocate for arts education, Ashley serves the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) as a member of the Music Education Policy Roundtable and NAfME Equity Committee and the Virginia Music Educators Association as chair of the DEI Council. Her work is rooted in the belief that the arts aren’t extra—they are essential. Through her speaking, writing, and consulting, she continues to advocate for arts education as a powerful force for equity, leadership, and innovation.
Ashley is a Nationally Board Certified Teacher and holds a Master of Education degree from Loyola University Maryland and a Bachelor of Music degree from James Madison University. She also holds certifications in Arts Integration and the Kodály approach.
Born and raised in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, Ashley enjoys attending concerts and shows, trying new restaurants, and traveling to anywhere with a beach.