Arts Education Conference: Collaborating for Quality

In this session, participants will learn best practices for developing a middle school band program from the bottom up. They will come away with knowledge of fundamental performing skills that they can take back to their ensembles immediately.

Experience the passion, desire and drive of the British pioneers behind pBone, pTrumpet and pBuzz—the progressive pathway of instruments that grow the base of brass players and improve continuation throughout your programs. The session will include discussion of the basic pedagogy of brass playing and how pInstruments nurture a coherent and progressive pathway in brass learning. Participants will engage in creative music practice that unlocks great brass technique learning in an informal setting.

This hands-on, interactive and entertaining seminar is designed to give lifelong learners strategies to engage non-traditional learners in classrooms and in the community using America's roots music. Culturally-relevant teaching strategies will be demonstrated and supported by statistics, the integration of technology, and live music. Strategies to help improve literacy, attendance and discipline will also be demonstrated through best practices. Participants don't have to be musically inclined to benefit from this experience. Some may even receive harmonicas.

This session will demonstrate and suggest ways to facilitate cross-curricular discussions, using music to connect students and teachers with non-music core classes. Attendees will leave the session with alternate ways of connecting to non-music courses via their primary area of expertise—music.