I’m presenting at the 2015 NYSSMA Winter Conference

I’m excited to announce I will be presenting a session at the New York State School Music Association Winter Conference this December. My session titled “Popular music composition starters for your classroom” will give music teachers a chance to add composition to their curriculum in a fun, accessible way for students.

This session will provide insight into how I use composition with my 8th grade general music classes within the framework of my American Popular Music curriculum. Students create their own folk songs, blues, rockabilly songs, rhythm and blues, 70s bass lines, raps and other compositions in my class now it’s your turn to use it with your students.

The best part of all of these composition projects is that they reinforce everything else we are doing in my classes. They help my students practice performing without drilling and killing. We get to listen to musical examples with a purpose and discuss key points from the music that they also need to include. And we are creating, performing, and responding around the same unified topic. It’s a win all around!

If you would like to attend, it will be from 8:15 to 9:15 a.m. on Friday, December 4th in Rochester, NY. Here is the NYSSMA website.

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I’m on the NAFME Council for Music Composition

I have news to share with everyone. This year I’ll be joining the NAFME Council for Music Education as a Member-At-Large.

NAFME, the National Association for Music Education, has several councils or subcommittees within the organization to help set the direction in areas like Jazz Education and Collegiate Advisory in addition to topics such as Music Composition and Band Education.

“The National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Council for Music Composition seeks to promote and improve the teaching of music composition in school settings,” says our group’s description on the website.

The mission:

– To provide resources and opportunities that enhance the teaching and learning of music composition at all grade levels and in all music education content areas;
– To work with the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) divisions and state affiliates to encourage the development of division and state composition programs and festivals;
– To advocate for the importance of composition as an essential component of all students’ music education.;
– To support music education research in the field of composition.

I am looking forward to the opportunity to share my views on both popular music as well as music technology to the group, NAFME leadership, and the entire NAFME membership. Here’s a full list of the Council members I’ll be working with in 2015-2016.

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