Culturally Responsive Music Education centers the backgrounds, learning styles, and funds of knowledge of our learners in order to move them towards deep understandings and independence. In this session, we will discuss how K-12 music educators can move towards culturally responsive music education to ensure that the learning environment and instruction is affirming, relevant, meaningful, and authentic for all of our students. We will examine the foundations of culturally responsive teaching in music curricula in regards to teacher mindset, learning environment, musical content, and instructional planning.

As music educators everywhere seek to better attract, engage, and retain students in their music programs, cultivating a sense of belonging isn’t a “nice to have”, it is key. In this session, participants will examine what belonging is and why it’s so important in building and maintaining a high quality music program. Additionally, we will explore strategies for how music educators can apply culturally responsive practices to ensure that their learning environments are supportive and affirming for all learners.

In this session, I will share key strategies for selecting high quality repertoire that is fresh, diverse, and responsive, while also allowing you to design standards-aligned music lessons that make space for explorations of self, others, and the world through music making. This session is for you if you want to: -Make your repertoire selections more diverse -Improve your standards-aligned instruction by ensuring it's fun and engaging -Save time looking for authentic repertoire -Increase joy by selecting relevant and exciting repertoire you and your students will love!