Inclusive Vision for Music Education Webinar Series
Saturday, February 20 at 11:00 AM
Gospel Music in School Contexts: Style vs Substance 
Author and Presenter: Dr. Jason Thompson is a proud NC native having served as an administrator for Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools and as a professor and researcher at Arizona State University and Appalachian State University. His courses, research and service commitments explore sociocultural influences on the musical experience, socially engaged practices in the arts, and musical making in urban contexts. Dr. Thompson brings more than 30 years of professional experience working with gospel choirs in community and academic settings. At both ASUs, his credit-bearing gospel choir ensemble boasted more than 125 singers. Dr. Thompson’s gospel music octavos are published by GIA Music and Hinshaw Music, and his articles are published in Music Education Research,Music Educators Journal, Missouri School Music and Antiphon.
Repertoire is the center for choral curriculums and ensemble conductors and other music teachers are often charged with the responsibility of selecting appropriate repertoire that meets the varying needs of students. Despite the increasing availability of gospel music octavos, the quality among scores varies greatly, bringing their usefulness as teaching resources into question. Additionally, the ways music teachers approach the gospel music culture as style or substance can yield different musical experience for singers. This session will get “under the hood” with gospel music through frameworks for studying and performing gospel music.
Have No Fear: Hip Hop is Here
The History of Hip Hop and Its Place In the Music Education Classroom
Author and Presenter: Thomas E. Taylor, Jr. is a full-time percussion professor at North Carolina Central University and he’s on the Jazz faculty at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro where he teaches drumset and Hip Hop music appreciation classes.
This session explores the origins of Hip Hop, provides fun listening exercises, and provides ideas for incorporating Hip Hop in your class. Currently, Hip Hop shows up in nearly everyone’s daily life. Historically, music education focused on a narrow scope of musical styles that have excluded many. A large percentage of our students know and love hip hop music and culture, while some of us didn’t grow up with it and may not share the same passion. It is a good idea to try to find ways to connect with our students and Taylor believes Hip Hop music and culture is the “essential link”. If we want “musical passion” and music education to grow in the classroom, we should embrace the practice of including Hip Hop as part of the music curriculum.
If you weren’t able to see it live, you can watch the presentation here.
Culturally Responsive Teaching: What It Is and Why It’s Important In Music Education
Author and Presenter: Dr. Connie McKoy, Marion Stedman Covington Distinguished Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies at UNCG School of Music.
This session provides an overview of four principles of culturally responsive teaching, and how music teachers can apply these principles effectively to make learning more meaningful for students.
If you weren’t able to see it live, you can watch the presentation here.
Future IVfME Webinars
The Inclusive Vision for Music Education (IVfME) Committee has planned a series of Webinars as a resource for music educators to implement diverse and inclusive curriculum.
- Evolution of Contemporary Gospel Drumming
Speaker: Dr. Lamon Lawhorn | April 10 11:00 AM
The webinar series is sponsored in part with a grant from the CMA Foundation.