The Popular Music Education Committee will be hosting two special workshops that are FREE for NCMEA conference attendees. This registration form is to help the Popular Music Education Committee (PMEC) collect a headcount of attendees and data on which districts/programs have teachers interested in popular music education related events.
Modern Band 101
November 7
9am-12pm
Hip-Hop 101
November 7
1pm-4pm
Teachers may either register to attend one or both workshops. We highly encourage you to do both sessions if your schedule allows. There will be many hands-on activities and opportunities for creative music making that can be applied in your classrooms!
CEUs will be available for participants who complete the workshops. Both sessions will take place in the Gaines Ballroom within the Benton Convention Center (downtown Winston-Salem).
Clinician Bios
Modern Band 101
Bryan Powell is the Chief Program Officer for Music Will, and former Director of Programs for Amp Up NYC, a partnership between Berklee College of Music and Little Kids Rock. He is also an Associate Professor of Music Education and Music Technology, and Coordinator for the Recording Arts and Production degree at Montclair State University. A former NYC public school music teacher, Bryan serves as the Executive Director of the Association for Popular Music Education and is the past-Chair for the NAfME Popular Music Education Special Research Interest Group. He is the founding co-editor of the Journal of Popular Music Education, co-author of Popular Music Pedagogies: A Practical Guide for Music Teachers (Routledge), series co-editor for Contemporary Music Making and Learning (Intellect Books), and editor of The Modern Band Handbook (OUP).
Description: This hands-on course serves as an introduction to modern band and the Music as a Second Language pedagogy. The workshop will cover core values of Music Will such as approximation, scaffolding, musical decision making, iconic notation, and culturally sustaining teaching techniques. Participants will receive instruction on guitar, keyboard, drums, vocals, and bass, and then utilize their new musical skills to compose and perform an original song in a collaborative setting. What You’ll Get – New strategies focusing on instrumental instruction, improvisation, and songwriting using music production – Curricular projects & activities for all of your music students – Unlimited access to new curricular materials and online resources – Participation in a community of more than 4,000 music teachers from across the country.
Hip-Hop 101
Pinqy Ring is a radical and revolutionary Puerto Rican rapper, decolonizing minds one rhyme at a time and aligning her destiny through Hip Hop. Born and bred in Chicago, she manifests her vision for a more just world as a multi-hyphenate MC, Hip Hop Educator, speaker and U.S. Hip Hop Cultural Ambassador – traveling overseas to manage and facilitate Hip Hop diplomacy programming. With philanthropy as part and parcel of her platform, Pinqy prides herself in mentoring the next generation of creative change agents and providing culturally competent consulting to organizations looking to engage youth and explore Hip Hop as a transformative tool. In 2023, Pinqy Ring became a TEDxChicago performer, was featured on NPR, and was named Best Hip Hop Artist by the Chicago Reader. Though she is proud of her awards and accolades, Pinqy’s most prized possession is the platform shes purposing for historically excluded communities of the world.
Description: How do we create a classroom where every student feels seen, heard, and inspired? The answer lies in the rhythm and reach of Hip Hop. More than just music, Hip Hop is a powerful tool for people-powered education and genuine community building, storytelling, community, and connection. In this session, we’ll explore how to bridge the gap between educator and student by centering their voices. We believe the shortest distance between two people is a story; Hip Hop provides the ultimate framework to tell those stories. By letting students be the experts on the culture they love, we create a space for them to show up as their authentic selves. What we’ll cover: The Literacy of Lyrics: See how Hip Hop functions as modern poetry, utilizing complex metaphors, alliteration, and imagery. The Creative Process: Learn a simple, collaborative approach to songwriting- from finding a beat and mumbling cadences to drafting verses. Mindset & Affirmations: Use “Rap Affirmations” to help students navigate feelings of inadequacy and build resilience. Active Engagement: Experience how freestyle and rhythm can stimulate the brain and enhance storytelling. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to the genre, this workshop offers practical strategies to integrate Hip Hop into your teaching toolkit.
