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Student-Centered Decision-Making in Modern Band: Allowing for student ownership in school music programs
Braeden Henderson, Joe Panganiban | September 6, 2021As a midwestern band director, Shemeka Nash has a very typical workload: overseeing beginning, intermediate, and advanced concert bands, as well as the marching band and jazz band at the school. But what sets her apart from many in the region is the role students take in these ensemble offerings—reshaping the repertoire, feel, instrumentation, and […] Read More... -
The Great Return – Modern Band Educators Reflect on the Resumption of In-Person Learning
Braeden Henderson | August 13, 2021The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the institution of remote learning set in motion a frantic adjustment for most music educators, as they adapted to acquire new skills to replicate their classrooms in an online environment. As much as that sudden shift represented a system shock for music education, th impending return to in-person […] Read More... -
Finding the Groove – Building Better Communities
Miranda Altman | July 10, 2021As the most challenging school year in history is now behind us, educators are looking ahead as we emerge from pandemic restrictions and wonder what the classroom landscape ahead will look like. At this year’s upcoming Modern Band Summit conference, music teachers from across the country will convene virtually to share lessons learned and collaborate […] Read More... -
A Reflection on the AAPI Identity
Joe Panganiban | May 4, 2021May is officially Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, celebrating the diverse cultures and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans. SBO welcomes music educator Joe Panganiban’s perspective on how to be more inclusive and culturally responsive educators. Read More... -
The New Normal: An Equitable Approach to Rebuilding School Music Programs
Wanda Vasquez-Garcia | April 6, 2021Music specialist Wanda Vasquez-Garcia, MM, addresses the inequalities and inequities facing students of color, and socio-economic disadvantages revealed in greater detail by the need for remote teaching this past year. Read More... -
Inspired Together: How My Students and I Built a Record Label to Showcase Their Work
Dan Black | March 6, 2021In SBO's March issue, Dan Black details how he turned a no-in-person performance year into a winning learning scenario that involved recording performances and learning to mix and deliver them and more. Read More... -
Incorporating Hip-Hop Into the Remote Classroom
Will Mosley | February 5, 2021Using students’ culture as a springboard, teachers can easily find inroads to foster non-musical skills. These hip-hop-themed lesson ideas, presented by NYC teacher (and Brooklyn native) Will Mosley, can be used with students in grades 3 through 5. Read More... -
Distance Learning Best Practices to Support Your Online Songwriters
Mike Lawson | January 8, 2021Before schools were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, teaching songwriting in the classroom provided our students with instant feedback and support. When the necessary tools were present in the same room—instruments, recording gear, and, most importantly, teachers and students—teaching songwriting felt organic and natural.
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Encouraging Observations During the Pandemic
Mike Lawson | December 3, 2020It is hard to believe that we are entering the holiday season and are still engulfed in this pandemic. Currently, much of our country is going back into quarantine, with many teachers shifting yet again from in-person to blended to virtual instruction for the umpteenth time. However, there seems to finally be an end in sight with strong news on the vaccine front, and it seems like a good time to reflect on the lessons we have learned thus far.
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Pre-Service Music Teacher Education in a Virtual Environment
Mike Lawson | October 28, 2020
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I teach music education and music technology courses at Montclair State University in northern New Jersey. This semester, like at many other colleges and university courses, all of my classes are online. -
Teaching Composition Using Google’s Song Maker
Mike Lawson | October 1, 2020
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Necessity is the mother of invention. Teaching music in a virtual environment can present challenges to the most seasoned educators. Teachers across the country are finding themselves in widely varying classroom situations, sometimes without instruments. As challenging as this new environment may be, it also presents opportunities to explore new and creative ways of making music. -
Starting the (Virtual) School Year With Equity and Trust
Mike Lawson | September 2, 2020
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This school year is starting considerably different than most. When we started our virtual school year in New Orleans this August, I kept hearing the same questions being asked by educators: How do we get to know our students virtually? More importantly, how do we build trust with our students and ensure our classroom is equitable in a virtual format?
