Music Ed Amplified Missy Strong

When Chelsea Sardoni, an elementary generalist reached out to Missy with a series of questions relating to Culturally Responsive Teaching, Missy knew right away who to look to for insight. Listen in to this interesting and instructive conversation between Chelsea, Missy, and Music Teacher and Educational Consultant Ashley Cuthbertson!



Ashley Cuthbertson (she/her) is the Founder & CEO of A. Cuthbertson Consulting, LLC, an educational consulting firm that partners with schools, school districts, and organizations to help music educators build and maintain high quality music programs that attract, engage, and retain music students by centering equitable and culturally responsive pedagogical practices in their music curriculum & instruction.

 A Nationally Board Certified Teacher, Ashley holds a Master’s in Education, as well as certifications in the Kodály approach and Arts integration. Ashley has over twelve years of experience in education as an elementary general music & choral educator, an elementary band educator, a K-12 musicianship instructor, a private lessons instructor, lead teacher, new teacher coach, adjunct professor, and consultant.

 A passionate advocate for music education, Ashley additionally serves the National Association for Music Education as a member of the Repertoire Diversity Task Force and the Virginia Music Educators Association as chair of the DEI Council.

Learn more at:

ashleycuthbertson.com

ashleycuthbertson.com/blog

ashleycuthbertson.com/masterclass

“Happy Birthday, Dr. King! A Music Unit Featuring Stevie Wonder’s Happy Birthday (Blog Article & Full Unit Plan with Lessons & Accompanying Resources)

Responsible Repertoire Choices Blog Article

Song of the Month Series

Music PD Library

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Youth Advocate Donovan Taylor Hall and Missy collide like a supernova in this Season 3 opener. What was supposed to be a conversation about Donovan’s work helping kids develop a true growth mindset turned into 2 people connecting on multiple levels and having an incredibly real conversation about working with kids, being educators, learning how to learn, and the power and place of music in Donovan’s life. This one is not to be missed!



Donovan Taylor Hall is a youth advocate and educator that teaches kids how to build positive self-identity. He has been featured on the Today Show, NowThis, DailyMailTV, and several podcasts to discuss the importance of positive youth development. Donovan teaches his self-skills curriculum through coaching, speeches, and online content.

Donovan’s Website: https://donovantaylorhall.com/

The Today Show Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbqTdaYsOv4&t=2s

Article: https://medium.com/@donovantaylorhall/i-dont-want-to-be-a-teacher-but-i-love-teaching-663b21346eb3

Short Film “Sleepwalking in the Rift” featuring Dan Romer’s music: https://youtu.be/pxZrp9zrXL4

 

Listen in to Part 2 of the discussion between Guest Host Jasmine Fripp and Kelsey Burkett and Dr. Chantae Pittman. In this episode they discuss what it was like helping singers with the realities of in person choir rehearsals, performances, and competitions. They also take time to evaluate their perspectives on the current state of things for Black music educators as well as the “great exodus” of educators in the past year.

 

Fellow music educators, it’s been one HECK OF A YEAR! We’ve dealt with the ebbs and flows of COVID, reestablishing excellence in our music programs, rebuilding culture in our classrooms, helping students repair their mental health, fighting teacher burnout, and watching our colleagues join “The Mass Exodus of Educators,” mending our hearts from traumatic events in our country, and fighting for an equitably-active education. Join three beautiful, highly-qualified music educators, Jasmine Fripp, Dr. Chantae Pittman, and Kelsey Burkett, as they give their honest opinions regarding the 2021-2022 school year.

Jasmine Fripp is a Grammy-nominated music educator and the founder of Passionate Educators, Inc. With seven years of teaching experience in public and charter schools, she has built award-winning choral programs and provided Black and Brown students with various opportunities to excel within and outside the world of music.

Passionate Educators, Inc. encourages and empowers music educators of all cultural backgrounds to create classroom environments that promote anti-racism, solidarity, and wellness.

 



Dr. Chantae D. Pittman is the Director of Choral Activities at Campbell High School in Smyrna,GA in the Cobb County School District, and adjunct professor at Georgia College and State University. Dr. Pittman is passionate about all forms of music. She is a proud graduate of Tennessee State University having received her Bachelor of Science in Music Education in 2010. She has since earned a Master’s Degree in Music Education at VanderCook College University (Chicago, IL, 2013). In May 2021 Dr. Pittman graduated from The University of Georgia where she completed her Doctorate in Education with an emphasis in Choral Music Education.

During her 12-year career in choral music education she has taught students from elementary through high school. Due to that experience, and her demonstrated commitment to excellence in performance, she is highly respected as a choral clinician, music education consultant, instructor, grant writer, and adjudicator. She is very active as a soprano soloist and choral musician as a member of the Grammy award winning Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus since 2011, and the Atlanta Women’s Chorus since 2020. Having performed with orchestras, choirs, and small vocal ensembles throughout her career as a musician, Dr. Pittman proudly continues to learn, grow, and develop as a musician and pedagogue. She is a proud and active member of the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA), National Association for Music Education (NAfME), National Educators Association (NEA), Georgia Association of Educators (GAE), Sigma Alpha Iota, Professional Music Fraternity, Inc., and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.



Raised in Solon, OH, Kelsey D. Burkett is a 2006 Graduate of Capital University, where she majored in Music Education and served as the alto section leader in the renown Chapel Choir.  She completed her Masters of Music in Music Education and Kodaly Certification from Capital University in 2019. In her 17th year of teaching, she has a passion for the developing voice and middle school singers. She serves as the Director of Choirs at Hilliard Memorial Middle School, in Hilliard, Ohio, where she directs the 7th Grade Treble Choir and 8th Grade Treble Choir. Alongside Jeremy Witt and Alyssa Schott, she also directs the Jaguar A Cappella Program, which consists of four contemporary a cappella groups comprised of singers in the 7-12 grade levels at Hilliard Bradley High School & Hilliard Memorial Middle School.  She is co-director of Bradley High School’s premier Contemporary A Cappella Group, Shades of Blue, who have performed at the National A Cappella Convention and have consistently placed in the Quarterfinals and Semi Finals of the ICHSA Varsity Vocals circuit.

Ms. Burkett is a warrior for Social Justice within her community,

 

Canadian neuroscientist Dr. Krissy Doyle-Thomas talks with Missy about music and the brain, and touch on the importance of neuroplasticity in learning. They also discuss the tremendous stress under which many educators find themselves, with Dr. Krissy offering a few powerful, practical steps to help teachers protect their overall mental well-being.

Dr. Krissy Doyle-Thomas (Ph.D.) is a Medical Neuroscientist and Professor in Toronto, Canada. She is an expert in medical conditions that affect the brain and mental health. She has received several prestigious fellowships including fellowships from the Canadian Institute for Health Research and the Networks of Centres of Excellence of Canada. Dr. Krissy’s research has been published in numerous high impact peer-reviewed journals and presented nationally and internationally to both academic and non-academic audiences. Dr. Krissy has been celebrated as one of Canada’s top 150 black women who excels within her field.

Dr. Krissy is passionate about helping people maximize their potential as it relates to understanding how the brain works. She is committed to translating scientific research into meaningful information that can help communities live healthy, mindful lives.

 

 

Dr. Doyle Thomas’ Instagram: @dr.krissy.phd

Website: doctorkrissy.com

 

 

Tune in to hear Dr. Karen Howard, the very first guest on Music Ed Amplified, talk about what has happened in Music Ed since their first interview in 2020 when it comes to decentering whiteness. We have more DEI committee’s than ever, but have we made real gains in these areas in our music classrooms and what can we do to keep moving forward as a profession?



Karen Howard is Associate Professor of Music at the University of St. Thomas. She teaches courses in global music traditions that emphasize marginalized and underrepresented cultures, transforming music education curricula, research methods, children’s music, and vocal/choral music.

Karen’s research has been published in the Journal of Research in Music Education, International Journal of Research in Choral Singing, and Music Educators Journal. Her books include World Music Pedagogy Vol III: Secondary School Innovations, First Steps in Global Music, and Dance Like a Butterfly: Songs from Liberia, Senegal, Nigeria, and Ghana. Karen is the editor of the newly created series World Music Initiative (WMI) through GIA Music. While all music is music of the world, WMI is focused on uplifting underrepresented traditions in music education.

Karen is a frequent presenter on matters of diversity in curriculum, anti-racism in music education, and performance practices from multiple cultures. She is also one of the facilitators of the Smithsonian Folkways (SFW) Certificate in World Music Pedagogy as well as part of the Education Advisory Committee for SFW.

 

Mentioned in the Episode

Cultural Connections by Design: https://ccbydesign.org/

Decolonizing the Music Room: https://www.decolonizingthemusicroom.com/

Passionate Black Educator (Jasmine Fripp) Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/passionateblackeducator

Learning for Justice: https://www.learningforjustice.org/?gclid=CjwKCAjwjtOTBhAvEiwASG4bCFSuSfTYQCEVmUG_BnR4Cb0v8_SGrtyG5kd1CfEKBXEZoAnG3IAIXhoCsbAQAvD_BwE

Smithsonian World Music Pathways Summer 2022 Course https://folkways.si.edu/folkways-courses-university-of-st-thomas-2019

GIA Publications: https://giamusic.