ALTERNATIVE WORKSHOPS
The following topics and more can be tailored to a single session, half-day, or full-day workshop setting.
Teaching through the Lens of Cultural Proficiency
To ensure that we are meeting the needs of all students through the lens of cultural proficiency, we first and foremost must understand our “own story”. As teachers and leaders in music education, it is important to identify and understand our own barriers so we can effectively recognize, respond to, and plan for issues that may arise in culturally diverse environments. This session will provide music educators with the tools to self-reflect and start their journey toward cultural proficiency that will empower their work with ALL students.
The Leadership Challenge: Developing Leaders That Music Education Needs
This is a session focused on current and future leaders in music education. Whether you are a department chair for your music department, a board member of an association, or inspire to lead your peers in professional learning, key leadership traits need to be developed to be effective. Strong leaders provide vision, inspiration, and encouragement in order for an organization to change, prosper, and grow. There will be a lot of self-reflection and team building with this session.
SEL is at the Heart of Recruiting and Retention
Why did you join a band, choir, or orchestra? For me, it comes down to one thing - Relationships. Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) is essential in student development and engagement in school. Music and the arts provide a unique pathway for students to explore and set goals, learn to navigate challenging situations and foster creativity and self-expression supported by a caring educator. This session will focus on how SEL can impress on students and parents the value of arts participation and keep them involved for a lifetime of learning.
Musical Rigor: The Path to Critical Engagement
Every student deserves opportunities for deep and rigorous learning. There are common and persistent myths that rigor means more or harder work for everyone, rather than empowering and challenging students' thinking. So what does rigor look like in a music classroom and how can music teachers get more clarity on rigor in order to foster more meaningful learning? This workshop will focus on systematic and equitable approaches for engaging students at a deeper level as well as examples of performance-based assessments.
Teaching with Music Standards to Foster Music Literacy
The National Core Arts Standards in music were designed to . . ."develop artistic [music] literacy”. Literacy means not only performing but also creating and responding to music. This workshop will explore a variety of teaching lessons incorporating the 2014 music standards in all types of K-12 music classes. Session participants will be engaged in developing and sharing creative standards-based lessons.
Playing in the Sandbox: Fostering Creativity in Teaching & Learning through the Art of Play
Why do we lose our ability to play like children, as we get older? The art of PLAY has many benefits, especially in fostering creativity. In order to develop a creative classroom with instructional activities that foster creativity, educators must be willing to take risks and encourage their students to do the same. Be prepared to come and "play" in this highly interactive session of creativity.
*Other workshops can be tailored to the needs of the music/arts department.
Clinics / Guest Conducting
Mentoring or Coaching Educators
Young or new music educators new to the profession may like to have guided mentorship. I am willing to visit classrooms in a non-evaluative format to provide feedback and reflective processes for educators on their professional growth.
Guest Conducting (Concert Band)
I have conducted various honor and festival concert band festivals throughout my career. I love having the opportunity to work with young music students as guest conductor.
Contact Dr. Nielsen at lancenielsen1@gmail.com for more information and booking information.