
Find your brilliance!
Saturday, September 26
9:00am-4:00pm
We invite you to join us for a day of “Finding Brilliance in the Music Room” on Saturday, September 26th. We look forward to joining Franklin Willis, Czarina Jimenez, Joanne Shenandoah and several KONY members: Madolyn Accola, Peter Creekmore, Joan Litman, and Juan Carlos Tavarez, to learn about culturally responsive teaching and social and emotional learning through music. Prepare for the new school year with Franklin Willis’ sessions, “How to F.I.N.D. Brilliance in Our Students” and "Hip Hop in the Elementary Music Classroom," Czarina Jimenez’s session, “The Sound of Stories,” and a full day of workshops including a keynote address on Native American music by Joanne Shenandoah. Workshops will be held between 9am and 4pm EST with a break for lunch. Sessions will be recorded and available to registrants for 30 days following the event. The cost is $25 before September 14th using code EARLYBIRD and $30 until registration closes on September 24th. Current OAKE members receive $5 off registration. Click the link above to register and pay online. Registrants will be emailed Zoom webinar information. Please email with any questions.
This event is co-sponsored by:
KONY - Kodály Organization of New York
The Brearley School
KOW - Kodály of Westchester
Lux Mea Women's Chorus
SCHEDULE
9:00AM WELCOME AND COMMUNITY SING
with Madolyn Accola
9:30AM FINDING BRILLIANCE IN THE CULTURALLY RELEVANT CLASSROOM
with Franklin Willis
10:30AM BREAK
10:45AM SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING THROUGH MUSIC: CREATING A SENSE OF BELONGING
with Juan Carlos Tavarez
11:15AM GLOBAL SONGS: LOOKING BEYOND AN AMERICAN LENS
with Joan Litman
11:45AM EMBODYING CHANGE IN THE MUSIC CLASSROOM
with Peter Creekmore
12:15PM LUNCH BREAK
1:00PM HIP HOP IN THE ELEMENTARY MUSIC CLASSROOM
with Franklin Willis
2:00PM THE SOUND OF STORIES
with Czarina Jimenez
3:00PM KEYNOTE ADDRESS
with Joanne Shenandoah
THE SESSIONS
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FINDING BRILLIANCE IN THE CULTURALLY RELEVANT CLASSROOM
Franklin Willis
How do we define brilliance in music education? Is it through awards, trophies, and performances? In this candid talk, I am going to challenge our definition on what we consider to be brilliance in music education. Teachers will have the opportunity to self reflect on their teaching philosophy, practice, and pedagogy. Ultimately, the goal of the session is for teachers to leave with a fresh definition of what brilliance is in music education.

Social and Emotional Learning through Music: Creating a Sense of Belonging
Juan Carlos Tavarez
Music is a powerful and sometimes a overlooked tool for creating positive environments for young people. Help your students make sense of, and connect to both who they are, and the world around them through music and other engaging classroom activities.

GLOBAL SONGS: LOOKING BEYOND AN AMERICAN LENS
Joan Litman
Our short session will consider perspectives of cultures beyond American (USA) borders, and hear differing views on authenticity, appreciation vs. appropriation, songs of resistance. School cultures, and research, when "the jury is still out" are topics that naturally arise in these songs : Yağmur Yağıyor , (Turkey : It is Raining), Escravos de Jo (Brazil: Job’s Slaves) and El Torrito Pinto (El Salvador: The Little Spotted Bull)

EMBODYING CHANGE IN THE MUSIC CLASSROOM
Peter Creekmore
Many music educators are aware of the racial inequity of our society and are interested in being part of the solution. Many struggle, however, with how to manifest this commitment in the classroom. This workshop will focus on the "what" and the "how" by examining some practical methods, best practices, and activities with the goal of building an anti-racist and humanizing music classroom.
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Hip Hop in the Elementary Music Classroom
Franklin Willis
The use of Hip Hop music in the elementary music classroom is becoming more prevalent as music teachers attempt to keep students actively engaged in learning. Hip Hop music is continuously evolving and is displayed in movies, books, commercials, and a host of other arenas that our students consume daily. With that being said, there are few resources that inform teachers on how to teach meaningful lessons while incorporating Hip Hop music into their curriculum. In this session, learn new, practical, and relevant strategies to incorporate Hip Hop into your general music curriculum. Do you feel uncomfortable bringing Hip Hop into your classroom? Well, this session is for YOU! I will give you standards based, student approved, and fun filled activities to take back to your classroom. You will leave this session educated and empowered to teach Hip Hop in the Elementary Music Classroom!
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THE SOUND OF STORIES
Czarina Jimenez
Czarina Jimenez of @littleupbeatclass will present a framework and activities to choose and use songs to diversify the cultural narratives within your classroom.

Lifting the Spirit: Music is Medicine
Joanne Shenandoah
Joanne Shenandoah, PD illustrates how music follows the vibration of words and music which in turns heals body and spirit. Her teachings are designed those who are interested in living in harmony and balance with one another and the natural world through traditional and scientific methods. Joanne is former Co-Chair of the AG of the US, Eric Holder, on Indigneous children exposed to violence which includes, but not limited to: victims of violence, suicide prevention, depression, sex trafficking, domestic violence and opiod additions. In addition, for 30 years she has been providing music with the intent to bring peace, harmony and unity through music amongst all peoples of the world.
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Natural elements of our earth have a song
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Breathing/meditation
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Finding the keys which heal the body and spirit
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Our relationship to water, plant and animal life
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Finding the voice within
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Finding your Creator given gifts
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Using words carefully
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Your circle & self esteem
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Respect for ourselves, others and the natural world
“Through her music and cordial character, she has always provided warmth and friendship during stage performances and in her roles as a keynote speaker. Through her words and wisdom, audiences have authentically been moved towards a resilient and positive mind-set and received messages of encouragement to make their respective communities healthier. Her perseverance of life and journey has demonstrated the utmost strength and courage to live life to the fullest through the power of song, music, and conversation. Joanne carries beauty in her soul and voice but also through her interactions with diverse communities. She provides strength and passion for the people that is found in the likes of iconic philosophers and wisdom-keepers.”
Rodney C. Haring, PhD, MSW/Assistant Professor of Oncology Office of Cancer Health Disparities Research Department of Cancer Prevention and Control Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
