Education Through Music (ETM), a New York City nonprofit focused on rebuilding music education in New York City schools, will provide an extensive two-week professional development conference for over 70 music teachers who teach in ETM partner schools. ETM partners with inner-city schools to provide music as a core subject for all children, including students with special needs, and utilizes music education as a catalyst to improve academic achievement, motivation for school and self-confidence.
The conference, known as the ETM Academy, will feature education experts to provide music education-focused trainings and workshops for the music teachers. The ETM Academy is made possible through funding by the Jerome L. Greene Foundation; Emily Davie and Joseph S. Kornfeld Foundation; Steinway & Sons; and Solon E. Summerfield Foundation.
The event will take place Aug. 22 – 31, 2016, at P.S. 343Q, 45-45 42nd Street in Sunnyside, Queens.
Featured topics and speakers include:
Teaching Music to Children with Special Needs
Presented by national autism expert Alice Hammel
Wednesday, Aug. 24, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Race and Diversity – Creating an inclusive music classroom
Presented by Natalie Perkins
Thursday and Friday, Aug. 25 and 26, 2:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Music Pedagogy and Student Engagement
Presented by music educator Allison Mickelson
Thursday and Friday, Aug. 25 and 26, 9 a.m. – 12 noon
Rehearsal Strategies for Ensemble Directors
Presented by Raymond Stedenfeld
Tuesday, Aug. 30, 9 am – 12 noon
“Providing extensive, year-round professional development to music teachers is critical to supporting ETM’s mission of providing quality music education as a core subject to all children,” said Peter Pauliks, Director of Programs for Education Through Music. “We believe every child deserves access to high-quality music education, taught by qualified and well-trained music teachers.”
In addition to the ETM Academy, Education Through Music provides year-round professional development opportunities for music teachers, to ensure the highest quality in music education. In addition, ETM provides support to its music teachers through a tuition reimbursement program for master’s degree classes in music education.