Are you ready to bring popular music into your elementary music classroom but unsure how to start? This session provides practical entry points for popular music using the resources and instruments you already have. We will explore popular music through the Music Will Approach which emphasizes the roles of the student, teacher, and community. Discover how to arrange student-centered repertoire, facilitate creative musicianship (including jamming and lyric rewriting), and scaffold popular songs using familiar Orff, Kodály, and Dalcroze approaches. You will leave with actionable strategies to provide multiple means of engagement for your students while honoring your established teaching practices.
Target Audience
Elementary General Music Educators
Additional Notes
Clinician Info
Scott Burstein
Music Will
Dr. Scott Burstein is the Director of Strategic Initiatives for the non-profit Music Will. His duties include managing training, advocacy, and educational outreach. He previously taught public high school in Los Angeles for twelve years, including subjects such as Modern Band, Marching Band, Jazz Band, and AP Music Theory.
Scott received his DMA in Music Education at the University of Southern California, completing his dissertation titled “Transformation of Habitus and Social Trajectories: A Retrospective Study of a Popular Music Program” and lead author on the award winning “Modern Band Method Book” series.