Free Professional Development Clock Hours

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, necessitating many Music Education Associations (MEAs) cancel conferences, NAfME offers the following professional development resources:

All NAfME professional development is peer-reviewed and specifically developed for music educators by music educators.

Upon successful completion of the article/quiz and accompanying quiz (75% or higher), you earn a certificate of completion valued at “one contact hour.”

Questions? Contact John Donaldson (johnd@nafme.org).

14 Music Educators Journal featured articles thought to be directly applicable for teaching online during COVID-19

Simply follow the link at the end of an article title, read the article, and complete the quiz to receive a certificate of completion valued at “one contact hour.” NAfME members only — login required.

Free NAfME Academy® Webinars

Simply watch a NAfME Academy webinar below and complete the associated quiz to receive a certificate of completion valued at “one contact hour.” Subscribe to NAfME Academy for just $20/year for members ($100 for nonmembers).

Learning Targets using Google Classroom – By Karla McClain & Cathy Sullivan

Students are motivated to persist when given the autonomy to engage as leaders of their own learning by working through learning targets to meet benchmarks and achieve goals. Sequenced learning targets and a system for leveled benchmark assessments can provide students with clear and realistic expectations for self-regulated progress. Google Classroom can be used as a tool to provide interventions and Google Forms to collect data on student progress.

Click here to complete the quiz.

Mindset, Grit, and Determination: Keys to Success for Music Teachers and Students of All Needs – By Paul Young

All music teachers can benefit from understanding research findings touting the need to increase students’ character skills, particularly growth mindset, grit, and motivation. Participants will learn how music classrooms can become ideal environments for teaching and developing those skills, and while doing so, increasing their value within schools where these skills will soon be assessed as part of ESSA requirements. Attendees will learn how to model and teach growth mindset and grit traits and discover how perseverance strategies increase academic performance and lead to higher retention rates in music programs. The session content is applicable to all music teachers.

Click here to complete the quiz.
 

 

The All-Inclusive String Ensemble: Activities and Exercises to Make Every Student Succeed in Strings – By Vivian Gonzalez

Getting Fit for Strings Strength, flexibility and agility are key components to string instrument readiness and success, but many times studio and classroom teachers neglect to focus on these skills. In more than fifteen years of public school teaching and private studio teaching, I have developed specific exercises that target posture and left and right had issues, so that students can acquire new skills faster and with less frustration, tension and injury. These exercises have proven to be especially effective with special learners, who sometimes have fine and gross motor control issues. In this session, I will gladly share the exercises that my students do regularly in my classroom (elementary strings) and private studio (elementary through college) to enhance their overall playing ability.

Click here to complete the quiz.

Alternative Techniques for Teaching Middle School Band – By Todd Mahaffey

Some specific teaching strategies will be shared that are proven effective for Middle School Band. Additionally, technology resources will be discussed that aid in the implementation of these strategies. Discussion will include, but not be limited to: non-traditional seating charts, strategies for developing well-rounded percussionists, using drones to help with playing in tune, and incorporating chamber music into your curriculum.

Click here to complete the quiz.
 

Fostering Independent Musicians in the Choral Classroom – By Karla McClain

This webinar will give participants classroom-tested ideas to help students on their path to being independent musicians. Topics such as tools for music literacy, student engagement, assessment and self-evaluation tools, and incorporating the new Core Arts Standards will be covered.

Click here to complete the quiz.

Essential Time Management Strategies for Teachers – By Emily Schwartz

Without excellent time management skills, even the strongest teachers can become overwhelmed with all of the extra “stuff” that comes with teaching. In this webinar, Schwartz shows new teachers how to set themselves up for success by implementing simple time management strategies from Day 1. Taken from her book, Life in Cut Time: Time Management for Music Teachers, and her professional development workshops, this webinar shows new teachers how to stay organized, develop a plan, avoid common time management mistakes, and stay motivated when unexpected work starts to pile up.

 

Click here to complete the quiz.