Careers in the Classroom: Modeling the Music Industry in Our Programs

The music industry influences every aspect of the music we experience—yet it is rarely explored in school music programs. This webinar invites educators to broaden students’ understanding of music beyond performance and composition, helping them uncover the many people, roles, and processes that bring music to life. From producers and sound engineers to managers, marketers, and stagehands, students can discover and experience real-world careers in music. Presenters will share engaging, hands-on activities and adaptable project ideas that reveal how music moves from creation to audience experience. Participants will gain practical strategies to integrate music industry concepts into existing lessons without requiring major curricular changes. By connecting classroom music-making to the broader world of the music business, educators can help students see how their passion for music can grow into a future career. 

Stephen Johnson is an elementary music teacher at Buena Vista Spanish Immersion Elementary School in Eugene, Oregon. He has presented nationally on topics including student-created music, incorporating popular music into the music classroom, and modeling the music industry in the music classroom. Throughout his career, Stephen has taught elementary, middle, and high school students in general music, choir, band, orchestra, marching band, jazz band, modern band, mariachi, drum line, and guitar. He holds a BA from California State University, Northridge, an MM from the University of Florida, and Level 1-3 Kodály Certification from the Kodály Institute at California State University, Bakersfield. Additionally, he has completed Level 1 Orff training through the Portland Orff Schulwerk Association and is a certified Music Will teacher. 

Melissa Nixon is an elementary music teacher at Edgewood Elementary School in Eugene Oregon, and has taught choir, general music, and guitar in Bakersfield, California. She graduated Cum Laude from California State University, Northridge with a BA in Music Education and completed her Master of Music Education in Choral Conducting through the University of Hartford’s Hartt School of Music. She holds certifications in Kodály Levels 1-3, has taken Level 1 of Orff Schulwerk, and is a certified Music Will teacher. 

NAfME presents this live virtual event at no charge to all as a service to the music education profession. To register, you must enter your NAfME member information or create a nonmember account. After registering, check your email for instructions. A recording of this program will be available to all registrants for one week following the live event. Members can also view archived NAfME webinars in the NAfME Academy.  

The views expressed are those of the presenter; they do not necessarily reflect the views of NAfME.