Setting Up for Success in Middle School General Music

Teaching middle school general music can feel daunting, especially for educators accustomed to performance-based ensembles. It also presents an exciting opportunity to inspire creativity and musical understanding in every student. This webinar equips teachers with practical strategies, adaptable resources, and classroom-tested ideas to design meaningful and engaging general music experiences. This session explores how to establish purpose within the secondary general music curriculum, select relevant concepts and topics, and balance rigor with fun through project-based and technology-enhanced learning. 

Participants will learn how to: 

• Develop flexible, student-centered units that connect music to students’ lives and interests.

• Identify essential tools, resources, and technology to enhance instruction and assessment. 

• Foster classroom management practices that support engagement and consistency. 

• Design assessments that emphasize musical growth, creativity, and reflection rather than performance alone. 

This presentation is ideal for middle and high school music educators, new teachers suddenly assigned to general music, and ensemble directors seeking to expand their teaching toolkit. By embracing the versatility of general music, teachers can cultivate a positive, dynamic classroom where every student feels successful, creative, and connected through music.  

Michelle Leasor has vast experience creating technology-rich and student-centered engaging experiences for both students and other educators. She is currently a general music specialist in Pickerington Local Schools in Ohio and is an active clinician at the Ohio Music Education Association annual professional development conferences and at regional and national conferences. The author of Surviving and Thriving in Middle School General Music, she has conducted research into the experiences of music educators using technology during hybrid and remote learning, and she specializes in adapting digital content and delivery to a variety of students’ and educators’ needs. She also serves as an adjunct instructor, guest lecturer, and subject matter expert at several universities, teaching and facilitating courses related to general music instruction, music technology, and curriculum development. 

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.