Welcoming LGBTQ+ Students in the Music Classroom

As music educators, it is our job to ensure that every student feels safe, supported, and welcome in our classrooms. This is especially true for students in marginalized groups, such as those in the LGBTQ+ community. In this webinar, participants will review common terms, examine their own privileges and biases, engage in activities designed both to challenge their assumptions and provide practice with new concepts, and receive practical tips to use in the classroom tomorrow. Data will be included to show the current needs of LGBTQ+ youth and the impact that inclusive practices have. This session will take an in-depth look at personal pronouns and how to use them, including they/them pronouns and neopronouns.

Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of issues facing LGBTQ+ students and strategies to combat those issues in an educational setting. A short question and answer session will follow the presentation, and resources for further learning will be provided. Target audience includes anyone working with students of any age in any capacity, and specifically K-12 and collegiate music educators.

Emily Golan is music educator, violinist, and composer. She currently teaches all levels of orchestra in the Tacoma Public Schools in Washington state. She received her BA in Violin Performance from Whitworth University and MM in Violin Performance and Pedagogy from Central Washington University. As a composer, she writes primarily for her own students and has multiple pieces published for educational orchestras with Wingert-Jones Publications. In her spare time, she enjoys quilting, practicing yoga, listening to Taylor Swift, and spending time with her family.

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.