What’s Your Jam? Using Student Selected Music in the General Music Classroom

Students do not enter the general music classroom as blank slates but, rather, they bring with them a rich background of music experiences and interests. When teachers learn about their students’ musical interests and consider those interests when planning instruction, it can have a positive impact on classroom environment, student engagement and agency, student-teacher rapport, and educational outcomes. In this webinar, participants will gain information to learn more about their students’ musical interests and incorporate those interests into general music instruction. This session will also provide participants with information and ideas for how to navigate potential challenges related to incorporating student-selected music into the classroom, including issues related to appropriate lyrics and arranging popular music for younger students. This session will blend discussion and presentation of different strategies with examples of different activities that can be used in the classroom in which participants can actively engage during the session.

Adrienne Rodriguez is an Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Music Education at Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania, where she teaches undergraduate courses in music education, supervises student teachers, and directs the early childhood music program. She is an active clinician and researcher, with interests including musical parenting as well as popular and vernacular music education. Adrienne holds degrees in music education from The Eastman School of Music in New York, University of Miami in Florida, and Michigan State University in East Lansing.

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.