David Dockan is Assistant Professor of Music Education at Louisiana State University, where he teaches courses in elementary music methods, popular/commercial music techniques, and teaching music in diverse settings. Committed to helping teachers design curricula that reflect students’ musical worlds, his scholarship explores popular music pedagogies, music teacher agency, and belonging in music education. Dockan’s research is published in the Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, Journal of Music, Technology & Education, Journal of General Music Education, Music Educators Journal, and The Orff Echo, as well as in Oxford and GIA book chapters. He has presented his research at national and international venues: National Association for Music Education, Society for Music Teacher Education, International Society for Music Education, and the International Symposium for Music and Fine Art Education. A sought-after clinician, he leads workshops nationwide on modern band, popular music, and Orff Schulwerk. Dockan also serves on the editorial board of The Orff Echo, NAfME’s Council for Innovations, the leadership team of the Alliance for Active Music Making, and as co-coordinator of the Mountain Lake Colloquium. (2025)
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“Remain playful as your responsibilities increase. It’s easy to become serious when people and results depend on you, but nearly everyone’s performance improves when they proceed lightly through the world.” – James Clear
