Recent years have posed significant challenges for students and teachers alike. Schools have become focal points for the continued emotional and psychological fallout of the many public health crises, social upheavals, wars, and economic struggles.
Music Workshop’s online, self-paced, and video-based teacher professional development courses teach educators and administrators at all levels how to use music as a tool for healing and growth. With music in our classrooms, we can make our schools a place to thrive.
$29
2 hours
General education and specialist teachers
Music teachers
For all educators! We know not every teacher has time for Music Workshop’s comprehensive 6-hour course on Music for Well-Being, so this professional development course separates a topic from that training to take a focused look at music listening.
Our 2-hour specialty course explores the role of music listening across K-12 classrooms in supporting the well-being of students. Through four modules of research-based learning content, videos, and activities, you will learn how to apply music listening in your instruction to cultivate a supportive and engaging learning environment as a music or non-music teacher.
$29
2 hours
General education and specialist teachers
Music teachers
Teachers know that well-being matters, but finding time can be difficult with the many responsibilities of personal and professional life. This self-paced professional development course offers a thoughtfully curated selection of videos, readings, and written reflections for teachers of all subjects with helpful information and strategies for fostering teacher well-being, including through the use of music as a powerful tool for self-care.
$75
6 hours
Music teachers
This professional development course transcends traditional approaches to music education, exploring how music relates to student and teacher well-being.
Rooted in principles of positive psychology and research on child development, specific approaches and considerations are offered for building upon existing teaching practices, including new ways to empower students with music and guide them in using music listening and engagement as a tool for well-being. Resources and activities are provided to help teachers plan next steps and explore new opportunities for music teaching and learning.
$75
6 hours
General education and specialist teachers
This teacher professional development course is designed for K-12 educators of all subjects to learn how music integration can support student well-being throughout the school day, to last them beyond their school years.
Through a series of units on student challenges towards well-being, the science of music and the brain, and the teaching techniques for music integration, teachers learn how manageable it is to integrate music into their current curriculum and practices.This professional development course is designed for K-12 general educators of all subjects to learn how music integration can support student well-being throughout the school day, to last them beyond their school years.
Coming Soon
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We don’t want there to be barriers for teachers to benefit from our professional development courses. If you can’t afford the enrollment cost or receive reimbursement from your school or district, please submit this form to request a scholarship.
Anyone who has spent time in a classroom or school recently knows that many students are struggling. Children today face a constant barrage of challenges that interfere with their development and academic performance.
Educators are in an ideal position to help students, given the amount of time they spend together during important developmental years. But in this period of educational and social uncertainty, many teachers feel overwhelmed and underprepared to support a traumatized student body.
Here’s what a few of our teachers say about Music Workshop’s professional development courses for teachers.
By integrating music listening into their learning environments, we can help students learn to socially and emotionally regulate themselves through music.
Engaging with music together fosters a sense of human connection between students, their teachers, their families, and communities. These healthy relationships are vital to a teacher’s ability to manage challenging student behaviors.
Playing music in the background while students do solo work or transition between activities can help maintain order and focus in the classroom. Setting this example at school empowers students to use music as a tool to focus at home, as well.
Music is fun! So, we can use musical activities to incentivize and encourage positive behavior – whether it’s a class dance party or a chance to be the DJ of the day. In time, these experiences can motivate students to build lifelong relationships with music.
These are just a few of the ways that music can be an agent of healing in any learning environment. Music Workshop’s teacher professional development courses for K-12 music teachers, general education teachers, and pre-service teachers provide actionable plans and tools to enrich the student learning experience.
Music Workshop works with some of the leading experts in music education practice and research to develop professional development courses grounded in real-world evidence and experience.
Each of our advisors are research and practice trailblazers within music education, especially through well-being, social justice, access, and equity. Their research and guidance have been instrumental in our mission to empower educators with practical, evidence-based ways to improve their students’ well-being through music.
Associate Professor at Northwestern
Dr. Sarah J. Bartolome is a children’s music specialist with an interest in world music for the classroom. She earned degrees in music education from Ithaca College (BM), Northwestern University (’02 MMus), and the University of Washington (PhD).
Associate Dean of Research University of Miami
Carlos R. Abril is Professor of Music Education and Associate Dean of Research at the Frost School of Music, where he teaches courses in philosophy of music, general music methods, and equity, access, and diversity in music education.
Chair of Music Teaching & Learning at USC
Beatriz Ilari (she/her) is an Associate Professor of Music Teaching & Learning at the USC Thornton School of Music, where she teaches graduate courses in music psychology, the sociology of music, cultural diversity in music teaching and learning, and research methods.
University of Wyoming Laboratory School & Curriculum Developer at Smithsonian Folkways
Jennifer Mellizo has been the K-8th grade music teacher at the University of Wyoming Laboratory School in Laramie…
Assistant Professor at Oakland University
Dr. Cat Bennett is an assistant professor of music education at Oakland University, where she teaches undergraduate introductory and capstone music education courses, choral methods, student teaching seminar, and supervises choral education student teachers in their internships.
Assistant Professor at Portland State University
Coty Raven Morris is a proud alumnus of Texas State University-San Marcos where she studied with Drs. Lynn Brinckmeyer, Jonathan Bacock, and Joey Martin.
Senior Science Educator at Exploratorium
Michelle is a senior science educator who has both a teaching and research background in elementary education.
Learning Designer and Researcher
Dr. Erin Riesland is a PhD graduate in Learning Sciences and Human Development from the University of Washington’s College of Education
Associate Professor at Northwestern
Dr. Sarah J. Bartolome is a children’s music specialist with an interest in world music for the classroom. She earned degrees in music education from Ithaca College (BM), Northwestern University (’02 MMus), and the University of Washington (PhD). She is also a fully certified Kodaly educator, having received all three levels of certification from the New England Conservatory’s Kodaly Music Institute and serving on the faculty of the Kodaly Levels Program of Seattle.
Associate Dean of Research University of Miami
Carlos R. Abril is Professor of Music Education and Associate Dean of Research at the Frost School of Music, where he teaches courses in philosophy of music, general music methods, and equity, access, and diversity in music education. Dr. Abril has served on the Research Panel for the National Endowment for the Arts and is Chair of the Society of Research in Music Education. He has also served on over ten editorial boards in North America, South America, and Europe. Prior to joining the University of Miami, Dr. Abril was an Associate Professor and Coordinator of Music Education at Northwestern University. He received his Ph.D. in music education at The Ohio State University, an M.M. in performance at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and a B.M. in music education at the University of Miami Frost School of Music. He is also a former general music and choral educator in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools, where he was named the Region V Teacher of the Year and awarded the Cervantes Outstanding Educator Award.
Chair of Music Teaching & Learning at USC
Beatriz Ilari (she/her) is an Associate Professor of Music Teaching & Learning at the USC Thornton School of Music, where she teaches graduate courses in music psychology, the sociology of music, cultural diversity in music teaching and learning, and research methods. She has conducted extensive research with babies, preschoolers, and school-aged children from the U.S., Brazil, Canada, Japan, and Mexico. In her work, she uses a variety of approaches to study different aspects of musical development and growth of infants, children, and adolescents. Her research is interdisciplinary in nature. Beatriz Ilari collaborates regularly with researchers from USC’s Brain & Creativity Institute and Bionic Ear Lab, and with scholars from different research centers and universities across the globe.
University of Wyoming Laboratory School & Curriculum Developer at Smithsonian Folkways
Jennifer Mellizo has been the K-8th grade music teacher at the University of Wyoming Laboratory School in Laramie, WY since 2002. She is also an independent researcher and a curriculum developer for Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. She has been recognized as a Wyoming Arch Coal Teacher of the Year in 2014, the Albany County School District Teacher of the Year in 2016, and a 2021 Fulbright U.S. Scholar (Spain).
Assistant Professor at Oakland University
Dr. Cat Bennett is an assistant professor of music education at Oakland University, where she teaches undergraduate introductory and capstone music education courses, choral methods, student teaching seminar, and supervises choral education student teachers in their internships. Over the past 15 years, Cat has taught and studied vocal music in many countries around the world, teaching K – 12 general and choral music in Japan and Thailand, and working as a volunteer music teacher in Honduras and South Africa. Prior to completing her PhD at the University of Miami, she studied vocal jazz and Creative American Music. Cat also has a BME from Ithaca College and a MME from Indiana University.
Assistant Professor at Portland State University
Coty Raven Morris is a proud alumnus of Texas State University-San Marcos where she studied with Drs. Lynn Brinckmeyer, Jonathan Bacock, and Joey Martin. She received her Masters of Music in Choral Conducting from Michigan State University in the Spring of 2020. She is currently the Hinckley Visiting Assistant Professor of Music Education and Social Justice at Portland State University. She has presented at educational conferences and professional developments across the country including the American Choral Directors Association, Texas Music Educators Association, and the National Association for Music Education.
Senior Science Educator at Exploratorium
Michelle is a senior science educator who has both a teaching and research background in elementary education. Her research interests focus on supporting diverse instructional shifts to cultivate child-led knowledge building communities in science. Within her research, she specializes in elementary scientific modeling, equitable classroom discussions, and supporting others to build relationships with the natural world and with the discipline of science. She focuses on co-designing equitable learning environments with teachers and which include family engagement with science concepts to support and elevate a diversity of student participation. She is a current National Board Certified Teacher and has taught elementary school for close to a decade. She has also worked as science curriculum developer, professional development provider, and embedded instructional coach.
Learning Designer and Researcher
Dr. Erin Riesland is a PhD graduate in Learning Sciences and Human Development from the University of Washington’s College of Education, a Fullbright scholar, and partner with All Circles of Learning. With degrees in both visual design and education technology, her research and practice aims to produce inspirational and equitable postdigital learning environments. Prior to her PhD journey, she worked as a learning designer for more than fifteen years in both K-12 and higher education settings including Seattle University, McGraw-Hill Education, and the University of Southern California. Her research interests focus on understanding and addressing the challenges that face our increasingly visual and digital world by considering the agency of the learning environment and its integral role in equitable STEM education.
We want teachers to walk away from Music Workshop professional development courses with everything they need to put what they learned into practice – the very next day.
At the end of each professional development course, teachers receive takeaway materials to continue their learning and apply their knowledge in the classroom immediately.
These resources may include:
Music Workshop has a rich library of free classroom content that is ready to bring music to life in any K-8 classroom. Our free music curriculum is customized by grade level and covers musical genres, instruments, careers in music, and music from cultures around the world.
Course materials include high-quality videos, teacher-led question and answer sessions, active listening exercises, and movement activities. These materials are also perfect for substitutes as they are ready to go, easy to manage, and continue students’ musical learning even in the absence of the music teacher.
By completing Music Workshop professional development courses, teachers can earn continuing education credit toward their certification, recertification, or salary advancement requirements. We provide course completion certificates and standards documentation that meet the requirements of most states.
The principles we teach in Music Workshop professional development courses are even more effective when applied holistically. We train educators across all disciplines on how to incorporate music into their own parts of the school day in different ways. Working together, you can make a significant difference in your students’ lives and learning.
Ask us about how you can bring our Music for Well-Being professional development program to your school as an in-person workshop or by purchasing the self-guided course for a group, school, or district.
