I am thrilled to announce that this summer I will have the opportunity to study the roots of American Music through a compilation of conferences and exploration of the Blue Ridge Historical Heritage Area of North Carolina. This opportunity is one that I have been dreaming about for several years. This year I found the time to write a proposal and submit it to “Fund for Teachers” which is a travel grant for K-12 teachers. I plan on posting regularly about my travel plans, my journey and all that I learn throughout my adventure as well as the work I will ultimately do in my classroom as a result of this experience.
I had the privilege of being a Fund for Teachers Fellow in 2003 when I traveled to Canada to participate in the International Colloquium for Education Through Music hosted by the Richards Institute of Education and Research. The work done by the Richards Institute has informed my teaching every day. Attending the colloquium provided an opportunity to immerse myself into a study of the role playful, musical, pro-social experiences have on the neurological, social/emotional and developmental needs of children. My current understanding of how children learn and the ways in which music can enable them to do so can be credited to the Fund for Teachers grant I received in 2003. Given the growth I experienced professionally as a result of the 2003 fellowship, I am elated to be a 2018 fellow!
I look forward to using this blog to keep everyone updated about my trip!
