Perpich Center Partners with Arts Education Organizations This Month

August 29, 2024

The Professional Development and Resource Programs (PDR) group at Perpich Center for Arts Education partnered with three of Minnesota’s arts education organizations this month to offer professional development: American Choral Directors Association of Minnesota (ACDA-MN), Minnesota Band Directors Association (MBDA), and Dance Educators Coalition of Minnesota (DEC).

ACDA-MN events for choral music educators took place on the campus of Saint John’s University in conjunction with the Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA) All-State Choir camp. From PDR, Dr. Wendy Barden, Director, and Dr. Michael Buck, Music Education Specialist, led two sessions: 1) Meeting the Needs of English Learners in a Music Classroom and 2) Making Adaptations and Accommodations for Music Students. Perpich Center also sponsored a session on mental health presented by Sam Eaton, a former music educator and best-selling author. Michael Buck continued north to Concordia College in Moorhead to present a session for MBDA and instrumental music educators at the MMEA All-State Band and Jazz Band camps. His topic this time was research-based best practices for reading instruction in the music classroom. In total, more than 100 music educators teaching in schools across Minnesota participated in these workshops.

On August 16th, Perpich Center and Mary Harding, PDR Dance Education Specialist, hosted the summer workshop of Dance Educators Coalition of Minnesota. About 20 dance educators teaching in K-12 classrooms, higher education, and independent studios participated in this event. The theme of “Relationship” was woven throughout the day in community building exercises, warm-ups, curriculum ideas, and panel discussions. Presenters included Colleen Callahan, Mary Harding, Sarah Hauss, Judith Howard, and Erin Brown Kelley. Appreciative comments came from many participants. They liked the “variety of movement activities and discussion of teaching time,” “the structure and flow of each session and the breathing/personal warm up practice,” and “learning from different minded and dynamic individuals.” One participated noticed “the graciousness and experience in the room.” Thanks to both DEC and Mary Harding!