The Music Education program enjoyed learning from an exceptional group of speakers as part of the 2017-2018 Music Education Colloquium Series.
In October, Dr. John Kratus (Michigan State University) gave a talk titled "An Analysis of the Most Influential Music Education Articles in the 21st Century.” He also presented a session to the undergraduate Collegiate National Association for Music Education (CNAfME) chapter on "Teaching Songwriting: Why? How? Why not?"
Dr. Joanne Rutkowski (Penn State University) visited in November. Her colloquium presentation was "Developing a Researcher Identity: My Journey.” She also worked with the Music in Elementary Schools, Choral Methods, and Introduction to Music Education undergraduate classes, focusing on her speciality of teaching children to sing.
In February, Dr. Richard Grunow (Eastman School of Music) visited, speaking at the colloquium about "Curriculum Based on Music Learning Theory.” He also worked with the graduate Psychology of Music students, focusing on music aptitude, and the undergraduate Music in Secondary Schools class on the development of audiation and its importance in many musical processes, including music reading, improvisation, and composition.
Finally, Dr. Manny Brand (Hong Kong Baptist University) was the speaker for the April colloquium. His topic was "Teaching Music on Bamboo Mats and Concrete Floors: Narrative Studies of Music Teachers in Asia,” describing his research on music teachers and music teaching in Asia.
