The Simpson College Music Department provides unique experiences for Simpson College music students with the presentation of one Music Education Workshop every semester, each led by successful music educators from across the country.
Teachers and graduate students from the community are also invited to attend, and should register using the link listed below.
These Workshops are interactive opportunities to learn about different methods, philosophies, and ideas of teaching in the field of music, and helps equip our students with many different ideas and skills to become fantastic and versatile music educators.
The Simpson College Music Education Workshop Series has been substantially funded through the generous gift of Stephen Horvath ‘03, in honor of Michael Patterson and in memory of Maria DiPalma, Former chair of Music at Simpson. The workshops are also sponsored by the Kodaly Educators of Iowa.
Join us for this year’s
Workshop in Music Education:
SEPT. 23, 2023
Dr. Melissa Strong, Presenter
Movement to Multiple Styles of Music in the General Classroom
Movement is a powerful and authentic way to help students develop their innate musicality. Boldly including multiple genres of music like Pop, Global, Rap, R & B, K Pop, Classical, and Hip Hop helps meet students where they are and also opens their eyes to new experiences, adding to the richness of Music class.
Learn how to create movement opportunities for the students in your classroom that will engage, excite, include, and educate them. Bring comfy shoes, an open mind, and get ready to move!
Missy Strong has taught general, choral, and instrumental music at the early childhood, elementary, and middle school levels for 25 years. She holds a Master of Music Education degree from Rowan University and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Music Education with a specialty in Early Childhood Development from Rutgers University, New Brunswick. Missy currently teaches elementary general and choral music. She has served as the Senior Research Assistant for Music Together and was the director of children’s music education at Philadelphia’s historic Tenth Presbyterian Church for over a decade. Missy is a FAME Endorsed Teacher Trainer in both First Steps in Music and Conversational Solfege. She is a Founding Member of FAME and the former President of the organization. A frequent music education consultant and clinician, Missy presents conference sessions, professional development workshops, webinars, and courses at the collegiate, international, regional, state, and local levels. She is a published author and editor with articles in both state and national music education journals and books from GIA Publications and Oxford University Press.
Workshop Times (for both workshops)
8:30 AM Greetings with snacks and coffee
9:00 AM Workshop Starts
11:00-11:15 Brief Break
11:15-1:00 Second Half of Workshop
Those seeking graduate credit will also need to complete some additional online work.
JAN. 20, 2024
David Row, Presenter
Sing, Play, Think! Critical Thinking for Everyday Learning
Impress your administrator, improve student learning, and gain confidence when you make critical thinking a priority in your classroom. Whether you are playing instruments, singing, dancing, or reading music you can encourage critical thinking with a few basic teaching strategies. This session will cover tactics like effective questioning, wait time, transfer of knowledge, and think alouds. You’ll walk away with resources and ideas to integrate strategic thinking into all your lessons.
David Row loves teaching music to kids! A Nebraska native and Midwesterner at heart, David now lives and teaches in the Kansas City metro area for the DeSoto Unified School District. He holds a Master’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Missouri – Kansas City Conservatory, completed three levels and a master course in Orff Schulwerk training, and has extensive experience with critical thinking in the arts. David is an active clinician and has presented workshops at national, state, and local conventions across the United States and Canada. He is an AOSA-approved Orff Schulwerk teacher educator and teaches Level 1 Pedagogy at the OCPS and Central Florida Orff Chapter Summer Course in Orlando. On his blog, MakeMomentsMatter.org, David shares ideas about classroom content, management, lesson plans, critical thinking, and more. Search for “Make Moments Matter: A Music Education Podcast!” wherever you download podcasts or catch up with David every week on his “Musical Mondays” LIVE videos on Facebook.
Teachers and Students are Welcome at either one or both workshops.
To Register for one or Both Workshops click HERE
Cost of the Workshops for teachers is $45 each ($75 if you register for both) and $10 for students.
We accept checks or money orders. If you’d like to pay by credit/debit card, please call our business office from 8am-5pm Mon – Fri at 515-961-1655. Please note there is a 3% processing fee for over the phone payments.
One renewal graduate credit is available! To earn the credit, the teacher must attend both workshops and complete some online course material. The tuition to earn the graduate credit is an additional $200 above the basic workshop registration which will be invoiced separately.
Please email mike.eckerty@simpson.edu with any questions and specific registration details.
Past Clinicians featured in
Simpson’s Workshops in Music Education:
Peter & Mary Alice Amidon
Eunice Boardman
Pam Bradford
Angela Broeker
Jay Broeker
Alicia Brown
Nyssa Brown
Susan Brumfield
Dee Coulter
Paul Cribari
John Feierabend
Lillie Feierabend
Dr. Leigh Ann Garner
Virginia Giglio
Helen Kemp
Sandy Knudson
Kathy Kuddes
Tanya LeJuene
Cynthia Lilley
Sanna Longden
Ellen McCullough-Brabson
Linda McEachran
Andrew McMahan
Aileen Miracle
Joy Nelson
Carrie Nicholas
Sarah Richardson
Martha Riley
Teresa Schroepfer
Julie Scott
Wendy Sims
Robyn Swanson
Jill Trinka
Marilyn Wood
Sister Lorna Zemke