Building an Inclusive Practice Session 6: Daily Musical Activism & Allyship in the Classroom and on the Stage

How as music educators and performers can we continue to make DEIA work a priority in our practices and not just an afterthought or a box to be checked? This session covers how we can continue to build a vibrant, safe, and inclusive space for all, making sure we continue to move music forward through our language, programming, imagery, and source material. We will discuss the importance of avoiding tokenization while incorporating intentionality in all we do in education and administration, particularly as it relates to engaging community members as educational ambassadors. The final session of this course will also  recap the skills and tools gained from all workshops, and engage in discussion of how to put these into practice in our daily lives. We will tackle the question “But what can I do?” when facing inequity and injustice in the music industry, how to work from within and without existing and evolving systems, especially those that are restrictive. From performance practice to scholarship, and from academia to beyond the world of formal education, you will leave this session armed with a variety of ways to stay involved and make meaningful and lasting change.

This six-session series of workshops will empower attendees to create a comprehensive, holistic, dynamic, and inclusive environment, whether for their students, their colleagues, their audience, or themselves. We will facilitate discussions of relevant topics in music education and research, provide resources for further learning, and share methods to make a tangible impact in the realms of allyship and activism. You will leave this course feeling confident in your ability to diversify repertoire and curriculum with intention and care, setting a stage for future practices that are reflective of all who participate and engage in the world of music. Course registrants will also receive access to the videos of each session until the end of the calendar year.