The UTM music department hosted Disney Channel’s Performing Arts Teacher of the Year recipient Dr. Marcia Neel as a guest lecturer for the #MusicEdLove lecture series.
The lecture was held in the Band Room located in the Fine Arts Building and consisted of three informative sessions on improving how music education is taught in the classroom.
Professor of Music Education Dr. Angela Ammerman, who helped coordinate the event, introduced Neel to begin the lecture.
“We’re very excited to have her. Dr. Neel has transformed the music education field. Her work on the West Coast has helped establish access for minorities to different music programs on all education levels,” Ammerman said.
Neel began with the topic, “One is Too Small a Number,” which focused on the importance of communicating with not only students but also parents, school staff and other community members to effectively run a music education program.
Next, Neel discussed how proper body language can be used to help instruct students and how an instructor should be aware that what he or she says, or does can reflect on students.
The last topic discussed how to make principals and school administrators more involved in a music education program.
Neel is an independent contractor and currently serves as the senior director of education, band and orchestral division for the Yamaha Corporation of America. Her duties include supervising and implementing music education programs for different school systems all across the country.
#MusicEdLove was created by Ammerman as a way to stress the importance of how music education is taught in the classroom. Lectures involve different ways of improving the quality of education that music students receive from instructors.
For more information on when #MusicEdLove events are held, visit https://www.utm.edu/departments/music/Calendarofevents.php.
