The North Carolina Music Educators Association reported that its Popular Music Education Committee will host two special workshops free for NCMEA conference attendees. These sessions aim to equip teachers with practical strategies for integrating popular music into school curricula while providing continuing education units.
NCMEA stated the events will occur in the Gaines Ballroom at the Benton Convention Center in downtown Winston-Salem. Bryan Powell, an associate professor at Montclair State University and executive director of the Association for Popular Music Education, leads a session on modern band pedagogy. The association noted this workshop covers instrumental instruction, iconic notation, and songwriting, allowing educators to compose original songs using guitar, keyboards, and drums.
The second session features Pinqy Ring, a Hip Hop educator and cultural ambassador, who will demonstrate how to use Hip Hop culture to foster student voice and resilience. NCMEA indicated participants will explore lyric literacy, collaborative songwriting, and freestyle engagement. The organization emphasized that these hands-on activities are designed to help teachers create culturally sustaining learning environments. Attendees completing the workshops will receive CEUs and gain access to new curricular materials and online resources.
For more information, visit ncmea.net.