Music Education Webinar: Culturally Responsive Teaching with Popular Music and Media

Register above for this free music education webinar featuring a presentation and Q&A.

Have you ever wondered how to bring the music your students prefer into the classroom and why this might be important? Join me in examining the connection between popular music/media and culturally responsive teaching—using students’ customs, characteristics, experiences, and perspectives to provide better instruction (Hammond, 2014). Experience how lessons with popular music and media can go beyond what is being taught to how things are taught in music classrooms. Learn how to create your own materials to authentically connect with students and help them learn.

Bio

Martina Vasil is Associate Professor, Music Education and Director of Graduate Studies for the School of Music at the University of Kentucky. Prior to her appointment at UK, Dr. Vasil taught K–8 general music and 4–8 instrumental music (band/strings) for seven years in Pennsylvania. She has continued to teach children in grades preK–6 music at

Lexington Montessori School for the past five years. Dr. Vasil has her BM and PhD in music education from West Virginia University and her MM in music education from Eastman School of Music. Dr. Vasil’s research centers on culturally responsive teaching, particularly with popular music and media. In 2023, she published a chapter on children’s traditional playground musicking, creativity, and media culture in the Routledge Companion to Creativities in Music Education. She consistently publishes articles and lesson plans on popular music in the classroom—these works can be found in the International Journal of Music Education, Journal of Music Teacher Education, Music Educators Journal, General Music Today, College Music Society Forums, The Orff Echo, and state journals. In 2022, Dr. Vasil started the first course in the United States on popular music and Orff Schulwerk. In 2018, Dr. Vasil was a member of the first Modern Band Higher Education Fellowship. She is past President of the Association for Popular Music Education and continues to serve as a Board member.

Dr. Vasil’s favorite band is the Beatles and her favorite artists are Paul McCartney and her brother Craig Burletic, bass player for Tyler Childers. She has an affinity for salsa dancing and disco, loves Doctor Who and most things in the nerd kingdom, and is an avid runner and yogi. Follow her on Instagram: @musicwithdrv