Online Professional Development Opportunities for Music Educators

This week’s topic both in this blog post, and on episode 253 of The Elementary Music Teacher podcast, is all about online professional development opportunities for music educators. There are so many great ones out there, and while I can’t cover them all, I’m going to share some that I’ve personally been a part of, whether as an attendee or a presenter. From symposiums and summits to memberships and courses, these platforms offer a diverse range of topics and insights to enrich your teaching practices.

 

International Music Ed Summit

Founded by the incredible Elisa Jansen Jones, this summit has been rocking even before the pandemic hit. It’s a goldmine of different music education topics and presenters. I’ve presented at it four times, but I couldn’t this summer because my schedule is jam-packed. They usually run it in June or July.

F-Flat Symposium

Hosted by F-Flat Books, this one’s super cool because it happens both online and in person. Last year, I even got to fly to Philly for it, and I’m excited to be presenting again live in Philly this year! The best part is you get to enjoy presentations from folks both in person and online. Registration is open until early August, so don’t miss the chance to participate in this enriching experience.

 

F-Flat LEARN

Dr. Sarah Gulish and her brother David Allen launched the LEARN platform recently. They’ve got sessions from previous symposiums and they’ll keep adding more workshops each year. I get the pleasure of being the LEARN director and help curate content and look forward to growing this site even further! There are sessions for music educators (of course), but also online business tips if you’re looking to put a passion of yours into the world.

NAfME Online PD

The National Association for Music Education (NAfME) offers pre-recorded webinars and workshops for music educators. If you’re a member, you may enjoy free or discounted access to these valuable resources, covering a variety of topics. I recently presented a session for them about simplifying lesson planning!

Quaver Music Online PD

Quaver Music provides online professional development sessions on their website, catering to music educators using their program. Whether you’re new to Quaver Music or a seasoned user, these training sessions offer valuable insights for your classroom.

 

Lotus Centre Institute for Professional Development

The Lotus Centre offers professional development for teachers who teach music to students with special needs. There are free workshops around a variety of topics as well as courses you can dive into deeper. You can listen to my interview with Dr. Erin Parks here. 

 

 

Music Crew Virtual Conference

This virtual conference happens every summer inside the Music Crew Facebook group, and it’s free to attend. Educators from all over present sessions on various music-related topics. You can watch the replays too. Plus, if you need a PD certificate, they’ve got you covered.

Harmony Elementary Music Teacher Membership

Have you heard about my Harmony Membership? It’s a supportive community offering ongoing professional development, done-for-you lesson plans, thematic teaching ideas, and more. Bookmark the website for upcoming enrollment periods or be sure to join the waitlist so you’re the first to be in the know.

 

Curriculum Design Roadmap Course

If you’re looking for help with curriculum design and lesson planning, you’re gonna love my Curriculum Design Roadmap Course. We cover everything from short-term lesson planning to creating a full-on curriculum map and scope & sequence. Join the waitlist so you know about my free curriculum design workshop AND when the next cohort is happening. 

Elementary Music Summit

Organized by Bryson Tarbet, the Elementary Music Summit is exclusively for elementary music teachers. At the summit, teachers will learn about relevant topics from experts in the field of music education. I’ve gotten the privilege of presenting and it lights me up seeing so many elementary music teachers in one location!

Music for Kiddos Symposium

Another great symposium is the Music for Kiddos one by the amazing Stephanie Leavell. It offers engaging sessions for both music therapists and music educators. I’ve learned so much from Stephanie over the years and she’s amazing at encouraging music teachers to reach their students with music!

Music ConstructEd

Lastly, I want to give a shoutout to Music ConstructEd. They have free PD on their site to get you started. Then, you can sign up for their paid sessions to get those sweet PD credits.

What has been a favorite online professional development opportunity you’ve gotten to attend? Tell me about it in the comments below or share your thoughts on social media as you share this post.   I’d love for you to share this post or any of the resources on my website with a friend or colleague who you know NEEDS to see it too.

P.S.  Are you feeling frustrated or stuck as an elementary music teacher?  Check out these free resources to help you teach elementary music with confidence!

Also…I wrote a book called “Make A Note: What You Really Need To Know About Teaching Elementary Music” to help music teachers move forward in your teaching career.  You can get your copy here.