The Department of Music and the UARK Collegiate Chapter of the National Association for Music Education are excited to host the first ever Northwest Arkansas Teach Music Conference this Saturday, April 1. This one-day event will bring area music educators, music education students, and prospective UAMusic students together to learn, share, and reflect on music education today.

Daniel Abrahams, assistant professor of music education and organizer of the conference, said, "The conference is intended to increase opportunities for our music education students to network and connect with faculty and music education professionals on a local, regional, and national level."

The conference will start with a workshop called "Teaching Music to Children with Special Needs" by Alice Hammel, visiting professor of music. Hammel is a known pedagogue in music education and a respected author and advocate for children with special needs. She currently teaches at James Madison and Virginia Commonwealth Universities. Hammel is the co-author of two texts: Teaching Music to Student with Special Needs: A Label-free Approach and Winding It Back: Teaching to Individuals Differences in Music Classroom and Ensemble Settings. Her residency also coincides with additional talks in the Department of Music as well as a special topics course in music education.

Two general sessions are planned after the morning workshop. Three UAMusic faculty and staff members will give presentations. Jeffrey Murdock will present "Music Education and Diversity" in the 12:15 p.m. session block. Ben Lorenzo and Justin R. Hunter will speak in the 1:30 p.m. block presenting "Selecting Literature for Instrumental Ensembles that Educates" (Lorenzo) and "Understanding World Music in Public Education" (Hunter).

Several Northwest Arkansas music educators will also give presentations. Kaci Berry (Springdale) will present "Understanding the Arkansas Framework for Music Education" at the 12:15 p.m. hour. Rhonda Hawley (Springdale) will present in the 1:30 p.m. block on "Rehearsing the Choir." April Shelby (Springdale), John Land (Rogers), and Jesse Collette (Bentonville) will give an extended joint presentation, "Navigating Your First Years of Teaching," at 2:45 p.m. Speaking about these area educators' participation, Abarahams said "the conference will showcase the high quality of music teaching happening within the public schools of Northwest Arkansas by providing an opportunity for local music educators to share their expertise with other music teachers, students, and supporter of music education."

Participants in the conference are eligible to receive 6 professional development hours from the Arkansas Department of Education. All sessions are free and open to interested attendees, but registration is required. Visit fulbright.uark.edu/teachmusic for more information and details on registration.