Institute for Music Teaching & Learning

The Institute for Music Teaching and Learning offers high-quality professional development for music educators in a format coordinated with Ohio Standards. All courses are offered for graduate credit through Baldwin Wallace University. Courses are offered throughout the year and are listed below. Please check back regularly for updates.

Professional Development

The following courses are offered with credit through Baldwin Wallace University.

Don’t let a foreign language keep you from musical success! In this 4 day course, we’ll explore the power of the International Phonetic Alphabet and its applications for singing. Using standard choral repertoire, we’ll refresh diction skills for Latin, Italian, Spanish, French, German, and Hebrew pronunciation and discover tried and true resources to help when our language skills fall short. Participants will leave the course with a renewed sense of confidence in teaching from a wider variety of musical traditions. We’ll also build community as we discuss ways to incorporate interdisciplinary and inclusive practices when teaching from a tradition outside our expertise.

Dr. Jami Lercher, BW Conservatory Faculty
June 12-15, 2023
9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
EDU 565-PM1
Credit: 2 | Price: $390

This instrumental repair workshop is designed for directors who would like to work on their basic instrument repair skills. The course will take place at Baldwin Wallace University where directors will work with shop owner and instructor Kirsten Kulma, Woodwind Workshop, and receive instruction and hands-on experience to learn how to do simple and basic repairs. Bring your own band instruments to work on during class.

Kirsten Kulma, Woodwind Workshop
June 19 & 26, 2023
9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
EDU 565-PM3
Credit: 1 | Price: $195

This three-day workshop provides a complete introduction to the Dalcroze Method. Participants will have daily classes in Dalcroze Eurhythmics, solfège, improvisation and pedagogy. This immersion into the method provides participants with skills to apply the principles of the method to their classroom teaching and, for those who are interested in furthering their training, helps to prepare them for entrance into a Dalcroze Certificate program.

Professor Lauren Hodgson, BW Conservatory Faculty
June 26-28, 2023
9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
EDU 565-PM4
Credit: 1 | Price: $195

This two-day workshop is designed for string or non-string specialists who teach elementary, middle, or high school orchestra. The Conservatory String Teacher Institute (CSTI) is a wonderful opportunity for orchestra directors to develop their teaching skills. Through hands-on experiences, participants will attend a variety of workshops that focus on string pedagogy, rehearsal techniques, communication, and other relevant topics for today’s orchestra programs. Time will be provided for networking with other participants and workshop faculty. The workshop will be led by Dr. James Mick (Ithaca College) and Dr. David Pope (Baldwin Wallace Conservatory). Participants will earn 1 graduate credit hour that can be used for Professional Development.

Dr. James Mick, Ithaca College
Dr. David Pope, BW Conservatory Faculty
July 6-7, 2023
9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
EDU 565-PM5
Credit: 1 | Price: $195

Teachers do so much more than teach. It is becoming clearer that teachers must first consider content and approaches within structures that include or exclude students. Let’s begin this conversation by examining identity and positionality concepts that are foundational in co-building equitable musical classrooms that emphasize the strengths and knowledge that students already possess. Teachers from all content areas, age groups, and ensembles are welcome!

Professor Lorelei Batislaong, BW Conservatory Faculty
July 17-18, 2023
9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
EDU 565-PM6
Credit: 1 | Price: $195

The ʻukulele has quickly established itself as a sought-after addition in the elementary music classroom. But a new instrument for teachers and students doesn’t mean starting all over at square one. Join us as we examine an ʻukulele sequence that draws from principles of universal design, socio-constructivist philosophies, and recognizable elements of the Orff Approach focused on teaching elementary and middle school students. This workshop is joyfully designed with multiple points of entry and participation in ʻukulele playing. All ways of experience and ability are welcome! Please consider bringing a soprano or alto recorder.

Professor Lorelei Batislaong, BW Conservatory Faculty
July 19-20, 2023
9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
EDU 565-PM7
Credit: 1 | Price: $195

This course will draw on Prof. Ryan’s experience as a student and performer of Afro-centric music and will involve participants actively drumming, singing, and dancing. The focus will be on building participants’ familiarity and confidence in a few different West African and Afro-Cuban genres while learning strong drumming fundamentals and pedagogical techniques.

Professor Josh Ryan, BW Conservatory Faculty
July 24-27, 2023
9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

EDU 565-PM8
Credit: 2 | Price: $390

Summer 2023 LoVetri Institute (Online)

Somatic Voicework™ is a body-based method of vocal pedagogy that incorporates physical awareness, aural acuity, kinesthetic development and vocal freedom. It is supported by voice science, vocal hygiene and medical information. It promotes technical security, stylistic accuracy and personal satisfaction.

Level I is called “Basic Application” and includes the following: introduction to functional principles of voice science and medicine. It guides singing teachers to enhance their own qualities as the “building blocks” of The LoVetri Method. It looks at terminology and at objectively describing vocal behavior. It also addresses attitude, intention and appropriateness of the interaction between student and teacher. Level I states that the teacher must have a clear intention for the vocal exercise when it is given. The teacher must know (a) either what is missing and needs to be added or (b) what is wrong and needs to be corrected, such that the student’s singing will somehow improve. It rests on vocal function, vocal health and on traditional pedagogy, but it is also meant to help singers be marketable. There will be a guest vocal health lecture. Its main objective is to instruct the teacher how to listen functionally, to hear aural distinctions and relate them to responses.

Jeanette LoVetri, Creator
Michelle Rosen, Senior LoVetri Faculty
Betsy Fiedler, Senior LoVetri Faculty
July 22-24, 2023
EDU 565-PM10
Credit: 1

Level II is called “Advanced Application” and is largely devoted to exploring how singing exercises work, what they do and why. It examines the age, background and desires of the students and how those things relate to the teaching process. It enhances the teacher’s ability to evaluate the students in terms of vocal behavior and aptitude. In Level II, the teacher acquires greater skill in choosing exercises that are appropriate and adjusting them to meet the level of ability of the student at any given point. There is also greater exploration of the many CCM styles examining performance aspects that may impact vocal health. The main objective of Level II is understanding how to use vocal exercises functionally.

Jeanette LoVetri, Creator
Michelle Rosen, Senior LoVetri Faculty
Betsy Fiedler, Senior LoVetri Faculty
July 25-27, 2023
EDU 565-PM11
Credit: 1

Level III addresses “Repertoire, Problem Solving and Voice Medicine”. It features a noted music theater expert from New York City, who will conduct a master class in audition skills with chosen participants. Level III also touches upon acting for Music Theater and provides an excellent and quick approach to teach pitch matching for anyone with that problem. It promotes interdisciplinary interchange, i.e., the need for fellowship with Speech Language Pathologists and Medical Doctors. It also supports the idea that teachers should acquire the ability to read, understand and possibly even undertake research of interest to those in voice disciplines.

Jeanette LoVetri, Creator
Michelle Rosen, Senior LoVetri Faculty
Betsy Fiedler, Senior LoVetri Faculty
July 28-30, 2023
EDU 565-PM12
Credit: 1

What is Soul Ingredients^® Methodology?
Soul Ingredients® is a voice teaching method created by Dr. Trineice Robinson-Martin for developing the voice while fostering personal style and soul expression. The methodology is a strategic combination of science-based voice pedagogy and standard pedagogic concepts found within the oral teaching tradition of African American folk-based music styles (gospel, jazz, soul, hip-hop) to develop unique artists and musical storytellers regardless of musical genre.

Soul Ingredients^® is voice pedagogy according to science; voice training according to style; and artist development rooted in soul expression.

When Science Meets Soul: Level I
Introduction to Soul Ingredients^® Methodology
(for Somatic Voicework™ Level II Graduates)
July 28 - 30, 2023
Dr. Trineice Robinson-Martin, Instructor
EDU 565-PM13
Credit: 1
When Science Meets Soul Level I: Soul ingredients^® Methodology is the 3-day intensive course that introduces professional voice users, teachers, and SLP to a vocabulary for teaching music and working with singers and musical styles rooted in, and influenced by, African American folk-based music styles and music traditions. Each day presents a focused area in Soul Ingredients^® Methodology: Developing the Sound, Developing the Style, Developing the Story.

Soul Ingredients^® is voice pedagogy according to science; voice training according to style; and artist development rooted in soul expression.

When Science Meets Soul: Level II
Developing the Artist: Developing Personalized Plans
(for Somatic Voicework™ Level II & Soul Ingredients^® Level I Graduates)
August 4 - 6, 2023
Dr. Trineice Robinson-Martin, Instructor
EDU 565-PM14
Credit: 1
When Science Meets Soul Level II provides next-level strategies for developing authentic creative vocal artists. Using the Soul Ingredients^® Method, teachers and singers learn to use a customizable framework that identifies parameters of excellence that are both unique for each student yet culturally viable for the style the artist performs. Fostering next-level performers, When Science Meets Soul Level II explores the voice, the sound, and the story from the perspective of intermediate to advanced level singers and creative musical artists.

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