Teaching Resources
This section is meant to provide teaching/learning resources for music educators (or anyone!) looking to expand their teaching practices. Here you will find music teaching resources from a lens of Access, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Decolonization
(AEDI-D) in the form of digital/print resources, journals, podcasts, videos, workbooks & more!
This digital database is a programming resource primarily for wind-band, instrumental, and string conductors with select choral resources. …And We Were Heard also includes teaching resources on topics of programming repertoire, music education, music theory, advocacy, and educational resources. ​
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A New Harmony Vol. 1 - Equity, Access & Belonging, GALA Choruses
This workbook is to guide choral leaders & singers for change within choral/music organizations in topics of: Accessibility, Sexuality / Gender Identity, Race & Ethnicity, and Socio-Economic Access. These topics are meant to guide conversations of improving access, in all forms, to choral spaces and the classroom.
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A New Harmony Vol. 2 - Equity, Access & Belonging - GALA Choruses
Volume 2 of this workbook is a continuation of the resource above. This is meant to guide choral leaders and music organizations in conversations of intergenerational dy​namics, mental health and neurodiversity, faith and religion, and digital accessibility.
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A User’s Manual for the Aging Voice - Martha Howe
This manual is meant to provide conductors with resources for working with older singers. This handbook includes testimonies of lived experiences, and tools for music educators and clinicians.
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ADEI Resources, Chorus America
Compiled by Chorus America, this resource is meant to be a starting point for choral leaders and music educators looking to expand their learning and bring equity, diversity, and inclusion into choral spaces. Here you will find stories, articles, programs, presentations as well as resources from external resources and organizations.
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American Composers Forum is a digital resource with the mission to support and advocate for those creating music. Their goal is to connect artists and composers with available resources (publications, recordings, etc.), funding and mentorship.
Highlight Resource: ChoralQuest, a resource of choral music and accompanying learning materials for elementary level choirs. Each piece has paired learning materials to provide students with learning opportunities in non-music contexts.
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Anti-Racist Practice and Decolonization of Choirs, Ohio Choral Directors Association (Webinar)
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Presented by Kelsey Burkett and Mario Clopton-Zymler, this webinar explores the topics of anti-racist practices and decolonization of choirs. Through this, they discuss topics of how institutional racism presents itself within choral and music spaces, tools and resources in music-making communities (music organizations, public/private schools, and undergraduate/graduate programs), and recommendations and questions to ask when picking music from BIPOC communities.
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Blurring the Binary, Melanie E. Stapleton
Blurring the Binary, created by Melanie E. Stapleton, is a choral/music resource as a guide for teaching LGBTQ+ students and specifically, transgender students in music spaces. This includes resources for first steps, appropriate terminology, ​student experiences, acceptance in ensembles, choral considerations as well as additional resources for both students and educators.
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Resources for Students
Resources for Educators
Building and Sustaining Inclusive Choral Spaces, Derrick Fox
This resource provides tools for creating long-lasting, meaningful and inclusive choral spaces. Fox delves into what “doing the work” looks like within choral and music spaces, how to make sustainable change, expanding upon repertoire programming, and how to be allies to your singers.
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Choral diversity: Equity in sound and practice, GIA Publications & The University of Denver
This webinar explores the topics of the implementation of polices and practices of equity and inclusion within choral spaces. With this, panelists discuss topics of Eurocentric perspectives, issues of diversity and inclusion, and practical resources. Panelists include: Rosephanye Powell, Birgitta Johnson, Rollo Dilworth, Brandon Waddles, Anne-Marie Hudley Simmons and M. Roger Holland II.
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ClassicalQueer
ClassicalQueer is a database of Canadian LGBTQ+ classical musicians as a resource for concert programmers to use and to guide users in programming works and collaborating with LGBTQ+ Canadian musicians through a self-identified platform. Additional Learning Resources.
Composers of Color Resource Project, Humanities Common
This project houses music composed by composers of colour and from outside the traditional Western canon. Educators can find scores by composers of colour, annotated scores, lesson materials, and recommended digital resources.
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conduct(her)
conduct(her) is a podcast by American choral conductors, Kyra Stahr and McKenna Stenson, with a focus on amplifying women’s voices and presence on the podium and the choral field while interviewing choral leaders, music educators, and choral conductors.
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Conscious Style Guide, Karen Yin
The Conscious Style Guide is a resource that provides tools for inclusive language on a variety of topics. Each section includes teaching/learning resources and language alternatives to guide users in challenging their biases in the language they use.
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Creating Inclusive Choirs: Transgender & Gender Nonbinary Singers, Gala Choruses
Created by Gala Choruses, this resource provides guidelines and tools for choral leaders to create a safe and welcoming environment for transgender and nonbinary students within their singing groups and classrooms. Included are recommendations for allyship and teaching practices that focus on the inclusion and welcoming of all LGBTQ singers.
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Cultural Appropriation and Choral Music: A Conversation That Can Make Our Music and Community Better, Ryan Cho
This article provides readers with a tangible starting point to address and guide conversations on cultural appropriation and how to foster new and respectful relationships within choral spaces.
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Cultural Appropriation: From Culture Stealing to Culture Sharing, Eugene Holley Jr.
This article explores what cultural appropriation is and how it presents itself in choral spaces. Alongside that, it discusses how to approach conversations of cultural appropriation and implement practices of cultural appreciation within choral spaces.
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Culturally Responsive Choral Music Education: What Teachers Can Learn From Nine Students’ Experiences in Three Choirs, Vicki R. Lind, Julia T. Shaw, Constance McKoy
This book highlights the classrooms of three ethnically diverse choral conductors/teachers to focus on ways culturally responsive teaching (CRT) can enrich and expand upon choral music education. Additionally, nine students discuss their experiences on how CRT has shaped their education within their respective choral ensembles.
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Decolonizing Choirs Panel, Vancouver Bach Choir
This panel discusses how choirs, choral leaders, and music educators can better engage in decolonization with focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion within choral spaces and choral repertoire programming. Panelists include: Andrew Balfour, Elaine Choi, Hussein Janmohamed and Melissa Morgan.
Decolonizing the Music Room centers on the voices of Black, Indigenous, People of Colour in music education in offerings of training and educational resources to current and pre-service educators interested in broadening their views on music education. Resources include: repertoire and listening, literature recommendations, research and philosophy, and interviews.
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Diversify the Stand works towards creating accessible opportunities for historically underrepresented composers through commissioning opportunities, to create a platform to uplift the voices and experiences of musicians, composers, historians, and educators.
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Do Not Be Afraid: A Discussion on Musical Appreciation vs Appropriation, Melissa Morgan
This article engages in the conversation of cultural appropriation versus appreciation within the choral craft and highlights how to approach engagement with new cultures, languages, or musical styles/genres. This includes recommendations for preparation of these works, moving in right relationships with culture ‘insiders’, and guides for self/organizational reflection.
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Empowering Song: Music Education from the Margins, André de Quadros, Emilie Amrein
This explores the ways in which music making and specifically, music education can allow for and often, requires conversations of cultural responsiveness to occur. Questioning pedagogical and community music approaches, this focuses on the groundwork laid in justice-deprived communities (prisons, refugee shelters, detention facilities) and using music to “reclaim our humanity in inhumane places”.
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Equitable and Inclusive Music Education, Ontario Music Educators' Association
This resource, compiled by the Ontario Music Educators’ Association (OMEA), is a guide for music educators in the selection of resources centered in practices of equity, diversity, and inclusion. Educators are encouraged “to consider their and their learners’ identities and positionalities in order to ensure the creation of responsive and relevant music education environments.”
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Focus: Choral Music in Global Perspective, André de Quadros
This book focuses on the stories of various singing organizations and the pedagogical practice and repertoire use around the world. Covering choirs from Indonesia, the Middle East, prison choirs, LGBTQ+ choirs, women’s role in choral leadership along with sample repertoire lists with performance practices.
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This book focuses on the stories and lived experiences of Trans and Gender-Expansive youth within a musical setting. Beyond that, provides music educators with tools to honour and to create welcoming and inclusive spaces for gender diverse youth within music spaces (choral and instrumental).
Inclusion Awareness, Reid Vanderburgh
This article expands upon the idea of inclusion, specifically within a music-making setting. Vanderburgh expands upon how privilege may present itself within a choral setting, how to navigate “expanding the circle”, and how inclusion awareness is much needed within the choral landscape.
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Inclusive Language Guide, Western University
Western University’s Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, has compiled a guide on inclusive language. Included in this guide is a list of outdated terms and appropriate substitutes, allowing readers the opportunity to unlearn and include more inclusive language into their practice and everyday life. Topics include inclusive language related to: gender, sexuality, pronouns, race, ethnicity, disabilities, ageism, Indigenous peoples, socio-economic status, marital and family status.
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Institute for Composer Diversity
The Institute for Composer Diversity highlights three main areas: databases, analysis of music, and action. The Composer Diversity database is a tool to discover composers from historically underrepresented groups. Analytical studies, highlights where diverse programming is needed and where it is currently happening. Action, is to provide effective ideas and actionable items towards more inclusive repertoire decisions. This resource includes databases for choirs, orchestras, wind bands and composer diversity.
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International Alliance for Women in Music (IAWM)​
IAWM focuses on advocating for increased visibility, and programming for women in music (all disciples) on an international scale. Alongside this, IAWM works to provide grant opportunities, the promotion of academic works of women in music as well as advocating for the inclusion of contributions by women in higher-level education institution’s curricular materials (music curriculum, textbooks, repertoire programming, etc.).
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The “Know Better Do Better Project” works to start and engage in conversation and awareness of songs that have previously or currently play a role in systematic racism and the writing of new songs. Compiled resources include: song lists, available readings, anti-racism resources, teaching/learning resources for educators as well as new compositions as alternatives for problematic and inappropriate songs.
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Making Music in the Mess: A conversation towards a greater understanding of African Diasporic voices in Canadian choral music, Phoenix Chamber Choir
This panel delves into the conversation of further understanding and engaging in conversation of how to uplift the voices of the African Diaspora within the Canadian choral landscape, hosted by Nicholle Andrews. Additionally, the panel explores topics of cultural appropriation versus cultural appreciation, recognition of relative privilege, and best practices when exploring music of the African Diaspora. Panelists include: Frédéricka Petit-Homme Condon, Leela MadhavaRau, Andre Myers, and Floydd Ricketts.
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Making your Chorus Welcoming for Transgender Singers, Chorus America
This article provides guides and recommendations for creating a welcoming space for LGBTQ+ individuals, specifically for trans and gender non-conforming individuals, within choral spaces. Alongside this, it speaks to the need to create trans and queer inclusive/welcoming spaces, regardless if these individuals are visible within the singing groups educators may engage with.
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Music and Social Justice: A Guide for Elementary Educators, Cathy Benedict
Music and Social allows educators to reflect and understand biases (conscious or unconscious), misinformation and understanding within the classroom. Additionally, this includes unit ideas/lesson plans, dialogue examples with students, and employing both teachers and students to engage in conversations of how to include topics of social justice in music-making. Topics addressed include: racism, socio-economic status, faith and religion.
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Music Sources for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Diverse Repertoire, ​Rowan University
This collection includes sources to aid in expanding upon repertoire programming (choral, wind band, orchestra, art songs) in effort to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in music. Includes reaching resources (theory examples, music history), reading recommendations to expand thinking that may be included in music curricula, and anthologies (art song, piano, strings).
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New Muses Project
New Muses Project is an organization prioritizing the voices of composers from a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion within the classical music world, through performance, education, and scholarship. This project includes three primary pillars, their web resources, access to recordings, and access to transcriptions.
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Pulling Together: A Guide for Curriculum Developers, Asma-na-hi Antoine, Rachel Mason, Roberta Mason, Sophia Palahicky, and Carmen Rodriguez de France
This resource is a guide to curriculum developers as a way to Indigenize curricula in higher level education. It includes six sections which aim to “help in the process of integrating, honouring, and respecting Indigenous culture, history, and knowledge in curriculum”. These sections include: the ways in which Indigenizing and decolonizing works towards reconciliation, introducing Indigenous epistemologies and pedagogies, how to build relationships with Indigenous individuals and communities, available Indigenous resources, reflecting upon the systems in which we benefit from, and ways to advocate for Indigenization at a systematic level thought policy, principle, and strategy.
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Queering Vocal Pedagogy: A Handbook for Teaching Trans and Genderqueer Singers and Fostering Gender-Affirming Spaces , William Sauerland
Queering Vocal Pedagogy presents methods and resources to fostering and creating gender-affirming spaces for all singers. Sauerland focuses on two main ideas: the creation of inclusive and gender-affirming pedagogical practices for singers, and dismantling practices that have historically been solely focused on the cisgender viewpoint. Included are tools for inclusive and responsive teaching, repertoire considerations, gender-neutral/affirming performance practices, etc.
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Reflections on Segregation and Representation in Choral Music, Fahad Siadat (New Music USA)
This article provides a look and reflects upon representation within the choral craft. With each topic discussed, Siadat provides his own reflections and recommended resources for expanding representation in choral music.
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Safe(r) Spaces for Our Singers, Kathleen Luyk
This brief article includes five key practices for choral conductors, music educators and choral leaders to create safe(r) spaces for all singers (and all musicians) with focus on LGBTQ+ singers.
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Sing Better as You Age – Victoria Meredith
This book provides conductors with the tools for working with adult choral singers. Included are recommendations and suggested guidelines for age-related vocal change, vocal conditioning, recommended exercises for vocal changes, and building ensemble musicianship skills,
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Songs with a Questionable Past, Lauren McDougle
Collection includes common folk songs with questionable history, this covers songs with racist/derogatory terms and themes, songs with questionable origin, meaning, authenticity. Includes over 100 songs with accompanying references and resources.
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Teaching Culturally Diverse Choral Music With Intention and Care: A Review of Literature, Catherine Bennett
This academic review examines the way in which choral leaders and conductors can teach culturally diverse repertoire with intentionality, care, and respect. This includes recommendations for repertoire selection, how to locate culture bearers/teaching resources, and teaching preparation in a culturally responsive manner.
Teaching with Respect: Inclusive Pedagogy for Choral Directors, Stephen Sieck
Allows educators to examine the ways in which their teaching strategies and tools may unintentionally employ acts of homophobia, transphobia, bigotry, racism, etc. as well as provide methods to navigate these biases and engage in conversation.
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The Second Edition of this book delves into deeper conversations regarding systems of power, heritage, and inheritance. It allows choral leaders the opportunity to examine the ways in which choral leaders can create ethical and safe learning spaces for all singers.
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The Choral Commons, is a platform that allows for “a space for singing communities to realize the liberatory potential of the ensemble as a site of radical imagining”. This resource works to promote the use of choral music to confront and engage in conversations of racism, accessibility, LGBTQ+ discrimination, decolonization, etc. Included are educational resources, podcasts, and engagement opportunities for singing groups and choral leaders through the form of public webinars and choral campfires.
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Highlight Resource: Engender, Hosted by Nicky Manlove and Bradford Dumont.
Engender, a podcast as part of The Choral Commons, interviews gender diverse choral practitioners, conductors, and musicians focusing on the wisdom of gender diversity within the choral practice. This explores the need to move beyond “basic” gender pedagogy surrounding pronoun use, gendered and inclusive language, but instead celebrates the contributions of trans and gender diverse individuals within the choral and musical craft.
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The Conductor's Podcast, Chaowen Ting
The Conductor’s Podcast, Hosted by Chaowen Ting, is a platform “by a conductor, for conductors and musicians who are interested in learning more about the craft, business, and industry.” Through this podcast, topics of diversity, music leadership, mental health, barriers to music, music entrepreneurship, etc. are explored.
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The Land is Sacred: Land Acknowledgements & Native Perspectives in the Choral Arts, ACDA Western Region
This panel discusses topics of Indigenous perspectives within the choral craft and choral organizations. Discusses are topics of how to honour ancestral land, identifying harmful practices, and how to be allies within and beyond the choral community. Panelists: Michelle McCauley, Megann Sala, Jace Kaholokula Saplan, and Alyssa Cossey.
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The Oxford Book of Choral Music by Black Composers, Marques L.A. Garett
Curated by Marques L.A. Garett, this collection includes non-idiomatic compositions from the sixteenth century to present day. This anthology was created to be an aid for choral leaders and conductors in learning about the music of Black composers. With that in mind, it highlights the works/offerings of Black composers to the choral landscape, and to represent various genres across a range of musical eras. Included is a Spotify Playlist with recordings of the full anthology.
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Trans Singers Matter: Gender Inclusive Considerations for Choirs, William Sauerland
Provides an outline of trans and nonbinary voices, practices and policies choral leaders can implement to help make their music spaces safe, inclusive, and affirming for trans and nonbinary students while focusing on topics of gender identity, vocal identity, and vocal modification. These practices and policies cover repertoire considerations, technique considerations, concert attire, name and pronouns, how to advocate for your singers, and language used in choral spaces.
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Transformative Territory Acknowledgements, Len Pierre (Webinar)
This webinar is a guide to creating land acknowledgements with purpose, and provide more depth and sincerity within them. Through this, Pierre discusses the importance and context for land acknowledgements, guidelines for writing and presenting land acknowledgements, and how to create meaningful, reflective and transformative land acknowledgements.
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Truth & Reconciliation, Choral Canada
Created by Choral Canada, this article provides resources on how to advocate and amplify Indigenous communities across Turtle Island. Included are learning resources on how to bring Indigenous voices and perspectives into music-making spaces in a manner that advocates for and uplifts Indigenous individuals.
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USC Thornton Choirs Guest Lecture - Rollo Dilworth (Webinar)
This webinar discusses cultural appropriation versus cultural appreciation within the context of music/choral spaces. Alongside this, provides recommendations for how music educators should navigate this, as well as how to go about exploring cultures in choral contexts with respect.
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What is Decolonization? What is Indigenization?, Queen's University
This article provides an overview of what decolonization and indigenization mean within the context of higher education. Included is a video further discussing Indigenization in the University with topics of colonialism, Indigenous inclusions, Indigeneity, and decolonial Indigenization.
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White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack, Peggy McIntosh
An excerpt from Peggy McIntosh’s essay, “White Privilege and Male Privilege”, delves into the ways in which White privilege presents itself in her life. This explores how she has been protected and benefitted from the privilege she holds and encourages readers to question the systems in which they benefit from and how to reconstruct systems of power.
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Wisdom, Wit, and Will: Women Choral Conductors on Their Art, Joan Catoni Conlon
This book provides perspectives of Female/Gender Non-Conforming choral conductors. Three main themes are presented: “Our Music," "Our Teaching," and "Our Lives”. Included are insights on the career and education of choral music, personal and career-related advice for conductors, and concerns about gender inequities, all from a female-majority perspective.
Contributors: Hilary Apfelstadt, Marguerite Brooks, Joan Catoni Conlon, Sharon Hansen, Ann Howard Jones, Melinda O'Neal, Doreen Rao, Kathy Saltzman Romey with Emilie Sweet and Shekela Wanyama, Harriet Simons, Beverly Taylor, Joan Whittemore, Lori West, Sue Williamson