Unit One – Using Padlet to Ensure thorough Racial, Ethnic and Gender Equity. This unit will introduce the teacher to an interactive message board that will help to ensure racial, ethnic and gender equity with regards to the music and musicians covered in class
Unit Two – Rethinking Dominant Systems for Decoding Rhythm. This unit will introduce the teacher to the South Indian system for decoding rhythm known as solkattu, to diversify methodology for reading music notation.
Unit Three – Orchestral Performance as Social Praxis. This unit will introduce pedagogy and methodology for removing the emphasis on reading print sheet music and shift focus to more communal approaches to music performance. This unit will additionally provide an alternative to early string pedagogy and repertoire using African American folksongs and spirituals.
Unit Four – Reimagining Middle School-level Orchestral Repertoire. This unit will provide the teacher with original arrangements appropriate for middle school-level string orchestra from diverse genres to help students connect with music making. Genres will include spirituals and pop pieces.