Musings
Articles and Blogs
Here are links to several I've written over the past few years. Note that links for some articles are behind a paywall. If you have an interest in reprinting please contact me at steveholleymusic@gmail.com
- "Music is Conversation and Connection" - Teaching Music, January 2021
- Eight-part series based on Coaching a Popular Music Ensemble. InTune Monthly, Oct 2019-May 2020
- Review of the book Rock Coach, by S. Giddings. Journal of Popular Music Education (in press)
- "Blending formal, non-formal, and informal approaches in the rehearsal" - Teaching Music, August 2019
- "Choosing a popular music performance program that’s right for you" - MajoringInMusic.com, August 2019
- "Creating and nurturing a student-centered learning environment" - Fflat- books.com, August 2019
- "Thinking Through Classroom Management" - Teaching Music, April, 2019
- "The Habits of a Successful School String Ensemble" - Teaching Music, April 2019
- "The Write Stuff - How to Write an R&B Song" - InTune Monthly, April 2019
- "Players - Jake Leschinsky" - InTune Monthly, April 2019
- "The Write Stuff - How to Write an R&B Song" - InTune Monthly, April 2019
- "Players - Nick Smith" - InTune Monthly, March 2019
- "Towards a More Inclusive Music Education" - NAfME Music in a Minuet blog, November 2018
- "They Need to be Together and Play" - Teaching Music, October, 2018
- "Teaching String Students How to Arrange from Scratch" - Teaching Music, October, 2018
- "Video Game Composition in the Classroom" - Teaching Music, October, 2018
- "Four Questions on Popular Music Education" - NAfME Music in a Minuet blog, August 2018
- "Rocking Out with the Lakewood Project" - Teaching Music, August 2018
- "Using Nonstandard Guitars in Student Ensembles" - Teaching Music, August 2018
- "Building Better Human Beings Through Music" - Teaching Music, August 2018
- “Jacquie Hairston; Getting the Band Back Together” - Teaching Music, April 2018
- “Teaching the Harlem Renaissance through Technology” - Teaching Music, April 2018
- “Lessons in our Shared History through Music” - NAfME Music in a Minuet blog, March 2018
- “Hip Hop in Music Education” - Teaching Music, January 2018
- “Brian McDaniel – CA Teacher of the Year” - Teaching Music, January 2018
- “Education Through Music” - In Tune Monthly, December 2017
- “The Popular/Commercial Music Ensemble Cheat Sheet” - NAfME Music in a Minuet blog, November 2017
- “Rallying and Honoring Through Music” - Teaching Music, October 2017
- “How to Teach Commercial and Popular Music in Schools” - NAfME Music in a Minuet blog, October 2017
- “Keith Hancock, Grammy Music Educator 2017” - Teaching Music, September 2017
- “A Life-Changing Trip to Cuba” - NAfME Music in a Minuet blog, September 2017
- “Blending Traditional and Contemporary Teaching Methods” - NAfME Music in a Minuet blog, August 2017
- “Going Commercial” - In Tune Monthly, June 2017
- "How to Establish a Jazz Program" Jazz Education Network Newsletter, February 2014
- “Meaningful Student Travel, Parts 1 and 2” - NAfME online, November 2012
- “Jazz Education as it Relates to Life Skills” - NAfME online, September 2012
- “Five Must-dos for the First Week of Class” - NAfME online, August 2012
- "Recruiting for a Jazz Band" - MENC online, August 2011
- "Paying Attention to the Musical Conversation" - MENC online, August 2011
- “Get Your Students a Gig! Parts 1 and 2” - MENC blog, August 2010
Conference Presentations
You can access PDFs of several of the presentations below by clicking here
- “How Popular Musicians Teach.” Research in Music Education Conference, London, UK/Online. April 2021.
- “Developing Hybrid Practices in Popular Music Education.” Co-presentation with Shane Colquhoun. Music Research and Teacher Education conference, Orlando FL. February 2021.
- “Intersections and roundabouts; Connecting in-school and out-of-school experiences to teaching practices.” Colorado Music Education Association conference, Online. January 2021.
- “Incorporating Popular Music into the School.” Prince Edward Island Music Education Association, Online. November, 2020.
- “You’ve Got Questions, We’ve Got Answers – Popular Music in the Classroom.” Fflat Books Popular Music Education Summit, Online. November 2020.
- “Engaging Students Through Technology.” Solfeg.io Teaching Popular Music Digitally!, Online. September 2020.
- “Engaging Students in Blended Musical Environments.” Fflat Books Symposium, Online. August 2020.
- “Popular Music Pedagogies; Blending formal, non-formal, and informal approaches in the rehearsal.” International Society for Music Education, Helsinki, FI. July 2020 (Conference cancelled).
- “Action-Based Pedagogies for Popular Music Education: A panel discussion with Steve Holley, Kat Reinhert, and Zack Moir.” Association for Popular Music Education conference, Edinburgh, UK. July 2020. (Conference cancelled)
- “Bridging the Pond in Popular Music Education: a dialogical comparison of HPME programs in the US and UK.” Association for Popular Music Education conference, Edinburgh, UK. July 2020. (Conference cancelled)
- “Crafting a Learner-centered PM Rehearsal: Altering your role through blended approaches.” Association for Popular Music Education conference, Edinburgh, UK. July 2020. (Conference cancelled)
- “Experiences in Music Education; an auto–ethnographic mixtape.” Association for Popular Music Education conference, Detroit MI. July 2020. (Conference cancelled)
- “Action-Based Pedagogies for Popular Music Education: a panel discussion with Steve Holley, Kat Reinhert, and Zack Moir.” Association for Popular Music Education conference, Detroit MI. July 2020. (Conference cancelled)
- “Coaching Diverse Learners in the Popular Music Ensemble.” Association for Popular Music Education conference, Detroit MI. July 2020. (Conference cancelled)
- “Crafting a Learner-centered Rehearsal; Altering your role through blended approaches.” International Music Education Summit, Online. June 2020. (Conference cancelled)
- “Beyond Three Chords and the Truth: Adding elements of popular music education to your program.” California Music Educators Conference, Fresno CA. February 2020.
- “A Paradigm Shift - Where does music education go from here?” California Music Educators Conference, Fresno, CA. February 2020.
- “Blending Formal, Non-formal, and Informal Approaches in the Ensemble Rehearsal.” Colorado Music Educators Association Conference, Colorado Springs, CO. January 2020.
- “Crowdsourcing a Secondary Popular Music Curriculum – panel discussion with Shane Colquhoun, Judy Lewis, and David A. Williams.” Association for Popular Music Education Conference, New York City, NY. June 2019.
- “What’d I Say? How to protect your most important instrument.” Association for Popular Music Education Conference, New York City, NY. June 2019.
- “Discussing Diversity in Musical Literacy – panel discussion with Danielle Collins, Paul Fleet, Corbin Jones, and Jarritt Sheel.” Association for Popular Music Education Conference, New York City, NY. June 2019.
- Hip-Hop Culture and the School: Beyond products and process, towards values and ethics – panel discussion with Queen D Scott, Chris Manik, Eric Dalio, and Steve Holley; moderated by Jarritt Sheel.” Association for Popular Music Education Conference, New York City, NY. June 2019.
- “Adding arrows to your quiver: Blended rehearsal strategies to improve your ensemble coaching.” Association for Popular Music Education Conference, New York City, NY. June 2019.
- “Differentiated Instruction in the Ensemble Rehearsal.” International Music Education Summit, Online. June 2019.
- “How to Add Elements of Popular Music Education to Your Program.” International Music Education Summit, Online. June 2019.
- “Where do we go from here? What is the future of music education?” Colorado Music Educators Association Conference, Colorado Springs, CO. January 2019.
- “Where do we go from here? Thoughts on Inclusion and Popular Music Education.” (poster) National Association for Music Education Conference, Dallas, TX. November 2018.
- “From Monticello to Montreux - the story of the most acclaimed PME ensemble in the country.” Modern Band Colloquium, Ft Collins, CO. July 2018.
- “Advocacy in Commercial Music Education.” Association for Popular Music Education Conference, Nashville, TN. June 2018.
- “Developing Alternative Pedagogies - panel discussion with Richard Frank, Jarritt Sheel, and Judy Lewis,” Association for Popular Music Education Conference, Nashville, TN. June 2018.
- “Home of the Blues: Using Memphis Music in Commercial Music Education,” Association for Popular Music Education Conference, Nashville, TN. June 2018.
- "Developing a Strong Foundation in Your Band - Start with the Bass Player,” Association for Popular Music Education Conference, Nashville, TN. June 2018.
- “Including elements of commercial music in your program,” Colorado Music Educators Association Conference, Colorado Springs, CO. January 2018.
- “Music Education in Cuba - Exploring Similarities and Differences,” Colorado Music Educators Association Conference, Colorado Springs, CO. January 2018.
- “Where do we go from here? Infusing commercial music education into your program,” Jazz Education Network Conference, Dallas, TX. January 2018.
- “Rhythm Section Woes: How to Develop the Pocket in Your Band,” Association for Popular Music Education Conference, Denver, CO. June 2017.
- “Creating and Developing a Commercial Music Program,” Association for Popular Music Education Conference, Denver, CO. June 2017.
- “Flipping the Classroom with PlayingtheGroove.com,” Association for Popular Music Education Conference, Denver, CO. June 2017.
- “Get Your Students a Gig!” Association for Popular Music Education Conference, Denver, CO. June 2017.
- “Conversations on the state of Latin music education,” Jazz Education Network Conference, Louisville, KY. January 2015.
- “Starting a JEN Network Chapter,” Jazz Education Network Conference, San Diego, CA. January 2015.
- “Developing a Jazz Program and Ideas to Jumpstart Your Existing Program,” Arkansas Music Educators Conference, Hot Springs, AR. November 2014.