Are you a new or veteran music educator? Are you looking for a place to receive practical professional development that you can use right away in your classroom and as part of your music curriculum?  Are you looking for a place to share your ideas and hear other ideas you can implement in your music program? If you answered “YES” to any of these questions then this new course offered through Graduate and Continuing Education at Fitchburg State is designed for you!

This exciting new course is for all music educators regardless of which grade level, performance area or school system they teach in. The objective of this course will be to discuss all aspects of being a successful music educator.

Some of the topics will include:

• Choosing repertoire for performance ensembles at all levels

• Developing classroom/general music curriculum

• Developing a successful K-12 music program

• Running/preparing for a rehearsal

• Developing/expanding private music lesson programs

In addition to music topics, you will learn about current educational issues/challenges you face as a music educator including:

• Working with students with disabilities within a music classroom

• How the Massachusetts Teacher Evaluation Tool/System relates to music educators

• Working with your building and district administration

• Budgeting for your music program

• Advocating for your music program in an effective way

All music educators are welcome to participate whether you are a new teacher in the field or are a veteran music educator. Participants will leave with ideas, examples and plans that are realistic and attainable to implement in their school system.  Don’t miss this opportunity to collaborate with fellow music educators and discuss current topics related to teaching music in our schools.

MUSC 7003  CRN 50427 Topics: Teaching Music in Schools 

7/11-7/22   M-F, 3:00 – 6:45 pm 

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Michael M. LaCava has been an educator and administrator in Massachusetts since 1992. He started his career in Gardner, where he served as the Director of Music and High School/Middle School Band Director.  His Marching Band, Concert Band and Jazz Bands consistently achieved Superior Ratings at State Festival such as MICCA and IAJE. The Gardner Music Department was recognized by the Grammy Foundation as a Grammy “Signature School” during his tenure as the K-12 Director of Music. In 2005, Mr. LaCava moved to the Chelmsford Public Schools in Chelmsford where he became the Fine and Performing Arts Coordinator overseeing all Art and Music Programs and Faculty throughout the district.  After several years in the district as the Coordinator, Mr. LaCava moved into Building Administration and currently is the Principal of the Harrington Elementary School (Grades K-4) in Chelmsford. 

Although Mr. LaCava is now working Building Administration, he continues to be active in the music education field. In addition to being involved in various roles on the Executive Board of the Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA), including the MMEA President from 2007-2009, Mr. LaCava continues to be an active adjudicator and clinician in Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Massachusetts as well as a guest conductor for several state and local festivals. Mr. LaCava also is the lead clinician for the Band Leadership Academy (for high school students across the Northeast) each summer which is run as part of the George N. Parks Drum Major Academy at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.  In 2000, Mr. LaCava was appointed as a visiting lecturer and conductor of the Fitchburg State University Concert Band, a position he continues to hold today.