Could Popular Music Education Enhance Your Music Program?
August 19, 2026
Presenter Mary Claxton introduces participants in Modern Band 101 to a guitar chord
Approximately 35 music educators participated in a popular music professional development workshop on August 18, 2026, organized through a collaboration of the MN Department of Education, Perpich Center for Arts Education, and Music Will. Led by expert Music Will facilitator Mary Claxton, a former Minnesotan and product of a Minnesota southern suburban public school music education, the Modern Band 101 course focused on popular music and instruments. Advocating for a contemporary approach to music education that centers around student creation and decision making, the workshop instruction included ideas for scaffolding, musical decision making, iconic notation, and culturally sustaining teaching techniques. Participants received instruction on guitar, keyboard, drums, vocals, and bass, and then used their musical skills to compose and perform an original song in a group setting.
Participants had lots to say about their experiences in the workshop. Here are some of the comments they shared:
- “It was really fun and accessible, for any instrument and skill level.”
- “Learning how to make teaching modern band instruments easier [was the most useful part of the workshop].”
- “I strongly recommend this workshop to all music teachers K-12, even college music education professors. Very useful, practical, well organized, and engaged. Thank you!”
- “Great introduction of fundamental skills on Piano, Guitar, Bass, and Drum Set.”
- “It was so great to learn by actually doing the activities, and helped give me ideas on how to actually teach it and sequence it.”
- “All contents are quite educational and practical. I’ve got some ideas how I can apply some of those teaching skills into my music classes.”
All participants learned to play keyboards, too
By organizing this event, MDE, Perpich, and Music Will hoped to gather information about the interest of music educators in Minnesota in popular music education. As a result of the enthusiastic participation in the workshop and strong interest in this topic, we are planning the next phases of an exciting new opportunity designed to support music teachers in successfully embedding modern band in Minnesota’s public schools. Stay tuned as we unveil plans to launch a Popular Music Education Cohort. Information about the new cohort will be shared through upcoming Perpich Center and MDE Arts Education Newsletters in the fall.
Cohort participants will get:
- New strategies focusing on instrumental instruction, improvisation, and songwriting using music production
- Curricular projects & activities for all of your music students
- Unlimited access to new curricular materials and online resources
- Participation in a community of more than 4,000 music teachers from across the country
Participants formed ensembles to compose and perform an original song
Music Will is the largest nonprofit music program in the U.S. public school system, formerly known as Little Kids Rock. What started as an after-school program with a few borrowed guitars (in a school that had no music program) has grown into the largest nonprofit music program in U.S. public schools, reaching over a million students annually in all 50 states. Today, a national network of K-12 districts have adopted the Music Will program in their schools. Music Will teachers currently serve over 1,000,000 students in more than 600 cities and towns across the country. More than 70 colleges and universities teach Music Will’s approach to their music education majors.
Perpich Center looks forward to providing additional professional development opportunities on this topic.
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