We are so excited to provide two folksong-centered workshops this school year, as well as a (free!) Kodály Connection event focusing on making music together! Please click on the “Upcoming Workshops” link above for information on our 2021-2022 workshop series.

We are so grateful to the University of St. Thomas for generously sponsoring our 2020-2021 workshop series. Click on the banner above to find out more about the amazing graduate programs in music education at UST!

Students in the graduate program at UST can also use KCM workshops toward graduate credit.

For information on our 2020-2021 workshop series, click the link at the top of this page!

We have several updates to our KCM workshops, including an exciting partnership with several MKMEA chapters. Please register for this important, relevant workshop series with Amy Lewis!

Profits will be donated to a midwest civil rights organization.
Click here to register and pay online.

KCM is partnering with the Chicago Area Kodaly Educators on a miniseries with Amy Lewis, continuing the work on the topic of race in the music classroom. Be sure to sign up for the full two-part miniseries! Workshops will be held as two interactive webinars on Thursday, 7/30/2020 & 8/6/2020, from 1:00 – 3:00 pm, CDT. Check out the CAKE workshop webpage to register and access resources!

Part 1: Engaging in Critical Race Theory in the Music Classroom
Critical Race Theory (CRT) provides a lens to critically consider how race effects everyday life. Participants will engage and further understand the three tenets of Critical Race Theory (ordinariness, counter-narratives, and intersectionality), and how they relate to the music classroom.

Part 2: Practical Applications of CRT in the Music Classroom
Participants will continue to explore and discuss explicit connections to practical applications in the music classroom, as well as the current unrest we are experiencing.

The cost of the two-part miniseries is $20 for OAKE Members, and $30 for Non-OAKE Members. Profits will be donated to a midwest civil rights organization.
If you attended the April 2020 CAKE workshop on Critical Race Theory, you are welcome to just register for part 2 of the miniseries for $10 for OAKE Members, and $15 for Non-OAKE Members. 

Click here to register and pay online. Registrants will be emailed a link and password to the Zoom webinar. Please email chicagokodaly@gmail.com with any questions.

This miniseries is co-sponsored by:         
CAKE – Chicago Area Kodály Educators
KCM – Kodály Chapter of Minnesota
KEI – Kodály Educators of Iowa
KMEK – Kodály Music Educators of Kansas
NoCKA – North Coast Kodály Association
TRIKE – Tri-City Kodály Educators of Ohio

June 16th, 2020

As music educators and human beings, we are heartbroken at at the murder of George Floyd, just one of many instances of violence against people of color in our community and across the United States. We are aware that a larger system of oppression and racism has existed for hundreds of years and still exists in our country and community. We believe in and value the inherent dignity of human life, and we commit to anti-racist action. Black lives matter. We believe that systemic change is needed to combat this cycle of violence against communities of color. As an all-white leadership team, we recognize our privilege and we are committed to using our chapter to strive toward equity in music education and in our greater community.

We commit to centering and amplifying BIPOC voices in the Kodály Chapter of Minnesota. We plan to intentionally program workshops led by people of color and personally invite music educators of color to these events. It will be our expectation that presenters are cognizant of our values of racial justice, equity, and inclusion when presenting a workshop. We will place emphasis on teaching cultural and historical context of workshop repertoire, and avoiding cultural appropriation.

In addition to intentionally planning more inclusive workshops, we will also be more transparent in asking for feedback after workshops. We will consistently examine our planning processes and look for feedback on needs from our community for future workshop topics.

This process of anti-racism is ongoing. We are approaching this with a growth mindset, and we ask to be held accountable for mistakes. We commit to listening and learning, examining our own privilege and implicit biases so that we can take action to provide equitable, safe learning spaces for all of our learners.

Sincerely,

The board members of the Kodály Chapter of Minnesota

We are the local chapter of OAKE representing the great state of Minnesota.  We host several professional development workshops for music educators every year as well as other community-building and professional group opportunities.  We would love to have you join us at one of our upcoming events, which can be found by following the link at the top of the page.