Portfolio Archives: Professional Development

with Maud Arnold of Syncopated Ladies
Held FREE for over 60 educators, this workshop shared ways teachers can use tap dancing as a vehicle for students to express thoughts and beliefs they may have difficulty verbalizing. A history of tap was discussed along with Maud’s and the Syncopated Ladies’ own way of finding their joy and voice through the artistry and concentration of tap dancing.

with composer Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR)

Dr. Roumain led a discussion for educators about how he turned blind rage at the killing of George Floyd into a collaborative masterwork that highlights how people of color navigate the world on a daily basis and deal with unimaginable loss.

In April 2020, FirstWorks hosted a live Professional Development Workshop via Zoom with composer, violinist, educator, and activist Dr. Daniel Bernard Roumain for 40 local K-12 educators and artists titled “Teaching Tolerance with Music.” DBR was joined by esteemed artist-educators Liz Lerman and Michael Rohd.

History Explored Through Music with Lee Mixashawn Rozie

This teacher professional development online workshop focused on Indigenous, traditional, and contemporary music to teach history of world peoples and inspire creativity and natural expression.