Who We Are
The SongWorks Educators Association (SWEA) is a community of educators who engage learners through SongWorks, a principles-based approach to teaching music.
SongWorks principles and practices offer teachers both grounding and flexibility in making purposeful, caring choices in their interactions with people and music. Songs are the foundation for study and learning experiences that nurture playfulness, responsiveness, and musicality.
Through developing and sharing ideas centered around the SongWorks teaching approach, SWEA members support each other in growing as educators and learners.
Events
Certification Courses
July 13-17, 2026
Salt Lake City, UT
Annual Conference
April 2026
Online
News
Arranging and Composing with “Tricky” Ideographs
“What song could this be? See what comes to your mind while I draw. What can you sing back?” I love to present kids with a “secret song” by drawing an ideograph. Perhaps I had drawn the ideograph when first presenting the song in order to clarify their...
In Loving Memory: Fleurette Sweeney
Dr. Sister Fleurette Sweeney April 19, 1929 – November 1, 2025 Fleurette Marie Sweeney, SC, died peacefully at Caritas Residence in Halifax, NS on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at the age of 96. Sister Fleurette was born in Kentville, NS on April 19, 1929, the daughter...
In Loving Memory: Marty Stover
Dr. Marlene (Marty) Louise Stover June 10, 1933 – October 12, 2025 Marlene "Marty" Louise Stover completed her journey home to the arms of Jesus peacefully, surrounded by her family, on October 12, 2025, at the age of 92. Marty was born on June 10, 1933, in Hoagland,...
Arranging and Composing with “Tricky” Ideographs
“What song could this be? See what comes to your mind while I draw. What can you sing back?” I love to present kids with a “secret song” by drawing an ideograph. Perhaps I had drawn the ideograph when first presenting the song in order to clarify their...
In Loving Memory: Fleurette Sweeney
Dr. Sister Fleurette Sweeney April 19, 1929 – November 1, 2025 Fleurette Marie Sweeney, SC, died peacefully at Caritas Residence in Halifax, NS on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at the age of 96. Sister Fleurette was born in Kentville, NS on April 19, 1929, the daughter...
Resources
Looking for Songworks I & II or other printed resources?
Head over to our Books page for these and more!
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From the Archive
Take a Musical Field Trip: Play an Experience Game
Teaching is a journey in more ways than one. In her very first publication from 1975, Dr. Peggy D. Bennett explores one facet of this metaphor as she draws connections between field trips and song game experiences, highlighting the social, emotional, and educational benefits of both.
Voice Discovery in a “Safe” Atmosphere: What Every Child Needs
Singing alone is a key factor in developing skills in healthy, accurate singing. This article offers ideas for creating a “safe” atmosphere for children to sing alone and for giving feedback about the singing.
We’ve Had a Good Time Playing the Game: Now What? (Revisited)
Have you ever felt stuck or unsure what to do next after you’ve played a game with your students? In this article from the August 2013 MEI (SWEA) Newsletter, Dr. Peggy Bennett gives us specific ideas for how to progress from sounds to symbols in order to study a song.
Take a Musical Field Trip: Play an Experience Game
Teaching is a journey in more ways than one. In her very first publication from 1975, Dr. Peggy D. Bennett explores one facet of this metaphor as she draws connections between field trips and song game experiences, highlighting the social, emotional, and educational benefits of both.
Voice Discovery in a “Safe” Atmosphere: What Every Child Needs
Singing alone is a key factor in developing skills in healthy, accurate singing. This article offers ideas for creating a “safe” atmosphere for children to sing alone and for giving feedback about the singing.