Conference 2024

Welcome

Welcome to the 2024 SongWorks Virtual Conference Series! We are so happy you are joining us for this online gathering to sing, laugh, and learn together!

Below you will see tabs for each day of conference events that contain detailed information about all sessions, handouts and other materials from our presenters, Zoom links for each day of presentations, and videos of pre-recorded sessions. This is also where you will find the video recordings of our live sessions, posted within 48 hours of the event.

Passwords to access conference content were emailed to all registrants on April 1. 

If you need any assistance accessing the Conference Platform page or entering the Zoom meeting, please contact Registrar Alice Nordquist (registrar@songworkseducators.com).

Session Details & Information

Katie Herzberg

Conference Chair

Katie Herzberg
Charleston, IL

Conference Chair Bio

Katie Herzberg teaches K-5 elementary music in Charleston, IL. In the past, she taught both band and choir at the high school level. Katie has taken all three SongWorks Certification courses. She enjoys paddle boarding, running, and hiking with her wonderful husband and three amazing daughters. 2019 Emerging Pioneer, SongWorks Certified Educator, SWEA Board Director-at-Large, 2024 Conference Chair.

Alice Nordquist
Lisa Schoen

Conference Program Co-Chairs

Alice Nordquist and Lisa Schoen
Baltimore, MD and Farmington, MN

Conference Program Co-Chair Bios

Alice Nordquist teaches elementary general music in Ellicott City, Maryland. Previously, she taught beginning and intermediate band and strings in California. A flutist with degrees from Oberlin College and Conservatory in Music Education and Latin and a Master of Music in Music Education from the Peabody Conservatory, Alice enjoys exploring the interactions between music and language in her teaching. 2015 Emerging Pioneer, SongWorks Certified Educator, SongWorks Certification Faculty, SWEA Registrar, 2024 Conference Program Co-Chair.

Lisa Schoen has been teaching K–5 music for over 20 years at Deerwood Elementary in Eagan, Minnesota. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Music and Education from Gustavus Adolphus College and her Master of Education from Concordia University St. Paul. Lisa lives with her husband and three children in Farmington, Minnesota. 2014 Emerging Pioneer, SongWorks Certified Educator, SongWorks Certification Faculty, SWEA Past President, SWEA Treasurer, 2024 Conference Program Co-Chair.

Accessing the Conference Platform

Welcome to the 2024 SongWorks Virtual Conference Series!

The password for accessing this Conference Platform was sent to all registrants on Monday, 4/1. If you registered for the conference and did not receive this email, please contact SWEA Registrar Alice Nordquist (registrar@songworkseducators.com).

Accessing the Conference Platform

Welcome to the 2024 SongWorks Virtual Conference Series!

The password for accessing this Conference Platform was sent to all registrants on Monday, 4/1. If you registered for the conference and did not receive this email, please contact SWEA Registrar Alice Nordquist (registrar@songworkseducators.com).

Accessing the Conference Platform

Welcome to the 2024 SongWorks Virtual Conference Series!

The password for accessing this Conference Platform was sent to all registrants on Monday, 4/1. If you registered for the conference and did not receive this email, please contact SWEA Registrar Alice Nordquist (registrar@songworkseducators.com).

Accessing the Conference Platform

Welcome to the 2024 SongWorks Virtual Conference Series!

The password for accessing this Conference Platform was sent to all registrants on Monday, 4/1. If you registered for the conference and did not receive this email, please contact SWEA Registrar Alice Nordquist (registrar@songworkseducators.com).

Conference Schedule

Thursday, March 16

6:30-9:30pm – Hospitality Suite is Open

Friday, March 17

8:00-9:00am – Registration

9:00-9:15am

  • Welcome – Jake Harkins (VA)

9:15-9:45am

  • Back to Our Beginnings: It All Starts With Play – Betty Phillips (OR) – Handout

9:45-10:15am

  • Playing Pictures: Student-Created Arrangements, Student-Centered Learning – Rebecca Hahn (MN) – Handout

10:15-11:00am

  • Embracing the Classics: Dance of the Comedians – Susan Kenney (UT) – Handout

11:00-11:15am – Break

11:15am-12:00pm

  • Observation Class – Lisa Schoen (MN)

12:00-12:15pm

  • Observation Discussion – Alice Nordquist (MD)

12:15-1:15pm – Lunch

1:15-2:00pm

  • High Hopes for Rhythm and Solfège – Katie Herzberg (IL) – Handout

2:00-2:45pm

  • You Must Learn to Join the Dance – Dr. Taryn Raschdorf (VA) – Handout

2:45-3:30pm

  • Children’s Choir Meets SongWorks! – Dr. Erin Bailey and Emilee Knell (UT) – Handout

3:30-4:00pm

  • Hancock’s Driftin’: A Study in Mapping – Dr. Doug Bartholomew (MT) – Handout

4:00-4:15pm

  • Discussion – Nan Fitzpatrick (CA)

4:15-5:00pm

  • Marko Skace: Slovenia’s Most Popular Folk Song – Danielle Solan (Hong Kong) – Handout

7:00-9:30pm – Hospitality Suite is Open

Saturday, March 18

8:00-8:45am

  • Hoy Cantamos y Jugandos: Bringing Songs and Games Into Your Classroom With Authenticity and Engagement – Vicky Suárez and Debanhi Garcia (TX) – Handout 1 / Handout 2

8:45-9:15am

  • Break ‘Em On Down, These Walls Between Us – Nan Fitzpatrick (CA) – Handout

9:15-10:00am

  • Sidewindin’ Towards the Staff – Anna Shelow (OH) – Handout

10:00-10:15am

  • Discussion – Vicky Suárez (TX)

10:15-11:00am

  • Reflections From Our Emerging Pioneers – Kylie Decker (UT), Rachel Gunderson (AZ), Jakki Moses (OR) – Handout 1 / Handout 2 / Handout 3

11:00-11:45am

  • Hear That Train: From Song Game to Concert Piece – Danielle Solan (Hong Kong) – Handout

11:45am-12:15pm

  • Reflection From Our Visiting Scholar – Dr. Alison Reynolds (PA)

12:15-1:15pm – Lunch

1:15-2:00pm

  • Children’s Brains After a Pandemic – Molly Feigal (MN) – Handout

2:00-3:00pm

  • Now the Song Is in Your Hand: Mapping Manifested – Alice Nordquist (MD) – Handout

3:00-3:45pm

  • Ice Skates and Snowflakes: Embodying, Encoding, and Decoding Sound – Lisa Schoen (MN) – Handout

3:45-4:00pm

  • Reflection and Coda – Jake Harkins (VA)

5:30-6:30pm – Happy Hour

7:00pm – Conference Banquet

  • Emcees – Rachel Gunderson (AZ), Max Mellman (NJ)

9:30-10:30pm – Hospitality Suite is Open

Handouts

Handouts will be available to registrants on March 15th. You can access and download the PDFs from this page to save an electronic copy on your device. Plan to do this in advance of the conference, as internet access in the conference hotel may be limited.

If you wish to have a paper copy at the conference to take notes, please print these for yourself before traveling; paper copies will not be provided on-site.

Hospitality Suite

All conference registrants are welcome and encouraged to join one another in the Hospitality Suite. Light snacks and beverages are available. We look forward to meeting you and getting to know one another! The Hospitality Suite will be open to receive guests:

  • Thursday, March 16, 7:00-9:30pm
  • Friday, March 17, 7:00-9:30pm
  • Saturday, March 18, 9:30-10:30pm

On-Site Transportation

A variety of transportation options are available from the Boston Logan Airport to the Boston Marriott Newton Hotel:

Option #1: Ride Share (e.g. Uber, Lyft)

This option works best if you download the app of the company you intend to use and fully set up your account in advance. Follow the signs for “Ride Share / Uber / Lyft” inside the airport.

Option #2: Taxi

Taxis are available at each terminal on the Arrivals Level (except Terminal C) where taxis are located on the Ground Level of the Central Parking Garage.

These are the taxi services and phone numbers to save in your phone:

Option #3: Subway

The Auburndale subway stop is approximately a 13 minute walk to the conference hotel.

Directions:

At the Airport:

  1. Go to Terminal E – Arrivals Level.
  2. Look for the “Silver Line”  Signs leading to SL1 South Station. This is a free shuttle bus from the airport to South Station Transportation Terminal.
  3. Take the Silver Line Shuttle to South Station terminal.

At South Station Terminal:

  1. GET OFF the Airport Shuttle at South Station Terminal.
  2. Walk into South Station terminal following the signs for the Commuter Rail Service.
  3. Purchase a Commuter Rail Ticket for the Framingham/Worcester Line.
  4. Take the Framingham/Worcester Line to the Auburndale stop (the 6th stop from South Station).

At Auburndale:

  1. GET OFF the train at the Auburndale stop (https://www.mbta.com/stops/place-WML-0102?from=global-search&query=auburndale).
  2. Get off the Commuter Rail Train and walk to the right up the steps.

This is the neighborhood in Newton near the hotel. The walk will be approximately 13 minutes to the hotel. Enter the address of the conference hotel into your phone to navigate turn-by-turn:

Boston Marriott Newton
2345 Commonwealth Ave
Newton, MA 02466

Option #4:  Car Rental at Airport

Rental car services are available at the airport through the Rental Car Center. It is approximately a 20 minute drive to the conference hotel.

Boston Marriott Newton
2345 Commonwealth Ave
Newton, MA 02466

Option #5: Travel with a buddy

Check in with a friend to see when they are arriving and make a plan to travel to the hotel together!

Graduate Credit & CEUs

Graduate Credits (1.0) and Continuing Education Units (15 clock hours) are available for in-person conference attendees through Seattle Pacific University (SPU). If you would like to register for either of these options, you can do so directly through SPU with the links below. The registration deadline is March 17 at 11:59pm.

If you have questions, please contact SWEA Academic Coordinator Taryn Raschdorf (taryn@songworkseducators.com).

SongWorks Conference for Music and Classroom Teachers (1 Credit or 15 Clock hours) (March 17 – March 18, 2023)

EDMU 5588, CRN 420 – Register for SPU Credit

CEU 3352, CRN 421 – Register for SPU Clock hours 

Refund Policy: Withdrawals submitted online through SPU within 48 hours of the first class session will receive a 100% refund of SPU tuition. After this point, no refund will be granted and all withdrawals must be submitted prior to the final class session. Instructions on how to withdraw are located on SPU’s website under Students/Withdrawal and Refund Policies.

Evaluations: Students will be emailed a link to an online evaluation from SPU’s Continuing Professional Office at the end of the course.