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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
Summer 2025
Salt Lake City, UT
Annual Conference
April 4-5, 2025
Dallas, TX
SongWorks in Practice (SIP)
2024-2025 Season
Monthly Sessions Online
News
Personal Progress and Community Support
Rachel Gunderson recently completed her Level 3 SongWorks Certification Teaching Practicum to become a SongWorks Certified Educator. Here she shares her reflections on how the experience has enriched her teaching practice. Participating in this year-long SongWorks...
SongWorks in Action at ODU: Student Reflections
After their Level 1 Certification Course, SongWorks in Action students shared their reflections on a week of deep learning and engagement with SongWorks Principles and Practices. From Left to Right: (Row 1) Kylie Decker, Sandy Murray, Betty Phillips, Kayla Buchanan;...
SongWorks in Action at ODU: An Interview with the Faculty
Kylie Decker sits down with SongWorks Certification Executive Director, Betty Phillips, and Level 1 faculty members, Molly Feigal and Sandy Murray, to talk about their experiences during the week.
From the President
Happy Fall! In addition to the cozy sweatshirts, colorful festivals, and heartwarming aromas of cinnamon, pumpkin, and clove, this beautiful season of transition is also a necessary cycle in nature’s journey.
Building Relationships with SongWorks
Kylie Decker recently completed her Level 3 SongWorks Certification Teaching Practicum to become a SongWorks Certified Educator. Here she shares her reflections on how the experience has enriched her teaching practice. As I have taught this year I have gained a deeper...
Resources
Looking for Songworks I & II or other printed resources?
Head over to our Books page for these and more!
Get Involved
• SWEA Newsletter & Teaching Ideas
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From the Archive
The Children Are Coming: An Interview with Leah Sunquist
At the beginning of the school year, I’m excited to see my students! I’ve missed them, and I’m excited to rekindle the relationships. I like to touch base with what’s going on, see the growth and find out what’s happened in their lives. I am also excited about all the new things I have to present to them, and the journeys I want to take them on throughout the year.
A Tribute to Teachers
We are teachers. We know the importance of our work. We have made a career commitment to helping young people learn. Yet, we know that we’ll never finish our quest to be the best teacher we can be.
A Musical Evolution of Notation: Introduction
Often, conventional music notation is studied on an elemental level by pulling visual symbols, representing rhythm and pitch, out of their musical context for study. What happens when we consider that complex traditional music notation has become so rigid that its study at an elemental level lacks value, function, or power?
‘…that by which…’
In 1946 during my first year of undergraduate studies, I took my very first course in philosophy. How I loved that course! Yet for all my enthusiasm at the time only two precise memories remain. Those of you who know me will laugh at this first one simply because I haven’t changed a whit to this day!