265: Culturally Responsive Music Education with Ashley Cuthbertson

In this podcast episode, we are joined by Ashley Cuthbertson, an expert in culturally responsive music education. Ashley shares her insights and experiences, providing valuable information for music educators looking to make their teaching more culturally responsive. Let’s explore how to make music education more inclusive and relevant for diverse learners.

Key Conversations:

1. Introduction to Ashley Cuthbertson: Ashley introduces herself, her background as a former music educator, and her mission to make music education culturally responsive.

2. The Early Struggles: Ashley reflects on her initial challenges as a music educator and shares a pivotal moment when she realized the importance of understanding her students beyond their names.

3. The Need for Culturally Responsive Teaching: Ashley emphasizes the need for teachers to go beyond just teaching and make learning contextualized and relevant for their students.

4. First Year Teachers and Culturally Responsive Teaching: Ashley provides insights into how first-year teachers, and educators in general, can start incorporating culturally responsive teaching practices into their classrooms.

5. Overcoming Pushback: Ashley addresses common pushback from educators and the underlying fear that often leads to resistance. She encourages teachers to believe in the power of what they do.

6. The Power of Music Education: Ashley highlights the transformative power of music education and how it can impact students' lives in profound ways.

Ashley Cuthbertson, M.Ed, NBCT (she/her) is the Founder & Principal Consultant of A. Cuthbertson Consulting, LLC, an educational consulting firm that partners with schools, school districts, and organizations to help music educators develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to deliver instruction that is culturally responsive & relevant to the diverse and ever-changing needs of today's learners so that all students have an equitable pathway to success in music.

Described as an "engaging and charismatic" teacher educator, Ashley has delivered over 100 professional development sessions through her school district and organization partnerships, serving hundreds of music educators across the U.S. and internationally with 95% of attendees highly recommending her sessions. Additionally, she provides instructional coaching services to a small number of music educators each year.

A Nationally Board Certified Teacher, Ashley holds a Master's in Education, as well as certifications in the Kodály approach and Arts integration. Ashley has over thirteen years of experience in education as a general music & choral educator, a band educator, a K-12 musicianship instructor, a private lessons instructor, lead teacher, new teacher coach, adjunct professor, curriculum writer, speaker, and consultant.

A passionate advocate for music education, Ashley additionally serves the National Association for Music Education as a member of the Repertoire Diversity Task Force and the Virginia Music Educators Association as chair of the DEI Council.

Learn more at https://ashleycuthbertson.com/about-us/

Connect with Ashley through:

• Instagram: @ACuthbertson10 (https://www.instagram.com/acuthbertson10/)
• Facebook: @ACuthbertsonConsulting (https://www.facebook.com/ACuthbertsonConsulting/)
• Twitter: @ACuthbertson10 (https://twitter.com/ACuthbertson10)
• Resource: "Happy Birthday, Dr. King!: A music unit to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr" - Blog post & free resource download (link)

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