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Music education faculty and alumni will present sessions at national conference

Allison Croskey, Adam Depew, Christina Reardon, and Julie Froude will present this November.

Allison Croskey, Adam Depew, Christina Reardon, and Julie Froude
Pictured: Adam Depew (top left), Allison Croskey (top right), Julie Froude (bottom left), and Christina Reardon (bottom right).

Music education faculty and alumni will present sessions at national conference

Pictured: Adam Depew (top left), Allison Croskey (top right), Julie Froude (bottom left), and Christina Reardon (bottom right).

Four from Miami University’s music education program were selected to present workshop sessions at the American Orff Schulwerk Association’s (AOSA) Professional Development Conference. It takes place in Des Moines, Iowa, from November 13-16.

The recipients – Allison Croskey, Adam Depew, Christina Reardon, and Julie Froude – all serve on the board of the Cincinnati chapter of the organization, which is one of the largest chapters and spans from northern Kentucky to Dayton and Indiana. They are also all active, full-time music educators in elementary and middle schools.

 

Julie FroudeFroude now serves as an adjunct professor of music education at Miami. The session she will present, titled "Around the World in 80 Bites", will explore how to foster a culturally inclusive classroom using limited resources and drawing inspiration from global food vendor calls and children’s books.

She thanks faculty emerita, Kay Edwards, who previously taught the class she now teaches. 

Begin Quote
I am grateful to Dr. Edwards for her leadership in this area of music education, and for her guidance as I continue in this work,” Froude said. “It is a huge credit to her expertise that there are three Miami music education alumni also presenting at this conference, as they were all students of Dr. Edwards. I feel a big sense of responsibility in maintaining the high standards and tradition of excellence in music education that Miami University has had over the years.
End Quote
Julie Froude

Christina ReardonReardon graduated from Miami’s undergraduate program in 2008 and received her masters in 2013. Her session, titled “Shifting Shapes through the Schulwerk” will examine geometry and movement within the framework of children’s literature and haikus.

Reardon also thanks Dr. Edwards.

 

Begin Quote
[She] is the reason I became a general music teacher,” Reardon said. “She got us into the classrooms starting our first year, shared the magic that is elementary music, taught us about various methodologies and approaches to elementary music, and encouraged us to attend workshops.
End Quote
Christina Reardon

Adam DepewDepew graduated from Miami in 2011. He will present a session titled "Mixed Emotions", which will focus on the range of feelings experienced by and because of the musical activities within elementary classrooms. 

Begin Quote
Dr. Edwards saw something special in me when I worked with elementary students and because of her, I developed a love for impacting this younger population... [She] helped facilitate the trajectory of my career and has been a continuous source of support and mentorship.
End Quote
Adam Depew

Allison CroskeyCroskey graduated from Miami in 2006 and received her graduate degree in 2010. Her session, entitled "Synergize for Success", will work with lessons on the recorder instrument, among other activities involving literature for young musical students.

 

Begin Quote
Dr. Kay Edwards was a transformative influence on my teaching journey,” Croskey said. “Under her guidance, I discovered the profound impact of elementary music in fostering creativity, enhancing problem-solving skills, and making learning an enjoyable experience for young students.
End Quote
Allison Croskey

 

The Miami University music education department looks forward to these musicians contributing their expertise to the upcoming conference.