UW-Madison Music Education

Congratulations to all who took part in this year's Mead Witter School of Music Graduation ceremonies. Ella Briggs, B.M. (Music Education) provided an engaging and illuminating undergraduate speech.

This is our largest graduating class in recent memory, and we look forward to seeing/hearing the amazing things these music educators do.

University of Wisconsin-Madison
UW-Madison College of Letters & Science
UW-Madison / Dept of Curriculum & Instruction
University of Wisconsin-Madison Mead Witter School of Music

Be sure to save the date for the 5th Biennial Disability Studies and Music Education Symposium, which takes place April 8-10, 2027. Hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, accessible in person, online, and at satellite locations around the world.

Theme: Disability as Embodying Creativity

Read the call: https://tinyurl.com/DSandME-27-Call
Submit a proposal: https://tinyurl.com/DSandME-27-Submit

University of Wisconsin-Madison
UW-Madison College of Letters & Science
UW-Madison / Dept of Curriculum & Instruction
University of Wisconsin-Madison Mead Witter School of Music

Students enrolled in MUSIC/CURRIC 300: Principles of Music Education, pictured here with Dr. Rathgeber, held their final class of the semester. What a wonderful experience with these almost 40 students (first- and second-year students). Lots of inquiry, music, laughter, and community throughout the semester. If you see one of these students, ask them about the ultra-short plays/musicals they created and performed in class as a means of reflecting.

University of Wisconsin-Madison
UW-Madison College of Letters & Science
UW-Madison / Dept of Curriculum & Instruction
University of Wisconsin-Madison Mead Witter School of Music

Students enrolled in MUSIC 911: Thinking with Social Theory in Music Education, pictured here with Dr. Jesse Rathgeber, shared their theory toolkits in class today and celebrated their learning. So much fun playing with and working theory to (re)consider issues related to music learning and teaching.

We'll be offering this new course again under its permanent course number (MUSIC 944) in Spring of 2028.

University of Wisconsin-Madison
UW-Madison College of Letters & Science
UW-Madison / Dept of Curriculum & Instruction
University of Wisconsin-Madison Mead Witter School of Music

Congratulations to Luke DallaGrana on his successful Master of Music: Education Oral Exam on his thesis, "Re-framing with Purpose: Using Theory to Re-frame the Ensemble Music Education Core Narrative."

A thank-you to his committee: Professor Aruṇ Lūthrā (Jazz Saxophone, Konnakol, and Rhythm), Dr. Amy Lewis, and Dr. Jesse Rathgeber, who served as Luke's thesis advisor.

University of Wisconsin-Madison
UW-Madison College of Letters & Science
University of Wisconsin-Madison Mead Witter School of Music

The Music Education Area has an abundance of scores and sheet music to give out. Please take these opportunities to peruse our files in Mosse Humanities Building in the balcony of room 1341 on Sunday, April 26 (3-6pm) and Tuesday, April 28 (4-5:30pm). We hope that these may be useful resources for local teachers, students, and scholars.

University of Wisconsin-Madison
UW-Madison College of Letters & Science
University of Wisconsin-Madison Mead Witter School of Music

Congratulations to Zach Holden on his successful Master of Music: Education Oral Exam on his thesis, "Improv(e): Improvisatory Community Music as a Place for Social Justice."

A thank-you to his committee: Dr. Nadia Chana (Ethnomusicology), Dr. Jesse Rathgeber, and Dr. Amy Lewis, who served as Zach's thesis advisor.

University of Wisconsin-Madison
UW-Madison College of Letters & Science
University of Wisconsin-Madison Mead Witter School of Music

Dr. Amy Lewis shared her work with the SoulFolk Collective today in the session "The Impact of Improvisational Playfulness." Congrats, Dr. Lewis!

University of Wisconsin-Madison
UW-Madison College of Letters & Science
University of Wisconsin-Madison Mead Witter School of Music

Read Dr. Rathgeber's newest research column in the April edition of the Wisconsin School Musician, a journal published by the Wisconsin School Music Association and the Wisconsin Music Educators Association. In this article, Dr. Rathgeber discusses ways to seek out, engage with, and celebrate music scholarship.

Access the full article via https://wsmamusic.org/wsm/ for WMEA and WSMA members. All others interested in accessing the column can contact Dr. Rathgeber directly.

University of Wisconsin-Madison
UW-Madison College of Letters & Science
University of Wisconsin-Madison Mead Witter School of Music
Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA)