Modern Band Fellows, including Dr. Jill Reese (second from left) compose songs and rehearse rock and popular music for a gig at Avogadro's Number, a hot spot for live music near Colorado State University in Fort Collins.
Dr. Jill Reese, who is an associate professor of Music Education at SUNY Fredonia, was recently awarded the 2021 Modern Band Higher Education Fellowship by the nonprofit Little Kids Rock.
As a fellow, Dr. Reese received funding to travel to Colorado State University from July 25 to 29 to receive modern band professional development.
In addition, Reese will be provided with curricular materials and instruments for Fredonia’s Music Education program, including electric basses, guitars, drum set, keyboards and tech equipment.
Reese is excited to incorporate modern band at Fredonia. “With the support of this experience, Fredonia’s Music Education majors will have the opportunity to gain skills and pedagogical knowledge to successfully engage their students in performing, creating, and responding to a wide variety of music including pop music, country, R & B, rap and so many more genres,” Reese said.
“With this Modern Band approach, our preservice teachers will be able to engage a wider diversity of PreK-12 students via a more inclusive pedagogy. As such, Fredonia’s preservice music teachers will leaders in providing more equitable access to music education and enable lifelong musicianship for their students!”
Modern Band teaches kids to perform, improvise and compose using the popular styles of music that they know and love including rock, pop, reggae, hip hop, rhythm and blues and other modern styles. Modern Band classes feature guitar, bass, keyboard, drums, vocals, technology and computers.
The programs also expand upon existing music programming such as marching band, jazz band and chorus, making music available to children who might otherwise not participate in traditional music classes.
The nonprofit selected Reese for the fellowship based on her application and Fredonia School of Music’s “commitment to making Modern Band and culturally responsive, highly inclusive music education a part of course offerings for Music Education majors.”
In addition, Reese’s pedagogical and research achievements have garnered a national reputation for high-caliber education including general music, early childhood music, technology, improvisation and ukulele.
