An exploration into the power of social emotional learning across curricula through the arts will be held at the 2023 Music Education Summit, “Opportunities for Social Emotional Learning,” at the SUNY Fredonia School of Music on Saturday, Sept. 9.
The summit will provide a forum for stakeholders – practicing teachers in Western New York and students and faculty across Education, Music Education, Communication Disorders and Sciences programs – to explore the power of social emotional learning across curricula and through the arts. It may be especially meaningful for students and faculty in the School of Music as well as the College of Education, Health Sciences and Human Services at SUNY Fredonia.
Keynote speaker Dr. Scott Edgar, a social emotional learning researcher, author and music educator, will introduce social emotional learning as a framework for developing identity, belonging and agency through music education and arts integration. He will share the learning theory, psychology and research behind social emotional learning initiatives and will engage participants in practical activities they can apply in their classrooms and clinical settings immediately and in the future.
Dr. Edgar is director of Practice and Research for the Center for Arts Education and Social Emotional Learning and an associate professor of music and chair of music at Lake Forest College.
“This summit will enrich the cultural life of the university and the community within Fredonia and the greater area of Western New York,” said School of Music Professor Jill Reese. “With the opportunity to interact with each other and with Dr. Edgar, the preservice and practicing teachers and faculty members will learn about the ways in which social emotional learning can be supported in an interdisciplinary fashion.”
Students (PreK-12 and university) develop multiple competencies for lifelong success when social emotional learning initiatives are incorporated across the curriculum and among disciplines, Dr. Reese explained. The initiatives are especially important since the pandemic, she noted.
Teachers can earn Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) credits for participating in the event, which is offered free to participants.
The summit will be held in Mason Hall Room 1080 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Those interested should pre-register before the Friday, Sept. 1 deadline online. For more information, email
Support for the summit has been provided by a grant through the Carnahan Jackson Fund for the Humanities of the Fredonia College Foundation. Collegiate student participation is supported through funding from the New York State School Music Association.
