Spring 2023 MECA
Continuing Education Courses
Overview
This course is a practical, reflective, and community-building book study of Upbeat! Mindset, Mindfulness, and Leadership in Music Education and Beyond (GIA Publications) with the author Dr. Matthew Arau. Educators will have the opportunity to engage with meaningful topics that can elevate their quality of life and personal fulfillment while raising the wellbeing and success of their students through creating a compassionate and inclusive culture. Divided into three parts—Ignite, Inspire, and Lead—Upbeat! takes readers on a journey from internal self-reflection to outward expressions of leadership, with chapters addressing such topics as:
• Mindfulness
• Self-care for mental and physical wellness
• The transformative power of positivity and gratitude
• Growth mindset in the classroom
• Mindful breathing and listening in an ensemble setting
• Fostering an inclusive culture of excellence and connection
• The essential qualities of an effective leader
• Integrating social and emotional learning into the music classroom and ensemble
• How to develop a thriving student leadership program
The course will consist of reading, discussions, meditation, virtual chat sessions, supplemental material, and practical projects to work for your personal life and for the students and classes that you teach. Developing a personal mindfulness, mindset, and wellness plan, applying the strategies in the book in your classroom, and reflecting on the book’s journal questions will ensure that Upbeat! goes beyond just being a book that you read and positively transforms how you live, lead, and teach.
Students are required to attend 4 out of 6 Zoom classes. Dates for Zoom classes are from 6:00-7:00PM CST on the following Sundays:
Upbeat ZOOM #1: Sunday, February 19, 6:00-7:00 pm Central
Upbeat ZOOM #2: Sunday, February 26, 6:00-7:00 pm Central
Upbeat ZOOM #3: Sunday, March 12, 6:00-7:00 pm Central
Upbeat ZOOM #4: Sunday, March 26, 6:00-7:00 pm Central
Upbeat ZOOM #5: Sunday, April 9, 6:00-7:00 pm Central
Upbeat ZOOM #6: Sunday, April 30, 6:00-7:00 pm Central
Requirements
Chat Session
Prerequisites
Required Text(s)
“Upbeat! Mindset, Mindfulness, and Leadership in Music Education and Beyond” by Dr. Matthew Arau
Learning Platform Information - Online Courses Only
Schoology is a learning management system that allows you to interact directly with your instructors, fellow students, and members of the greater VanderCook community.
The evening before your class begins, be on the lookout for an email from Schoology with log-in instructions. Once you receive credentials, visit www.online.vandercook.edu to login.
Some courses have specific online chat meeting times (please see course descriptions), while others have a flexible meeting schedule. You can expect all courses to meet together in a live online chat. If a live meeting time doesn’t work, you can work with your instructor to make other arrangements.
More information about Schoology can be found at www.schoology.com
Please see specific software/hardware requirements in the course description.
Online course grades are available within two weeks of the course(s) completion. If you need a transcript, please CLICK HERE to access the online transcript request form. For a faster turnaround time, please submit the transcript request to the registrar prior to the end of your course(s).
Instructor
