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.

Chat Sessions:

Attend a minimum of 4 out of 6 online Zoom Class sessions. (If you have to miss a class, watch the recording of any online class sessions and submit to Dr. Arau a reflection/summary within five days of the class)

Dates for Zoom classes are the following Sundays, 6:00-7:00 pm Central Time:
September 24, October 1, October 15, October 29, November 12, December 3.