Upbeat! Mindset, Mindfulness, and Leadership in Music Education
Date
June 9-August 3, 2025
Online
Course Code
8445B
Credits
3
Tuition
$1146
Course Description
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.
Instructor
Internationally renowned speaker, coach, author, and conductor, Dr. Matthew Arau helps people shatter limiting beliefs, unlock their full potential, and orchestrate their lives in alignment with their values and vision. As the founder of Upbeat Global and author of the bestselling book, Upbeat! Mindset, Mindfulness, and Leadership in Music Education and Beyond, Dr. Arau believes in the power of gratitude and joy to make meaningful, transformative change from within. Drawing on his 29 years as a conductor, music educator, and professor, Matthew empowers individuals, teams, and organizations to create inner harmony and resonance through focusing on their well-being, connection, and mindset.
Dr. Arau is an Associate Professor of Music and the Chair of the Music Education Department and Symphonic Band Conductor at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. Dr. Arau has guest conducted, led professional development, and presented clinics on leadership, mindfulness, wellness, growth mindset, rehearsal techniques, and creating positive cultures in 40 states and 4 continents in person. Thousands of high school students have attended his Upbeat Leadership Workshops across the United States to develop their leadership skills and reach for their fullest potential. In addition to being in demand as a keynote speaker, presenter, and professional development facilitator, Dr. Arau has conducted honor bands in Australia, Thailand, Greece, Cyprus, and Malaysia, and All-State honor bands across the United States. Learn more at www.upbeatglobal.com