Wait… Music Literacy Can Be Fun? Practical Applications for Teaching Music Reading.
Saturday, January 24, 2026
4:00 PM - 4:45 PM
Description
Teaching young musicians notation and music literacy can be a daunting task. In this session we will explore practical and proven processes to take your students from decoding pitch to playing melodies on a variety of instruments! Participants will learn how to layer familiar melodic fragments with harmony and rhythmic ostinatos to create a fully textured ensemble sound! Bring your favorite instrument and come join the fun! A variety of instruments will be provided.

Speakers
Kenneth Smith
Brandon Mattson
Brandon Mattson
Learning Objective 1
Explore processes to engage students in reading music notation and learning simple melodic patterns of familiar songs.
Learning Objective 2
Layer melodic patterns to build complex textures in a variety of musical styles.
Learning Objective 3
Perform the process of layering melodic fragments to create engaging musical activities in a variety of musical styles.
Session Level
Elementary, Middle School/Junior High