Kendra Taylor

Interest Session 1

1/24/24 | 3-4pm

Into the Great Unknown: Strategies and Resources for First-Year Teachers

Session Description

The first year of teaching music can be overwhelming. This session will offer strategies and resources for navigating the first year of teaching from educators with experience in choir, instrumental, and general music at all age levels. Topics will include communication/scheduling practices, “hacks” for effective classroom routines, recruitment and retention, low-cost online resources, tips for building understanding, empathy and rapport with colleagues and students, and much more. Research-based and trauma-informed self-care techniques will be included to address the needs of first-year teachers. Time for questions will be prioritized so audience members can ask for advice specific to their goals/concerns.

Clinician Bio

Kendra Taylor is a PhD candidate in Music Education at the University of Oregon. She holds a Master of Arts in Teaching and a Bachelor of Science in Music from Southern Oregon University. She holds an Oregon K-12 teaching license (music). Before working as a graduate teaching assistant at the UO, she taught concert choir (2018-2020) and choral methods (2020-2021) at Southern Oregon University and was director of choirs at North Medford High School (2016-2020). She has given presentations on vocal health for music educators (Oregon Music Education Association conference, University of Oregon C-NAfME, Bethel School district).