Sharon Paul
Session 4
Thursday March 10th - 11:00am
The Science of Belonging: Teamwork, Motivation, and Music
Session Description
Researchers have found that a sense of belonging is a key component to happiness. Studies also show that students who feel like they belong tend to be more engaged and perform better in their academic classes. Choir can serve an important role in a student’s feeling of belonging at school. This highly interactive session will explore the science behind belonging and how we can nurture inclusivity and teamwork in our choral ensembles while working toward musical goals. Pragmatic strategies to encourage team-building and engagement in our classrooms will be considered, as will the relationship between belonging and motivation.
Clinician Bio
Sharon J. Paul holds the Robert M. Trotter Chair of Music at the University of Oregon, where she currently serves as Department Head of Music Performance and Director of Choral Activities. Her teaching includes graduate courses in choral conducting, repertoire, and pedagogy, along with conducting the internationally award-winning Chamber Choir. The UO Chamber Choir has placed first or second in four international choral competitions, most recently winning first prize in the Chamber Choir category at the Grand Prix of Nations Competition in Gothenburg, Sweden in August, 2019.