SEL in the Music Room: Simple, Sustainable Strategies That Fit Your Existing Curriculum

Music classrooms naturally foster creativity, connection, and self-expression, but how can we be more intentional in using these strengths to support students’ overall wellbeing and lifelong engagement?

In this interactive workshop, participants will explore how music education aligns with CASEL’s Social Emotional Learning (SEL) framework and current research on music and the brain. Through hands-on experiences and practical examples, we’ll examine simple ways to embed SEL into daily routines, lesson planning, and musical activities, without overhauling your curriculum.

Participants will walk away with practical tools to support student self-awareness, regulation, collaboration, and more meaningful engagement with the creative process. We’ll explore how to create a cohesive approach across grade levels that builds musicianship and lifelong connections to music.