Fluency in reading music notation AND reading text leads to music comprehension. Together, we'll explore ten strategies to help students develop fluency in reading music, along with more specialized strategies for when those aren’t enough. Then, we’ll turn our attention to reading text and explore the progression from vocabulary to fluency to comprehension. In the end, we'll put together components of reading music and reading text to create a performance that is better able to communicate a composer’s intent.
Wendy Barden
- Biographical Information
Wendy Barden is the Director of Professional Development and Resource Programs at Perpich Center for Arts Education, a Minnesota state agency. She began her career in Osseo (MN) Area Schools teaching instrumental and general music at the junior high level, and then served 21 years as district K-12 Music Coordinator. Some years the coordinator position included a part-time teaching role, so Wendy has also taught high school band (3 years), beginning band and orchestra (4 years), elementary general music (1 year), and International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Music (8 years). During her tenure, she was named a Yamaha National Mentor Teacher, 1992 Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA) Band Educator of the Year, and 2013 Yale Distinguished Music Educator. Barden is a long-time member of Phi Beta Mu, and in 2014, she was inducted into the MMEA Hall of Fame.
Dr. Barden has authored several resources published by the Neil A. Kjos Music Company, including the Maximizing Student Performance series. She has actively served on the executive boards of several organizations, including Chamber Music Minnesota, and as president of The Evergreen Club, Minnesota Band Directors Association, and Minnesota Music Educators Association.
Wendy Barden holds B.S. and M.A. degrees in music education from the University of Minnesota. Her Ph.D., also from the University of Minnesota, is in music with emphasis in music education and musicology. She is particularly passionate about standards, assessment, and student engagement.