Musicast Episode 15: F-flat Family Chat- Engagement and Motivation of ALL Students

This week, Marissa and Kevin welcome F-flat family members Sarah Gulish and Chelsea Dehner to the chat to discuss a tricky topic: motivation. In this context, the group refers to a guitar class that attracts students of all ability levels. Kevin kicks off the chat by explaining the situation that he and Marissa face at their home school while Sarah and Chelsea respond with helpful tips and tricks to rethink and revamp ways to engage and encourage students.

On this episode, find out how Sarah and Chelsea keep up with students who are already star guitar players and encourage them to continue their learning while fostering the learning of other students who might not even know how to hold a guitar! The discussion and teaching skills are applicable in to ALL ages, ensembles, subjects, and teachers! Be sure to listen in!

You can check out Sarah's Guitar Method HERE!

Chelsea Dehner is the Lower Moreland High School Choir Director in Huntingdon Valley, PA and has been a music educator for 12 years with experience in K-12 vocal/general and instrumental music. She has her Bachelor of Music in Music Education with a concentration in voice from Moravian College ’08 and her Master’s in Education from Cabrini College ’14. At Lower Moreland, Chelsea teaches Concert Choir, Piano Lab, Singing & Vocalization and Beginning Guitar. She leads the Honor, Treble and Bass Choirs, serves as the LMHS Drama Club Spring Musical Vocal and Pit Director, and holds the position of PMEA District 11 High School Professional Development Chair. You can find her performing with “The Hoppin’ John Orchestra,” “The Bux-Mont Camerata Chorus,” the LMHS Teacher Band, “Staff Infection,” or working at her new adventure of songwriting under the direction of Dr. Kat Reinhert. Chelsea is a certified Yoga Instructor ’18 and loves to laugh, spend time with friends and family, and play with her dog Lala!

Sarah Gulish holds a Ph.D in music education from Temple University. For over a decade, Sarah has taught secondary level music at Lower Moreland High School located in the state of Pennsylvania in the U.S.A. She also serves as Adjunct Professor of Music Education at Buffalo State University and Temple University. Her teaching centers on creativity and improvisation in courses focused on new music learners.

Sarah is an active researcher, writer, presenter, and clinician at the state, national, and international levels. She serves as the United States representative for the International Society of Music Education’s Popular Music Special Interest Group and is a past member of the National Association for Music Education’s IN-ovations Council. She also regularly tours and records as a rock musician with a variety of groups. Her experience as a popular musician has influenced her curricula and philosophy as a music educator and is detailed in her book, Creativity in the Classroom: An Innovative Approach to Integrate Arts Education. She works to provide authentic learning and performing experiences for adolescents both in and out of the classroom. Her research interests include informal learning, creativity, popular music pedagogy, and student autonomy.