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2024 ACDA Southwestern Region Conference February 27 - March 2, 2024 Denver, Colorado

In t er est S essions
Interest Sessions

Gaming the System: will suggest ideas for applying these skills through play-
Play-Based Approaches to Teaching Music Literacy based projects.

Saleel Menon is working on his PhD in
Teaching music literacy can feel like a high-pressure music education at Michigan State Uni-
exercise that creates anxiety in students. Yet, music lit- versity, where he was awarded his Mas-
eracy is fundamental to the efficiency of a choral re- ters degree in choral conducting. Menon
hearsal. This interactive session breaks down music lit- co-authored an article published in 2019
eracy into three discrete elements: visual literacy, aural in the Music Educator Journal on popular music, which
literacy, and performance literacy, suggesting sequen- was recently awarded one of the journal’s “most read”
tial methods for instruction. For each category, activi- articles. In 2020 he received the Texas Choral Directors
ties will be demonstrated through games with assess- Association “Young Director of Distinction” Award.
ment criteria in the domains of rhythm, melody, and
harmony. The session will also outline how students
can monitor their progress and set goals. This session
Grades are Dumb:
Growth Mindset in the Choral Classroom

Celebrating our
50th Anniversary Season, Many students struggle with conventional classroom
we are excited and honored management and motivation techniques. In our pro-
to perform during the gram we tell all students that you don’t have to be good,
2024 SWACDA Conference you just have to try! It takes the focus off the product
in Denver! and places importance on the act of practice. Change
your rules and change the culture of your room. Cul-
ture and leadership will be addressed through officer
structure and student structured talk. We will also focus
on how you start class and provide warm-up practices
and strategies for interdisciplinary connections.

Har-Ber High School Choir will be the demonstration
choir for this session.

Clint Pianalto is in his twenty-third year
of teaching young people the art of cho-
ral music. Pianalto has taught at all levels
of secondary music education and is cur-
rently the choir director at Har-Ber High
School in Springdale AR. He has served in a number
of different leadership positions in state and regional
levels of ACDA and ArkCDA. Pianalto is a sought-af-
ter clinician and presenter and has worked with direc-
ChildrensChorale.org tors and choirs in six states. He lives in Fayetteville, AR,
with his wife, Sarah, and two sons, Connor and Cason.

118 CHORAL JOURNAL January 2024 Volume 64 Number 5