He Said, She Said, They Said: The Importance of Gender Neutrality in the Music Room

Our ultimate goal, as teachers, is to ensure that our students feel safe, respected and a valued member of the class community.  Therefore, it’s important to look at various aspects of our classrooms, ensuring that ALL students are seen and respected for who they are as an individual.  One prime example of this is gender neutrality.   In this session we will explore the importance of gender neutrality in various ways.  Participants will hear directly from student, parent and teacher testimonials. The session will have a “hands-on,” or demonstration, approach, focusing on the importance of neutral pronouns and non-gender specific roles in singing games, play parties and other musical repertoire.  Attendees will have a chance to explore using gender neutrality within various classroom situations and to discuss how this will make music education more inclusive for all students.