Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Resources

Statement

Arizona State Music Teachers Association wholly embraces the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Diversity Statement, adopted in September 2019.

Please also find more information at the MTNA DEI Resources web page.

Purpose of Resources Page

ASMTA has curated content contributed by ASMTA members in regards to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility for our members, our students, and our community. Its purpose is to provide resources for members to start from in order to learn more about these topics. This list is ongoing and will be updated regularly with content and links. Many thanks to those that contributed their time and resources: Hannah Creviston, NCTM; Nancy Keuper; Kirsten Kunkle; Astrid Morales; Craig Sale, NCTM; Dr. Radmila Stojanovic-Kiriluk; Kassandra Weleck, NCTM

DEI Definitions & Policies

Definitions from Bloomerang – Basic definitions of diversity, equity, and inclusion
DEAI in the Non-Profit Sector
Americans for the Arts Statement
Arizona Opera Statement
Arizona State University School of Music, Dance, & Theatre Policy
Association for Performing Arts & Entertainment Professionals Diversity Statement
Create your own DEI policy
Dallas Opera Statement
Northern Arizona University Information
University of Arizona Statement

MTNA & MTNA Affiliate Resources

MTNA DEI Resources
North Carolina MTA Arts Awareness & Advocacy
Texas MTA Arts Awareness & Advocacy

Composer & Repertoire Resources

Asian Classical Composers – music by Asian and Asian-American composers

African Diaspora Project – find music by African-descended composers
Living Composers Directory: Music by Black Composers
Stories of African-American Composers (San Francisco Symphony Orchestra)

A Seat at the Piano – inclusive piano repertoire

And We Were Heard Project : Diversity Database for Wind Band, State Band and Orchestral Music
BIPOC Voices – Works for Voice and Orchestra
Latin Orchestral Music Catalog

Women’s Philharmonic Advocacy Repertoire – repertoire by women composers
International Alliance for Women in Music

Composer Diversity Database – find music by diverse composers and search for specific criteria too
Composers of Color Resource Project – music theory examples by BIPOC composers
Underrepresented Voices in Music (UCLA Library) – a guide to resources about equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism and activism in music

Gender & Ethnic Representation In the Repertoire Performed in Pre-College Competitions & Festivals in the U.S.: A Quantitative Analysis (MTNA e-Journal, September 2022) – Alejandro Cremaschi

Indigenous Composers & Resources

Dawn Avery – Mohawk cellist & composer
Louis Ballard – Cherokee/Quapaw composer
Michael Begay – Navajo musician and composer
T. Patrick Carrabre – Métis composer and arranger (2023 ASMTA conference artist)
Raven Chacon – Navajo musician and composer
Connor Chee – Navajo pianist and composer (2023 ASMTA conference artist)
Ian Cusson – Métis composer
Kirsten C. Kunkle – Muscogee soprano and composer
Timothy Long – Muscogee/Choctaw pianist, composer, and conductor (Eastman School of Music Opera)
Jerod Impichchaachaa’ha Tate – Chickasaw composer
Jacqueline Wilson – Yakama bassoonist and composer
David Yeagley – Comanche composer

Grand Canyon Music Festival – opportunities for Native American composer apprenticeship project
Native Arts & Cultures Foundation – resources and programs related to Native American arts
Navajo Music: A Unique and Powerful History (Mika) – information and history of Navajo music
Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian – collections of Native American music
Western Arts Alliance: Advancing Indigenous Performance – resources for Native American performers

Special Ability Resources

Dyslexia

Definition of Dyslexia
Vocabulary of Dyslexia Diagnosis and Treatment (Yale)
What Are the Symptoms of Dyslexia by Age? (Danielle Dresden, Medical News Today)
Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity
Dyslexia & Sheet Music (resource, video)
Miles, Timothy, John Whitcombe, & Diana Ditchfield. Music and Dyslexia: A Positive Approach. ISBN: 978-0-470-72390-6, published April 2008.
Miles, Tim, John Whitcombe, et al. Music and Dyslexia: Opening New Doors. ISBN: 9781861562050, published by Whurr, 2001.
Oglethorpe, Sheila. Instrumental Music for Dyslexics: A Teaching Handbook 2nd Edition. ISBN: 978-1-861-56291-3, published February 2002.

Hearing Impairment

Coping With Hearing Loss in a Music Education Setting
Music in the Deaf Community (AJ + Shaheem Sanchez, 2018 – video)
So if Beethoven was completely deaf, how did he compose? (Classic FM)
TED Talk – Evelyn Glennie: Tips for teachers of students with hearing diabilities
Tips for Teaching Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (PDF)

Other Resources

Chamber Music America – resources and grant opportunities
CUNY Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Hub – programs and initiatives available at and through CUNY
New England Foundation for the Arts – list of organizations and groups with advocacy and accessibility goals (grants available as well, mostly for New England USA area)
Resources for an Anti-Racist Classroom – articles, books, media, and other resources to help educators
Sphinx Organization – providing diverse music to diverse communities

Educational Courses

Please note that the courses listed below may have a fee associated with them.

Exploring Latin American Piano Music
Inclusive Teaching
Hidden Gems: Four Centuries of Piano Music by Women Composers
Musical Explorers Digital (Carnegie Hall) – select music resources to teach students about music all over the world
Unsung Heroes in Piano Pedagogy: 20 Pieces by Black Composers to Use in Your Studio Now

(last updated: September 11, 2023)

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