📅 Date: Friday, October 23, 2026
🕒 Start Time: 4:00 PM
📍 Location: Harkness Chapel, Classroom
👥 Who: Free | Open to the public
About the Series
The CWRU Music Colloquium Series features research by distinguished visiting scholars, faculty, and graduate students in musicology, historical performance practice, and music education. Held on Fridays throughout the academic year, these presentations encourage scholarly exchange and discussion across musical disciplines.
A brief reception follows each talk. All are welcome!
About the Talk
“From Access to Participation: Opportunities and Challenges for Music Education through Modern Band”
Over the past two decades, modern band programs have expanded opportunities for students whose musical interests and identities have often been underrepresented in traditional school music programs. While increasing access is an important step, this presentation argues that access alone is insufficient. Meaningful music education requires participation, allowing students to engage in learning environments where they can develop musical agency, collaborate creatively, and engage with music that reflects their lived experiences.
Drawing on research in popular music education, culturally responsive pedagogy, and music teacher education, this colloquium explores how modern band fosters a framework for participatory music learning. It also considers the challenges of implementing teacher preparation, curricular design, and institutional expectations. Rather than presenting modern band as a replacement for traditional ensembles, the session examines how participatory approaches broaden music education possibilities and invites reflection on how to move from providing access to cultivating meaningful participation for all students.
About the Speaker
Bryan Powell is Associate Professor of Music Education and Music Technology, and Coordinator for the Recording Arts and Production degree at Montclair State University. Bryan teaches classes in popular music, modern band, and music technology, and directs the Montclair State popular music ensemble. He is also the Chief Program Officer for Music Will, and former Director of Programs for Amp Up NYC, a partnership between Berklee College of Music and Little Kids Rock. A former NYC public school music teacher, Bryan has served as the Founding Executive Director of the Association for Popular Music Education since 2013, and is the Chair for the ISME Popular Music Education Special Interest Group. He is the founding co-editor of the Journal of Popular Music Education, co-author of Popular Music Pedagogies: A Practical Guide for Music Teachers (Routledge), series co-editor for Contemporary Music.
Venue Information
Harkness Classroom, located inside Florence Harkness Memorial Chapel, serves as a lecture space and meeting location for the CWRU Music Colloquium Series.
Health + Safety
The health and well-being of our community is important to us as we gather for campus events. University Health and Counseling Services provides current guidance and resources to support a safe campus experience.
For life-threatening emergencies, contact CWRU Public Safety at 216.368.3333.