📅 Date: Friday, October 23, 2026
🕒 Start Time: 4:00 PM
📍 Location: Harkness Chapel, Classroom
👥 Who: Free | Open to the public
About The Series
Our weekly Friday colloquia showcase current research by distinguished visiting scholars alongside our own faculty and graduate students in musicology, historical performance practice, and music education. A brief reception follows each talk to keep the conversation going. 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 has been 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 can serve as a framework for fostering participatory music learning. It also considers the challenges of implementing these approaches, including teacher preparation, curricular design, and institutional expectations. Rather than presenting modern band as a replacement for traditional ensembles, the session examines how participatory approaches can broaden the purposes and possibilities of music education and invites reflection on what it means to move from providing access to cultivating meaningful participation for all students.
About The Speaker
Dr. Bryan Powell is Associate Professor of Music Education and Music Technology, and Coordinator for the Recording Arts and Production degree at Montclair State University where he teaches classes in music education, music technology, popular music, and directs the Montclair State University popular music ensemble. Bryan is also the Chief Program Officer for the non-profit organization Music Will. Prior to joining Montclair State, Bryan worked as the 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 Executive Director of the Association for Popular Music Education since 2013, an organization dedicated to promoting and advancing popular music at all levels of education.
Bryan is a widely published researcher and author. He is the founding co-editor of the Journal of Popular Music Education, a peer-reviewed, academic journal. Bryan has co-edited and co-authored several books. He has published over a dozen articles in peer-reviewed journals and has also authored multiple chapters in Oxford and Routledge Research Handbooks.
Bryan has a Bachelor of Music degree from Pepperdine University, a Master’s degree in Teaching from Chapman University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Boston University. His research interests include popular music education and music technology education.
Venue Information
Harkness Classroom, located inside Harkness Chapel, serves as both a lecture hall for large classes and a backstage area during events. It is also the 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 up-to-date guidance and resources to help support a safe campus experience. For life-threatening emergencies, please call CWRU Public Safety immediately at 216.368.3333.