About Peggy D. Bennett
Professor Emerita of Music Education and former Director of the early childhood MusicPlay program (ages 3-5) at The Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Peggy was previously Professor and Director of Music Education at Texas Christian University and The University of Texas at Arlington.
Peggy’s honors include receiving the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, Outstanding
About SongWorks
SongWorks: Playful Teaching, Vibrant Learning
Playfulness is key to children’s loving to learn and loving to learn music. Because song does work in grounding this play, singing activities become the playgrounds for learning. Peggy’s presentations rally teachers of children to welcome curiosity, preserve musicality, elicit imaginations, and prompt interactions that are mutually respectful and responsive. A life-long educator, Peggy’s goals in teaching children and university students stretch beyond the music classroom and are as comfortable for those who are not musically trained as for those who are.
Samples of Peggy’s goals and teaching practices can be found in her articles, books, and
presentation handouts (See Articles, Books, and Presentations).
The SongWorks Educators Association website features an array of activities, articles, videos, song repertoire, and up-coming events. Click HERE to visit the website.
SongWorks for Children: A Video Library of Children Making Music is a resource that houses nearly 700 videos of preschool children (3-5 years old) in MusicPlay classes at Oberlin Conservatory of Music. The videos feature unrehearsed, un- staged experiences with young children and their families.
The teaching goals in all areas of Peggy’s work are reflected in the motto of the SongWorks organization: Playful Teaching, Vibrant Learning. For more information and videos click HERE.
Sample Presentation Titles for SongWorks
- What’s in a Score: Literacy and SongWorks Notation
- Feedback that Feeds: Connecting What We Think and Say
- Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Reflections on How Our Behaviors Affect Our Students
- Why Do We Do That? Questioning Five Common Practices for Teaching Children Music
- Playing with the Classics: Music Masterworks for Children
Sample Presentation Titles for Teaching with Vitality
Teaching with Vitality: Pathways to Health & Wellness for Teachers and Schools
- Ways to shape our thoughts and behaviors to minimize conflict
- Ideas for self-preservation and reframing behaviors in schools and beyond
Ouch!: Hurting in Professional Settings
- Learn how to avoid hurting and being hurt by co-workers
- Assess the values of creating peaceful work relationships
Speak for Your Self!: Being Your Best in Difficult Situations
- Learn what thoughts prevent us from being our best during conflicts
- Apply strategies of strength without demeaning others
My Word!: Peaceful and Powerful Responsiveness
- Learn five levels of assertiveness for communication
- Focus on the affects that our words have on others
Getting Along: Reframing Difficult Moments with Others
- How do we react to difficult moments?
- How do we reframe the moments that cause us conflict?