Growing Your Ukulele Garden: A Practical Approach to Embedding Ukulele into Your Existing Curriculum

In this session, participants will explore the artistry of teaching and crafting a ukulele curriculum; not by creating a new one, but rather by incorporating ukuleles into their already existing curriculum. While participants will gain new lesson content and materials, this workshop will focus mostly on strategies to apply ukulele skills to various types of pre existing lessons, including Orff arrangements, folk songs, and even your own arrangements.

Lisa Langston 

Eastbrook Elementary School
Music Teacher

Lisa Langston, is a 24-year veteran music educator. Although beginning her career as a high school band director, Lisa soon discovered the joy of elementary music. She has taught in Seminole County at Eastbrook Elementary for 20 years where, in addition to her classroom position, she also has many additional responsibilities. Eastbrook has three performing ensembles that include chorus, Orff, and ukulele groups. Her students have performed at Walt Disney World, for the SCPS School Board, and various other places in the community. Lisa co-chairs the SCPS All-County Elementary Music Festival. She is also an active member of the Central Florida Orff Chapter and the Florida Music Educators Association. Outside the classroom, Lisa is the Co-Music Director at Tuksawilla Presbyterian Church in Oviedo. An avid traveler, Lisa, along with her husband and two children have visited the lower 48 states as well as 9 Canadian provinces in their pop-up camper.

Joshua Brink 

Woodlands Elementary School
Music Teacher

Josh Brink has been teaching in the music classroom for 7 years. In that time he has held roles such as Middle School Band, Handbell, and Choral Director and Elementary Music Teacher in Orange and Seminole County, Florida. Josh currently teaches in Page, Arizona. In 2016, Josh was recognized as his school’s Teacher of the Year and was later recognized as a Seminole County Public Schools Teacher of the Year Finalist. Josh’s musical ensembles have been featured in local magazines, corporate promotions, and even local television. A member of the Florida Music Education Association and former member of Central Florida Orff Chapter, Josh has remained active in his professional community as a workshop presenter, FMEA Emerging Leader member, and active volunteer. When not teaching music, Josh enjoys travelling the world, climbing mountains, and getting lost in nature with his wife and dog.

The FMEA Professional Development Conference and All-State Ensembles receive support in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.