Bridging the “what” to the “how:" Adaptive strategies for music making.

Our role as music educators is to develop innovative and creative ways to engage our students in music making. The purpose of this session is to provide participants with best practices and rehearsal strategies that will motivate students with a broad range of abilities in elementary to secondary settings. The presenters will provide anecdotal insight from the perspective of teaching with a disability and working with students with various disabilities. This session will also provide information and resources on available technologies and instructional aids that can assist in providing the music experience every student deserves.

Edward Ercilla 

Frost School of Music, University of Miami
Ph.D. Student in Music Education

Mr. Edward J. Ercilla is a graduate of Florida State University where he earned his Masters in Music Education and Bachelors in Music Education. He is currently working towards his Ph.D. in Music Education at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami. Prior to his Ph.D. studies, Mr. Ercilla has served as an Instrumental Music Educator in the K-12 setting for twenty years. During the span of his career, he has taught Band, Orchestra, Marching Band, Indoor Winds, and Jazz Ensemble. Mr. Ercilla also serves as an Instructor for Doral College where he currently teaches Music Appreciation for the Humanities Department. Mr. Ercilla is a deaf music educator and has been wearing Behind-the Ear Hearing Aids (BTE) from a very early age. Mr. Ercilla’s other interests include working with Special Learners in a music setting and presenting those experiences at local, state, and national conferences.

Adam Chitta 

Wood Middle School
Assistant Band Director

Mr. Adam Chitta is in his 14th year as Assistant Band Director at Wood Middle School in the Northeast Independent School District in San Antonio, Texas. Throughout this time, he has been teaching the beginner brass classes, co-teaching the advanced ensembles, along with assisting the orchestra program. He has been wearing behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids since he was diagnosed with a moderate to severe hearing loss at seven years old. Mr. Chitta has presented at the Cambridge University Press Accessibility Champions Virtual Talk, plus various state and international conferences including The Midwest Clinic. He is the founder and owner of The Chitta Sound, LLC, which focuses on improving access and outreach for deaf and hard of hearing students through educational consultations and professional development training to ensure an equitable music education experience.

Cody Puckett 

Horizons Elementary School
Adaptive Music Educator

Mr. Cody Puckett (he/him) is an adaptive music educator working with students who have mild to severe exceptionalities. He received his BA in Music Education and Deaf Education from Flagler College and his M.Ed. in Special Education from Florida Gulf Coast University. He is a trained vocalist and pianist and has performed with a traveling performing arts college group based in California. He serves as an adjunct at the College of the Florida Keys, instructing Exceptional Student Education (ESE) courses at the undergraduate level. He has continued to empower students of all ages and abilities over the past five years from K-12 and beyond. He has presented at state conferences in Florida, and nationally. His professional work focuses on neurodiversity and accessibility in musical environments. Mr. Puckett passionately believes in accessible music classrooms for all!

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.