What Do You Do With An Idea? Improvisation In The Elementary Music Classroom

As teachers, we know how creative our students are. All students, regardless of age or musical ability, have a spark of creativity inside of them that can lead the way to a musical adventure. In this session, we will explore ways to use improvisation with students of all levels within the elementary music classroom. Through a variety of materials and activities, we will explore different ways we can use improvisation within our classrooms through a variety of lessons using different strategies to help us incorporate improvisation into the Elementary Music Classroom through activities that use meaningful, musical content within Standards-Based Lessons.

Emily Lopez 

Ronald Blocker Educational Leadership Center
Program Specialist - K-5 Music

Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Emily Lopez is the Program Specialist, K-5 Elementary Music, for Orange County Public Schools in Orlando, FL. Prior to her current position, Emily taught Kindergarten through 5th Grade Music within OCPS & with the School Board of Levy County. Emily keeps a busy schedule as an educator & clinician across the state of Florida and the US. In 2019, she was named an FMEA Emerging Leader. She has also presented sessions and research at the FMEA’s Professional Development Conference, the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association’s Professional Development Conference, the OCPS & Seminole County Professional Development Series, Florida International University, Stetson University, the University of Central Florida, Florida Gulf Coast University, the University of North Florida, & Indiana University. Emily is an active member of the FMEA, NAfME, Central Florida Orff Chapter, the Florida Music Supervisors Association, & the American Orff-Schulwerk Association.

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.