Associate Professor of Music Education Dr. Patrick Schmidt joined the FIU School of Music after eleven years at the Westminster College of the Arts of Rider University in Princeton, US. He teaches courses on secondary and choral methods as well as on the philosophy and sociology of music, research, curriculum, and Hip Hop culture. His innovative work in critical pedagogy, urban music education and policy studies is recognized nationally and internationally, leading him to presentations across the United States as well as in Canada, Brazil, Italy, China, Finland, Sweden, England, Mexico, Germany, Greece, Cyprus, among others.
This summer, he delivered an intensive doctoral seminar on music education and policy in Helsinki, Finland at the Special Music Centre Resonaari, which has a music school for people with special needs. Resonaari, also known for its research and development work, regularly organizes courses and complementary education and keeps up a network for professionals, associations, polytechnics and universities in Finland and abroad. His seminar focused on the development of a Teacher Agency by better understanding the role of education and cultural policy. He is currently developing a research project at Resonaari, which includes looking at the work of a Non-Governmental Organization that works with music and disabled students.
For educators interested in music education curriculum in relationship to policy thinking, Dr. Schmidt has implemented a new course at FIU entitled, “Curriculum and Policy Design”. It is the first of its kind in the United States and will be offered online here. For more information about Professor Schmidt’s work, click here.
THE RESONAARI CONCERT!
Join the concert with more than 700 people in attendance at Savoy-theatre, Helsinki, Finland. The Resonaari Concert will be online until June 14, 2013. Click here to watch.