{"id":39951,"date":"2023-04-24T05:56:51","date_gmt":"2023-04-24T10:56:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/meritmusic.org\/?p=39951"},"modified":"2024-02-23T10:29:08","modified_gmt":"2024-02-23T16:29:08","slug":"black-history-month-reflection-fostering-inclusion-belonging-in-the-music-room","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/meritmusic.org\/pl\/black-history-month-reflection-fostering-inclusion-belonging-in-the-music-room\/","title":{"rendered":"Refleksja na temat miesi\u0105ca czarnej historii: wspieranie integracji i przynale\u017cno\u015bci w pokoju muzycznym"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"39951\" class=\"elementor elementor-39951\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5a0f8cdf elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5a0f8cdf\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3cfeee9\" data-id=\"3cfeee9\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2b7cd199 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2b7cd199\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-39952 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meritmusic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Black-History-Month-Reflection-Banner-1600x600-1.png?resize=1600%2C600&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meritmusic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Black-History-Month-Reflection-Banner-1600x600-1.png?w=1600&amp;ssl=1 1600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meritmusic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Black-History-Month-Reflection-Banner-1600x600-1.png?resize=300%2C113&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meritmusic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Black-History-Month-Reflection-Banner-1600x600-1.png?resize=1024%2C384&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meritmusic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Black-History-Month-Reflection-Banner-1600x600-1.png?resize=768%2C288&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meritmusic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Black-History-Month-Reflection-Banner-1600x600-1.png?resize=1536%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meritmusic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Black-History-Month-Reflection-Banner-1600x600-1.png?resize=18%2C7&amp;ssl=1 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p><h3>At Merit School of Music, inclusion, diversity, and belonging are integral to our mission. Our focus on and commitment to this work doesn\u2019t just happen during Black History Month\u2014it\u2019s a year-round priority.<br \/><br \/><\/h3><p>As Chip Staley shares during our reflection, \u201cI don\u2019t have a February curriculum; It\u2019s more impactful to have a curriculum that always includes everyone so that all students will see themselves represented in the music every day of the year.\u201d<\/p><p>So, this Black History Month, we sat down with three Merit teaching artists to reflect on inclusion and belonging in the music room:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0eea84d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0eea84d\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b85b6e1\" data-id=\"b85b6e1\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6afe467 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"6afe467\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meritmusic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/sally-blandon-merit-school-music-2.png.webp?fit=600%2C600&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1283\" alt=\"sally blandon\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meritmusic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/sally-blandon-merit-school-music-2.png.webp?w=600&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meritmusic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/sally-blandon-merit-school-music-2.png.webp?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meritmusic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/sally-blandon-merit-school-music-2.png.webp?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-89e4d2d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"89e4d2d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/meritmusic.org\/sally-blandon\/\" style=\"font-style: inherit;white-space: normal;font-size: 1.66667rem\">Sally Bland\u00f3n<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-67ba441 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"67ba441\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Early Childhood &amp; General Music Program Director; Faculty: Early Childhood, Merit Music in Communities<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-fa24173\" data-id=\"fa24173\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-97bb496 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"97bb496\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meritmusic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Steven-Gooden.png.webp?fit=600%2C600&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1703\" alt=\"steven goodman, merit philharmonic and conservatory symphoic band director, clarinet faculty\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meritmusic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Steven-Gooden.png.webp?w=600&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meritmusic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Steven-Gooden.png.webp?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meritmusic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Steven-Gooden.png.webp?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fe2653a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fe2653a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/meritmusic.org\/steven-gooden\/\" style=\"font-style: inherit;white-space: normal;font-size: 1.66667rem\">Steven Gooden<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f80d9bb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f80d9bb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"background-color: var(--ast-global-color-5); color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;\">Ensemble Director: Merit Philharmonic, Symphonic Band, Merit Music in Communities; Faculty: Clarinet<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-23d68ac\" data-id=\"23d68ac\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9a12b9a elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"9a12b9a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meritmusic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Charles-Chip-Staley.png.webp?fit=600%2C600&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1752\" alt=\"charles &quot;chip&quot; staley, instrumental large ensembles department chair, wind symphony ensemble director\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meritmusic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Charles-Chip-Staley.png.webp?w=600&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meritmusic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Charles-Chip-Staley.png.webp?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meritmusic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Charles-Chip-Staley.png.webp?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eab1b15 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"eab1b15\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/meritmusic.org\/charles-chip-staley\/\" style=\"font-style: inherit;white-space: normal;font-size: 1.66667rem\">Chip Staley<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d98ea0e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d98ea0e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Department Chair: Instrumental Large Ensemble; Ensemble Director: Wind Symphony<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5c94257 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5c94257\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d9deae7\" data-id=\"d9deae7\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f37763f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f37763f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>Our faculty discuss:<\/p><ul><li data-leveltext=\"-\" data-font=\"Century Gothic\" data-listid=\"3\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335551671&quot;:0,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Century Gothic&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;-&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"0\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">How they incorporate diverse repertoire and guest artists into their curriculum<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li data-leveltext=\"-\" data-font=\"Century Gothic\" data-listid=\"3\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335551671&quot;:0,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Century Gothic&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;-&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"0\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">How organizations can support creatives in this process<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li data-leveltext=\"-\" data-font=\"Century Gothic\" data-listid=\"3\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335551671&quot;:0,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Century Gothic&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;-&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"0\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The impact they\u2019ve seen this work have on their students<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li data-leveltext=\"-\" data-font=\"Century Gothic\" data-listid=\"3\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335551671&quot;:0,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Century Gothic&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;-&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"0\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">And more<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW41948072 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW41948072 BCX0\">I<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW41948072 BCX0\">t\u2019s<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW41948072 BCX0\">\u00a0an important and insightful discuss<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW41948072 BCX0\">ion<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW41948072 BCX0\">\u00a0for music educators, administrators, and all those interested in making the world of music<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW41948072 BCX0\">\u00a0education<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW41948072 BCX0\">\u00a0a place where everyone belongs.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW41948072 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><h4><strong>Can you talk about how you make your curriculum inclusive and foster a sense of belonging in classes and ensembles?<\/strong><\/h4><p><strong><br \/>Steven Gooden:<\/strong>\u00a0The curriculum is about the art form. It\u2019s about the music, so finding music that\u2019s representative of shared emotions, shared things they [students] can connect to. Obviously diverse composers, but it\u2019s much deeper than that. That\u2019s one dimensional and slightly less important to us. Even though we\u2019ll still play way more white composers in the classical world, that doesn\u2019t mean that we can\u2019t connect to it just because it wasn\u2019t written by a Black person or a person of color or a woman or anything like that. We can connect to it but just to feel that it\u2019s safe, that it\u2019s okay to connect to it is more important to me.<\/p><p>I was recently directing an orchestra at the Alabama All-State Orchestra Festival. There were three orchestras and two of the conductors were Black men and the other conductor was a woman. [Black classical musicians] can pretty much count on one hand how many times we\u2019ve been to an event like this where there\u2019s been a leader that we could see ourselves through. Essentially, what we\u2019re doing in our classrooms is a lot just by existing and being there and leading. It\u2019s something that\u2019s really pertinent to younger people who look like us and we do that every day.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9f456be elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9f456be\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0dfe3ac\" data-id=\"0dfe3ac\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-78903f8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"78903f8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"850\" height=\"950\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meritmusic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Steven-Gooden.png.webp?fit=850%2C950&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-39955\" alt=\"faculty instructor conducting a performance\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meritmusic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Steven-Gooden.png.webp?w=850&amp;ssl=1 850w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meritmusic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Steven-Gooden.png.webp?resize=268%2C300&amp;ssl=1 268w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meritmusic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Steven-Gooden.png.webp?resize=768%2C858&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meritmusic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Steven-Gooden.png.webp?resize=11%2C12&amp;ssl=1 11w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d5e01c6\" data-id=\"d5e01c6\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dd728f4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"dd728f4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Essentially, what we\u2019re doing in our classrooms is a lot just by existing and being there and leading. It\u2019s something that\u2019s really pertinent to younger people who look like us and we do that every day.<\/h3><p>\u2013 Steven Gooden<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d030606 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d030606\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d1bf261\" data-id=\"d1bf261\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-14cbd92 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"14cbd92\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Steven Gooden conducts Symphonic Band during Merit\u2019s 2022 Conservatory Winter Concerts.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ada494a\" data-id=\"ada494a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c89fa9d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c89fa9d\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-331e939\" data-id=\"331e939\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-50e7686 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"50e7686\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Chip Staley:\u00a0<\/strong>I think one of the biggest issues that we have in the band world is selecting quality literature in general and picking great music. And what\u2019s awesome about exploring the music of living composers is that we are finding and programming incredible pieces by people who have been excluded for many years from the mainstream wind band literature.<\/p><p>We are expanding our focus from what is typical in the cannon of classical music from the last century\u2014 sort of the go-to literature that is used to teach kids music\u2014toward the music of composers who have been under-represented.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-da9d193 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"da9d193\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/youtu.be\\\/fsItsDECGYU&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9c1d943 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9c1d943\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Chip Staley conducts Wind Symphony in a performance of \u201cHavana\u201d by Kevin Day\u2014a young, Black composer who infused his work with Afro-Cuban jazz music.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-03a8294 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"03a8294\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Sally Bland\u00f3n:<\/strong>\u00a0When I first started at Merit, we didn\u2019t have a Spanish bilingual curriculum in the Early Childhood program. I felt it was super important to explore the Latin culture. What that looked like was me recalling songs and chants and activities that I actually grew up learning from my mother. It inspired me to create themes and include songs that are essentially the standards in Latin American and Hispanic cultures.<\/p><p>I also think of inclusion and belonging in terms of differently-abled people. Something that I\u2019m proud of and extremely passionate about is my work with Merit\u2019s partner, the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fhsr.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Foundation for Hearing and Speech Resources (FHSR)<\/strong>,\u00a0<\/a>and how we\u2019re going above and beyond different cultural backgrounds as in countries to develop more ways of being inclusive of differently-abled students\u2014like our students who are deaf and hard of hearing.<\/p><h4><strong>What impact have you seen this have on your students?<br \/><br \/><\/strong><\/h4><p><strong>Sally:<\/strong>\u00a0There\u2019s something to be said about children seeing themselves in what they\u2019re learning\u2026seeing what\u2019s possible. In\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/meritmusic.org\/merit-music-communities\/\"><em><strong>Merit Music in Communities<\/strong>,<\/em><\/a>\u00a0we have a program in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood where we offer world percussion classes.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/meritmusic.org\/bios\/avo-randruut\/\" data-wplink-edit=\"true\"><strong>Avo Randruut<\/strong><\/a>, an ethnomusicologist, is the lead teacher. He teaches the children music from various countries in Africa. He and his colleague Olumuyiwa Ojo recently lead a percussion workshop and the children were going crazy over it\u2014learning West African dances and polyrhythmic patterns.<\/p><p>For a child on the South Side of Chicago where we have predominantly Black and brown neighborhoods, for these children to see it in the flesh is priceless. They\u2019re seeing themselves in what is being performed.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5c41d77 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5c41d77\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8521c31\" data-id=\"8521c31\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0ccb381 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0ccb381\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>The world is a melting pot and, look, your teacher doesn\u2019t know everything because as a teacher my job is to never stop learning and as soon as I stop learning, I stop being a teacher.<\/h3><p>\u2013 Sally Bland\u00f3n<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1192a70\" data-id=\"1192a70\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-129b9b9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"129b9b9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"850\" height=\"950\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meritmusic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Avo-Randruut.png.webp?fit=850%2C950&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-39956\" alt=\"avo randruut\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meritmusic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Avo-Randruut.png.webp?w=850&amp;ssl=1 850w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meritmusic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Avo-Randruut.png.webp?resize=268%2C300&amp;ssl=1 268w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meritmusic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Avo-Randruut.png.webp?resize=768%2C858&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meritmusic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Avo-Randruut.png.webp?resize=11%2C12&amp;ssl=1 11w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1e613c2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1e613c2\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6499c57\" data-id=\"6499c57\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6cb436e\" data-id=\"6cb436e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-78ce1e0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"78ce1e0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><h6><strong>Olumuyiwa Ojo and Avo Randruut work together to introduce our Merit Music in Communities students in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood to West African dances and polyrhythmic patterns.<\/strong><\/h6><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a0418d0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a0418d0\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-57186ae\" data-id=\"57186ae\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b59f2e6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b59f2e6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p><strong>Steven:<\/strong>\u00a0I see it in Merit Conservatory groups with students who are Black and see music that I get excited about and then they\u2019re asking me more about music like \u201ccan you share this?\u201d\u2014the joy, the excitement, the freedom to like it seems to be apparent, that they\u2019re not holding that back or hiding that from being observed outwardly. It\u2019s obvious that I can see they\u2019re excited about some of the things we\u2019re talking about musically and I think that\u2019s really big, really important.<\/p><h4><strong>What role do you think schools\/organizations play in supporting teachers doing this work?<br \/><br \/><\/strong><\/h4><p><strong>Chip:\u00a0<\/strong>I think it\u2019s tricky to require a certain type of \u201ccheck the box\u201d experience for all teachers. Creative people respond best when given the opportunity to get together to talk about the experiences that they\u2019ve had and what works best in the classroom.<\/p><p>As music educators, it is our responsibility to open our hearts and our minds to the possibility that what we learned in school wasn\u2019t all there was to learn. Music teachers were taught a process that they should continue to use to find music most relevant to all students. For example, half of our students are women, yet most of the music we studied in school and tend to program at concerts is by White men. Music teachers must dig deeper, get out of our comfort zone, and find music by composers that look like their students.<\/p><p><strong>Sally:<\/strong>\u00a0And what about organizations supporting those teachers who haven\u2019t had that lived experience? Well, that might look like bringing in someone who can coach or collaborate with the person who didn\u2019t live that experience. The children get to experience two different people from two different backgrounds learning from each other. And that is so important for children to see because they learn at a very young age how to interact and socialize with people.<\/p><p>So how beautiful would it be for organizations to say, \u201cwe budgeted this much and do you know anyone in your network we could bring in to bring in this shared experience?\u201d The world is a melting pot and, look, your teacher doesn\u2019t know everything. As a teacher my job is to never stop learning. As soon as I stop learning, I stop being a teacher. And I think that\u2019s really important to keep in mind and for organizations to think about how to support that.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><h4><strong>Are there any particular ways that you incorporate Black History Month into your classroom in addition to what you do on a regular basis?<br \/><br \/><\/strong><\/h4><p><strong>Chip:<\/strong>\u00a0It\u2019s ongoing for us. I don\u2019t think we should only teach the profound impact that African Americans have had on the American music scene in February. I don\u2019t have a February curriculum; It\u2019s more impactful to have a curriculum that always includes everyone so that all students will see themselves represented in the music every day of the year.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_separator wpb_content_element vc_separator_align_center vc_sep_width_70 vc_sep_border_width_7 vc_sep_pos_align_left vc_separator_no_text\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3c5bb0a1 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3c5bb0a1\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3746859e\" data-id=\"3746859e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-78e9b9e3 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"78e9b9e3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInRight&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Add a Little Music to Your Inbox<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-77f6f9fb elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"77f6f9fb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Get the latest news from Merit delivered to you!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-62864344 elementor-widget elementor-widget-hubspot-form\" data-id=\"62864344\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"hubspot-form.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<script>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\twindow.hsFormsOnReady = window.hsFormsOnReady || [];\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\twindow.hsFormsOnReady.push(()=>{\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\thbspt.forms.create({\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tportalId: 20342631,\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tformId: \"8b06d4f4-f9e4-4727-b71a-b34871883623\",\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttarget: \"#hbspt-form-1783716022000-9686867749\",\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tregion: \"na1\",\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t})});\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/script>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hbspt-form\" id=\"hbspt-form-1783716022000-9686867749\"><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At Merit School of Music, inclusion, diversity, and belonging are integral to our mission. Our focus on and commitment to this work doesn\u2019t just happen during Black History Month\u2014it\u2019s a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":39952,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_theme","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-39951","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Black History Month Reflection: Fostering Inclusion &amp; Belonging in the Music Room - Merit School of Music<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/meritmusic.org\/pl\/black-history-month-reflection-fostering-inclusion-belonging-in-the-music-room\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"pl_PL\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Black History Month Reflection: Fostering Inclusion &amp; Belonging in the Music Room - Merit School of Music\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"At Merit School of Music, inclusion, diversity, and belonging are integral to our mission. 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