Smithsonian Folkways World Music Pedagogy Seminar 2025

Smithsonian Folkways World Music Pedagogy Course comes to The Centre for Sound Communities at Cape Breton University August 2025!

When: August 18-22, 2025

Location: On-Site/In-Person, Centre for Sound Communities (AC 101), Cape Breton University Campus
(next to the Canada Games Complex, at 1250 Grand Lake Road, Sydney Nova Scotia, Canada)

Directors: Marcia Ostashewski and Jody Stark

(Graduate or Undergraduate Credits and PD hours available; WMP/SFR Certificate)

Course Description:

The World Music Pedagogy course is a unique, internationally acclaimed, professional learning opportunity. This course is taught by a transnational faculty composed of artists, scholars, and educators. It introduces the role of music for teaching and learning through diverse cultural perspectives and in relationship with diverse local culture bearers and communities across Unama’ki (Cape Breton Island) and elsewhere. We critically consider the content and practices of teaching and learning through music in formal and informal settings, and ways that music can support learning in a variety of subject areas (arts practices, language arts, science, history, cultural studies, health, etc). Values and principles of EDIA, Indigenization, Reconciliation, anti-racism and decolonization are foundational to this course as is the Mi’kmaw concept of Etuaptmumk, or “Two-Eyed Seeing” in which personal relationships are foundational and individuals engage and learn from many different perspective.

The seminar will be held in English. Nutrition breaks will be provided. Meals are available for purchase.

Click here for the full course schedule

Enrolment and Certificate:

This course is available for as a certificate, undergraduate credit (pending), and graduate credit through Acadia University. Please consult Acadia University’s website for details, fees and deadline to enrol. For more information about graduate credit, please write to Brenda Harris (brenda.harris@acadiau.ca).

To register for the certificate directly with the CSC, click here. Deadline to enrol for the certificate is July 1st, 2025. The total price for certificate enrollment is $800 CAD, however, the first ten participants who register will receive a special discount. See below for details.

All course participants receive a Certificate of Accomplishment from Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.

Details about enrolling:

If you are a CBU student:

Learning Through Music is on the timetable for spring/summer and available for registration as MUSI 4701 ST Learning through Music (3cr). Due to the uniqueness of this course, there are processes for people interested in enrolling, and policies attached that differ from our regular offerings. Please note that if you do not have the prerequisites and wish to take the course, you can send an email to request permission to enroll.

Complete the add/drop form found here: https://www.cbu.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/ADD-DROP-FORM.pdf
Email it to enrolment@cbu.ca
All registrations must be received by August 15th, 2025 by 12:00pm
Students will be charged at the time of registration and all fees will be due at this time to avoid interest and penalties.
Once registered, this course is non-refundable.
The final date to withdraw from the course to avoid academic penalties is Wednesday, August 20th. After this date, a WF (withdrawal failure) will be applied as a grade. Students wishing to drop a course must complete the add/drop form (linked above) and send it to enrolment@cbu.ca

If you are NOT a CBU student, please follow the steps above. However, make sure to apply to CBU and select “no formal program” as your option.

Bursaries and Special Discounts:

To celebrate the first-time iteration of this course, the Centre for Sound Communities is offering a special $500 CAD discount on the registration price for the first ten participants who register for the Certificate of Accomplishment.

Additionally, five fellowships are available for students and postdocs who are interested in attending the Music Pedagogies course. Recipients of these awards will be asked to participate in creating social media content in preparation for the program.

For more information about the course, the certificate, or discounts/bursaries available please contact the Centre for Sound Communities (sound_communities@cbu.ca) or Dr. Marcia Ostashewski (marcia_ostashewski@cbu.ca).

Cape Breton Tourism

Directions to the Centre for Sound Communities.