Professional Development
tRp educational program offerings
Self-awareness programs for teachers and facilitators
Teachers and facilitators can use our programs to elevate their work by—at a minimum—simply raising their own awareness. This self-awareness can make classrooms safer and braver spaces for students, which can raise the potential for connection and result in higher levels of engagement.
While our community focus is on music, our PD offerings can be beneficial to teachers and facilitators of all subjects. Doing your own work is foundational to an anti-racist lifestyle, no matter what your areas of expertise are.
Current offerings:
We currently offer continuing education hours for certified educators in Washington State.
Layers of Heritage
This is a guided exploration of various layers of your own heritage. Working in a cohort, you will explore your own heritage while being in discussion with others—which will enable you to learn about other people’s stories and experiences as well.
- Participants will gain a deeper understanding of their own heritage and how personal histories and experiences impact how we move through the world.
- Participants will gain new methods and strategies for connecting with vital elements of their identities.
- Participants will broaden and deepen the ways in which they understand themselves, thereby strengthening their commitment and abilities to combat systemic oppression.
Face The Music
This class uses roots music and the stories of marginalized musicians as vehicles for gaining a deeper understanding of systemic racism. Through guided discussions, participants will practice recognizing bias, and will develop their individual set of tools for confronting issues of race and social justice in personal and professional settings.
Participants will deepen their knowledge of American musical history.
Participants will practice engaging in (sometimes difficult) conversations about race, privilege, positionality, appropriation, etc.
Participants will forge lasting connections with others committed to the work of anti-racism.
Culture Bearer Pathways: Black American Music
This program teaches learners about the ways in which contributions of Black Americans are foundational to the development of America’s cultural and economic identity.
Participants will gain an introductory understanding of the origins of Black American music. As Black culture is the foundation of many “American” cultural touchpoints, engaging this material will help learners gain a deeper understanding of the origins of modern American music and culture.
Participants will begin to understand how Black artists have been exploited, marginalized and erased throughout history, while their art has often been co-opted and brought to mainstream attention by white artists.
Other tRp programs
Face the Music
Virtual class for those who want to discover new ways to confront racism through the lens of roots music.
Unbroken Circle
Students of any level of experience will learn or deepen foundational musical skills in a relaxed setting.
Culture Bearer Pathways
A self-learning program with pathways to one’s heritage.
