Books and beats workshop

Join us for TWO incredible sessions in this 3- hour workshop!

​Instruments, Books & Props - Oh My!

​Once upon a strum: storybooks meet the ukulele
A workshop with hands-on lesson ideas that integrate storybooks with instruments and props such as handheld printed manipulatives, scarves, google eyes and more. Participants will be walk through classroom activities that are scaffolded and built to span multiple lessons in order to introduce and develop a variety of music concepts to students.  Lesson activities presented will span from Kindergarten to Fifth grade and provide a jumping off point for participant inspiration while also providing ‘ready for Monday’ ideas. 
​Learn to teach ukulele using Children's books. 
In this workshop, you will go through teaching beginning ukulele basics as well as learning some classic song choices using children's literature to reinforce concepts. We will also add additional instrumentation such as the electric bass uke, lead riffs, drumsand Orff. Bring your ukulele and let's turn the page and strum the strings!
Elizabeth Glaskill
Elizabeth Gaskill is an elementary music specialist in Clarksville-Montgomery County, currently in her 14th year. She received her Bachelors of Music at APSU and continued to Walden University for both her Masters and Specialist degrees in curriculum and instruction. She has completed two levels of Orff-Schulwerk in Nashville. Elizabeth also serves her district as one of the lead teachers, presenting local professional developments and building curriculum. She has presented at the TMEA virtual shares and twice at the Elementary Music Summit. Elizabeth believes in the power of stories and can often be found perusing the book store for the next great musical idea! 
Mary McCartney
Mary McCartney has been an elementary school music teacher since 1987. She has primarily taught in Florida, but moved to Tennessee four years ago, where she has continued her teaching career. She started a focus on Ukulele about nine years ago, and has turned her ukulele groups into well loved performance groups that perform in several venues that enhance the student learning as well as the community events they are involved in. These events include community festivals, arts festivals, elder care living facilities, and local eateries.
When: Saturday, September 12th, 2026, 9:00am-12:00pm
     On-site registration opens at 8:30am
Where: McFadden School of Excellence
  221 Bridge Ave.
  Murfreesboro, TN 37129
Cost: Member - $5; Non-member - $35
     Collegiate students/Retired teachers/1st-year teachers: FREE

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