Teacher's toolkit series:
kindergarten & 5th grade
Session description.
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Dr. Kendra Kay Friar
Dr. Friar is the new Visiting Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga after working as an adjunct professor at Pacific University in Forest Grove, OR, where she taught elementary music methods. She previously worked as an elementary music teacher in Beaverton, OR, and as an Associate Conductor of Pacific Youth Choir in Portland, OR, the children’s choir of the Oregon Symphony. Dr. Friar’s work experience includes 11 years of public- |
school teaching in Texas and Oregon (Grades K-6), five years of early childhood teaching, and multiple curriculum development projects for Kodály-inspired teaching. Dr. Friar received the 2021 Excellence in Elementary Music Education Award from Oregon Music Educators Association.
At the national level, Dr. Friar serves as the Academic Editor of the Journal of General Music Education, an official publication of the National Association for Music Education. Dr. Friar also serves by presidential appointment on NAfME’s Equity Committee and the Professional Learning Programming Committee. At the state level, she served two terms as the Elementary Chair of Oregon Music Educators Association.
Dr. Friar has also presented peer-reviewed sessions and webinars at national, regional, and state conferences. In September 2026, she will present her original research into the history and content of curricular American folk music at NAfME’s Biennial Music Research and Teacher Education Conference. Dr. Friar’s practitioner-focused articles and lesson plans have appeared in Music Educators Journal, Journal of General Music Education, and Teaching Music Magazine.
Dr. Friar holds an Ed.D. in Educational Policy, Organization, and Leadership from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as well as music education degrees from The University of Texas (M.M.) and The University of Illinois (B.S., Elementary-General Specialization).
At the national level, Dr. Friar serves as the Academic Editor of the Journal of General Music Education, an official publication of the National Association for Music Education. Dr. Friar also serves by presidential appointment on NAfME’s Equity Committee and the Professional Learning Programming Committee. At the state level, she served two terms as the Elementary Chair of Oregon Music Educators Association.
Dr. Friar has also presented peer-reviewed sessions and webinars at national, regional, and state conferences. In September 2026, she will present her original research into the history and content of curricular American folk music at NAfME’s Biennial Music Research and Teacher Education Conference. Dr. Friar’s practitioner-focused articles and lesson plans have appeared in Music Educators Journal, Journal of General Music Education, and Teaching Music Magazine.
Dr. Friar holds an Ed.D. in Educational Policy, Organization, and Leadership from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as well as music education degrees from The University of Texas (M.M.) and The University of Illinois (B.S., Elementary-General Specialization).
When: Saturday, February 27th, 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
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
