The Power of Adaptation: Finding Light in Dark Times
With face-to-face interaction strongly discouraged, how would one go about spreading the joy of music? This is a challenge J. Daniel Jenkins, associate professor of music theory, had to address swiftly. In the fall of 2020, Jenkins taught online for the first time in a graduate course called "Public Music Theory." The main purpose of the course was to engage the public with music theoretical knowledge. The online structure of the class created a barrier to public and student engagement. While teaching online can cause different problems to arise, Jenkins advises educators to have patience and flexibility. While being thrown into online teaching can be a stressful situation, finding ways to keep your students motivated and engaged is rewarding.