Fostering Motivated Music Students
Stephen T. Cox
In this session, we will explore the conditions that drive student motivation. You will learn how building strong connections and a sense of community can enhance student engagement. We will dive into fostering competence, ensuring every student feels successful and capable. Additionally, we will discuss strategies for empowering students by giving them more control over their learning. Finally, we will provide real-world examples and actionable strategies to implement these principles effectively in your educational setting, ensuring a motivated and thriving classroom environment.
Key Points:
- Motivation Triangle: Science of Motivation
- Relatedness - Building connection and community
- Competence - fostering success and lifting all students
- Autonomy - Putting the students in charge
- Real World Strategies and examples
Meet Your Professor
Stephen T. Cox is the Director of Music Education for the Willis Wonderland Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization founded in memory of legendary songwriter Allee Willis. Mr. Cox develops programs and curriculum around music education and songwriting for the foundation, with materials launching at WillisWonderland.org in July 2024. He is also a sought after speaker and clinician for jazz bands, concert bands, and modern band programs.
From 2022-2024 Mr. Cox had the privileged of launching a student centered band program in the oldest public school campus in San Antonio including both wind and rhythm section instruction with a modern band philosophy. For the previous decade he served as the director of bands at Eastland High School in Eastland, TX A graduate of Howard Payne University, Mr. Cox has been featured in the School Band and Orchestra Magazine's 50 Directors who make a difference and was the winner of the Grammy Music Educator Award in 2022.
As a speaker he has given clinics on the topics of educational technology, community engagement, small school education, student ownership, and preparing students for majoring in music at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention, Texas Bandmasters Association Convention, the Technology Institute for Music Education, Minnesota Bandmasters Association, the Colorado Bandmasters Association, The New Mexico Band Director's Association, and the Midwest Clinic. In his time at Eastland, the high school band was community centered and recognized as a consistent high quality rural school program. They also performed at the Midwest clinic and Texas Bandmasters Association conventions.
Core to his teaching philosophy, Mr. Cox believes that fine arts programs should be integral to their communities, that students should have as much control as possible, and that our ultimate goal is to give students the skills they need to chart their own path in life.