Introduction
Karen Howard teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in music education and diversification of teacher dispositions, pedagogical practices, and music performance traditions. She is Director of the Graduate Programs in Music Education, and facilitates the Smithsonian Folkways Certificate Course in World Music Pedagogy.
She was previously an early childhood music and movement facilitator, elementary school music teacher, and choral director. She is a regular presenter working with music educators to diversify repertoire and pedagogical strategies. Karen is the editor of the series "World Music Initiative" through GIA Music Publications. While all music is considered under the title of "world music", this series focuses on marginalized and underrepresented music cultures featuring music educators collaborating with culture bearers.
Her research has been published in the Journal of Research in Music Education, the International Journal of Research in Choral Singing, and the International Journal of Community Music. Her book "World Music Pedagogy: Secondary School Innovations" is published through Routledge, and "First Steps in Global Music", "Realizing Diversity: An Equity Framework for Music Education", "Dance Like a Butterfly: Songs from Senegal, Liberia, Ghana, and Nigeria", and "Harambee: Songs and Games from Tanzania" through GIA.