Photo by Chien Nguyen Minh on Unsplash
November 24, 2020
The CDC-Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study investigated the correlation between childhood trauma and life-long development, health, and well-being. The astounding results have led to trauma informed approaches to education and medicine, among other areas. David Knott explains why an ACE understanding can elevate our music instruction, and how music education be used as a conduit to help young people who have experienced trauma.
Guest
Joining me today from Hershey, PA, is David Knott. David describes his job as “the sweetest band gig on earth” – he is the director of all Middle Division Band activities at Milton Hershey School. David is a professional percussionist, conductor, and educational leadership advocate.
Notes
- David explains the Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) study and its implications.
- David describes how can music education be used as a conduit to help young people who have experienced trauma, and gives specific examples of using a school music band setting to help them.
- David tells us about Milton Hershey School, and a project he’s done with students called, “In the Key of Me.”
- He also tells us about the Tactical SEL class he developed and instructs at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia: Tactical Integration of Trauma Informed and Social Emotional Learning Strategies for Music Education.
- David says: “Everything I do I believe will challenge the status quo, I believe in thinking differently. I put students first, placing them in a safe and rigorous environment and provide the tools to allow them to reach their fullest creative self. I just happen to use band instruments to get there. My Mission in One Word: #Elevate.”
Connect/Other Resources
- Twitter @dekconductor
- Developing a New “3 R’s” Approach to Education in a Post COVID-19 World, by David Knott
- How to Add Social-Emotional Learning Lessons to Your Music Curriculum, by David Knott
- Milton Hershey School website
- Ted Talk: How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime, by Nadine Burke Harris
- “Adverse childhood experiences are the single greatest unaddressed public health threat facing our nation today.” –Dr. Robert Block, former President of the American Academy of Pediatrics (quoted by Nadine in Ted Talk)
- About the CDC-Kaiser ACE Study
- Trauma Informed Educators Network Podcast
- Resource: Edutopia
Coda
David says: “This is significant for me and my daughter who go to see TRAIN in concert as often as possible. It serves as a reminder that with all the work we do as educators and soloists in the classical world and be best or better than….music ultimately is a connection between people.”
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