Blogs & Online Sources

Cathy DePentu Leave a Comment Cathy DePentu, COVID-19, DePentu, MAEIA, music, virtual learning

So, let’s do a quick recap of the last eight months…I am Director of Orchestras for the Plymouth Canton Community Schools. I teach at “The Park,” a sprawling campus...

Cathy DePentu Leave a Comment arts education, Cathy DePentu, MAEIA, music

What does that even mean? Does it mean we just have fun all the time? No. Does it mean that we don’t work at what we do? Absolutely not. Does it mean that I...

Cathy DePentu Leave a Comment arts education, Cathy DePentu, dance, MAEIA, MAEIA Leadership Fellows, music, professional learning, Professional Learning Community, school year, theatre, visual arts

I have been in school for 58 of my 63 years. Granted, I’ve switched roles a few times and moved back and forth from the front of the room to behind a desk (...

Cathy DePentu Leave a Comment 21st century skills, arts education, Cathy DePentu, MAEIA Leadership Fellows, Pixar, programmers, STEAM, value of the arts

Simon Sinek’s “Golden Circle” resonates with many arts educators. The concept “Start with...

Cathy DePentu Leave a Comment Adolph Brown, arts education, Leadership Fellow, MASTA, Michigan American String Teachers Association, music education, professional development, professional learning

I believe in the importance of MAEIA and its resources. I always try to set aside my ego and throw myself into difficult challenges or situations in order to improve, from an advanced violin class (...

Cathy DePentu Leave a Comment Cathy DePentu, data collection, differentiated instruction, Leadership Fellow, M.T421, music education, orchestra, performance critique, professional learning

Thirty-five years ago a guidance counselor asked me, “Why should we schedule a student all four years in Orchestra? Aren’t students just repeating the same class?” I attempted to explain that students continue to...