A new Middle School band director is bringing big ideas into the classroom at Midlakes, according to the Finger Lakes Times. Chris McAfee joined the district this fall, fresh off completing a master’s degree at Columbia University.
McAfee recently co-published a peer-reviewed research paper that challenges how teachers think about formal and informal learning, especially in music education. The work argues students learn best when teachers draw lessons directly from students’ real-time experiences and observations.
Now at Midlakes, McAfee says he’s putting that philosophy into practice by anchoring student discoveries into everyday instruction. He hopes the approach helps students stay engaged while honoring both structure and creativity in learning.
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