2025-2026 AKTS Workshop Season
NEW LOCATION:
2601 E Brown Road
Mesa, 85213
Fall Workshop September 20, 2025
From movement to body percussion, from singing to Orff arrangement, Melanie Kang seeks to make Chinese music, dances, and activities accessible to American teachers and students while simultaneously preserving the authenticity of the culture. In this workshop, Melanie will not only share songs and games from her recently published book, Lion, Lanterns, and Ribbons, but she will also bring other Chinese traditional stories, artworks, folk dances, and children’s games that she has explored and tested with her students over the span of a decade. In her class, the traditional Chinese fan dance became Curwen hand signs, and the traditional ribbons dance became the exploration of musical expressions. After this workshop on Chinese music, you will be able to throw a Lunar New Year celebration while enhancing your students’ creativity and musical capabilities.
Spring Workshop January 10, 2026
Folk dancing invites students to move, connect, and celebrate together while exploring musical traditions from around the world. Incorporating folk dance into your curriculum not only enriches cultural understanding but also fosters community, strengthens social-emotional skills, and provides joyful opportunities to embody musical concepts through movement. This session will highlight a sequential approach to teaching folk dances that can be scaffolded across the primary and intermediate grades. In addition to traditional repertoire, you’ll also discover ways to pair folk dance structures with popular music your students already love—making the experience even more engaging and relevant. Through hands-on participation, you’ll leave with specific dances, practical strategies, and the confidence to bring the joy of folk dancing into your music classroom
Chapter Share March 28, 2026
Join us for an inspiring and interactive chapter share focused on Growing Musicians. This session will feature a variety of engaging, hands-on musical games designed to foster creativity, musicality, and joy in the classroom. Participants will have the opportunity to learn new activities, actively participate in music-making, and explore strategies for nurturing developing musicians at all levels.
In addition to prepared activities, we’ll open the floor for a collaborative discussion—inviting attendees to share their favorite games, teaching ideas, and classroom successes. Whether you're looking to refresh your repertoire or contribute your own insights, this workshop is a valuable space for connection, creativity, and professional growth.
Come ready to move, sing, play, and grow—together!