Professional Development
Franklin is a national speaker and presenter. He has presented or provided keynotes for various music education conferences and school districts. He has a deep passion for elementary music and helping teachers find their voice in today's classroom. His professional development methods aim to equip elementary teachers with tools to grow their program, engage community stakeholders, and enrich students with material they can relate to.
If you are looking for a new and innovative voice to bring fresh strategies to your teachers, please tell Franklin about your development needs below.
MORE THAN A MUSIC TEACHER
Past Professional Development
November 2023
Nebraska Music Educators Association Conference, Lincoln, Nebraska, Keynote Speaker,
Carnegie Hall, Music Educators Workshop, New York, New York, Presenter
October 2023
Carnegie Hall, Music Educators Workshop, New York, New York, Presenter
September 2023
Kentucky Orff, Lexington, Kentucky, Workshop Presenter
CMA Foundation Music Teachers of Excellence, Nashville, Tennessee, Professional Development Curator
August 2023
F Flat Books Back to School Symposium, Pennsylvania, Presenter
April 2023
Lacrosse, Wisconsin Workshop Presenter
March 2023
Atlanta Public Schools, Keynote Speaker, Save the Music Foundation
New Jersey Orff, Workshop Presenter
St. Louis Orff, Workshop Presenter
February 2023
New Jersey Music Educators Association Conference, Atlantic City, New Jersey, Elementary Music Headline Presenter
Minnesota Music Educators Association Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota Music Headline Presenter
Artist in Residence, MacPhail Music, Minneapolis, Minnesota
January 2023
Florida Music Educators Association Conference, Tampa, Florida, Elementary Music Headline Presenter
December 2022
I. T. Creswell Middle School for the Arts, S.T.E.A.M. Guest Speaker Series
Minneapolis Public Schools, Virtual Webinar, Professional Development Clinician
November 2022
National Association for Music Education National Conference, Washington, D.C., Keynote Speaker
Virginia Music Educators Association Conference, Richmond, Virginia, Elementary Music Headline Presenter
MusicCast, F- Flat Books Podcast, Guest
October 2022
Fall Refresher Conference with the Kansas City Youth Chorus, Kansas City, Kansas, Featured Presenter
September 2022
New York City Orff Workshop, Presenter
Calgary Orff Virtual Workshop, Presenter
August 2022
F Flat Books Back to School Symposium, Philadelphia, PA, Guest Presenter
Building Authentic Student Relationships, University School District, Professional Development Presenter
June 2022
Association for Popular Music Education Conference, Detroit, Michigan, Keynote Speaker
ArtsEd SEL New Jersey - Social Emotional Learning in Action, Facilitator
University of South Carolina - Implementing Social Emotional Learning in Elementary Music, Guest Presenter
Hip Hop in Elementary Music - Vandercook College of Music - Adjunct Professor (Summer Course)
May 2022
Montgomery Clarksville Public Schools, Professional Development Presenter
VH1 Save The Music Webinar, Featured Panelist
Trauma Informed Educators Network, Podcast Guest
April 2022
American Songwriter, Rivers of Rhythm Hip Hop Episode,
The National Museum of African American Music, Featured Guest
March 2022
Dayton Public County Schools, Guest Teaching Artist
Hip Hop in Elementary Music, Tidewater AOSA Chapter, Virtual Presenter
We Are Nashville Music Festival, Nashville Symphony, Guest Conductor
February 2022
Celebrate Black History-Middle Tennessee AOSA Orff Chapter
Washington Music Educators Association Conference - Elementary Music Headliner
University of Nebraska School of Music, Guest Lecturer
Millard Public Schools, Omaha, Nebraska, Guest Teaching Artist,
January 2022
VH1 Save the Music Webinar
Culturally Relevant Teaching in Music with Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings
Florida Educators Music Educators Association Conference, Co-Presenter
Michigan Music Educators Association Conference, Elementary Music Headliner
November 2021
Dayton County Public Schools Professional Development Workshop
October 2021
Make the Rhythm Sticks Groove - New Orleans Public Schools
Social Emotional Learning in the Music Classroom - Education Through Music
Hip Hop in the Music Room - Central Carolina AOSA Orff
Be The Light: Building an Inclusive Classroom Through Repertoire Selection - National ACDA Webinar
Making Music in Music City - Professional Development Workshop with F. Flat Books
September 2021
Hip Hop in the Orff Classroom: Remix - Cincinnati Orff Chapter
Popular Music in Music Education: Cincinnati Public Schools
Social Emotional Learning in the Music Classroom - Utah Orff
August 2021
Hip Hop in Elementary Music - Memphis AOSA Chapter
Back to School: The Remix - Keynote Speaker, F. Flat Books Symposium
Hip Hop in Elementary Music - Professional Development Workshop-San Antonio, Texas
Hip Hop in Elementary Music - Westerville Public Schools
July 2021
Making Music on the First Day - Hal Leonard Virtual Music Education Summit
Culturally Relevant Teaching - Rutherford County Schools
For Teachers Who Don’t Like Moving - Co-presenter with Tyler Swick, Louisiana Music Educators Association Virtual Conference
June 2021
Hip Hop in Elementary Music - Vandercook College of Music (Summer Course)
May 2021
Hip Hop in Elementary Music - East Carver Public Schools
Social Emotional Learning in Elementary Music Online Webinar: Teaching With Orff
April 2021
Vanderbilt University - Guest Lecturer
Hip Hop in Elementary Music - Little Rock AOSA Chapter
March 2021
Belmont University - Guest Lecturer
February 2021
Culturally Responsive Student Leaders - Online Workshop - Reach Through Music
Podcast Recording with Dr. Scott Edgar - Music For All
Temple University - Guest Lecturer
Hip Hop in Elementary Music - Ohio State University School of Music
Headline Elementary Music Presenter - Utah Music Education Association Conference
January 2021
I Hear Music In The Air: Black History Month Activities - Online Workshop - Teaching With Orff
Keep the Beat: Rhythm Stick Routines - East Tennessee General Music Association
Composing and Arranging For All Students - Hal Leonard & F. Flat Books Symposium
How to F.I.N.D. Brilliance In Our Students - Keynote Speaker - Teaching Artist
Podcast Episode with Black Student Association at Notre Dame University
December 2020
Teaching Artist Webinar Series with Jimmie Allen - CMA Foundation
November 2020
Improvisation in Elementary Music - Presenter - National AOSA Virtual Music Conference
Elementary Music Education - Presenter - Reach Through Music
October 2020
Hip Hop in Elementary Music - Presenter - Northern New England Collegiate Symposium in Music Education
Culturally Relevant Teaching - Presenter - University of Houston
September 2020
Tennessee State University - Guest Lecturer
August 2020
Interactive Literature in Elementary Music - F. Flat Books Back to School Symposium
F.I.N.D. the Brilliance in our Students - Klein Independent School District
July 2020
D.R.E.A.M. in Music - Co-presenter - Tennessee Music Educators Association
Podcast Recording: The Score
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
Jenn Christofferson
The workshop Hip Hop and Identity was so much fun! I can't wait to try some of the activities with my students. I teach in a hybrid situation, with some students in school and some at home. These ideas will work for both groups of learners. Thank you so much!
Teaching With Orff Participant
Mr. Willis was specific in how to accomplish bringing celebration and understanding of why to have a Black History Month and how, to a school community and families without being restrictive. There was a, "You can do this," environment even in a webinar that was unbelievable.
Laurie Gliem
One of the highlights for my students and me was the video of you reading Edward's Rhythm Sticks. My students loved using their pencils or markers as rhythm sticks and other adults in the room loved it too! It was something they asked for many times and kept going back to when they had free choice time to explore things independently in our Google classroom.