Imagining Possibilities for Music Learning & Teaching
Design a Music Curriculum That Actually Fits Your Students.
You’re already a curriculum maker. Get the flexible frameworks to design, update, expand, or transform your music program with more clarity and confidence.
Follow the development of Imagining Possibilities, a book-in-progress for music educators, district leaders, and teacher educators who want stronger questions, better curriculum decisions, and more connected and cohesive music programs.
New to the book project? Start here.
In a few minutes, you’ll see what this project is really about — and how it can help you design music curriculum that fits your students.
Start Here to learn:
01
Why the best curriculum is built, not bought — and what most resources leave out.
02
How this book helps you design music learning that fits your students and context.
03
How to follow along and try early ideas now. Get frameworks and questions you can use before the book even launches.
Music Educators Need More Than Packaged Curriculum
You’re Already Making Curriculum Decisions. This Book Helps You Make Them with Confidence.
If you’ve ever pieced together a program from activities, skill lists, and repertoire guides and still felt like something was missing you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common experiences in music education, and one of the least talked about.
Most of us learned to plan lessons and prepare performances. Few of us were ever taught how to design a music curriculum, or shown what’s possible beyond listening skills and concepts or planning activities and rehearsals. That’s not a personal failing. It’s a gap in music education as a whole.
I’m writing Imagining Possibilities to close that gap — to support music educators with the deeper curricular understanding, strategies, and questions we need to design music learning that fits our students and evolves with changing times.
Follow along as I write it, and imagine possibilities of what your program can become alongside a community of educators doing the same.
The best music curriculum is the one that you help create.
What This Book Will Help You Do . . .
- See clearly — notice what your curriculum centers, assumes, and leaves out.
- Decide with confidence — make stronger choices about what students learn, and why.
- Design for your students — build music learning around your community, context, and possibilities.
- Think deeper — move beyond activity collections and repertoire toward nuanced curricular thinking.
- Connect the pieces — create more cohesive and coherent programs.
- Lead conversations — guide stronger curriculum discussions with colleagues, teams, and districts.
- Stay nimble — respond to change proactively instead of reactively.
- Act now — turn ideas from the book into systems, resources, and plans you can apply immediately.
And ultimately: Design, Update, Expand, or Transform your classes, ensembles, and programs.
Who Is This Project For?
Choose the path that best fits how you might use the book project.
K-12 Music Educators
For music educators developing music curriculum or who are curious about possibilities to design, update, expand, or transform your music classes, ensembles, or program.
District Arts & Music Leaders
For District Arts and Music leaders facilitating district-wide or school-based curriculum efforts or program design.
Teacher Educators
For music teacher educators interested in teaching courses on music curriculum or addressing curriculum in existing courses.
Also relevant for:
Community Music Schools & Programs
For leaders and staff of community music schools and programs seeking coherence and connection among your offerings.
Studio & Private Music Teachers
For studio and private music teachers interested in best meeting the individual and collective needs of your students.
Music Product & Program Managers
For businesses, entrepreneurs, and education outreach professionals seeking to develop curriculum and initiatives that connect products or offerings to K-12 and community settings.
Follow the Book Project
What could music curriculum become if we asked better questions?
That’s what I’m exploring — and I’d love for you to follow along.
I’m writing Imagining Possibilities to help you design, update, and expand curriculum with more clarity, imagination, and confidence. Follow along and start putting the ideas to work now.
Get Book-Progress Notes
Short updates from the writing process will often include:
- One “wonderment” to carry into your teaching or planning
- One curriculum idea
- One action you can try or discuss
You’ll also receive occasional behind-the-scenes notes, early resources, and invitations to respond to questions shaping the book.
Go Behind The Book
Curious what goes into writing a book about music curriculum?
The Book Progress Hub is where I share the work behind the work and where you can pick up ideas long before the book launches.
Inside the hub, you’ll find:
- Video updates — see where my thinking is going
- The questions shaping the book — bring them into your own program
- Draft ideas and frameworks — try them early
- Notes from the writing process — learn from the choices in real time
- Behind-the-scenes decisions — understand the why, not just the what
- Early glimpses of the book before it’s finished
A real look at a book in progress.
About Evan Tobias
Evan Tobias is Associate Professor of Music Learning and Teaching at Arizona State University, Director of the Consortium for Innovation and Transformation in Music Education, and founder of Tobias Creative Enterprises. His work supports music educators, districts, and organizations in designing curriculum and imagining new possibilities for music learning and teaching.
Want the next book-progress note?
Join the book-progress list for short reflections, curriculum questions, and early ideas from the project.