During October 2024, Dr. Laura Moore Pruett released her book she co-wrote with Dr. Olivia R. Lucas entitled Teaching Difficult Topics: Reflections from the Undergraduate Music Classroom.
Dr. Lucas, Assistant Professor of Music Theory at Louisiana State University, and Dr. Pruett have been collaborators for many years. They are thrilled their project has resulted in this important publication on teaching methodologies.
Teaching Difficult Topics provides a series of on the ground reflections from college music instructors, working in a wide range of institutional settings, about their inclusive and supportive pedagogy in the classroom. Dr. Pruett states, “at its core, [the book] is the direct result of the joyful collaborative teaching I get to do with my friend and colleague Dr. Anne Flaherty (and others, too!) at Merrimack College.” Teaching Difficult Topics examines difficult themes with grace and is a valuable collection of essays.
Dr. Pruett shares that she is ecstatic with the group of people highlighted in this book. “I am so, so excited by the variety of voices featured in this book. We have authors from all backgrounds, ages, geographical locations, teaching situations, both stable and not.” She also explained that the whole goal of this project from the beginning was to make connections. She states “Connections to other pedagogues working through difficulties of all sorts, that is, basically all of us.”
Dr. Pruett is beyond thankful for all the unwavering support she has been given not just from the Merrimack College community, but her family and friends!
