On Friday, December 5, the Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music (BSACAM) at Monmouth University welcomed more than 70 educators from across the Garden State to campus for “Hitting the Right Notes: Integrating Music History Across the Curriculum.” This free, full-day professional development workshop was co-sponsored by the Monmouth University School of Education. Designed to support teachers across subject areas, the program explored how music—and music history—can deepen student engagement, spark creativity, and bring new energy to lessons in social studies, language arts, science, the arts, and beyond.
The day opened with breakfast and networking, setting an enthusiastic, collaborative tone. Following welcomes from BSACAM Founding Executive Director Bob Santelli and Dr. Jason Fitzgerald of the School of Ed, attendees moved into a series of interactive sessions that highlighted the resources and expertise of both the BSACAM and our partners at TeachRock.
BSACAM Founding Executive Director Bob Santelli and Dr. Jason Fitzgerald of the School of Ed welcome attendees.
During the “Meet the BSACAM” session, I had the pleasure of introducing attendees to our collections, our current work, and the exciting progress on our new Center, currently set to open in late Spring 2026. We hope to be welcoming select groups of teachers and students as early as June 2026, with a field trip program running in earnest by the 2026-2027 school year.
Later in the morning, I facilitated “Teaching 250 Years of American History Through Music,” a session that demonstrated the depth and breadth of the content that will be covered in the exhibits in our new home.
After lunch, Gina Machado from the TeachRock team walked participants through their free, standards-aligned curriculum—showcasing ready-to-use lessons that integrate music and culture to make core subjects more meaningful and accessible to students.
The day wrapped with a trivia contest, giveaways, and a survey—because we at the BSACAM do not want to take a “build it and they will come approach.” We understand that we are here to serve teachers, and that we can only do that if we thoroughly understand their needs.
When asked what the best part of the day was, feedback included:
- “I loved the virtual tour of the new museum and the 250-year history.”
- “Getting to be one of the first people to see the inside of the museum!! This is so exciting!!!”
- “Learning so much history through music!”
- “The run down of 250 years of music history. I heard a lot of things I would like to implement in my classes.”
Overall, the at-capacity event underscored the growing appetite for creative, interdisciplinary approaches to teaching—and the power of music to connect, inspire, and energize learners of all ages.
As we look ahead to the opening of our new Center in Spring 2026, workshops like this reaffirm why our educational mission matters. The enthusiasm, curiosity, and collaboration teachers brought to the day remind us that music is a powerful tool for helping students make sense of the world and their place in it. We’re grateful to everyone who attended, to our partners at TeachRock, and to the Monmouth University School of Education for helping make the event a success. We look forward to welcoming educators back for future programs and continuing to support classrooms with resources that inspire learning through the lens of American music.
Are you an educator willing to share how we can best support you? Click here to take a brief survey!
Melissa Ziobro
Director of Curatorial Affairs
Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music
Monmouth University
December 8, 2025