Dr. Scott N. Edgar (he/him) has dedicated his career to highlighting the potential of music education and music educators to build life skills that students will use long after they leave the classroom. As a notable authority on music education and social emotional learning, Dr. Edgar has emerged as the leading researcher, best-selling author, and internationally sought-after clinician on the subject. He is the author of Music Education and Social Emotional Learning: The Heart of Teaching Music, The ABCs of My Feelings and Music (co-authored with his wife Stephanie), and editor of Portraits of Music Education and Social Emotional Learning (all published through GIA Publications).

Dr. Edgar prioritizes facilitating spaces where people can explore their identity, build a sense of belonging, and experience agency. He is grateful for the many experiences he had at Bowling Green State University (BME), University of Dayton (MS), and the University of Michigan (PhD) to learn from his mentors. He is Professor of Music, Chair of the Department of Music, and Director of Bands at Lake Forest College; Social Emotional Learning Editor for GIA Publications; and serves as Director of Practice and Research for The Center for Arts Education and Social Emotional Learning. Dr. Edgar is also a Music for All Educational Consultant, a Conn-Selmer Educational Clinician, and a VH1 Save the Music Foundation Educational Consultant.

Striving for work-life balance, he enjoys grilling, exercising, and spending time with his wife, Steph, their son, Nathan, their rescue golden retriever, Aria, and rescue cats, Violet and Clover.

Additional Resource Links

• Handout: Humanity in Instrumental Music Education (Midwest Clinic 2022)
• Portraits of Music Education and SEL: Chapter 2 (Kwasny)