Session Proposals

Odell Zeigler, IV, is the Director of Choirs at the Visual & Performing Arts Academy at Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk, Virginia. He conducts the Concert Choir, Women’s Chorale, Men’s Chorus, and Mixed Chorus, inspiring students through dynamic and engaging musical instruction. In addition to teaching Music Appreciation and AP Music Theory, Odell also brings his leadership skills to the court as the Head JV Boys Basketball Coach.

An active adjudicator, clinician, and public speaker, Odell is increasingly recognized as a leading voice in choral music and education. He has presented research at prestigious All-State and All-Region conferences across 15 states and has been featured as a headlining clinician in two states.

Odell is an accomplished writer, with articles published in prestigious outlets such as Teaching Music Magazine (NAfME), the Iowa Music Educator Journal, the Massachusetts Music Educator Journal, the Rhode Island Music Educator Journal, the Virginia Harmony Newsletter, and the ChorTeach online journal. His expertise has also been highlighted in School Band & Orchestra Magazine (SBO). As a featured blogger for ACDA’s online platform, ChoralNet, Odell continues contributing valuable insights to the choral music community.

Odell is a committed member of the American Choral Directors Association, the National Association for Music Education, and the National Association of Negro Musicians, Inc. He also contributes his expertise as a member of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra’s Education Committee. Odell holds a B.A. in Music & Psychology from North Central College in Naperville, Illinois, an M.M.Ed. from the University of Rhode Island, and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership with a Principal Certification Endorsement from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas.

Rather than centering broad conversations about systemic barriers in urban education, this session highlights specific challenges new choral directors may encounter in urban choral programs. Choral leaders may find that some students experience difficulty with:

1. Solfège – Many students may have primarily sung using lyrics rather than pitch syllables.
2. Sheet Music – Some may have learned entirely by rote and have limited experience reading from a score.
3. Sight Reading – This skill may be unfamiliar or underdeveloped.
4. Vocal Technique – Concepts such as maintaining an arched soft palate may feel unnatural or unclear.
5. Tongue Placement – Technical language around vowel formation and placement may be new.
6. Classical Repertoire – Stylistic expectations and interpretation may differ from students’ prior musical experiences.

While these challenges are not exclusive to urban choral programs, they appear frequently in settings where sequential music literacy instruction has been inconsistent. Recognizing these patterns allows directors to respond with intention and clarity.

This session provides practical, classroom based strategies to help new directors address these areas while fostering measurable musical growth. The presentation will include a PowerPoint outlining key instructional gaps and rehearsal approaches that strengthen rhythm reading, pitch accuracy, score navigation, and foundational vocal technique. Specific strategies will focus on promoting music literacy skill building to address gaps that often impact students of color.

This framework is designed to support traditional choral instruction, not replace it. It serves as a focused starting point for novice directors entering the urban secondary choral setting, offering structure, clarity, and actionable tools for immediate implementation.

• Choral - Middle School
• Choral - Secondary
• Collegiate
• Mentorship/Beginning Teachers