Brian J. Wagner-Yeung is the Neurodiversity & Accessibility Chairperson for the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA). He is a music educator for New York City Public Schools, where he was a finalist for the NYC Big Apple Awards in 2019. In addition, he is an adjunct faculty member at CUNY Brooklyn College, where he currently teaches the course Music in Special Education, to preservice undergraduate and graduate students. He completed his BA and MSED in Music Education from CUNY Queens College, and an Advanced Certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorders from CUNY Brooklyn College.
Throughout his teaching experience, he has mainly taught music in a center-based special education program, in addition to inclusion classrooms, and a gifted and talented program. He has taught K-8 general music, 6-12 adaptive string orchestra, and K-8 musical theatre. His teaching philosophy is to incorporate a strength-based learning environment for all students, in addition to utilizing Universal Design for Learning (UDL). He has spent his teaching career developing a curriculum and music program that is meaningful, empowering, enriching, inclusive, and diverse. Through adapted and accessible content, he has seen significant success for all learners.
In addition, he has taken on leadership roles within the music education professional community. As Neurodiversity & Accessibility Chair for NYSSMA, he is responsible for bringing on current clinicians at the annual winter conference, in addition to providing resources and professional development to music educators across New York State. He was previously on the executive board of the Music Educators’ Association of NYC (MEANYC), where he was the membership chair, professional development chair, the District 75 teaching representative, and the editor of the digital journal Presto!
As an independent educational consultant, he has presented workshops and published articles at the local, national, and international levels. He has presented for NAfME National Conferences, NAfME Eastern and Western Division Conferences, ABLE Assembly, The Kennedy Center, NYSSMA, NJMEA, MMEA, CMEA, PMEA, OMEA, collegiate music education programs, non-profit organizations such as Wharton Arts, ZUMIX, and Segerstom’s Center’s Arts School for All Abilities - and virtually to Singapore Teachers’ Academy for the Arts. His publications can be found in NAfME’s Music in a Minuet, School Music News, DARTS Newsletter, and Tempo Magazine.
Brian’s work focuses on empowering all students to find success through music-making, and giving music educators the resources, strategies, and tools to allow their own music classrooms and programs to become accessible for all. He aims to give music educators strategies that will create a sense of true inclusion and belonging for all.
Professional Experience
NYC Department of Education / Music Teacher
September 2009 - Present, Brooklyn, NY
CUNY Brooklyn College / Adjunct Faculty
August 2021 - Present, Brooklyn, NY
Music Education Consultant / Consultant
September 2014 - Present
Education
CUNY Queens College / BA in Music Education
May 2009, Queens NY
CUNY Queens College / MSED in Music Education
February 2013, Queens NY
CUNY Brooklyn College /Advanced Certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorders
July 2020, Brooklyn NY
Professional Affiliations
NAfME / Active Member
Member of Children with Exceptionalities Special Research Interest Group
NYSSMA / Chair, Neurodiversity and Accessibility
March 2020 - Present
MEANYC / Active Member
Membership & Workshop Chair, Editor of Presto! (2015 - 2019)
Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) / Active Member
Member of DARTS (Division of Visual and Performing Arts Education)
VSA at The Kennedy Center / Active Member
American String Teachers' Association (NY Chapter) / Active Member
Professional Contributions
Behavioral Strategies: Approaches and Techniques for All Students in Musical Environments
Engaging All Learners: Tools & Techniques to Reach Different Types of Learners in the Music Classroom
Inclusive Music Teaching: Exceeding the Standards
Inclusive Music Teaching: Literacy, Composition, and Improvisation in the K-5 Classroom
Making Connections: Using Repertoire to Enhance the Social-Emotional Needs of All Students
Music for All: Developing Music Instruction for Students with Higher Support Needs
Neurodiversity in the Music Classroom: Using Strengths of All Students in Various Learning Environments
Orchestra for All: Adapting the String Program for a Diverse Range of Learners
Teaching Lessons to Children with Special Needs
Using Music to Facilitate Language, Communication, & Social Skills
Publications
Wagner, B. (2015). Engaging All Learners: Tools and Techniques to Reach Different Types of Learners in the Music Classroom. School Music News. Westbury, NY: New York State School Music Association.
Wagner, B. (2016). Making Connections for Special Learners: Using Repertoire to Enhance Lifelong Learning. School Music News. Westbury, NY: New York State School Music Association.
Wagner, B. (2016). Using Repertoire to Enhance Lifelong Learning. Music in a Minuet. Reston, VA: National Association for Music Education.
Wagner, B. (2017). Using a Differentiated Rhythmic and Melodic Notation System for Special Learners in All Musical Settings. Tempo. Lakewood, NJ: New Jersey Music Educators Association.
Wagner, B. (2017). Engaging All Types of Learners in the Music Classroom. Music in a Minuet. Reston, VA: National Association for Music Education.
Wagner-Yeung, B. (2018). Teaching Lessons to a Diverse Range of Learners. Music in a Minuet. Reston, VA: National Association for Music Education.
Wagner-Yeung, B. (2018). Behavioral Supports for Students with Special Needs in Musical Environments. Music in a Minuet. Reston, VA: National Association for Music Education.
Wagner-Yeung, B. (2019). Related Service Providers in the Music Classroom. DARTS Newsletter. Arlington, VA: Council for Exceptional Children.
Wagner-Yeung, B. (2020). Distance Learning for Special Learners in the Music Classroom. Music in a Minuet. Reston, VA: National Association for Music Education.
Wagner-Yeung, B. (2020). Let’s Make Music! Engaging Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the K-8 General Music Classroom. Coralville, IA: Music ConstructED.
Wagner-Yeung, B. (2021). Neurodiversity in the Music Classroom: Using the Strengths of All Students During In-Person and Remote Learning. School Music News. Westbury, NY: New York State School Music Association.
Wagner-Yeung, B. (2022). Inclusive Strategies for Students with ASD in the Music Room. Coralville, IA: Music ConstructED.
Wagner-Yeung, B. (2023). What's in a Label? An Inclusive Person-First & Strength-Based Approach. School Music News. Westbury, NY: New York State School Music Association.
