An essential aspect of an American Music Education degree are the conducting/directing courses. Ensemble direction and conducting is practiced first in a small ensemble, band/orchestra/choir, with our educational practicum, and used in everyday teaching during our career. I have had the honor of also taking three levels of conducting through my Kodály certification courses, Orff Ensembles, World Music Drumming Ensembles, children’s choirs, guitar and ukulele ensembles, and recorder consorts.