Encore: Expanding the Professional Musician’s Edge
This mini online professional development course is designed to support local freelance musicians on Oʻahu who lack access to structured, community-based continuing education opportunities. Another critical need is the opportunity to “be trained to function effectively in a continuously changing professional practice” (Smilde, 2012). Hawaiʻi’s dynamic economy and reliance on tourism directly affect the availability of venues and compensation for musicians, making adaptability essential. Furthermore, continuing professional development has been shown to increase musicians’ motivation and job satisfaction (Musicians’ Union, 2023). Given that many professional musicians work as freelance practitioners, there is a clear need for greater support systems and opportunities for community building. Through guided reflection, skill-building activities, and networking discussions, this course helps musicians strengthen their technical expertise, professional confidence, and long-term career stability.
The development of this mini online course is grounded in culturally sustaining pedagogy and inclusive design frameworks. The course was developed using the ADDIE instructional design model as its structural framework, with learning objectives and activities aligned to Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy. The course integrates structured peer support within the learning community as a form of social relationship in solidarity. Learners engage in collaborative dialogue and feedback processes that foster an intellectually safe space for reflection, accountability, and confidence-building. This approach emphasizes relationship-centered learning, shared responsibility, and community validation of knowledge. The course is also informed by the Principles of Universal Design. By prioritizing learner choice, autonomy, and authenticity, the design encourages participants to build from their individual strengths and interests. Together, these frameworks shape a development process that centers cultural responsiveness, inclusive access, meaningful engagement, and learner agency.
Nicole Laeha, LTEC Student, University of Hawaiʻi, US
Nicole Laeha, M.Ed. is a Computer Science and Engineering elective teacher in the Hawaii Department of Education, bringing 11 years of experience in secondary education. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Education in Teaching Secondary Science, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Learning Design and Technology. Her professional interests include online curriculum development, instructional design, and leveraging technology to create engaging, research-based learning experiences.
Her husband, Jason Laeha, is a professional musician with more than 20 years of industry experience. He is dedicated to strengthening Hawaii’s professional musician community and expanding access to meaningful professional development opportunities.
Together, they co-developed this mini online course, combining his subject matter expertise with her instructional design and learning science background. They are passionate about helping professional musicians upskill building the technical expertise, confidence, and strategic knowledge needed to thrive in today’s dynamic economy.
Their work centers on thoughtfully combining technology and learning science to design impactful, learner-centered educational experiences. Through these methods, they aim to equip learners to deliver high-quality services while remaining adaptable to the evolving needs of Hawaii’s economy.
