Philadelphia, PA (March 20, 2025) – On April 26, 2025, at the First Up Annual Conference, Josh Robinson, professional percussionist, teaching artist and drum facilitator, will deliver a keynote speech on the topic of how educators can integrate music, particularly drumming, into their classrooms. At the highly anticipated conference being held April 25-26 at the Hilton Philadelphia City Avenue, Robinson will engage the audience in an interactive drumming session and create rhythmic mantras to reinforce key messages; samples of these from past lessons include: “Hard work, confidence, gratitude, joy”; “Grit, connection, authenticity”. These activities are designed to inspire participants while demonstrating a technique that can be replicated in the classroom.
The First Up conference is focused on the theme “Beyond the Classroom: Inspiring Lifelong Learning and Development,” and the two-day event offers a transformative experience designed to elevate teaching strategies, foster professional growth, and strengthen the early childhood education community.
Robinson will share his compelling journey from a challenging childhood to a successful career as a percussionist and teaching artist. He said, “I grew up with a lot of confusion. My dad was a really talented musician but struggled with addiction. My mom did her best, but it was a lot. Drumming at an early age gave me an outlet. I used to go down to the basement and bash and crash on a little pot and pan drum set. I was learning how to channel some of that negative stuff.” He intended to avoid the instability of the family business as a profession and instead pursued music as a hobby. He started his professional career with a sales job, but music kept calling him back.
The defining moment came when Robinson’s beloved grandfather, a towering figure in his life, had a heart attack. Robinson visited him regularly in the hospital, and when he ran out of words, he brought in his drum. He played the drum in the hospital for hours each day and saw the positive effect the music had on everyone around him. He was inspired to volunteer in his grandfather’s memory and began playing in hospices. This opened an opportunity to teach drumming at a grief camp for children, which led to a keynote speaking engagement at the National Alliance for Grieving Children.
He has since led workshops at Google, Johnson & Johnson, and Chester Prison, but now works mostly with students. He never loses sight of the fact that adults need an outlet too: “Teachers are stressed, and they need to decompress. Music can help—when teachers share that with their students everyone benefits.” His keynote will explain and demonstrate this.
On Friday, April 25, day one of the conference, Dr. Denisha Jones will take the stage to deliver a keynote speech on how educators can embrace the power of play. Attendees will also explore essential topics through featured presentations. Dr. Veirdre Jackson will address the importance of a sense of belonging, while Dr. Essence Allen Presley will lead a session on early intervention strategies. Educators will leave with practical tools and fresh perspectives to bring back to their classrooms and organizations.
Attendees will participate in engaging workshops, hear an insightful keynote speech on each day, connect with peers and receive professional development credits. Sessions throughout the conference will be tailored to meet the specific needs of educators working with preschoolers.
Participants can earn professional development credits. Each day of attendance will provide seven PQAS credits, allowing attendees to accumulate up to 14 credits over the course of the conference. Additionally, ACT 48 credit can be processed for those who require it. They will also find specialized programming aimed at strengthening leadership within the field. To ensure accessibility, select workshops will be offered in Spanish. The conference runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and doors open at 7 a.m. for registration. Guests can attend either day or both days. Register here: https://www.firstup.org/fupac/
The conference venue, the Hilton Philadelphia City Avenue, is located at 4200 City Avenue in Philadelphia. Self-parking is available for $8 per day, with valet parking offered at $15 per day. Public transportation is also a convenient option, with the Overbrook Train Station a half mile away and SEPTA Bus 34 stopping nearby. Information and registration details here: https://www.firstup.org/fupac/