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Caleb Norton is pictured smiling with a lecturer of music and dance outside in a national rain forest preserve.

Auburn College of Education doctoral student Caleb Norton, right, is pictured at Kaum National Rain Forest Preserve with Dr. John-Doe Dordzro, chair and senior lecturer for music and dance at the University of Cape Coast,

What began as an international academic opportunity quickly became something more for an Auburn College of Education doctoral student: a firsthand look at how music connects people, culture and community across borders.

Caleb Norton, a graduate teaching assistant in instrumental music education and doctoral student in Auburn’s College of Education, recently traveled to the University of Cape Coast in Ghana, where he engaged in teaching, research and cultural exchange — an experience that is now shaping his approach to music education and his future professional goals.

Norton described the experience as both professionally and personally impactful, noting the opportunity to engage with faculty and students through seminars, workshops and cultural exchange while sharing his research and perspectives on music education in the United States.

“My recent experience at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana was both professionally meaningful and personally transformative,” he said.

While presenting was a key component of the visit, Norton emphasized that the experience extended far beyond the classroom. He gained insight into how music functions across community life in Ghana and how those perspectives can inform a broader understanding of education.

Caleb Norton is pictured inside a classroom with several students.

Caleb Norton is pictured in a public Catholic school Kindergarten class in Cape Coast, Ghana.

Building relationships

“The visit was not just about presenting my own work,” he said. "It was also about listening, learning, observing and building relationships.”

Those experiences, he said, are directly influencing how he approaches his work moving forward.

“What I am bringing back is a deeper commitment to culturally responsive teaching, world music pedagogy and global collaboration,” he said.

The opportunity to travel to Ghana grew from Norton’s intentional efforts to expand his scholarship beyond traditional academic spaces.

“This opportunity came through developing academic and professional relationships connected to music education, cultural exchange and my ongoing interest in African and African diasporic music traditions,” he said.

Caleb Norton plays the drums with a group of people sitting.

Caleb Norton plays drums with a group of community members in Cape Coast.

A return visit

Through those connections, Norton began setting the foundation for future collaboration between Auburn and the University of Cape Coast — work that will continue in the months ahead. Following his initial visit, Norton has been invited to return for a five-week residency, where he will deepen partnerships and contribute more directly to teaching, research and collaboration with faculty and students.

“Being invited to return to the University of Cape Coast for a five-week stay is an exciting continuation of the work that began during my first visit,” he said.

During that time, Norton plans to engage in guest teaching, workshops and academic collaboration while further exploring shared approaches to music education between Ghana and the United States.

“I am especially interested in continuing conversations around world music pedagogy, culturally responsive music teaching and the ways music educators in Ghana and the United States can learn from one another.”

Caleb Norton is pictured smiling with the dean of the Office of International Affairs at the University of Cape Coast.

Caleb Norton is pictured with the dean of the Office of International Affairs at the University of Cape Coast.

The long-term goal

Norton's long-term goal is to serve as a teaching professor, preparing future educators to approach music education with creativity, cultural awareness and purpose. Originally from Tuscumbia, Alabama, Norton’s path to Auburn has been shaped by a strong educational foundation and a commitment to growth as both a scholar and practitioner.

“I earned my undergraduate degree from Alabama A&M University, an HBCU that helped shape my identity as a musician, educator and scholar,” he said.

At Auburn, he credits the College of Education with providing an environment that supports both personal and professional development, noting that what he loves most about the college is its “sense of support, growth and possibility.”

That environment, Norton said, has allowed him to integrate his background and experiences into his work while continuing to explore new ideas in music education and community engagement. As he looks ahead, Norton encourages current and prospective students to embrace opportunities that challenge and expand their perspectives.

“My advice to current and prospective College of Education students would be to stay open, stay curious and take advantage of every opportunity to grow,” he said.