Select Teaching Experience
Secondary Level
Composing Digital Music
Context: MS 3-week summer elective; Northwestern University's Center for Talent Development [online]
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Description: From the ground-breaking experiments of avant-garde composers one hundred years ago to the pop music producers of today, digital technology has increased access to meaningful music-making for musicians at all levels. This course will help students think critically about the processes of electronic music composition and production while supporting creative problem solving and collaboration. Students will learn to manipulate audio in Soundtrap and create digital music of their own while studying the history of electronic music and the science behind their tracks.
Introduction to Musical Coding
Context: MS 6-weekend elective; Northwestern University's Center for Talent Development [online]
Description: Python is a powerful, flexible, yet simple object-oriented programming language with applications across fields from gaming to Google. In a collaborative, workshop setting, students develop essential text-based coding skills while making original music using TunePad, a free online platform for creating music with the Python programming language.
Introduction to Music Technology
Context: MS 1 semester; Shelbyville Middle School, Shelbyville, IN [in person]
Description: How can music and technology be combined in creative ways? How does music technology fit into your life? In this class we will perform, compare, and analyze music of different styles and from various cultures. We will develop problem solving skills in the field of music that will have applications to other disciplines. Most of all, we will have fun and enjoy developing as musicians.
Beginning and Intermediate Band
Context: MS full year, Shelbyville Middle School, Shelbyville, IN [in person]
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Description: Learning to play a musical instrument is a rewarding experience that can bring a lifetime of learning and creative fulfillment. In this class, we will perform, create, and analyze music of different styles and from various cultures. We will develop music literacy and problem solving skills in the field of music that can be applied to other disciplines. Most of all, we will have fun and enjoy developing as musicians.
University Level
Psychology of Music Teaching and Learning
Context: Graduate students; Eastern Illinois University [online]
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Description: Psychology of Music explores how people acquire musical knowledge and skills. Participants in this course will draw upon work from social, developmental, and cognitive psychology to study the cognition and perception of music. Focus will be on developing a perspective of how the psychology of music might inform our own beliefs, policies, curricula, and practices in the field of music education.
The Practice of Music Teaching
Context: Graduate students working toward Music Education Certification; Indiana University, Jacobs School of Music
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Description: This course includes an overview of learning theories and curriculum design related to specific music education contexts. We will investigate general learning theories and the application of these to choral, general, instrumental, and private music teaching situations. The field experience component will provide opportunities for observation of instruction and implementation of curriculum.
Teaching Composition in the Schools
Context: Music Ed Majors; Northwestern University [online & In person]
Description: In this course, we will study practical concepts and theories of teaching composition and improvisation in K-12 schools, learn about the design of curricular materials for teaching composition and improvisation, and compose and improvise using a variety of approaches and mediums that are applicable to general, choral, and instrumental music classrooms.
Creativity in Diverse Musical Cultures
Context: Non-music Majors; Northwestern University [online]
Description: What does it mean to be musically creative? How is creativity perceived and practiced in different musical cultures? What are the forces that shape the creative musical products and processes of individuals from these diverse cultures? These questions will be at the center of this course, as we explore popular, vernacular and art music forms both from within the United States and throughout the world. Through a combination of short lectures, online discussions, listening examples, video performances, and simple music making experiences, students will learn how to analyze, discuss, and think about musical creativity as a cultural practice. No previous musical experience is required for enrollment in this course.
High Brass Techniques
Context: Music Ed Majors; Northwestern University [in person]
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Description: This course introduces students to the techniques and pedagogies of high brass instruments, specifically trumpet and horn. Students will complete several performance assessments on both instruments and develop materials to aid in the teaching of the instruments to beginning and intermediate musicians. The pedagogy learned in this course will chiefly relate to teaching brass instruments to school-aged children and will primarily be explored through laboratory experiences, modeling, and peer teaching.
Brass Techniques
Context: Music Ed Majors; Ball State University [in person]
Description: Students will develop fundamental performance skills on two or more brass instruments. In this course we will examine performance problems, diagnostic techniques, teaching strategies, and other specialized topics related to brass instruction in school settings.