As a life-long music educator I greatly enjoy connecting with students and teachers to share ideas and best practices. I am available for rehearsals, adjudication (stage or sight-reading), clinics, Q&A's, or whatever you can dream up! I am happy to work with students on my own compositions, other compositions, or any topic you choose. 

 

Are you looking for a conference session for a division in-service, local professional development, or state conference? I currently have 4 sessions available to present, and many more ideas ready to grow! 

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Conference Sessions: 

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Practicing with Purpose: What's "The Big IDEA"

Practicing is not an inherent skill; it is something that must be learned. The Big IDEA is a tried and true 4-step method designed to teach the art of practicing and enhance musical understanding. During this session we will explore The Big IDEA along with a variety of practice strategies and activities designed to help students of any age practice with purpose at home and in the classroom. Teachers will leave this session with a wealth of resources to foster independent thinkers.

Presented at: Midwest 2022, NCMEA 2022, ASTA National Virtual Conference 2021, VMEA (Virginia) 2017

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How to Win Rehearsals and Influence Students

Keeping students engaged while they are used to the buzz of social media and a constant influx of information can be challenging these days. While spoofing Dale Carnegie’s book "How to Win Friends and Influence People," this session will present tried and true ways to mix up your typical rehearsal, earn your students’ attention, sneak in technique, and assesses progress.  Most importantly, it will bring your ensemble together as one cohesive group as they engage with each other and the music, to achieve a winning rehearsal! 

Presented at: NCMEA 2022, MMEA (Maryland) 2022, ASTA National Conference 2022 & 2023, Virginia All Band and Orchestra Clinic 2022

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Composing in the Classroom: Cultivating Creativity​

Creativity is so much more than just a standard that must be checked off each year. Learn to cultivate creativity in your students through various composition exercises that you can easily incorporate into what you already do as a music educator. In this session we will explore how to use composition to teach music literacy, develop the ear, learn musical concepts, improvisation and more. Leave with a variety of resources and activities to share with your students. 

Presented at: Fairfax Arts Coalition for Education 2022

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New Music Reading Sessions

I love creating new music reading sessions where we dive into the new music of the year. Beyond just getting to hear and/or play the music, participants leave with a rubric of info on each selection.

Presented at: Virginia Dept. of Education Orchestra Directors Institute 2019, VMEA (Virginia) 2015