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Teaching record

What I've taught.

University courses — methods, ensembles, conducting, and general education — plus the K–12 positions that shaped how I teach the teachers.

University teaching

Higher-education courses & ensembles.

2021–Present

Colorado Mesa University · Grand Junction, CO

Assistant Professor of Music · Associate Director of Bands · Director of Athletic Bands

Music Education

  • MUSA 234

    Spring 2024 · Most recent enrollment: 11

    Brass Materials and Methodology

    Brass pedagogy for pre-service music educators. Tone production, airflow techniques across concert and marching brass.

  • MUSA 340

    Fall 2023 · Most recent enrollment: 8

    Elementary Methods and Materials

    K–5 general music methods. Orff/Kodály frameworks, culturally responsive teaching, practicum placements, Praxis preparation.

    On this site → OER: Movement, repertoire, presentations

  • MUSA 441

    Spring 2022, 2024 · In-person · Enrollment: 8

    Teaching Instrumental Music K–12

    Comprehensive instrumental program leadership. Curriculum mapping, rehearsal strategies, recruitment/retention, practicum tied to Colorado Teacher Quality Standards.

    On this site → InstruMentor · Curriculum-O-Matic · Moneyband

  • MUSA 442B

    Fall 2022, 2024 · Most recent enrollment: 8

    Special Ensembles: Instrumental

    Marching band and jazz ensemble pedagogy. Repertoire curation, rehearsal sequencing, field observation, performance planning.

    On this site → Moneyband

  • EDUC 499D

    Fall 2021, 2023, 2024 · Spring 2022, 2023, 2024 · In-person supervision

    Student Teaching Supervisor, Music Education

    K–12 student-teaching supervision. Formative/summative feedback per Colorado TQS rubric, remediation support, CTE-office liaison.

  • MUSA 250

    Spring 2025 · Enrollment: 19

    Beginning Conducting

    Conducting fundamentals — preparatory gesture, pulse clarity, expressive communication. Video-based assessment tools.

    On this site → Pattern Lab

Performance Ensembles

  • MUSP 147 / 247 / 347 / 447

    Fall 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 · Most recent enrollment: 134

    Maverick Stampede Marching Band
    Director of Athletic Bands

    Flagship athletic band. Custom arrangements, drill design, halftime/pregame productions, student leadership development.

    On this site → Recruitment & Retention dashboard

  • Pep Band

    Fall/Spring 2021–2025

    Maverick Sound Basketball Pep Band (Club Ensemble)
    Director

    Co-curricular basketball pep band. Game-day logistics, custom arrangements, cross-department coordination with Athletics and Marketing.

  • MUSP 143 / 243 / 343 / 443

    Spring 2025, Spring 2026

    Mesa Brass Band
    Director · Founder (est. 2024)

    Training-level contemporary brass band. Rock, funk, second-line, and Afro-Cuban idioms; mobile performance preparation.

  • MUSP 140 / 240 / 340 / 440

    Spring 2022, 2023, 2024 · Most recent enrollment: 39

    CMU Concert Band
    Director · Founder

    Non-auditioned concert ensemble for majors and non-majors. Diverse repertoire supporting primary/secondary instrument development.

General Education

  • MUSA 220

    Spring 2024, Fall 2024 · In-person · Most recent enrollment: 70

    Music Appreciation (General Education)

    Writing-intensive gen-ed course. SHMRG analytical framework, multitrack listening tools, synthesis-forward assessments.

  • MUSA 266

    Fall 2022, 2023 · Spring 2023 · Online · Most recent enrollment: 32

    History of Popular Music (General Education)

    Asynchronous gen-ed course. Popular music history through socio-political, technological, and cultural lenses.

2016–2018

University of Florida · Gainesville, FL

Doctoral Teaching Assistant, Music Education

Courses

  • IUF 1000

    Section instructor

    What is the Good Life? (University Humanities Core)

    Section instructor in university-wide humanities/critical inquiry curriculum. Socratic discussion, primary texts, written reflection.

  • MUE 3210

    Spring 2017, Spring 2018

    Music for the Elementary Child (Gen-Ed, Non-Music Majors)
    Instructor of Record

    Gen-ed music course for early-childhood education majors. Rote song teaching, cross-curricular integration, music literacy.

  • MUE 3311

    Fall 2016

    Music in Elementary Schools
    Teaching Assistant

    TA for elementary pedagogy methods. Fieldwork observation/evaluation, classroom-instrument assessments.

  • MUE 4940

    2017–2018

    Student Teaching in Music Education
    Supervising Instructor

    Supervised student teachers per Florida FEAPs rubric. Pedagogy advisement, classroom management, remediation support.

2014–2016

University of Florida · Gainesville, FL

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Instrumental Conducting

Courses & Ensembles

  • MUE 2460

    Fall 2014, Fall 2015

    Brass Skills I
    Teaching Assistant

    Upper brass pedagogy for pre-service instrumental music educators.

  • MUE 2462

    Spring 2015, Spring 2016

    Brass Skills II
    Teaching Assistant

    Low brass pedagogy and performance-practice continuation.

  • Studio

    2014–2016

    Undergraduate Conducting Studio — Instrumental Conducting
    Studio Instructor

    Private conducting instruction for six undergraduates per semester. Score analysis, rehearsal strategy, interpretive decision-making.

    On this site → Pattern Lab

  • Marching Band

    2014–2016

    UF Marching Band — Graduate Assistant
    Drill Design, Arrangement, Instruction

    Halftime drill design and arrangement. Ensemble/sectional instruction in music, drill execution, and fundamentals.

  • Pep Band

    2016–2017 Season

    Gator Volleyball Band
    Director

    Full-season pep-band direction. Rehearsal, personnel, and game-day coordination with Athletics and Marketing.

K–12 teaching

Where I learned to teach the teachers.

Six positions across Pennsylvania and Florida, from elementary general music to district-level supervision.

  1. 2019–2021

    Director of Bands (5th–12th Grade)

    Lake Highland Preparatory School · Orlando, FL

    • Designed and aligned instrumental instruction from beginner through advanced.
    • Authored all custom drill designs, arrangements, and competitive show productions for the marching band.
    • Founded a year-long artist-in-residence program with the Weldon St. Jazz Ensemble.
    • Expanded the jazz program from one extracurricular group to two curricular ensembles plus three student-differentiated combos.
    • Revamped beginner program by instrumental grouping, nearly doubling content coverage in a single year.
  2. 2018–2019

    Music Supervisor (PreK–12)

    School District of Osceola County · Kissimmee, FL

    • Supervised curriculum, instruction, advocacy, and grant programs for ≈75,000 students taught by 83 certified music teachers.
    • Redesigned secondary recruitment protocols and reversed a four-year enrollment-decline trend.
    • Managed a $250,000+ annual budget; established alternative revenue streams including an online donor platform.
    • Facilitated over $1,000,000 in government and private grant funding.
  3. 2011–2014

    Music Teacher, PreK–5

    Cunningham Creek Elementary School · St. Augustine, FL · St. Johns County School District

    • Taught general music to PreK–5 students including dedicated instruction for students with varying exceptionalities.
    • Founded and directed D.R.U.M., a world-drumming ensemble, through grant and PTO funding.
    • Directed chorus, Orff ensemble, drumming ensemble, and recorder club.
    • Recognized as Rookie Teacher of the Year (2012).
  4. 2010–2011

    Band Director (6th–8th Grade)

    Fort LeBoeuf Middle School · Waterford, PA · Fort LeBoeuf School District

    • Directed beginning band, group lessons, string orchestra, extracurricular jazz band, and the high-school musical pit orchestra (9–12).
    • Directed marching band (grades 8–12); prepared students for Pennsylvania MEA events.
  5. 2009–2010

    Director of Instrumental Music (9th–12th Grade)

    Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy · Erie, PA · Erie City School District

    • Directed wind ensemble, symphony orchestra, jazz bands, and musical pit orchestra in an AP/magnet-school setting.
    • Facilitated students in District, Region, State, and All-Eastern festivals.
    • Featured chamber ensemble qualifier for WQLN FM 91.3 Studio Music series.
  6. 2008–2009

    Music Teacher (K–8)

    Perry School · Erie, PA · Erie City School District

    • Directed beginning band and chorus; taught general music to an urban K–8 student population.
    • Achieved 40% growth in musical-ensemble participation during the 2008–09 academic year.

Looking for syllabi, materials, or extended descriptions? See the Open Educational Resources page for shareable assets, or the Ensemble Directors Toolkit for the apps built around several of these courses.