I began my career teaching high school and junior high orchestra and band in the Colorado public schools. I spent eight years as music director of the Michigan ASTA Junior High String Camp, and thirteen years on the faculty of the Rocky Mountain Summer Music Camp. During this time I developed a strong interest in string pedagogy. I am the author of the award winning WWW site, The String Pedagogy Notebook, a resource for string teachers and performers. The site has received over 250,000 visitors. It contains information on right and left hand technique, ear training, classroom and private teaching, as well as a list of books and information on string pedagogy.
I have served on the faculty of the American String Workshop, as the executive director for the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, and am the president of the Vermont chapter of the American String Teachers Association with National School Orchestra Association (ASTA with NSOA). I am a member of ASTA, MENC, College Music Society, and American Music Center.
Below is a list of my teaching positions and conference presentations.
Teaching and Pedagogy
Teaching Positions
University Positions
Associate Professor of Music2010-present
University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance
• Teaching courses in String Techniques, String Pedagogy, Instrumental Methods, Music Technology, Psychology of Music Teaching and Learning
Associate Professor of Music 2005-2010
University of Vermont Department of Music
• Conductor of University Symphony Orchestra
• Teach courses in String Techniques, Conducting, Music Technology, and Music Theory
• Supervised student teachers
• Service included supervising Music Technology Lab, developing and maintaining department’s WWW site, supervising the recording booth, advising, committees.
Assistant Professor of Music 1999-2005
University of Vermont Department of Music
• Same duties as described above
Student Teacher Supervisor 1994-99
University of Michigan – Music Education Department
• Observed and Advised 12 student teachers in instrumental music
Secondary Instrumental Methods 1994-99
University of Michigan – Music Education Department
• Instructor for string section of course during Prof. Robert Culver’s
sabbatical, Fall 1997.
• Teaching assistant to Prof. Robert Culver, Dr. James Froseth,
Prof. Dennis Glocke, and Dr. Kevin Sedatole, for both strings
and winds section of course 1994-98.
Recorder Practicum Coordinator 1996-99
University of Michigan – Music Education Department
• Organized, coordinated and supervised undergraduate music
education majors’ ten week teaching experience with 4th graders in two
Ann Arbor Parochial schools.
String Pedagogy Instructor Summer 1997
University of Michigan – Music Education Department
• Co-taught course with Prof. Robert Culver
Beginning and Intermediate Guitar Course Instructor 1994-99
University of Michigan – Music Education Department
• Taught courses for non-majors which focused on popular styles while
addressing a variety of important technical skills.
Music Technology and Internet Class Instructor 1996-97
American String Workshop, Ann Arbor, MI.
• Instructed students in using music notation software, sequencing software, WWW browsers, and designed WWW pages using HTML.
Music Technology Camp 1996
University of Michigan School of Music
• Technical assistant and consultant
Jazz Band Director 1991-92
Colorado State University - Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance
• One year, temporary appointment. Directed Jazz Band II.
Public/Private K-12 School Positions
Orchestra Director 2002-03
Mount Mansfield Union High School — Jericho, VT
String Ensemble Director 2000
Vermont Commons School — South Burlington, VT
• Founded string ensemble.
Orchestra/ Band Director 1991-94
Poudre R-1 School District – Boltz Junior High School–Ft. Collins, CO.
• Directed beginning, intermediate, and advanced orchestras, and bands.
• Began a string band and jazz improvisation class. Directed jazz band. Accompanied choir.
• Received grant to purchase computer and MIDI keyboard. Incorporated MIDI, and CAI into instruction.
• Helped build program to 85 string students and 280 band students.
Band Director 1990-91
Montrose County School District RE1J –Montrose H.S./ Columbine M.S.–Montrose, CO.
• Directed high school marching, concert, and jazz bands.
• Directed sixth grade beginning band. Accompanied for high school musical.
Youth Orchestras and Summer Camp Positions
Orchestra Conductor 2001-02
University of Michigan Summer Arts Institute
• Directed Full Orchestra and String Orchestra
• Taught folk fiddling/ jazz improv and ran sectionals
Orchestra Conductor 2001
Lamar Stringfield Music Camp at Meredith College—Raleigh, NC
• Conducted Senior Orchestra
• Taught intermediate and beginning level technique courses
• Taught string pedagogy seminar for college students/in-service teachers
Music Director 1995-2002
Michigan ASTA Junior High String Camp
• Directed all student and faculty orchestras
• Utlized MIDI technology in rehearsals. Incorporated improvisational and compositional activities into rehearsals.
String Project Coordinator 1995-2001
Rocky Mountain Summer Music Camp—Colorado State University
• Conducted Honor Orchestra
• Conducted String Orchestra, Directed String Chamber Music
• Taught folk fiddling/ jazz improvisation for strings
Sectional Coach 1999-02
Vermont Youth Orchestra Association—Burlington, VT
• Led double bass sectionals for Vermont Youth Orchestra, Symphonia,
Philharmonia and Youth Strings.
Music Director 1996-97
Monroe Youth Orchestra, Monroe, MI
• Taught Elementary Beginning Strings
• Conducted Middle School and High School String/ Full Orchestras
Orchestra Director 1997-99
Jackson Youth Orchestra, Jackson, MI
• Conducted Junior Strings Orchestra
Jazz Band Director 1991-95
Rocky Mountain Summer Music Camp—Colorado State University
• Directed Jazz Band III, Jazz Band IV
• Performed with Faculty Jazz Ensemble
Summer Inservice Workshops
American String Workshop 2003-04
Ann Arbor, MI.
• Taught Music Technology Class
• Conducted Reading Orchestra
Presentations
Making Your Orchestra Sound Like a Million Bucks:
A Guide to Selecting the Right Repertoire for Your Ensemble 2009
Minnesota State University Moorhead, Moorhead, MN
Development of a Multi-Angle DVD for String Pedagogy
Center for Teaching and Learning, University of Vermont 2005
Using Digital Audio and Video in the Private Studio 2004
National American String Teachers Forum, Dallas, TX
Strategies for Improving Intonation in the Middle and High School Orchestra. 2004
Wyoming Music Educators Conference
Incorporating Compositional Activities in the Elementary and Middle School Orchestra Rehearsal. 2004
Wyoming Music Educators Conference
Tuning Strategies for the Developing Orchestra 2004
Wyoming Music Educators Conference
Using Multimedia Development Software for Teacher Training. 2003
New Directions in Music Education Conference, East Lansing, MI.
The Importance of Teaching Students to Tune. 2003
Vermont Music Educators Conference, Springfield, VT.
Tuning Strategies for the Developing Orchestra. 2003
National ASTA with NSOA Conference, Columbus, OH.
Applications of Computer Technology in the UVM Music Department 2002
Center for Teaching and Learning, University of Vermont.
The Effects of Computer-Based Methods of Instruction on Aural Recognition of Musical Concepts 2002
Poster Session, National MENC Conference, Nashville, TN
Using Multimedia Software for Discovery Learning in Music 2001
Michigan Music Technology Conference, Ann Arbor, MI.
Incorporating Compositional Activities in the Middle School Orchestra Rehearsal 2001
Midwest Conference on School Vocal and Instrumental Music, Ann Arbor, MI.
Designing Your Own WWW Page 1998
Michigan Music Technology Conference, Ann Arbor, MI.
Designing Your Own WWW Page 1997
Michigan Music Technology Conference, Ann Arbor, MI.
Using Interactive Multimedia Computer Software in Beginning Violin Instruction 1996
Michigan Music Technology Conference, Ann Arbor, MI.
Using Music Technology in the Classroom 1996
Colorado ASTA Conference, Denver, CO.