Street Beats Culturally Relevant MusicEd

This is my fifth year teaching K-8 General Music in Detroit Public Schools. I love bringing my experience as a Title I educator to the greater music education community. 10+ Years Experience as a private piano instructor 5+ Years as a middle school and adult education tutor

I love creating student centered, cross-curricular, cultural connections with my students. I focus on music literacy so my students can independently perform and compose. I specialize in teaching student-centered lessons that present music through a cultural lens, making connections between the arts and other humanities. We use story telling, dance, drama, and writing to express our reactions to music and how we use music in our daily lives.

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I graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a Bachelors in Music Education and minor in English, Literature, and Writing Education. I am certified to teach K-8 Music and 6-8 English in the public schools. I majored in piano and taught private piano for a large part of my career.

My students have creative minds and expressive voices. They begin making music the moment they enter the room and use everything around them to compose, tapping on desks, using body percussion, humming, beat-boxing, rapping, playing keyboards and guitars, and singing, just to name a few. Together we sing, play instruments, and compose original songs and melodies throughout my program. I teach with a focus on their voices and perspectives as students.