Music student Bella Penna plays National Anthem at Lt. Col. Matthew Tillman’s Ram Battalion retirement
Music student Bella Penna plays National Anthem at Lt. Col. Matthew Tillman’s Army ROTC Ram Battalion retirement.
Category Archives: Music Education
Music Ed Alumna Deanna (Kraft) Thaler Honored with Cherry Creek School District’s Teacher Belt Award
On October 19, 2024, Deanna (Kraft) Thaler was honored with Cherry Creek School District’s Teacher Belt Award. As a choral music director at Falcon Creek Middle School, Thaler received the award for building relationships and making education fun.
Music alumna, Xareny Polanco, named 2025 CMEA Outstanding Young Educator
Music alumna, Xareny Polanco, named 2025 CMEA Outstanding Young Educator
Music Education student Leah Dunphey named to state’s Future Educator Honor Roll
Colorado State University Music Education major Leah Dunphey (‘FA24 anticipated graduation) was one of two CSU students named to the Colorado Department of Higher Education’s 2024 Future Educator Honor Roll. According to the department’s website, the sixth annual Future Educator Honor Roll celebrated 66 outstanding teacher candidates from Colorado’s educator preparation programs. (cdhe.colorado.gov) “Leah is among […]
Recent graduate Paul Beyer reflects on his first year teaching music
Recent graduate Paul Beyer reflects on his first year teaching music We recently connected with Paul Beyer, who graduated from CSU with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education in 2023. Paul reflected on his first year teaching elementary and middle school music in Colorado. Tell us a little about your job–where you teach, the […]
Phuong Nguyen has built a classroom culture around high standards and making music fun
Phuong Nguyen has built a classroom culture around high standards and making music fun Dai-Phuong Nguyen (B.M.E. ’01, M.M.E. ’08) is a perfectionist as a performer of multiple instruments and genres and a music educator. He has created a classroom environment that balances high standards, curiosity, and interactive play. His range of musical interests is […]
Hollie Ryckman embraces multiple cultures and student-led approaches in her Denver classroom
Hollie Ryckman embraces multiple cultures and student-led approaches in her Denver classroom Hollie Ryckman, M.M. in Music Education ’20 Many CSU music education graduates expand upon normalized approaches to music pedagogy to accommodate their students’ needs and interests. Denver music teacher Hollie Ryckman is part of this transformative movement. Ryckman’s teaching philosophy embodies a belief […]
Jana Webster-Wheeler’s experiences were a catalyst for teaching music and more
Jana Webster-Wheeler’s experiences were a catalyst for teaching music and more Jana Webster-Wheeler in her music classroom at Webber Middle School in Fort Collins, Colorado. As a woman with a rich history who has turned her trauma into a wellspring of wisdom, Jana Webster-Wheeler, B.M.E. ’00, has used her difficult experiences to teach so much […]
CSU Music Education Alums and Family Treated to Mozart’s Masterpiece
CSU Music Education alums and family were treated to a reception and matinee performance by the Colorado Symphony and Colorado Symphony Chorus at Boettcher Concert Hall on Sunday, March 24. Peter Oundjian conducted W.A. Mozart’s final and greatest masterpiece, Requiem Mass. A principal conductor with an international career, Oundjian has led orchestras in major musical […]
Erik Johnson to present at International Society of Music Education world conference
In July 2024, Associate Professor of Music Erik Johnson will co-present a paper at the 36th annual International Society of Music Education World Conference in Helsinki, Finland. The presentation, titled “Music Teacher Identity Over Time: The Impact of Musical Experiences and Teacher Philosophy,” is one of only eight papers accepted for the empirical research category […]