MTL Alumni

“Eastman and its Department of Music Teaching and Learning (MTL) had such a positive impact on me, both professionally and personally. The education I received at Eastman took what I already knew about early childhood and elementary music teaching and learning and shifted it towards a more musical and intentional practice. My musical experiences at Eastman instilled a confidence within myself as a musician which has led me to not only improvise, create, and perform more with my students, but also to place creativity at the center of my curriculum. The educators in the MTL Department inspired me to believe in myself, to view music education as a practice rooted in human relationships, and to understand that music-making is achievable for all people. I am truly grateful for my time at Eastman and for the support I received from the Department of Music Teaching and Learning.”

 

“During my time at Eastman, especially through the MTL degree program, I refined my skills as an arranger, embraced my creativity as a composer, built chops on multiple instruments, and learned to communicate those skills more effectively. Teaching will always be a part of my life and career, but the MTL program also prepared and supported me in my aspirations beyond the classroom. I left Eastman ready to take on opportunities that draw on the wide range of skills I developed during my degree program.”

“Eastman provides the most incredible ecosystem for us to grow as musicians, teachers, and humans. The hard work, discipline, time management, and interpersonal skills that I developed in school have contributed to who I am today and led me to many of the unique opportunities I’ve experienced in my career since graduation. When I decided to apply to the music education degree program in my sophomore year, I had no idea that the faculty, staff, and students in the Department of Music Teaching and Learning would become such a wonderful and supportive family. 

Not only did the MTL curriculum teach us how to be better musicians and teachers of all ages/abilities, but it provided the landscape for us to understand people in a deeper way. The music education degree was not just a piece of paper for a backup plan, it was what unlocked the importance of human connection and empathy, communication and listening, and respecting others’ perspectives, all under the umbrella of learning how to be the best music teacher and performer that one can be.”

“My diverse teaching and research interests were cultivated and encouraged by the excellent advisors and mentors I had at Eastman. I stand on the shoulders of giants like the late Dr. Susan Conkling, Drs. Donna Brink Fox, Ellen Koskoff, Louis Bergonzi, Richard Grunow, and Chris Azzara who all provided a strong foundation for me to help others become great teachers and change agents in the world. During my time as a graduate student I taught choir and general music in the Rochester City and Webster school districts, worked for the Eastman Community Music School, rounded out my education with coursework in Ethnomusicology as well as courses on justice and equity at the Warner School of Education at the University of Rochester, and studied different musical traditions such as Balinese gamelan, Karnatak and Hindustani music, mbira, hammered dulcimer, and shape-note singing. There is no greater place for studying music in North America. I attribute a great deal of my success to the Eastman network and the continued support and mentorship provided by the faculty with whom I collaborated.”

 

“What I really valued about my time at Eastman was working towards and being encouraged to reach high standards, both as a musician and as an educator. I was expected to deeply consider WHY and HOW a teacher does anything in the classroom—the music we choose and how we evaluate students, realizing that we send messages in any pedagogical choice we make. The music-making and high expectations I encountered in voice lessons and conducting classes, and the opportunity to be with other musicians who were incredibly serious about their art, all strengthened my teaching.”  

“Eastman quickly became a home away from home for me. The close relationships formed in the double bass studio felt more like a family than a competitive incubator. I am grateful for my professor’s patience and diligent teaching style, which helped me grow and flourish as a musician. Receiving a Music Education Degree from Eastman has opened many doors in the education field over the years, and I am proud to be an alum.”

 

“My time at Eastman certainly provided the foundation for the many music and music education experiences I have been lucky enough to have over the past 40 years!  From teaching beginning band in Penfield until 1995 and then completing a doctorate at Columbia University (1997) to faculty positions at Rutgers University (97-98), Michigan State University (98-01), and Michigan (01-present) and playing horn in the Adrian Symphony (1999-2025), I have always felt confident as a musician. scholar, and educator thanks to my work with Richard Grunow, Donna Fox, Roy Ernst, Donald Hunsberger, and Verne Reynolds. The connections made at Eastman have lasted throughout my time and I feel so fortunate for my experiences.”

“I’ve reflected often about my Eastman experiences, which provided a powerful continuation of studies that I had completed previously. The value of the Eastman doctoral program was attributable not just to the expertise but also to the caring nature of its music education faculty. Those are precisely the qualities that music education programs must model and elicit, so their graduates are inspired to carry those qualities into the classrooms they subsequently lead.”

“The best decisions I made while at Eastman involved versatility. I sang in the choir, played celeste in the Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra and played in Jazz Ensembles and small groups. I also accompanied for lots of different teaching studios, learning lots of great repertoire and being exposed to lots of different pedagogical styles. I am grateful that this department encouraged me to take advantage of so many opportunities!”