general music
General music and music appreciation should involve a combination of theory, literature, and history that connect and make sense of the art. It should give the student a good overview of the past and present. My Ph.D. is a triple-major degree, in Applied Music, which was performance on organ, Theory, and Musicology, which is music history. This comprehensive degree program was ideal for developing this perpective of the interaction and development of theory and performance practices throughout the progression of history. When teaching AP Theory in high school, I try to include some of this larger picture into the course, and I find it helps students to understand theory as part of an art form rather than a mathematical subject.
music history
I have been a student of music history for over 30 years. It began in my undergraduate years and continued through my doctorate. Because musicology, or music history, was one of the majors for my Ph.D., I have had intensive courses in each period of music history. In addition, I have had courses in analysis of music from each historic period. I have always found music history interesting and believe it can be taught in ways that keep it alive and fascinating.
piano
My piano studies began when I was in elementary school. I continued studying piano through my bachelor's degree, playing literature of all periods and styles. While in junior high school, I began to study organ, and that has remained my major instrument through my Ph.D. All three degrees include organ performnace as a major. I have performed numerous organ recitals in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Florida.
With my keyboard performance and music history background, I am very interested in the performance practices of each historic period. Also, piano study needs to involve an understanding of harmony and other areas of music theory.
I feel most comfortable teaching beginning and intermediate level students of piano.
sight singing
My experience with all areas of music theory involves three college degress, with theory as one of the majors of my Ph.D. Sight singing and ear training has been part of that process throughout. My personal vocal experience has included singing in choirs in college and directing choirs for over 30 years. This has involved increasing the sight-reading ability of each choir. I have taught AP Music Theory in high school and have had a great success rate with students passing the AP test, including sight singing.