Amy L.

Sierzega | Curriculum Vitae

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

singplayaudiate@gmail.com | 734.436.1195 (work cell)

Educational Experience
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

Master of Music in Music Education 2019

Document Committee: Michael Callahan, Mitchell Robinson, Ryan Shaw

Bachelor of Music in Music Education 2014

Music Education Faculty: Mitchell Robinson, Cynthia Taggart
Applied Studio Professor: Joseph Lulloff, saxophone

Professional Experience
Assistant Conductor
Washtenaw Community Concert Band, Ypsilanti, MI 2018-present

Elementary General Music & Beginning Band Teacher

Ann Arbor Public Schools, Ann Arbor, MI 2014-present
• pK-5 general music and fifth grade band teacher at Lakewood Elementary.
• Collaborated with district colleagues to realign curriculum and assessments with
state/national standards and researched-based teaching practices (Fall 2016).
• Encouraged space for diversity, equity, and inclusion conversations in committees
at the building level (Spring 2018).
• Mentored student teachers from Michigan State University (Fall 2018, Fall 2019)
and Eastern Michigan University (Spring 2019, Spring 2020).
• Hosted preservice music educators from the University of Michigan for
instrumental music fieldwork placements (Winter 2020).

Early Childhood Music Teacher

Eastern Michigan University Community Music Academy, Ypsilanti, MI 2014-present

Saxophone & Marching Band Instructor

Williamston Community Schools, Williamston, MI 2013-2015

Early Childhood Music Teacher

Michigan State University Community Music School, East Lansing, MI 2012-2014

Sierzega | CV | 1
Scholarly Work
Invited Book Contribution
Contribution to book on elementary general music teaching by Jennifer Bailey, Heather
Shouldice, and Jill Reese (in progress)

Contributions to Professional Journals

Sierzega, A. L. (2015). Teaching a Deaf Student in a Mainstream Classroom: One
Elementary Music Teacher’s Reflection. Michigan Music Educator 53(1), 28-30.

Works in Progress
The Effect of Tonal Context on Children’s Singing Accuracy (co-researcher with Heather
Shouldice—study in progress)
At the Intersection of Belief and Practice: A Mixed-Methods Study (co-researcher with
Karen Salvador, Jessica Glaser, and Alice Broadway—manuscript in progress)

Research Presentations
February 28, 2020. Musically (Dis)affirming Lenses: Intersections of Belief, Identity, and
Practice. Paper presentation, New Directions in Music Education Conference.
East Lansing, MI.
July 30, 2019. At the Intersection of Belief and Practice: A Mixed-Methods Study. Co-
presenter with Karen Salvador, Alice Broadway, and Jessica Glaser. Gordon
Institute for Music Learning International Conference. Chicago, IL.

Practitioner Workshops & Webinars

June 27-30, 2021 (Rescheduled from 2020 due to COVID-19). Guiding the “Grown-
ups”: Cultivating Community and Honoring Identity in Early Childhood Music
Classes. Invited session for the Early Childhood Music & Movement Association
Conference. East Lansing, MI.
January 30, 2021. Invited Panelist: Lessons From Behind the Screen: What I
Learned from COVID-19. Session for the 2021 Virtual Michigan Music
Conference, via Zoom.
January 28-30, 2021. Invited Practitioner Presentation: Making Music, Making Meaning:
Honoring Student Identities in the Elementary General Music Classroom. Pre-
recorded session for the 2021 Virtual Michigan Music Conference Library.
December 9, 2020. Invited Presenter: Facilitating Student Collaboration and
Connection in Virtual Spaces. Distance Learning Expert co-presenter with Katie
Kipp Dohm. Wisconsin State Education Council, via Zoom.
November 19, 2020. Invited Presenter: Facilitating Student Collaboration and
Connection in Virtual Spaces. Distance Learning Expert co-presenter with Katie
Kipp Dohm. Pennsylvania State Education Association, via Zoom.
November 11, 2020. Invited Presenter: Facilitating Student Collaboration and
Connection in Virtual Spaces. Distance Learning Expert co-presenter with Katie
Kipp Dohm. Michigan Education Association, via Zoom.
November 4 & 11, 2020. Invited Presenter: BandLab in Elementary Music Instruction.
Elementary Vocal Music Teacher Learning Network, Ann Arbor Public Schools,
via Zoom.
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October 24, 2020 (Rescheduled. From March 2020 due to COVID-19). Classroom
Management, Teacher Language, and Musical Engagement. Invited presentation
for the NAfME collegiate chapter as part of an “Inclusive Classrooms” series at
Eastern Michigan University. Ypsilanti, MI.
October 18, 2020. Invited Presenter: Multiple Modes of MLT: Navigating Music Learning
Theory-based Instruction in light of COVID-19. Co-presenter with Jennifer Bailey
and Kimberly Kane. Gordon Institute for Music Learning, via Zoom.
October 14, 2020. Invited Guest Lecturer: Navigating Distance Learning & MLT. Via
Zoom to Elementary Music for the Elementary Teacher, University of Wisconsin-
Superior, Superior, WI.
August 20, 2020. Invited Guest Lecturer: Navigating Distance Learning & Connecting
with Students Amidst COVID-19. Via Zoom to MUSC 4333, East Carolina
University, Greenville, NC.
June 28-July 1, 2020 (Rescheduled for 2021 due to COVID-19). Guiding the “Grown-
ups”: Cultivating Community and Honoring Identity in Early Childhood Music
Classes. Invited session for the Early Childhood Music & Movement Association
Conference. East Lansing, MI.
April 1, 2020. Invited Guest Lecturer: Culturally Sustaining Practices & Responsive
Classroom. Via Zoom to Elementary Music Methods, University of Houston.
Houston, TX.
March 21, 2020 (Postponed due to COVID-19). Classroom Management, Teacher
Language, and Musical Engagement. Invited presentation for the NAfME
collegiate chapter as part of an “Inclusive Classrooms” series at Eastern Michigan
University. Ypsilanti, MI.
February 29, 2020. Panelist: Featured Panel: Music Teachers on Policy, Agency, and
Activism. New Directions in Music Education Conference. East Lansing, MI.
January 30, 2020. Invited Guest Lecturer: Classroom Management & Responsive
Classroom. Via Skype to MUS 467: Elementary Music Methods, Michigan State
University College of Music. East Lansing, MI.
January 17, 2020. The Power of Our Words: (Re)Defining Musicianship in the
Elementary Music Classroom. Session at the Michigan Music Conference. Grand
Rapids, MI.
January 17, 2020. Sing and Strum: Building Harmonic Skill and Understanding Through
Singing and Ukulele. Session at the Michigan Music Conference. Grand Rapids,
MI. With co-presenter Heather Shouldice.
January 8, 2020. The Power of Our Words: (Re)Defining Musicianship in the Elementary
Music Classroom. Presentation for Ann Arbor Public Schools music department
professional development. Ann Arbor, MI.
November 5, 2019. The Power of Our Words: (Re)Defining Musicianship through
Language & Practices in the Elementary Music Classroom. Presentation for
Livonia Public Schools music department professional development. Livonia MI.
October 13, 2019. The Power of Our Words: (Re)Defining Musicianship in the
Elementary Music Classroom. Presentation for the Michigan Chapter of the
Gordon Institute for Music Learning. Ann Arbor, MI.
September 21, 2019. The ABCs of MLT. Presentation for the Michigan Chapter of the
Gordon Institute for Music Learning. East Lansing, MI. With co-presenters from
the MI GIML executive board.

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January 9, 2019. Teacher Language: Reminding, Reinforcing, Redirecting. Presentation
for Ann Arbor Public Schools music department professional development. Ann
Arbor, MI.
December 5, 2018. Responsive Classroom & Elementary Music. Presentation for District
Music Department Professional Development, Ann Arbor Public Schools, Ann
Arbor, MI.
October 20, 2018. The ABCs of MLT. Presentation for the Michigan Chapter of the
Gordon Institute for Music Learning. Ypsilanti, MI. With co-presenters from
the MI GIML executive board.
October 28, 2017. The ABCs of MLT. Presentation for the Michigan Chapter of the
Gordon Institute for Music Learning. East Lansing, MI. With co-presenters from
the MI GIML executive board.
January 20, 2017. Cross Curricular Connections through Creativity and Composition.
Session at the Michigan Music Conference. Grand Rapids, MI. With co-presenter
Yael Rothfeld.
October 23, 2016. The ABCs of MLT. Presentation for the Michigan Chapter of the
Gordon Institute for Music Learning. East Lansing, MI. With co-presenters from
the MI GIML executive board.
March 16, 2016. Stormy Melodies: Connecting Music Composition, Technology, and
ELA using GarageBand. Arts Integration Presentation through Ann Arbor
Public Schools’ partnership with the University Musical Society. Ann Arbor, MI.

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Service
National
• Distance Learning Expert for the National Education Association (2020-present)
• Chair of Membership Commission, Gordon Institute for Music Learning (2018-
present)
• Executive Board Member, Gordon Institute for Music Learning (2017-present)

State
• General Music Chair, Michigan Music Education Association (2020-present)
• New Directions Committee Member, Michigan Music Education Association
(2018-present)
• General Music Workshop Planning Committee Member, Michigan Music
Education Association (2017-present)
• Michigan Chapter President, Gordon Institute for Music Learning (2017-2019)
• Michigan Chapter Vice President, Gordon Institute for Music Learning (2016-
2017)
• Michigan Chapter Secretary, Gordon Institute for Music Learning (2015-2016)
• Vice President, Michigan State University Collegiate Chapter, National
Association for Music Education (2012)

Community & Outreach

• Education Advisory Committee Member, Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, Ann
Arbor, MI (2019-present)
• Board Member, Washtenaw Community Concert Band, under the direction of
Christopher Heidenreich, Ypsilanti, MI (2019-present)
• Assistant Conductor, Washtenaw Community Concert Band under the direction of
Christopher Heidenreich, Ypsilanti, MI (2018-present)
• Conductor, The Big Band Theory Jazz Ensemble, Milan, MI (2018)

Ann Arbor Public Schools, Ann Arbor, MI

• Committee Member & Facilitator, Responsive Classroom Committee, Lakewood
Elementary (2019-present)
• District Mentor, Mentor/Mentee Program (2018-present)
• Committee Member & Facilitator, Diversity/Equity/Inclusion Committee,
Lakewood Elementary (2018-present)
• Arts Integration PLC Participant (2015-2017)
• Committee Member, District Music Curriculum (Re)Design (2015)
• Committee Member, District Music Assessments & Rubrics (2015)

Awards & Honors

• Cynthia Crump Taggart Fellowship Award, Michigan State University College of
Music (2020)
• Edwin E. Gordon Research Fellowship Award (co-recipient with Heather
Shouldice, 2019)
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 • New Directions Fellowship, Michigan State University College of Music (2019)
• Hilda Humphreys Service Award, Michigan Music Education Association (2019)
• New Directions Fellowship, Michigan State University College of Music (2018)
• New Directions Fellowship, Michigan State University College of Music (2017)

Certifications
• Michigan Provisional Education Certificate, (Expires June 2020)
K-12 Music, JQ
• Gordon Institute for Music Learning: Elementary Level II (2019)
Faculty: Heather Shouldice & Cynthia Taggart
• Gordon Institute for Music Learning: Elementary Level I (2018)
Faculty: Heather Shouldice & Cynthia Taggart
• Responsive Classroom Certification (2017)
Trainer: Gayle Robert
• Gordon Institute for Music Learning: Elementary Level I (2014)
Faculty: Jennifer McDonel & Heather Shouldice
• Gordon Institute for Music Learning: Early Childhood Level I (2014)
Faculty: Jennifer Bailey & Cynthia Taggart

Professional Affiliations
Early Childhood Music & Movement Association (ECMMA)
Gordon Institute for Music Learning, Michigan Chapter (GIML)
Michigan Music Education Association (MMEA)
National Association for Music Education (NAfME)
Michigan Education Association (MEA)
National Education Association (NEA)

Selected Performance Experience

Washtenaw Community Concert Band, Assistant Conductor (2016-present)
Washtenaw Community Concert Band, Alto Saxophone (2015-present)
Big Band Theory Community Jazz Band, Alto Saxophone & Conductor (2017, 2018)
Michigan State University Concert Orchestra, Tenor Saxophone (2014)
Michigan State University College of Music, Solo Saxophone Recitals (2010, 2013)
Michigan State University Concert Band, Saxophones (2009-2013)
Michigan State University Spartan Marching Band, Tenor Saxophone (2008-2011)
Michigan State University Campus Band, Oboe (2008)

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References
Dr. Robin Giebelhausen
Assistant Professor of Music Education
School of Music, University of Maryland
College Park, MD
rgiebes@umd.edu
Office: (301)405-5503

Dr. Christopher Heidenreich

Associate Professor of Music, Department Chair
College of Arts and Sciences, University of Michigan-Flint
Flint, MI
heidenr@umflint.edu
Office: (810)424-5315

Dr. Mitchell Robinson

Professor and Current Chair of Music Education
College of Music, Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI
mrob@msu.edu
Office: (517)355-7555

Dr. Karen Salvador

Assistant Professor of Music Education
College of Music, Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI
ksal@msu.edu
Office: (517)432-9678

Dr. Heather Shouldice

Associate Professor of Music Education
School of Music & Dance, Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, MI
hshouldi@emich.edu
Office: (734)487-4380

Dr. Cynthia Taggart

Professor Music Education, Emeritus
College of Music, Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI
taggartc@msu.edu

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