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Hi, I'm Andy!
Here's a little about me!

My Story

I grew up in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains in Glade Spring, VA. As a child, I was an avid equestrian and spent most of my time on horse farms. Once I became older and entered extracurricular activities, it became difficult to keep up with all of my demands. Throughout High School, I developed a passion for music and participated in concert and marching bands, playing the trombone and euphonium. I also marched one season of DCI with Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps in the summer of 2012, and both performed and taught with Carolina Gold Drum and Bugle Corps.

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I completed a music education degree with a psychology minor from UNC-Greensboro in 2018. After graduation, my wife and I moved to New York City, where I began working for Education Through Music, a nonprofit organization that aims to create and sustain music education programs in public schools. While working at three different schools, I pursued my Master's in Music Education online. In the summer of 2019, I completed my certification to teach infant and toddler music classes at Hofstra University.

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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I had to move back to Greensboro in 2020 and continued working virtually with my New York students. I later started working for Guilford County Public Schools and have taught at Jefferson Elementary for three years. I graduated with my master of music education degree in May of 2024 from UNC-Greensboro. I look forward to utilizing my experience, hard work, and creativity in building my business.

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I have a small family of three and am a parent to an amazing 2 year old. My family is the most important aspect of my life! I enjoy hobbies such as songwriting, hiking, painting, and socializing with my friends. I have a home full of fur babies and a reptile. I always enjoy an adventure and hope to travel the world.

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Education

Masters:

Music Education,

UNC-Greensboro

2019-2024

First Steps in Music Certification and Training, Hofstra University, LI, NY. 

Summer, 2019

Undergraduate:

Music Education, UNC-Greensboro

2013-2018

  • Extensively explored the theology of music education and its connection to neural development, earning a 4.0.

  •  Developed robust research skills

  • Concentrated on early childhood brain development within the context of music

  • Participated in 45 hours of Professional Development Training at Hofstra University, focusing on the First Steps in Music Curriculum provided by the Feierabend Association for Music Education (FAME).

  • Successfully completed training for both the Infant and Toddler curriculum, as well as training for Pre-School and Beyond levels.

  • Pursued a major in Music Education and earned a Minor in Psychology, earning a 3.8 GPA

  • Studies were centered on developing Elementary Music Education techniques.

  • Studied Psychology abroad in Malta for the entire 2015-2016 academic year.

Experience

2021-2024

General Music Specialist, Guilford County Schools

  • Created personal curriculum, containing unit plans, lesson plans, and assessment strategies based on the NC Essential Standards and research-based instruction practices.

  • Worked with all students, K-5 and focused on building strong fundamental concepts such as beat, rhythm, pitch, vocal development, and basic reading skills. 

2018-2020

Music Education Specialist at Education Through Music (ETM)

  • Nonprofit organization

  • Consulted with NYC public schools to build and sustain high quality Music Education programs.

  • Developed curriculum, guided instruction, analyzed assessment strategies, and piloted Early Childhood partnership with Riverdale Temple Nursery School.

  • Click the link below to read about Andy's contribution to ETM.

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