Carly currently serves as adjunct faculty at Mount Mercy University where she teaches undergraduate music education methods courses to both majors and non-majors and supervises student teachers, maintains a private music studio, serves as the conference chair for the Iowa Music Educators professional development conference, and teaches recertification courses for area education agencies.
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Carly currently serves as adjunct faculty at Mount Mercy University where she teaches undergraduate music education methods courses to both majors and non-majors and supervises student teachers, maintains a private music studio, serves as the conference chair for the Iowa Music Educators professional development conference, and teaches recertification courses for area education agencies.
Prior to these appointments, she taught elementary general music for nine years in a variety of school settings including overseas. She received a Bachelor of Music Education from Iowa State University and a Masters of Arts in Music Education with a Kodály emphasis at the University of St. Thomas. She holds a mastery certificate in Kodály and has also taken courses in Dalcroze, Orff Level I, and Music Together. She has served as the past president of Kodály Educators of Iowa. Carly and her husband have two children and are expecting Baby #3 around Thanksgiving 2020.
I have wanted to be a teacher since 1st grade. I have always loved school and learning; in fact, I cried when school was cancelled on the last day before winter break! Once I started playing a band instrument I decided to become a music teacher. Experiencing the joy of elementary music in college through methods classes, observations, and student teaching revealed the wonderful world of general music.
My parents allowed me to create throughout my formative years; my sister and I were always making up songs and playing dress-up. They also provided me with private piano, horn, and voice lessons. Mr. Stellmaker, my middle school band director, was a dynamic educator and person. Dr. Munsen at Iowa State introduced me to the joy of elementary general music.
Meeting new people is one of my favorite things to do J. Plus every new music teacher becomes your friend because we’re so few and far between!
Oh my, how can I choose only one? Finishing a grade-level concert when the students “sang their hearts out” is one of the most rewarding feelings as a music teacher.
I thought that high school teaching took a lot of time with outside rehearsals, concerts, contests, and practices. However, elementary music teaching takes a lot of time too, but it’s more planning and organizing. It takes a while to develop your organization so you know where and how your program is going.
I run after school three days per week. A lot of times I get inspiration for teaching ideas!
BACON!!!
I grew up on a hog farm, so at one point we had 2,200 head of hogs—does that count?
My three current favorites are classical, folk, and faith-based
Tea—I drink one cup of hot tea every morning before beginning my school day.
Overall: definitely the Good Book! (Bible).
Music education: Kodaly Method and Kodaly Context. My mentor gave both of these books to me before I boarded the plane to teach music at an international school on a tropical island for two years. These books were my lifeline as there were only two other music educators on the entire island of 1.2 million people!
Classic: Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
Probably the Flash, because then I could get things done quickly!
We hope you enjoyed getting to know Carly as much as we have. Make sure to check out her articles below!