Jessica Nicol
Rochester,MI
Summary
I love to share my love of music with students in a playful way, inspiring them to be creative, work together, and create music that they are proud of.
I enjoy motivating students to be the best they can be by modeling how to care, how to learn, how to build skills, and how to express yourself musically.
My current passion is music composition. I am studying privately myself, and would love to create a music composition program in a school that nurtures the creativity and musicality of my students.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Music Educator
Utica Community Schools
Utica, Michigan
08.2005 - Current
- Taught music at all age levels from Young 5s to high school, including general elementary music, 6th grade beginning band and choir, and middle and high school choir.
- Collaborated with colleagues to coordinate school-wide music events and performances.
- Mentored student musicians, creating an environment that builds relationships to motivate, inspire and encourage the acquisition of both knowledge and skills.
- Used a variety of pedagogical approaches including MLT, Orff, Kodaly, Dalcroze.
- Taught a standards-based curriculum while using an understanding of developmentally appropriate practices and the current student skill level to guide teaching activities.
- Used a project-based learning approach for heightened engagement.
- Lead and Co-lead the UCS 6th grade honors choir.
- Explicitly taught "how to learn" and "how to practice" strategies.
- Explicitly taught musicality through creative improvisation and protomusic and worked towards the aesthetic experience.
- Taught cross-curricular units with the gym teacher (folk dance) the art teacher (Pictures at an Exhibition art and music presentation) and English teacher (poetry).
Elementary Music Educator
Mt. Clemens Public Schools
Mt. Clemens, MI
08.2000 - 06.2005
- Taught elementary music in a K-2 and a 3-5 building.
- Planned and performed day and evening concerts, including an original musical.
Education
Master of Arts - Music Education, Choral Conducting
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL05-2000
Bachelor of Arts - Music
Kalamazoo College
Kalamazoo, MI05-1995
Skills
- Ensemble and individual coaching for skill acquisition, positive performances, artistic expression, and evaluation
- Tailoring concert repertoire to fit the needs of the current students
- Expertise in teaching music essentials in an engaging way
- Familiarity and ability to teach using a variety of pedagogical methods such as Orff, Kodaly, MLT, Dalcroze, TMU
- Student-led, project based learning through music composition
- Ability to teach for transfer
- Ability to model the aesthetic music experience
- Understanding and deep appreciation for the developing child
Certification
Orff Schulwerk Levels 1 and 2
Timeline
Music Educator
Utica Community Schools
08.2005 - Current
Elementary Music Educator
Mt. Clemens Public Schools
08.2000 - 06.2005
Master of Arts - Music Education, Choral Conducting
Florida State University
Bachelor of Arts - Music
Kalamazoo College