Megumi Smith
3941 Huron Ave #2 Culver City,CA
Summary
Accomplished percussionist and seasoned music educator with a history of teaching at Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA), Santa Monica College, CSUDH, and Loyola Marymount University. Advocate for interdisciplinary collaboration, educational equity, and community involvement. Leads cross-departmental performances and initiatives connecting college students with underserved youth. Versatile in performing classical, Latin, African, and contemporary music in orchestral settings, chamber ensembles, and outreach programs. Dedicated to creating inclusive learning environments for students from diverse backgrounds.
Overview
35
35
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Applied Instructor for Percussion/lecturer
California State University, Dominguez Hills
01.2022 - Current
- Choose suitable material for students at a wide variety of levels
- Prepare students for department performances, including ensembles & juries
- Prepare students for transfer auditions
- "Global Popular Music, Identity and Social Change" (general education course)
- Percussion Methods (music education majors)
- Ambassador for international program
- Improved student performance by defining clear goals and communicating performance metrics.
- Created and developed lesson plans to meet students' academic needs.
Applied Instructor for Percussion/lecturer
Santa Monica College
09.2015 - Current
- Choose suitable material for students at a wide variety of levels
- Prepare students for department performances, including ensembles & juries
- Prepare students for transfer auditions
- Beginning Percussion Class: an introduction to percussion, primarily through snare drumming/rhythm with some exposure to other concert and world percussion instruments
- Percussion Ensemble: choose repertoire to match strengths & interests of students; coordinate with other department faculty; prepare for concerts, both on and off campus
- History of Rock 'n' Roll (general education lecture survey course)
- Campus/Community Service: VIP Welcome Day volunteer; off-campus presentations for music department; bringing SMC students to YOLA for concerts, recruiting, coaching
- Equitizing Gateway Courses (EGC) member 2021-2023
- Developed and clearly presented classroom rules, guidelines and objectives.
Percussion Specialist for YOLA
Los Angeles Philharmonic Association
07.2017 - Current
- Teach percussion ensemble and private lessons; coach percussion sectionals for YOLA
- Developed effective improvement plans in alignment with goals and specifications.
- Created and managed project plans, and timelines.
Percussion Specialist, Elementary Music Education Specialist
Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA) at Heart of Los Angeles
07.2012 - Current
- Teach percussion ensemble and private lessons; coach percussion sectionals
- Teach various levels of Orff Schulwerk classes
- Develop percussion studio and organize all percussion equipment & facilities
- Volunteer assistant; substitute for early music education class 2010-2012
- Assessed student performance and provided constructive feedback to guide progress.
Private Instructor/Ensemble Coach
Private Instructor/Ensemble Coach
01.1991 - Current
- Coach for various percussion groups from junior high to college in both Japan & Los Angeles
- Private lessons for students aged 2-75
- Improved student performance by defining clear goals and communicating performance metrics.
Instructor
Loyola Marymount University
08.2021 - 12.2021
- Music for Dance (Study of the elements of music theory and history which are common to dance and music, with a focus on rhythm)
Guest faculty member in the Master of Arts in Teaching Program (MAT)
Longy School of Music of Bard College
10.2016 - 06.2021
- Mentor MAT students
- Teach percussion methods clinics/seminars for MAT students
- Teach Orff Schulwerk, percussion ensembles and percussion private lessons
Facilitator
UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital
05.2013 - 01.2015
- Teen Adventure Program-led drum circles for patients
Instructor
Southern Utah University "Canyon Arts"
06.2012
- Taught private lessons and master classes in percussion to college-level students
Primary Teacher for music classes
Glendale Montessori School
10.2010 - 12.2013
Primary Teacher for music classes
Casa Montessori School
01.2009 - 01.2013
- Primary Teacher for music classes
- Assistant for music classes Aug-Dec. 2008
Primary Teacher for music classes
New World Montessori School
09.2010 - 06.2011
Assistant for the Chamber Orchestra
California State University, Northridge Youth Orchestra
08.2008 - 05.2009
- Assisted in concert preparation
Assistant for International student Office
Citrus College
09.2006 - 06.2007
- Tutoring for Piano & Math
Instructor
Yamaha Music Schools, Saitama / Tokyo Japan
04.1996 - 05.2005
- Taught piano and various music classes to students aged 2-75
- Assisted in creation of school curriculum; co-author of published teaching materials
- Trained other teachers in program
Education
M.M. - Percussion Performance
California State University, Northridge
Northridge, CA01.2010
A.A. - Music
Citrus College
Glendora, California01.2007
B.A. - Japanese Literature
Hosei University
Tokyo, Japan01.1996
A.A. - Percussion Performance
Sho-bi College
Saitama, Japan01.1992
Skills
- Student records management
- Curriculum development
- Collaborative team player
- Innovative lesson planning
- Informative lectures
- Lesson planning
- Interactive teaching and learning
- Curriculum planning and implementation
- Testing and grading
- Classroom management techniques
- Student engagement
- Cultural sensitivity
Training
- YOLA National Festival, 2021, 2022, An initiative to create a unified national platform for El Sistema-inspired and aligned programs throughout the United States presented by the LA Phil.
- National Take a Stand, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, An initiative to create a unified national platform for El Sistema-inspired and aligned programs throughout the United States presented by the LA Phil.
- Beat the Odds, 08/14, "Social and Emotional Skill Building Delivered in a Framework of Drumming"
- Southern Utah University 'Canyon Arts' Chamber Music Festival, 06/12, Received coaching, performed in recitals and concerts
- Orff Schulwerk Certification, Level I (2009), Level II (2010), Also ongoing LA Orff Chapter workshops
- Percussive Arts Society International Convention, 2008, 2010, Including workshops, master classes, and concerts
- Zeltsman Marimba Festival, 07/08, (Studied with a distinguished international faculty)
- Yamaha Music School teacher training, 01/96-05/05, Group lessons, musical theater, piano, drumset, teacher training
Publications
- What's the Note? Rhythm, Ear-Training and Eurythmics for Children, vol. 1-4, Contributing editor, Yamaha Music Media, 2007
- がじゅまるの木 (Gajumarou No Ki) [piano solo], Stars of the Merry-Go-Round, Mother-Earth Co., Ltd., 2005, JAPAN
Certification
- Orff Level 1 and 2
- Beat the Odds: Social and Emotional Skill Building Delivered in a Framework of Drumming
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Japanese
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Applied Instructor for Percussion/lecturer
California State University, Dominguez Hills
01.2022 - Current
Instructor
Loyola Marymount University
08.2021 - 12.2021
Percussion Specialist for YOLA
Los Angeles Philharmonic Association
07.2017 - Current
Guest faculty member in the Master of Arts in Teaching Program (MAT)
Longy School of Music of Bard College
10.2016 - 06.2021
Applied Instructor for Percussion/lecturer
Santa Monica College
09.2015 - Current
Facilitator
UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital
05.2013 - 01.2015
Percussion Specialist, Elementary Music Education Specialist
Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA) at Heart of Los Angeles
07.2012 - Current
Instructor
Southern Utah University "Canyon Arts"
06.2012
Primary Teacher for music classes
Glendale Montessori School
10.2010 - 12.2013
Primary Teacher for music classes
New World Montessori School
09.2010 - 06.2011
Primary Teacher for music classes
Casa Montessori School
01.2009 - 01.2013
Assistant for the Chamber Orchestra
California State University, Northridge Youth Orchestra
08.2008 - 05.2009
Assistant for International student Office
Citrus College
09.2006 - 06.2007
Instructor
Yamaha Music Schools, Saitama / Tokyo Japan
04.1996 - 05.2005
Private Instructor/Ensemble Coach
Private Instructor/Ensemble Coach
01.1991 - Current
A.A. - Music
Citrus College
B.A. - Japanese Literature
Hosei University
A.A. - Percussion Performance
Sho-bi College
M.M. - Percussion Performance
California State University, Northridge
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