Ellen teaching a flute lesson to enthusiastic 6th grade students

Ellen taught a general music course that explored the history of world drumming

Ellen instructed a universal pre-k class where students developed musicality through movement and singing.

As an educator, Ellen has instructed students for over 15 years in both her private lesson studio (in-person and virtual) and in the classroom. She earned her New York State Teaching Certification in 2015 upon completion of the Bachelor of Music Education degree at the Eastman School of Music. 

In academia, Ellen has been invited as a guest lecturer to multiple departments at UCLA as well as many top universities in the United States. Most recently, she was the guest performance artist at Bradley University where she gave a lecture on “Developing Your Creativity.” Ellen was a teaching assistant at UCLA where she instructed the Trumpet Studio and the entire Brass Department. Ellen has established a positive record for recruitment as she doubled the size of undergraduate and graduate enrollment for the brass ensemble course within one year. She increased the opportunity for student learning in this course by expanding the program from one large brass ensemble to six brass quintets, one trombone quartet, two brass ensembles, orchestral reading sessions, and guest masterclasses. 

Within her private trumpet studio, Ellen guides students in setting individualized short and long term goals and mentors each student to achieve them. She ensures the students’ musical foundation sets them up for success in achieving their musical endeavors. Ellen includes music theory throughout each lesson and creates a student-centered learning environment. For inquiries about lessons with Ellen, please use the contact page. 

Ellen completed courses on Music for Special Learners and has worked on site with young students and adults. She has experience developing music materials and providing environments to enhance the overall music education experience for special learners. 

She has experience teaching students of all levels and instruments. While teaching 5th through 8th grade group strings at Enrico Fermi School, Ellen created lesson plans that incorporated executive and musical skills through movements, singing and playing. 

Ellen instructed 4th through 12th grade concert bands, jazz bands, percussion ensembles, and trumpet ensembles. She taught executive and musical skills through singing, movement, and playing where students learned melodies, harmonies, and bass lines by ear while also improvising and composing music. She selected and arranged repertoire, taught improvisation and jazz theory lessons, introduced various styles of jazz, created lessons that examined the characteristics of jazz music, and coached students on blending and balance as an instrumental section. The students demonstrated success when evaluated using The National Standards for Arts Education. ​

She led discussions on many topics such as, “What is considered music?” in her 6th grade general music course. She also explored the history of world drumming with students and taught techniques to successfully play the instruments; students evidenced the ability to keep a steady beat, learned melodies/harmonies by ear, and improvised in an ensemble. The students were also able to create and notate individual and group compositions at the conclusion of the course.

Ellen was invited to join the University of Southern California Thornton Outreach Program as a general music instructor for students in 1st grade. She selected music and constructed lesson plans using the Jump Right In Music Learning Theory Method. Students sang in major and minor tonalities and demonstrated the ability to keep a steady beat in both duple and triple meters.

As a universal pre-kindergarten teacher, Ellen demonstrated musical instruments and constructed lesson plans which developed students’ sensitivity to the beat, expressive musical qualities, musical movement, and singing skills. Additionally, through the Eastman Community Music School program, she was frequently the guest ‘music maker.’