Welcome to another fantastic year! I am looking forward to a year full of learning, growth, development and lots of great music making! This is my eighth year at Everett High School and my 19th year teaching secondary music. 

 

To create a safe and fun learning environment where students learn how to sing, alone and in an ensemble, almost any style of music using healthy vocal techniques to ensure a lifetime of being able to sing.

 

Process: 

My mission statement is accomplished by daily vocal exercises which teach healthy singing habits based on the science of vocal pedagogy, teaching students to hone their individual voices in order to sing as an ensemble with excellent balance, blend, appropriate tone for the piece, accuracy and expression. 

  

Education: I earned a B.A. in Music and a B.M. in Music Education (choral focus) from the University of Washington in 2003. In September of 2003 I was hired as the vocal music teacher at Eisenhower Middle School, in the Everett School District, where I taught for 11 years before moving to Bellingham to earn my masters. At Eisenhower I directed two curricular choirs, mixed choir and treble choir, as well as Centerpiece Jazz Choir (a before school club), Marimba Mojo (an after school xylophone ensemble), and when needed, team taught beginning band. While at Western Washington University I sang with the top auditioned choir, Concert Choir, assistant directed the University Choir, studied advanced choral conducting with Dr. Leslie Guelker-Cone, studied vocal pedagogy (the mechanics of the voice), taught first year aural skills in music theory, started and directed the Viking Vocal Jazz Club, among many other studies. 

 

My vocal passion lies in jazz, though I am also very passionate about singing in excellent choirs. During my undergraduate time at University of Washington, I sang in three of the universities choirs as well as played in the community jazz guitar ensemble at Seattle Central Community College. I have been playing guitar since I was in 8th grade, and played rhythm guitar in my high school jazz band. Since graduating UW I have performed in Skagit Valley Chorale and Cantabile of Skagit Valley under the direction of Janet Skones-Hitt and sang alto in the Seattle Jazz Singers for six years under the direction of Frank DeMiero. I also have a great passion for percussion and play tenor and bass drum in Scottish Bagpipe Bands in Washington State and in British Columbia. Continuing to hone my skills as a performing musician helps keep me at the top of my game as a music teacher. Through these performing ensembles, as well as attending music education and choir director conferences, I am able to stay on top of current practices. 

 

I have been described by colleagues and friends as quirky (you'll understand when you see my hair), passionate about music and people, funny (though my puns can be groaners), fun, kind, and most importantly, dedicated to my craft. 

 

 

425-385-4400

swiltse@everettsd.org