Monroe Elementary School

Hello, my name is Barbara Lynne Branchfield.
I have been an elementary music specialist for the past 30 years. It has been a great pleasure to inspire students in grades K-5 to become a more self-actualized human being by becoming personally passionate by their connection to the arts.
I have owned a children's theatre and believe music can cross over and aide awareness in other subject matters and artistic fields.
I am passionate about music learning in its many forms: dancing, movement, hands-on instrument playing, singing, theatre/acting and creating at the highest level possible.
I have three grown children of my own. My daughter is an MSW at the Milwaukee Child Wefare Office in Wisconsin, my middle son is a medical software engineer for Zywave and my youngest is software coding engineer here in Seattle for Amazon, thus what brought me from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Seattle, Washington.
I believe that music learning starts with what children already know and builds each year through a spirally taught curriculum. In music learning, students learn best first by guided practice and hands-on learning until independence is present. To aide in that endeavor, I love utilizing the Orff-Schulwerk method for learning and the Kodaly method for rhythm counting and ear training skills.
It is my hope that students in the Everett School District can prosper in their music learning and I will work diligently to best serve their needs in my music classroom.