NJMEA Member Spotlight Missy Strong Mount Laurel Township, NJ School District
W
hen you hear the words First Steps and Conversational Solfege, the first person you think of is John Feierabend, the developer and author of both of these approaches. If you live in NJ, the next person you think of is Missy Strong because NJ music educators flock to her classes and sessions when she presents on the topics. Whether you know her through her articles about Feierabend’s work, or have attended her many sessions from folk dancing to neuroscience, or know her as a teacher of elementary general music, one thing is very clear: Missy is passionate about music education and an expert in her field. So much so, that when a recent survey on a music education network asked elementary music educators whose classroom they wanted to visit to watch them teach, Missy Strong was one of the most frequent answers. For over two decades, Missy Strong has been teaching general, choral, and instrumental music at the elementary and middle school levels. Missy earned her Master’s in Music Education with a minor in vocal health from Rowan University in 2003, and her Doctorate in Music Education with an emphasis in early childhood development from Rutgers, New Brunswick, in 2012. She currently teaches Elementary General and Vocal Music in the Mount Laurel Township, NJ school district. Missy is also an adjunct professor at Montclair State and Colorado Mesa Universities. She was the Music Education Consultant and Curriculum Writer for the OCTOBER 2019
Rafiki Foundation and formerly served in the early 2000’s as the Senior Research Assistant for Music Together, LLC. For 10 years, Missy was also the Director of Children’s Music Education at the historic Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. Missy is a founding member of the Feierabend Association for Music Education (FAME, https://www.feierabendmusic.org/). She is an Endorsed Teacher Trainer for First Steps in Music and Conversational Solfege. For the past two years, Missy served as the President-Elect of FAME. In addition to her work as a clinician in districts and conferences around the U.S., Missy has also been able to work with music educators in different parts of the world, leading workshops and courses in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, on a cruise to Bermuda this past July, and there are plans for her to teach a First Steps in Music Course in Thailand in April 2020. To bring the work and philosophy of John Feierabend to a larger audience, in 2012 Missy founded the Facebook group, Feierabend Fundamentals with just 50 members. Her hope was that anyone interested in Feierabend’s work and resources could join and ask questions while also sharing tips and ideas. This group has been a lifesaver to many music educators and has grown to over 10,000 members. In addition, Missy is a contributing author and, along with Feierabend, co-editor of the book Feierabend Fundamentals: History, Philosophy, and Practice from
GIA Publications and a contributing author to a book soon to be published by Oxford University Press. This past year, Missy started, hosted, and is the executive producer of a podcast titled, “The Tuneful, Beatful, Artful Music Teacher” (bit.ly/TuBeArtfulPodcast). This podcast is an in-depth look into the Feierabend approach interviewing teachers who use the approach successfully, as well as interviewing John Feierabend himself on a variety of topics. Missy Strong is a music educator that is adored by the youngest to the oldest of students. If you have taken one of her classes, then you know that you came out of the class joyful, with more knowledge and confidence, and if you are like me, a bit more tuneful, beatful, and artful. When attending one of her workshops or sessions, I always hear numerous music educators beam, “Missy is one of the best!” or “Wow! She has taught me so much. I cannot wait to implement it all this year!” If you get the chance to read one of her articles or books, attend her sessions, take one of her classes, or listen to her podcast, jump at the chance because you will be learning from one of the best! If you know a teacher that we should spotlight, or a music program doing great things, let us know at patrickaokeefe@gmail.com and we can feature them on social media or in a future TEMPO! We would love to hear about the diverse and passionate practices happening throughout the state!
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