MUSIC EDUCATOR
Fostering community, empowering students, and spreading joy through the sharing and creation of music. Bringing a culturally relevant and SEL-centered pedagogy to the classroom to create safe, kind, professional, and exciting environments that support future generations of humans and musicians while creating high-quality music and musical experiences. I believe in uplifting the musicianship and bolstering the love of music inherent to every child. I center Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in my teaching and curriculum. It is my mission to meaningfully share music that students might not encounter on their own musical journeys otherwise, and to deepen their understanding and appreciation for the music that they seek out independently.
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My teaching specializations are:
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Choral Music
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General Music
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Musical Theatre
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A Cappella & Vocal Jazz
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Modern Band (Guitar, Bass, Drums, Keyboards)
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Music Technology/Production
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Composition
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Contact me at joe@joebadion.com for teaching samples and any further inquiries.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
SAUGATUCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL – Westport, CT
Long-term Substitute Strings Teacher
2 months, full-time. Ran the Orchestra program. Collaborated with teachers throughout the district during in-service and summer trainings. Prepared post-renovation classroom spaces and the logistical framework for 4th Grade and 5th Grade Orchestras. Recruited 4th Grade students. Coordinated the rental, delivery, pickup, and storage of instruments for all ensembles. Led sectional and full-orchestra rehearsals. Collaborated closely with Band and Chorus/General Music instructors. Created and executed lesson plans for all instrument groups and a wide variety of skill levels. Provided extra individualized support for students with exceptional needs.
THE TOWN SCHOOL – New York, NY
Upper School Music Teacher (4-8)
5-8th Grade Music Teacher, 4th Grade Performing Arts Teacher. Director of Upper School Chorus and Chorale. 7th Grade Advisor and Homeroom Teacher.
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HAWTHORNE SCHOLASTIC ACADEMY – Chicago, IL
K-8 Music Teacher, General/Vocal
Whole academic year, full-time. Taught daily hour-long music class to all grades (>600 students) over five-week rotations, seeing each class for approximately ten to fifteen weeks total. Provided remote, in-person, and hybrid instruction. Created and led remote clubs focused on musical theatre, choral performance, songwriting, beginning and advanced guitar, ukulele, and music production/technology. Created and taught engaging and culturally relevant lessons to all levels on a variety of topics including: musical and rhythmic literacy; musical contrast and form; songwriting through the blues; electronic music production; podcast research and production; aural skills/ear training; classical music appreciation; instruments of the jazz and classical orchestras; musical criticism; singing and healthy vocal production; and the history of jazz, hip hop, rock & roll, and pop music in America. Provided SEL support for students throughout the pandemic year. Collaborated with classroom teachers and fellow Essentials/Specials team members. Forged deep personal connections with students.
NEW TRIER HIGH SCHOOL – Winnetka, IL
Student Teacher
9 weeks, full-time. Led warmups, facilitated CMP lesson plans, and conducted for Boy's Choir and Girl's Choir. Directed Men's Choir, led sectional rehearsals, and conducted an original arrangement for TTBB/Guitar. Designed and taught an aural skills-focused unit on Compound Meter for AP Theory. Assisted instruction and provided one-on-one instruction for Guitar Class. Coached young performers throughout auditions and callbacks for The Wedding Singer. Coached students for a performance of Craig Hella Johnson's Considering Matthew Shepard with Conspirare at the Ravinia Festival. Helped students record audition materials for ACDA. Led warmups, full ensemble rehearsals, and sectional rehearsals for Concert Choir. Assisted in voice placement for all listed ensembles. Completed edTPA.
LAKE BLUFF MIDDLE SCHOOL – Lake Bluff, IL
Student Teacher
9 weeks, full-time. Accompanied Winter choir concert and conducted sixth and seventh graders. Led warmups, full ensemble rehearsals, and sectional rehearsals for all choirs. Taught Guitar Class. Devised and taught special units on body percussion and pop a cappella to develop students' kinesthetic musicianship and part-independence. Taught sixth grade general music (full-time, full-takeover) focusing on: singing, healthy vocal production, rhythm-reading, note-reading, kinesthetic music techniques, basic functional harmony, and beginning ukulele. Coached students one-on-one and provided voice lessons for singers with changing voices. Created a ukulele songbook/workbook. Recorded rehearsal tracks and practice tracks. Orchestrated accompaniment tracks. Catalogued the choral music library and organized the costume shops. Managed sound and lights for the Fall band concert. Chaperoned and managed logistics for Holiday Tour. Decorated the stage for the winter concert. Created music classroom posters.
NILES WEST HIGH SCHOOL – Skokie, IL
High School Choral Practicum
8 weeks, part-time. Led warm-ups and rehearsed pops concert repertoire with intermediate treble ensemble.
MAPLE SCHOOL – Northbrook, IL
Middle School Choral Practicum
7 weeks, part-time. Led warm-ups and rehearsed repertoire with school choir.
LINCOLNWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL – Evanston, IL
Elementary General Music Practicum
8 weeks, part-time. Led Kindergarten music class with subject focus on Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Winter holidays. Taught special lessons on close listening (Leroy Anderson's Sleigh Ride) and improvisation.
PARK SCHOOL – Evanston, IL
Special Education Music Practicum
8 weeks, part-time. Assisted music teacher and classroom aides in a class for 18 to 22-year-old students with special needs. Provided voice lessons and helped a student prepare for a graduation performance.
DAWES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL – Evanston, IL
Beginning Band Practicum
4 weeks, part-time. Led sectional rehearsals for beginning trumpet players. Focused on playing position/posture, healthy production of good tone, articulation, music-reading, and developing listening skills.
WALKER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL – Evanston, IL
Beginning Strings Practicum
4 weeks, part-time. Led sectional rehearsals for beginning violin and viola players. Focused on playing position/posture, tone production, concert etiquette, music reading, and developing listening skills.
STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL – Westport, CT
Choir Teaching Assistant, Theatre Teaching Assistant
10 months, part-time. Assisted instructors of Sophomore Chorus and Theatre 2. Acted as administrative assistant to choir director for all curricular and extracurricular ensembles, aided in the management logistics for advanced ensembles. Accompanied pieces for Spring concert and Fall choral concert. Conducted one piece on annual Candlelight Concert. Assisted students with special needs in ensemble rehearsals. Catalogued the choral library.
Provided feedback and coaching to students working on monologues. Participated in the quarter-long immersive improvisation unit. Modeled and coached throughout stage combat unit.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MUSE Mentorship
Musicians United for Social Equity
Two-time participant. An equity-focused 6-month mentorship program during which mentees of color are paired with Musical Theatre industry professionals to work on goals and advance their careers, with future work opportunities possible. Mentored by Darryl Archibald (SOME LIKE IT HOT, MOTOWN) and Alvin Hough Jr. (MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, NEW YORK, NEW YORK).
MUSICAL THEATRE CONDUCTING INTENSIVE
New York University (Ted Sperling, Instructor)
A 1-week intensive course studying theatrical conducting techniques with a prominent Broadway Music Supervisor, Music Director, and Conductor. Podium masterclass opportunities with a professional ensemble, working on repertoire from Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George.
POP/ROCK KEYBOARD STYLES
Berklee Online (Dave Limina, Instructor)
Took a 10-week course covering a wide variety of keyboard techniques in popular music styles. Participated in group discussions, submitted weekly video recordings.
THE MUSICAL THEATRE CONDUCTOR: LEADING WITH CONFIDENCE
Will Curry (Conductor, Instrumentalist, Teacher)
Actively participated in 10-week program preparing musical theatre conductors to lead pit orchestras. Developed essential techniques. Performed intense score study and weekly conducting performances. Received coaching and feedback, provided feedback to peers.
SINGLE STORY, INC.
SEED 101 (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity)
Collaborated in a whole year of a multifaced diversity training program with 2.5 hour long monthly seminars. Collaborated with facilitators and educators to create, develop and implement strategies that foster respect for all people while exploring current theories on topics such as race, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, privilege, systems of oppression, etc.
MUSIC WILL (FORMERLY "LITTLE KIDS ROCK")
Modern Band Workshop 101
Participated in the full-day workshop for teachers on-track to establishing modern band programs at their own schools. Received training and materials to teach guitar, electric bass, drum kit, keyboard, and songwriting. Engaged with a culturally relevant curriculum focused on embracing and teaching music as a language.
RELEVANT COURSEWORK
Philosophy of Music Education
Advanced Choral Conducting
Choral Methods I-II
Instrumental Methods I
General Methods I
World Music Pedagogy
Teaching Composition
Teaching Music to Exceptional Learners
Teaching Jazz (Seminar)
Developmental Psychology
Music Technology
Recording Techniques
Music Directors' Seminar
Jazz Composition and Arranging I-III
Arranging Pop A Cappella
Theatrical Orchestration
Musical Design