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Class of 2008
Class of 2008
Interview
Interview
How long have you played the baritone saxophone?
I started playing saxophone in fifth grade, when I was ten years old. As a music teacher today, I've currently been playing for 20 years.
What other instruments do you play?
In college I enjoyed playing all saxophones in a variety of different ensembles: soprano, alto, tenor and baritone. I play a little bit of piano and enjoy strumming a ukulele once in a while.
What ensembles were you a part of in high school?
In high school I was in Concert Band (9-12), Jazz Band (10-12), World Music Ensemble (9-11), Concert Chorus (12) and was enrolled in Music for Music Majors for two years (11-12).
What's your favorite jazz band memory?
My sophomore year we had a very strong ensemble. I remember the anticipation building up to our annual trip to the High School Jazz Competition at Berklee College of Music. We ranked that year, I think we placed fourth or third in our division. After our performance we loaded up on the bus, celebrating. We chanted "speech" to Mr. Faris, we were so proud of all of our hard work. The bus ride home we really felt like a family and that feeling continued throughout my time in Jazz Band. The camaraderie really showed on stage, we were so supportive of one another and grew friendships with each other in class.
Swing Night my senior year I had a big solo and I remember reflecting back on my time in Jazz Band, it was one of the best performances I had in high school. I continue to cherish my Jazz Band family.
What were your favorite songs from each year?
2006-2007: Samba del Gringo
2007-2008: Coconut Champagne
Anything else you'd like to share?
In my free time I enjoy spending time with my husband, family and friends, attending concerts, or enjoying the New England/Boston dominance in sports.
After Nauset
After Nauset
After Nauset, I continued my passion for music at the University of Rhode Island, I majored in Music Education and minored in Visual Art. After graduating from URI in 2013, I landed a job back on the Cape, at Barnstable High School. I currently teach Jazz Band, History of Rock and Roll, History of Hip-Hop and the Music Technology curriculum. Previously I have also been the Music Director of the Spring musical, teacher advisor for Barnstable’s chapter of TRI-M, teacher advisor of Barnstable’s Hip-Hop Club and Symphonic Band Director. I'm an active member in the Cape Cod music community, I've served as the Cape Cod Music Educators Association’s (CCMEA) Webmaster, the association’s secretary, the High School Music Festival Concert Chair, Assistant Band Manager and Manager for the CCMEA’s All-Cape and Islands High School Music Festival Concert Band. I've also been an active member of the Southeastern Massachusetts Music Educators Association’s (SEMMEA) Executive Board from with the position of Junior District Concert Band Assistant Manager and Junior District Concert Band Manager.
In 2016, I graduated with my M.A. in Music Education through Teachers College’s INSTEP Program at Columbia University. Upon graduating from Columbia, my Hip-Hop, Music Technology Unit was published through an online music classroom platform called MusicFirst, under the direction of Dr. Jim Frankel. I have also been published in the Massachusetts Music Educator’s Journal (MMEJ Article) for my work on building a hip-hop curriculum with music technology. I continue to circulate the New England and Tri-State area, presenting and attending conferences. As a MusicFirst Ambassador I've presented my Hip-Hop Unit, at the Connecticut Music Educators All State Conference, the New Jersey Music Educators In Service Music Conference and the Audio Engineering Society (AES) High School Educators Conference. I have also been a guest lecturer at Berklee College of Music and Boston Conservatory, both located in Boston. I have also presented my newest curriculum, History of Hip-Hop, at the Massachusetts Music Educators All State Conference in Boston.
Please check out my website for tutorials, articles, rubrics, videos and more information about my career. http://www.musicoconnor.com/
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