Vinci eLearning

Taught music full- time since 2005: 2 years (2005-07) at New York Department of Education (2007- present) grades 9-12; pre-k to 5, and currently, Middle School (Music and the Brain Keyboard classes, Little Kids Rock Modern Band Classes, chorus, band/jazz band, orchestra and world music drumming);Eastern Christian Middle/ High Schools as a Band Director, Westchester Conservatory of Music (saxophone, flute and clarinet). Professional NYC musician since 1997; US Army Reserve Band since 2002.

I mostly employ the workshop model in order to first demonstrate concepts, analyze, apply and interpret (creative by improvisation, composition or modifying by arranging. Differentiation is emphasized to meet all learners and Dr. Carol Dweck's Mindset to instill the can do motivation. Huge advocate of Design Thinking modeling the thinking concept of the earliest Design Thinker, Thomas Edison, and Project Based Learning.

Three main grants for my music program: VH-1 Save the Music Band grant, Music and the Brain Keyboard lab and curriculum, and Little Kids Rock Guitars and curriculum.

Rutgers University, Doctorate in Music (2005); New England Conservatory Graduate Performance Program (1997); Florida State University, Masters in Multiple Woodwinds (1996); University of Southern Mississippi, Bachelor in Saxophone Performance (1994); Manhattan School of Music, Music Performance program (1990-1992)

Besides being a music educator, I am a professional musician and because of my performance experience, I instill this practice to the performer standards. I am a military musician adding learned music and leadership skills to my practice. We follow the Tom Jackson Program model that is employed by the Army Music School in Virginia Beach, VA. My main aim is to find ways to make students think of music through three main thinking systems: strategic, critical and creative thinking.