GIA Publications - Artist - Ammerman, Angela

Angela Ammerman, referred to by the Washington Post as a “music teacher prodigy,” earned degrees in Music Education from the University of Cincinnati: College-Conservatory of Music, Boston University, and her Ph.D. from George Mason University. Dr. Ammerman has dedicated much of her musical career to providing access to quality music education for underserved populations of children including the beginnings of a strings program at a children’s home in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Dr. Ammerman is in high demand as a clinician and guest conductor and recently conducted the California All State Junior High Orchestra, Georgia All State Middle School Orchestra, and the Tennessee All State String Orchestra in 2023.

Ammerman completed her first book in 2022: The Music Teacher’s Guide to Engaging English Language Learners published by Meredith Music and GIA and written by an incredible team of ELL experts. The next book in the series, The Music Teacher’s Guide to Recruitment and Retention, is expected for release later in 2023. Ammerman hopes to provide greatly needed resources for music educators and is currently writing the third book on Classroom Management. Ammerman’s writing can also be found in Sandy Goldie’s Rehearsing the Middle School Orchestra, Teaching Music, The String Research Journal, and the American String Teachers Journal.

Known for a passion for recruiting future music educators, Ammerman has given countless presentations, in-services, and webinars to encourage classroom teachers to recruit for the profession and facilitates the National Association for Music Education’s Building a Legacy series. Ammerman was hired as the Director of Music Education at the University of Tennessee at Martin in 2017 where she built a thriving music education program and was honored as the university’s Outstanding Advisor of the Year. Recognized by Fairfax County Public Schools as the Top Teacher in 2017 and the Virginia House of Delegates in 2016, Angela diligently works to pass along these teaching and mentorship qualities to her Music Education students. In 2016, Dr. Ammerman was named the Virginia Orchestra Director of the Year, a finalist for the Fairfax County Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year, and Washington Post Teacher of the Year.

Ammerman grew up listening to her mother teach piano lessons in her own home and attributes much of her own passion for teaching to her musical mother and her work ethic to her dad. Currently living in Virginia with her incredibly supportive husband: Dr. David Allen Ammerman and toddler violinist: David Michael, Ammerman works at George Mason University where she supervises student teachers and teaches String Methods, Lab Orchestra, and Aural Skills. Ammerman is also the President of the Virginia String Teachers Association and is known for an emphasis on play-based learning, humor, a unique style, and for the creation of the first ever Future Music Educators Camp as well as her Music Education Podcast: #MusicEdLove. Dr. Ammerman is in awe of the resilience and dedication of school arts educators across the United States and is honored to have the opportunity to work with them and their students.

Additional Resources

Changing Worlds Presentation - Full Video Presentation
Growth Implementation Plan - Free Worksheet for Recruiting and Retaining Musicians Post-Pandemic
Building a Legacy: Mentoring for the Future - Free Slide Presentation
Best Practices for Student Engagement - Free Handout for Student Engagement

Workshops

You Can't Teach Empty Chairs: Recruitment and Retention Strategies that Actually Work! - Music Education

In a world where enrollment directly influences job security, ongoing recruiting and retention efforts are a necessity for a healthy orchestra program. Leave with great resources for generating and maintaining excitement and interest in your program! Discover unique methods for reaching students of all ages, backgrounds, and musical preferences. Unlock your creativity by composing your own Recruiting Concert packed with musical story-telling, audience participation and sonic branding. Leave with a wealth of information regarding recruiting and retention, and gain confidence in your ability to apply these strategies through the experience of planning your own inclusive and Recruiting Concert.

When Music is the Common Language: Engaging Practices for English Language Learners - Music Education

Break down those language barriers in this highly interactive session. English Language Learners make up over 10% of K-12 students nationwide and yet, resources are limited. This session provides insights into language acquisition as well as strategies for communication, recruiting, and retention. Leave this session with tips and tricks from some of the most successful music educators from across the country, ready to rehearse, recruit, and engage any student, speaking any language, from any country!