Episode 52 - Jenny Neff

Jenny Neff conducts three concert bands at Bala Cynwyd Middle School, is on the NAfME Council for Band Education, and is currently the Interim Director of the Master of Music and Summer Music Studies programs at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Topics: Jenny’s early background as a horn player and the importance of the early support and experiences that she had that led to her career as a music teacher. Jenny’s program at Bala Cynwyd Middle School and the value of having all of the music teachers working together. The transition period known as middle school or as Jenny says “they come in being babysat and they leave as babysitters.” The genesis of her Midwest Clinic Presentation with Scott Watson (Episode 2) and the value of using Skype to have composers work with her band. The Master of Music and Summer Music Studies programs at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Links: Jenny's Creative EDge Enhancing the Ensemble Experience Using Composer Skype Sessions NAfME Council for Band Education The University of the Arts Continuing Studies Grainger: Irish Tune from County Derry Strauss: Don Juan Biography: Jenny L. Neff, Ed.D. is in her 25th year of public school teaching, with experience teaching music at various levels K-12 in Connecticut and Pennsylvania. She conducts three concert bands at Bala Cynwyd Middle School in the Lower Merion School District in Pennsylvania. She was recently hired by the University of the Arts in Philadelphia as Interim Director of the Master of Music and Summer Music Studies programs. She serves as the Eastern Division Representative for NAfME’s Council for Band and previously served in roles of advocacy and professional development for PMEA districts. She is part of the PMEA mentor teacher program and serves as a trainer for their online Model Curriculum Framework tool. In December 2017, Dr. Neff co-presented at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, and has also presented sessions for music educators in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Delaware on a variety of topics, including: music standards, curriculum, advocacy, instructional strategies, engaging students, embracing change, and teacher evaluation. Dr. Neff’s doctoral research study was published in the peer-reviewed Pennsylvania Educational Leadership Journal. She has written articles for the PMEA State Journal, and blog posts for NAfME, Zeswitz Music, and J.W. Pepper. She conducted the Concert Band at New England Music Camp for four summers, and has been a guest conductor and clinician in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Previously, she toured Europe for five summers with high school musicians as Symphonic Band Director and String Ensemble Director for American Music Abroad. Dr. Neff received her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Immaculata University. She received her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Music Education from Michigan State University where she studied horn with Douglas Campbell and Neill Saunders, and played under the batons of Eugene Corporon, Kenneth Bloomquist, and Leon Gregorian in MSU's top bands and orchestra.