Music Teaching Portfolio of Meredith Harley Inserra

Education High School: New Bern High School, ’79 Bachelor of Music: University of North Carolina at Greensboro, ’84 (Mu Phi Epsilon: Honors Music Fraternity) Master of Music: East Carolina University, ’92 Postgraduate research in traditional music, (A.B.D.): Univ. of Edinburgh, Scotland, ‘99

The National and State Standards on display in my classroom.

Teaching Experience: Bangert Elementary School: January ’99 to present Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (Glasgow, Scotland): guest lecturer in traditional music ’97 International Council for Traditional Music: lecturer and presenter in Durham, England ’96 J. T. Barber Elementary Oaks Road Elementary Trent Park Elementary Bridgeton Elementary F. R. Danyus Elementary Blackville Elementary, Middle, and High Schools, S. C.: Aug. 1985 to Jan. 1987 New Bern Aug. 1988 to Jan. 1993

Students improvising and composing contrasting patterns to perform as a group

Student using a pentatonic scale to create ostinati to accompany songs

Students creating contrasting phrases using a pentatonic scale.

Movement and Dance are important elements of Music lessons

2nd grade students composing, reading, writing, and playing using music notation.

Advanced Recorder Karate Ensemble (4th and 5th graders)

Performances: Examples from Concerts Musical revues Musical plays

Paint the Town December Musical show featuring 1st, 3rd, and 5th graders Integrating visual art and famous artists

Bring Your Passport Original script by Meredith H. Inserra Musical show featuring Kindergarten, 2nd, and 4th graders Original script by Meredith H. Inserra Multi-cultural trip around the world with music

Bring Your Passport

It Starts With Me Musical revue for grades K, 2, and 4 Integrating Character Education Original script by Meredith H. Inserra

It Starts With Me

There's No Place Like Home 3rd grade Spring Show Script and characters created by a team of 3rd grader writers: Maggie Craze, Devan Corcoran, Tori Eure, Brook Wheeler, Emily Sanborn, and Virginia Schnorenberg Integrating writing and science with the study of animal habitats

There's No Place Like Home

December Family Night 2nd and 4th grade student directors

Singing At the Farmers Market

Trained in PDSA

Three All-County Chorus logos I designed Embrace the Music

Technology Advanced in: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Finale (music notation), Internet, Web development, Adobe Photoshop Elements 15 years experience on both Mac and PC platforms Workshop leader to help other music teachers develop web sites and use technology in their teaching

My web site Music at Bangert Click the link above to go “live” to Home The Music Classroom Links and Games Mystery Composer Wish List This Week's Link Magic Music Word Recorder Karate Alto Recorder All-County Chorus Why Music Education? NC Symphony About Your Teacher Composer Links You Can Help! What's New? Contact "Miss Harley" Music Curriculum K Curriculum 1st Curriculum 2nd Curriculum 3rd Curriculum 4th Curriculum My web site Music at Bangert Welcome to Parents, Students, and Visitors Please take a few moments to browse this site.  If you scroll down, the links to my pages are on the left.  You can see pictures from past shows and find cool links.  This site is updated regularly, so check back often to see what's new. Hello from your Music Teacher, Meredith Harley Inserra, still known to most students as "Miss Harley." On this web site you can:   get news from the Music Room find the Magic Music Word get Recorder Karate news find out what your child is studying visit some cool music links play free music games read interesting music quotes find out how you can help     Click here to download the Music Newsletter!                                      Special thanks to Kyle for his first grade portrait of me playing my guitar.                                                                          http://bangertmusic.tripod.com/musicatbangert/ Click the link above to go “live” to my web site

Yearbook editor 2005 - 2006 and 2006 - 2007 (all digital)

I have traveled extensively throughout North America and Europe. I lived in Europe for 5 years as well. Travel and living abroad have given me a global perspective as well as valuable experience with various cultures

Philosophy for Music and Arts Education

Students of the arts learn to think creatively and to solve problems by imagining various solutions, rejecting outdated rules and assumptions. Questions about the arts do not have only one right answer.

A study of the arts provides children with an internal glimpse of other cultures and teaches them to be empathetic towards the people of these cultures. This development of compassion and empathy, as opposed to development of greed and a "me first" attitude, provides a bridge across cultural chasms that leads to respect of other races at an early age.

“Without music, life is a journey through a desert.” ~Pat Conroy, author~

“Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.” ~Maya Angelou~

“Music training is a more potent instrument than any other because rhythm and harmony find their way into the secret places of the soul.” ~Plato~

“If a child hears fine music from the day of his birth, and learns to play it himself, he develops sensitivity, discipline, and endurance. He gets a beautiful heart.” ~Shinichi Suzuki~

“What we play is life.” ~Louis Armstrong~

Meredith Harley Inserra Thank you for taking the time to view my portfolio. I look forward to the opportunity to work with you. Meredith Harley Inserra