Get to know me

• What role did the arts play in your childhood? - 
• The arts played a huge part of my childhood. From my dad drawing caricatures during church, to listening to oldies in the car while my mom hauled my brother and me to our events, to going to my dads concerts, to watching and learning how to cook by my mom and grandma, I was completely immersed my entire childhood. Being a band directors kid, I didn't necessarily have a choice to be in band. However I am the person I am today because of my experiences with the arts.
• What is one of your first memories of music? Either listening or performing. - 
• I remember being in 4th grade and my dad, a trombone player, asked me what instrument I wanted to play. I was the youngest child and my two older brothers played the trumpet. I looked at my dad and said "I want to play the clarinet!" He looked at me, perhaps a bit disapprovingly, and said "I thought you wanted to play the trombone?" - I have now been playing the trombone for over 20 years.
• What made you decide to become a music educator? - 
• There were a lot of factors that played a part in me becoming a music educator. I actually fought it for a while. I saw the long hours my dad put in. The nights and weekend commitments. I was working in the church and doing music lessons part time. I wasn't convinced that was what I wanted to do for my career. I knew I loved music and I loved working with kids. With some significant reflection, I realized that although it would be a ton of work, I had a passion for teaching music and that was what I wanted to pursue. After about eight years in the workforce, I went back and got my teaching certificate. I am in my fifth year as a band director at the age of 34.
• What’s the biggest challenge as a music educator? -
•  There are challenging things professionally and personally when it comes to being a music educator. Being in a smaller school, students participate in everything. I have had to work with students and faculty to find creative solutions. Thankfully I work with amazing colleagues that want the same for the students. Last year there was a golf meet at our last concert. We made it work that the students participated in golf and drove at an undisclosed rate of speed back and got back minutes before going on stage. While it wasn't ideal, they were able to do both things and make it work. Personally, working many nights and weekends can be challenging with young kids. It makes my time with them even more meaningful though.
• What made you decide to come back to Fort Dodge after college? - 
• I had a job offer at a church in town. It was only part-time so I reached out to Rieman Music and was able to get a part-time job there as well. The opportunity fell in my lap and I felt like it made sense to come back, even just for a few years. Fast forward ten years and I have a husband and two beautiful children, family in the area, and an amazing group of friends. I feel settled and established in Fort Dodge and am looking forward to having my kids grow up in this area.
• What do you most enjoy about the art and culture scene in Fort Dodge? -
•  I think we have a wide variety of arts in the Fort Dodge area. I'm a little more hip to the music scene, but there is so much to offer around this area. Live music, The Blanden, ICCC Culinary Arts program, Soldier Creek Winery and local breweries and coffee shops, the list is endless. There is something for everyone in the arts and you don't have to put much effort in to find something that interests you in Fort Dodge.
• What groups in our community are you involved with? 
• Currently, I participate in the Karl King band, 515 Big Band, Bad to the Bone, and I am the music director for Stage Door Productions summer musical. Oh, and I'm an official Bingo Caller at Soldier Creek Winery, that's a pretty sweet gig. In the past I have also been involved in the Fort Dodge Area Symphony and the Fort Dodge Fine Arts Board. 
• If you spend one day with any musician, alive or dead, who would you pick and what would you do for that day? - 
• If I were to spend a day with any musician, I would choose Kelly Clarkson. I think she is a fantastic person and a very talented singer. I have enjoyed listening to her original music and you may disagree, but I think when she covers a song from another artist she almost always does it better than the original artist! (Check out her It's Quiet Uptown cover - so good!) I grew up listening to her music and her voice has aged like fine wine.
• You have to eat one thing for the rest of your life…….What is it? - 
• Oh man, this is a tough one. If I were to only eat one thing for the rest of my life, it would be Chick-Fil-A. You didn't ask, but a drink would be Diet Coke (or Blue Moon...) 
• If you had to use one word to describe yourself, what would it be? 
• One word to describe myself would be easy-going. I am pretty go with the flow and am always willing to change things up. I think it drives my husband nuts! I get along with almost everyone and I think that helps me both in my professional and personal life. 

Tell us about a time when you were nervous performing and how you handled it. - 

• Getting nervous before performing is a very natural thing to experience. Especially early on. Some of my earliest memories of being very nervous were my piano recitals. I didn't practice as much as I should so I would get very worked up since I was unprepared. As I continued on I spent more and more time preparing and practicing and that helped a lot, paired with more and more exposure to playing in front of people. Starting young and getting in front of people, whether playing an instrument, singing, or even speaking, will help you gain confidence for your entire life. A little bit of nerves are good for you and helps you in those situations. You just have to put yourself out there and be willing to get out of your comfort zone a little bit. 
• What are you most proud of when it comes to your current band program? - 
• I am so incredibly proud of the students in my band program. I know this is cheesy, but my quote coming into Southeast Valley was "No one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care." - Theodore Roosevelt. It is printed and hanging in my office. Coming into this program I had 23 wonderful and amazing students in band. It took a bit of elbow grease, but now I go into band class with 53 students (equally wonderful and amazing!). I am so proud of the strides that they have made and the culture that they have created. These students don't necessarily hang out outside of band but they come into class and create a positive and safe environment to learn and make music. I am very proud of what they have established at Southeast Valley and I'm grateful to have played a small role in that.