Ms. Valerie A. Austin

Music History and Music Education
Visiting Lecturer, School of Music
austinv@sfasu.edu
Stephen F. Austin State University
Nacogdoches, Texas

B.M.Ed., West Virginia University
M.M., Music History and Literature, University of Florida
Ph.D. (ABD) Musicology, University of Florida

Background
VALERIE A. AUSTIN, with backgrounds in two musical fields, is visiting instructor in music history and music education.

As a musicologist her foci are diverse, including both early instrumental music and 20th century American music, specifically the crossover between popular and 'classical' forms. Her dissertation focus is the little-known symphonies of Meredith Willson. Austin has presented numerous papers in the areas of musicology and music education. She presents workshops in the Integration of Music History and Music Education, and Teaching Medieval and Renaissance Music in the Elementary Classroom, and has reviewed children's literature for the Orff Echo.

Austin performs recorders and cornetti and has significant early music experience, including the Assistant Directorship of the University of Florida Renaissance Ensemble and Music Vera Consort, and as a faculty instructor at Amherst Early Music and the Texas Toot. Since the 1980s Ms. Austin has taught recorder and loud instruments at the early music Mountain Collegium.

As a music educator Austin gained 14 years of experience teaching music from Kindergarten through 12th grade and on through the University level. Seven of those years were as music director of the esteemed PK Yonge Developmental Research School at the University of Florida. While there she developed collaborative programs with the UF music department and Center for World Arts. Austin has completed all levels of Orff certification, Level I with Carla Case-Soll, Level II with Mary-Helen Solomon and Gwen Hargrove, and Level III with Steve Calantropio and Donna Fleetwood.

School of Music
Stephen F. Austin State University
Box 13043, SFA Station
Nacogdoches, TX 75962-3043
Phone: 936-468-4602 | Fax: 936-468-5810
Dr. Ron Anderson, Chair
Roni Lias, Webmaster