David Top Email and Phone Number

On call substitute teacher for primary and secondary schools specializing in band, orchestra, and elementary music. Substituted for Cheryl Rizzo at Gardiner Middle School on 3/18 and 5/19/2014. As a middle school substitute teacher, I was very nurturing and generous with positive reinforcement and was able to get cultivate a sense of joy and enthusiasm for music within students who were less engaged previously.

Most commonly called to teach band and orchestra. Teaching sites include: Lake Oswego Junior High, Lake Oswego High School, Lakeridge Junior High, Lakeridge High School, Hallinan Elementary, and River Grove Elementary. Often called to substitute in behalf of Orchestra teachers Anna Trobaugh, Nita Van Pelt, and Band Teacher David Hymans. In this district, I have proven myself reliable and effective in ensuring continuity and student progress in areas pertaining to individual and group performance. I also taught marimba and ukulele at River Grove Elementary.My latest assignment was to set up a piano lab at Westview Elementary complete with a COVID-19 safe materials for students to use. Piano curriculum included exploring the piano (All grades), exploring low notes and high notes (Kindergarten), exploring the Pentatonic Scale (Black keys) (for grades K-2nd), exploring how to create ostinatos (Grades 3rd-5th), and introduction into note reading (Grades 3rd-5th).

Teach private lessons in piano, clarinet, saxophone, music composition, and arrangement.

I was hired for the purpose of finishing out the year, to provide students with a sense of normalcy and to address learning needs during this critical moment. Tasks included establishing positive learning environment through positive reinforcement, conducting rehearsals for wind ensembles in Grades 5-8, teaching music fundamentals in Grades K-4, and teaching music electives in (Music Appreciation, Songwriting and Composition) in Grades 7/8. All music curriculum created and selected was aligned to the Oregon Arts and NAfME National Standards. The band curriculum included Kjos STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE Volumes 1, 2, and 3, high quality band scores of various styles and genres developmentally appropriate for each ensemble, and custom made arrangements and original works for an Advanced Band consisting of an eight piece. chamber group. Designed a K-4 curriculum consisting of various song selections and musical games and activities developmentally appropriate for each developmental level which included Orff Schulwerk and Kodaly based practices, culturally responsive selections based on particular cross-curricular themes, pitched and non-pitched percussion, recorders, and music notation literacy. The 7/8 Grade music electives consisted of hands on music activites involving, Orff based approaches, pitched and non-pitched percussion, piano, and small group learning and rehearsing activities and projects involving the use of digital music applications like GarageBand, MuseScore, and Flat notation software. Upon switching to remote distance learning, set up an online learning program complete with newsletters, video tutorial, YouTube channel, 9 google classrooms (for grades 5-8) complete with online assignments, journals, video tutorials and other online resources including a flat notation platform for composition students to create and share musical works which not only ensured learning, but provided students opportunities previously unavailable before quarantine.

Responsibilities entail setting up a coherent effective music curriculum using various approaches at my disposal, (i. e., singing, recorders, Orff instruments, and other percussion) to a K-5 Neighborhood/Chinese Immersion student body. Organized all winter, spring, and year end student performances. Also actively participated in "job-alikes" (professional learning communities) in designing, implementing, and monitoring effectiveness of our district wide music curriculum. I addressed the needs of all learners. For one student who was diagnosed "selective mute" and on the autism spectrum. I met with the parents to developed an alternative assessment method that allowed this student to demonstrate proficiencies. Arrange a glockenspeil part for student to play in lieu of singing to demonstrate proficiency in reading notation. I helped students have fun making music.

Teach elementary general music to students Grades K-6th. Tasks include designing and implementing a curriculum modified to fit the different grade levels, technical proficiencies and learning styles in the classroom. Curriculum includes group singing, music fundamentals, and music literacy (including aural and visual identification of rhythms, symbols, note names and relative pitches). Systems of learning include music texts, recorders, and Orff Instruments. The position requires selecting age appropriate music and rehearsing ensembles for upcoming student performances throughout the year. The position also requires active participation in the district's professional learning community (PLC) in designing the curriculum map to be implemented district wide.

Substitute teacher for various school districts in the Multnomah County Area. Most commonly called to teach at David Douglas and Riverdale School Districts. Although I am called to teach all subjects, my offical endorsement is in General, Choral and Instrumental music K-12.