After years of performing music on a National level, I decided (nine years ago) to pivot and focus on becoming the best Orff, General Music, and Band Conductor I could be. With younger grades, I share the sensations and delights of creativity through the use of Orff (and Feierabend) pedagogy. This is organic for me, as I am a fun loving child at heart, living within the body of a serious musician. Children learn to apply their creativity towards singing and stories and movement and instruments such as recorder, pitched percussion and non-pitched percussion. There are individual accomplishments to be had and, also, collaborative ones. It is as joyous as it is instructive.With Band students, I open eyes to the nuances and delicate balances of the musical community known as an "ensemble". With the experiences I carry within, it is an honor, tradition, and responsibility to share and pass on knowledge to the next generation of musicians. Here, the lessons go beyond the basic fingerings used to achieve particular notes. They include the development of sensitive listeners, more aware and appreciative of songs/cultures/styles/lyrics who become equipped to turn into community-minded, music performance team members.I will mention that I embrace the Responsive Classroom and Mindfulness philosophies whenever possible and use formative and summative assessments guided by the NYS Learning Standards for Music. Students connect to me. That makes the classroom experience mutually rewarding.