Michelle Swanson is an instructor of Music Education at the University of Northern Iowa.  Mrs Swanson teaches Elementary General Music Methods and Music for Childhood Education, and also supervises student teachers in elementary general music. She also teaches elementary general music at Malcolm Pr ice Laboratory School, on the UNI campus.  Mrs. Swanson has taught elementary general music for 17 years.  She enjoys the combination of both college students and young children - especially when the two groups work together!

Mrs. Swanson also conducts the UNI Children's Choir.  This youth ensemble has performed with the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra, and the UNI Chamber Orchestra.  They have sung at the Gold Star Teacher ceremony, at the Tsunami Benefit for the Red Cross, the College Hill Arts Fetival, and for the African American Museum of Waterloo.  They will be singing for the Iowa Choral Directors fall elementary choral workshop this fall and also at a presentation of the Iowa Music Educators Association annual conference in November.

Mrs. Swanson has composed many songs relating to the Citizenship Education Program at Price Laboratory School. Her efforts were recently a part of the Iowa School of Character Awards received by the school in 2007 and 2008.

Swanson enjoys working with music teachers throughout Iowa.  She travels to school districts for in-services and consultations regularly.  Mrs. Swanson also hosts Orff workshops at UNI, three times during each school year.

Swanson received her B.M.E. and M.M. degrees from U.N.I.  She is currently working toward a doctorate in education.  She was awarded a Gold Star Teaching Award in 1996.

Mrs. Swanson studied Orff Schulwerk at the University of St. Thomas under Jane Frazee and Steve Calentropio.  Beyond the three levels of certification, Mrs. Swanson completed advanced Orff curriculum, technique, and teaching courses.

She has directed numerous elementary, middle school, high school and adult choirs. Mrs. Swanson founded and conducted the Sturgis Falls Children's Choir from 1993 to 2005. She has conducted numerous elementary level honor choirs throughout Iowa. Mrs. Swanson is also an accomplished accompanist. She plays the piano and sings at Praire Lakes Church on occasion.  Her husband, Chad, is an attorney in Waterloo, and they have two children, Elizabeth (10), and Matthew (5).

Research Interests:
- assessment in music education
- academic benefits of music for students
- Orff Schulwerk
- children's choirs
- teacher education