For over 35 years Joan Eckroth-Riley has been sharing her passion for music education with students ranging in age from kindergarten through college. She currently shares the joy of making music with students at Murray State University in KY as Coordinator of music education. Joan is the author of “Everyday Improvisation; Interactive Lessons for the General Music Classroom” & “Everyday Composition; Interactive Lessons for the General Music Classroom” published by Alfred, and a contributing author to “Kaleidescope,” lessons on the new Core Music Standards sponsored by NAfME. In addition to her teaching duties, Joan is a frequent workshop presenter on Standards and assessments for elementary music, is a certified recorder and movement instructor for Orff Schulwerk courses, and serves as a clinician for JW Pepper & Alfred Music companies. Joan holds an MA in Music Education with an emphasis in Orff Schulwerk from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. She is the president of the newly formed Quad State Orff Chapter, a Past-President of the North Dakota Music Educator’s Association and Prairie Winds Orff, and was honored to be named the 2016 ND Music Educator of the Year. •••• Dr. Wendy van Gent is Associate Professor of Music Education at Northern State University, in Aberdeen, SD where she teaches Music Education at the undergraduate and graduate levels, supervises student teachers, and conducts the vocal jazz ensemble. She is a vocal educator with extensive experience in choral music, vocal jazz, private vocal instruction, and musical theater. Dr. van Gent’s research interest is focused mainly on music student teachers as they transition into the first few years in the classroom and scaffolding current music teachers to become master music educators. Dr. van Gent earned her PhD from Oakland University (Educational Leadership), a Master of Music Education from Michigan State University (Choral Conducting), and a Bachelor of Music degree (music education, music theory, musical theater) from Western Michigan University. For 16 years, Dr. van Gent was the Choral Director and Chair of the Performing Arts Department at Frank W. Cox High School in Virginia Beach, VA, and an active member of VMEA. She is the current NAfME Collegiate Chapter Advisor at NSU and the research representative and New Music Teachers Mentorships Chair on the Board of Directors of the South Dakota Music Education Association (SDMEA).