For over 30 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 in Kindergarten through fifth grade at Sunrise Elementary in Bismarck, ND.  Joan is the author of “Everyday Improvisation; Interactive Lessons for the General Music Classroom” published by Alfred, and a contributing author to a book of 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 the accompanist for Bel Canto, the elementary choir for CDCC.  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 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.