karin rau

Teaches monthly workshops on various West African musics that include singing, dancing, drumming, and using authentic instruments from Ghana & Guinea. Teaches monthly gyil xlyophone workshops on the social dance music of the Dagara people of Ghana and Burkina Faso. The classes break down the buzzing-gourd xylophone melodies into doable segments that feature the interplay between the song, harmony, and solo parts. The quɔr (gourd drum) and dance movements are added at the end to create an exhilarating Dagara musical experience.

Taught World Music Classes to Middle and High school students. Through audio and video analysis, demonstration, and hands-on music making, students learned about selected musical traditions from around the world in terms of structure, performance practice, function, and historical and geographical evolution. Directed World Music Ensembles for Middle and High School students. Students dove deep into the performance practice of several cultures using authentic instruments, vocal techniques, dance, and cultural dress to create unique interpretations of music from around the globe.

* Prepared and directed students in four public music concerts each year * Directed a select group of 5th graders in a choir that performed for Veteran's Day * Started a school Percussion Ensemble that will perform at the talent show and multicultural arts ceremony * Helped plan, audition, and direct the school talent show * Promoted cultural awareness, understanding, and appreciation by contributing ideas, resources, and musical talent to Westwood's Cultural Collaborative Committee. * Evaluated each student’s musical growth and offered one-to-one help before and after school to ensure success for every student.

* Prepared and directed grades K-4 in four public Christmas Concerts. * Composed, taught, and directed performances of a school song * Communicated with math teachers to design and implement interdisciplinary lessons that encouraged students to transfer their skills to a new setting. * Directed the 5th and 6th grade choir, advertised, and recruited members, and directed 3 public performances * Organized and chaperoned a choir and band field trip to a performance of the MN Orchestra. * Coordinated a choir sing-a-thon fund-raiser that provided members with rich musical experiences.

Taught weekly beginning level percussion (snare drum and mallets) lessons to 4th and 5th grade children.

* Taught drill and choreography to high school students * Rehearsed repertoire and drum cadences with high school students

* Taught weekly lessons to 16 students at beginning to moderately-advanced levels * Organized a student recital that was attended by parents and community members

* Directed the 10th and 11th grade bands in preparation and performance of two different concerts * Prepared in excess of 15 groups of students for a solo and ensemble competition * Analyzed jazz charts and presented students with an understandable interpretation of chord symbols and scales * Guided 8 jazz combos in preparing repertoire and improvisational solos for a concert * Taught beginning theory and composition classes * Taught adaptive music classes to students with diverse physical, developmental, and intellectual needs

* Designed a world music curriculum for 4 local school districts * Instructed teachers on West African hand drumming, dancing, and singing techniques * Discussed effective teaching strategies to engage students of different ability levels

* Introduced West African hand drumming, dancing, and singing techniques to students ages 5 to adult. * Lead a week-long workshop teaching traditional West African songs through drumming, dancing, and singing. * Lead students in a day of 5 performances across the Lake Park & Audubon communities.

The Wirth Center for the Performing Arts is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) community school of the performing arts that specializes in providing exceptional quality performing arts education to students of all ages and abilities. The school is located in the education building of St. Mary's Cathedral in downtown St. Cloud and also offers piano instruction in the Twin Cities area. The school has been in existence since 1981, celebrating over 30 years of training for talented young artists and budding musicians and dancers. The Artistic Director, Dr. Paul Wirth, is widely sought-after both locally, regionally and nationally as a pedagogical expert on piano technique and training of young artists. Thirty of his pre-college students have been honored with over 70 solo performances with orchestras across the nation. (His bio appears on the Faculty page of the website).

Activities and Societies: Classes taken: Field of Ethnomusicology, Anthropology of Music, Organology, Music, Orality, and Storytelling, Worship & Culture, Ethnic Music Performance, Applied Ethnomusicology, Transcription & Analysis of Non-Western Music, Seminar in African Music, Seminar in Indian Music

Activities and Societies: Classes taken: Field of Ethnomusicology, Anthropology of Music, Organology, Music, Orality, and Storytelling, Worship & Culture, Ethnic Music Performance, Applied Ethnomusicology, Transcription & Analysis of Non-Western Music, Seminar in African Music, Seminar in Indian Music

Music Performance: Concordia Band, Cobber Band; Orchestra; Percussion Ensemble; Marimba Choir; West African Drumming and Dance Ensemble, Rehearsal Leader; Harp recital and soloist, Marimba accompanist, Xylophone soloist, Received private lessons in percussion, piano and harp * Sports: Women’s Swim Team * Leadership: Music Librarian, Student Conductor for Repertoire Reading Sessions, Faculty Review Committee. Activities and Societies: * Major Instrument: Percussion * Overall GPA: 3.86/4.00 * Honors: Dean’s List, Music Performance Scholarship, Faculty Scholarship * Study Abroad: Studied music, art, and culture in Ghana, West Africa, May 2009