Everything Band: Episode 31 - Emily Moss

Emily Moss, music education professor and chair of the Department of music at California State University, Los Angeles talks about training young music teachers and not allowing our ego to get in the way of our growth.

Topics:

• Emily’s background, her current position, and her early years growing up in a small town north of Seattle, Washington where she played last saxophone and bassoon.
• How an experience playing David Maslanka’s Symphony No. 4 changed Emily’s view of the wind ensemble.
• The influence of Tim Salzman and the importance of singing and modeling for your students.
• The nature of the program at CSU Los Angeles and the emphasis on urban music education.
• Emily’s tips for young music teachers, dealing with fear of criticism, and thoughts for picking and programming music.
• Making mistakes is part of our growth and progress as music educators and why reflecting upon our failings helps us grow as people and musicians.

​Links:

• Emily Moss
• California State University University, Los Angeles
• Benjamin Taylor: Seeds of Glass
• James Barnes: Symphony No. 3
• CBDNA

Biography:

Dr. Emily A. Moss is the Director of Bands and Director of Instrumental Music Education for the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance at California State University, Los Angeles. Her duties include direction of the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, teaching undergraduate and graduate conducting, and instruction in instrumental music education methods.

Originally from Seattle, WA, Dr. Moss earned her Bachelors’ degrees in music and music education at the University of Washington, studying conducting with Timothy Salzman and bassoon performance with Arthur Grossman. She taught middle school band and private bassoon lessons in Chandler, AZ and Seattle, WA for six years where her bands received honors and awards from regional and state festivals. While serving as a teaching assistant with the University bands at the University of Northern Colorado, she earned her Master’s degree in Wind Conducting and the Doctor of Arts in Music Education and Bassoon Performance, studying with Kenneth Singleton, Richard Mayne and Charles Hansen.

As a conductor and clinician, Dr. Moss has been invited to guest conduct at middle schools, high schools and universities in multiple states across the country and regularly gives band clinics throughout Southern California. She is also an accomplished bassoonist, actively performing during her degree programs in Washington and Colorado, with the Conservatory Orchestra and other ensembles at Brooklyn College, and for student and faculty recitals at Cal State LA.