Jennifer Ristvedt-Hille
Jennifer Ristvedt-Hille is passionate about breathing new life into elementary music programs through creative, story-based teaching. Drawing from her experience with diverse cultures and age groups, she designs lessons that combine music, movement, and math to spark “Aha!” moments — inspiring students to learn more.
Jennifer’s diverse teaching journey has taken her from inner-city elementary schools in Kansas City to emotionally disturbed high school students in Texas, and even to China to teach English-speaking skills. She has also been a voice talent for audiobooks, led Music Together classes, tuned pianos, and developed educational workshops under her Art SMARTS label. Her latest passion is developing The Joe Family from Grand Staff series, inspired by dramatized classroom lessons that combine story, movement, and math to help students read, compose, and perform music.
Currently a K-5 music educator in West Valley School District in Spokane, WA and a board member of the Inland Empire Orff Association, Jennifer earned her B.S. in Elementary Education from Concordia University in Seward, NE and her MAT from Webster University in St. Louis, MO. She has taught general music, choir, piano, flute, oboe, and voice in public, private, and studio settings for over 30 years. Her youngest students have been newborns and her oldest 80 years young.
When she’s not in the classroom, Jennifer enjoys marching with the Perfection Nots in Coeur d’Alene’s 4th of July parade, performing on stage with Coeur d’Alene Summer Theater, singing with Chorale Coeur d’Alene and Shepherd of the Hills Chamber Choir, and supporting her adult children’s creative and musical pursuits.
