Michael Currie
Michael has been a music educator in Metro Nashville Public Schools for over fifteen years. He is currently the music specialist at Sylvan Park Elementary in West Nashville, where he teaches kindergarten through the fifth grade.
He takes a “hands on” approach to music education, putting instruments in his students’ hands as often as possible, and believes in what he calls the ”power of performance” – the idea that the process of learning, rehearsing, and performing a collection of songs that tell a story is an invaluable experience for elementary music students of all ages. All grade levels at Sylvan Park take part in their own unique performance each year.
Michael is an avid composer and has written a variety of songs for the classroom and the stage, including several of the musicals that his students perform. “The Journey” is one such example and is his first published work. He enjoys playing a variety of instruments, primarily focusing on the piano and guitar.
Michael has a bachelor’s degree in Professional Music from the Berklee College of Music and a Master of Music in music education from Belmont University. He was named a Music Teacher of Excellence by the CMA Foundation in 2016.
Michael Currie
eBooks by Michael Currie
Posts by Michael Currie
Respecting Time: The Silent Currency of Creative Entrepreneurship
Abstract This editorial, co-authored by José Valentino Ruiz, Ph.D. and [...]
A Realistic Take on Creating Opportunities for Student Agency
With both of my sons now in middle school, and [...]
The Art of Readiness: Nurturing Creativity Beyond Compensation and Opportunity
Abstract This article explores the importance of cultivating creative readiness [...]
The Power of Thanks: Gratitude in Music, Business, and Beyond
The Power of Thanks: Gratitude in Music, Business, and Beyond [...]
The Power of a Messy Approach in Teaching Music Entrepreneurship
Abstract This article advocates for a hands-on, experiential approach to [...]
Making Music Education Inclusive—Without Falling into the Tokenism Trap!
Making Music Education Inclusive—Without Falling into the Tokenism Trap! Let’s [...]