Welcome to Music Class!  I'm Teresa Finch, the General Music Specialist and Honor Choir Director for Garfield Elementary. I teach pre-K-6th grade general music, SLC, choir, and 6th grade percussion. I also teach several general music classes at Trail Wind Elementary.

Music has always been forefront in my life; from hosting a jazz radio show to singing in a rock-n-roll band, jazz groups, Boise Philharmonic Master Chorale, and currently, Marimba Boise. I graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Music degree and English minor from BSU. I earned my Level I Orff Certification in 2003 from UNLV. I've served on the Idaho Humanities Standards: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Task Force. I earned my Master’s Degree from Lesley University in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis on integrating the arts into the classroom in 2007. For my master’s thesis, I wrote a children’s book called Vernon’s Army. 

I began my teaching career in the Nampa School District teaching elementary general music and honor choir. My choirs received superior ratings at the Western Idaho Elementary Music Festival every year. I received the Teacher of the Year award from Willow Creek Elementary as well as the Elementary Teacher of the Year award from the Nampa School District in 2010.

I am active in IOSA, the local chapter of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association. I have served on the IOSA board since 2008 as Treasurer, Editor, and President respectively. 

I'm excited to work with our Garfield Grizzlies again this year! Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Email will probably work best since I will be traveling between two schools.  Happy Singing!

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