Erin Emery-Dumas

About Me

I am currently a general music educator in Southwest Michigan. I graduated from Western Michigan University in May 2021, with a Bachelor of Music in Instrumental/Secondary Music Education. I studied horn under Dr. Lin Folk-Baird for four years, and voice under Dr. Karen Kness for one. I returned to WMU to pursue a Master of Arts in Special Education – Autism Spectrum Disorder and will graduate at the end of April 2025. I am certified to teach K-12 Music and will have an endorsement in Autism. (I have already passed the MTTC 064 – Autism and am awaiting my detailed score report.) My lessons and teaching philosophy are focused on accessibility, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

In my current position, I continuously collaborate with other music teachers within the district to provide a diverse, inclusive, and authentic music education. I work to instill a love for music through engaging, effective, and sequential general music lessons to best prepare students in Young Fives through second grade for further education. I have led elective classes for both movement with music and ukuleles (when I worked with later elementary students). I’ve presented at professional development events, including topics around neurodivergence and diversity sensitivity in music education. I have also programmed various vocal concerts, both virtual and in-person, for kindergarten through fifth grade students, providing them with performance experience and instilling the love for community involvement. I have acted as a mentor for two pre-interns from WMU. It was a lot of fun and very rewarding!

While student teaching for my master’s program, I collaborated with my cooperating teacher to implement differentiated instruction for students with ASD, CI, and OHI diagnoses. I supported these students in both academic and life skill development in a positive and encouraging manner. During my pre-internship, I implemented individualized interventions for students in Young Fives through second grade with various disabilities, including ASD, Down Syndrome, CI, and EI in a self-contained classroom to help develop their academic, communication, and social skills. I also supported a Young Fives students with Penta-X Syndrome in her general education classroom, supervising and encouraging peer interactions and implementing differential reinforcement of alternative behaviors to decrease challenging behaviors. I collaborated with my cooperating teacher to provide our students with appropriate levels of prompting and support to ensure their access to the general education curriculum.

While student teaching for my undergraduate degree, I provided authentic music experiences for students in Young Fives through fifth grade, collaborated with my mentor teachers to develop effective, sequential lessons, and so much more. I conducted a diverse repertoire of music for sixth through eighth grade bands and eighth grade orchestra, and managed Google Classroom and virtual lessons to organize student assignments, grades, and announcements to further enhance their understanding of music.

While studying at WMU, I was a member of several student and professional organizations. I was the National Association for Music Education Chapter 32 Secretary for the entire year of 2020. I was inducted into the Beta Eta Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota in September of 2020, and was elected as Recording Secretary soon after. I was a founding member and Secretary of the Dalton Diversity Directive. Other organizations that I am involved with include the Society of Pi Kappa Lambda, the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the International Women’s Brass Conference, and the International Horn Society.

I was also a member of several university ensembles. I performed with the University Concert Band, University Wind Symphony, Western Horn Choir, Bronco Marching Band, Gold Company II Vocal Jazz Ensemble, and Cantus Femina SSAA Chorus.

With all of my efforts and dedication, I received a couple of awards from the university, as well. In April 2021 I received the Sigma Alpha Iota Beta Eta Chapter Sword of Honor. Also in Spring of 2021, I was named the Michael & Nancy Monsour Family College of Fine Arts Distinguished Student. In addition, I was on the Dean’s List every single semester.

Resume & References

If you would like to see my full resume and a list of references, please contact me directly. You can do so on the page titled “Contact Me,” or through LinkedIn.

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