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Name: Kevin Dirth

Position & school(s): Director of Music and Monticello High School Band Director

How long have you been teaching? 29 years. How long at Monticello? 4 years.

Where did you go to college? What degrees do you hold?

• Bachelors of Music – Ithaca College

• Masters in Music Education – Boston University

• Masters in Educational Administration – Teachers College, Columbia University

• Doctorate in Arts Administration - Teachers College, Columbia University

Any awards/accomplishments? Any claims to fame?

• Helped write the NYS Learning Standards for the Arts

• Former President of the Vermont Music Educators 

• Former State Chairman for the National Band Association

• Presenter of music assessment/standards workshops for the MENC National and Eastern Conferences and the NYSSMA State Conference

What’s your favorite part of your job? Working to make sure our students have as many opportunities as possible to experience the beauty and variety of music and watching them enjoy and excel at those experiences.

Why did you become a music teacher? Because I loved music and wanted to make it a career; not just a hobby. 

Did you do anything else before you became a music teacher? No

In your opinion, why do you think music education is important? 
Music is everywhere in our lives, shaping our experiences and making our lives fuller. It is what makes us human. We could not and would not want to live without it. It must be taught, as every culture and civilization has done before us. Along with Math, Science, English, etc, it is one of the fundamental purposes of schooling. Studying music teaches our students about other cultures as well as our own, develops their artistic potential, provides an opportunity for creativity and self-expression and enables them to become sensitive listeners and observers. 

In short, studying music enhances the quality of life for all of us . . .and isn’t that what education is all about?

How has music influenced your life? Music is part of me. I would not be the same person without it. 

Who is your favorite musician? I couldn’t begin to name them all! 

What CD is in your CD player right now? Mozart's Opera - "Magic Flute"

What are your hobbies? Tennis, biking, reading. 

What advice would you offer to an aspiring musician? Anything worth doing is worth doing well. Don't give up when you hit rough patches...it happens to all of us at one time or another. Don't make the word "can't" a part of your vocabulary.