Teaching License

MUSIC K-12 - Standard / Minnesota
Japanese Language - Variance / Minnesota

Certification

JAPANESE Level-3 / Tokyo, Japan

Previous Classroom Teaching Position

2006-2007 School Year, English Language Learner Assistant Teacher

Roseville Senior High School, ELL Dept.
1240 County Road B2, Roseville, Minnesota 55113
2001-2002 School Year, Japanese Language Class Teacher

Harding Senior High School, World Language Dept.
1540 East Sixth St., St. Paul, Minnesota 55106

2000-2001 School Year, Classroom Music Teacher

Skyview Community Middle School,
1100 Heron St., Oakdale, Minnesota 55104

1999-2000 School Year, 4th Grade Class Teacher

St. James Catholic Elementary School,
2620 Wabash Ave., Chicago, Illinois 60609

Author, Publications

Drum Circle Cookbook

Hand Drumming Independence

Conga Drum Fever

Mil Veces Merengue

Drum Circles

Professional

• Educational Workshop and Team Building Program Facilitator
  Drums From A Small Planet Programs

Performer

• St. Paul Civic Symphony 2003 - 04, 2004 - 05 Seasons
  St. Paul, Mn.

• Roseville Big Band 2003 - 2006
  Roseville, Mn.

• Grand Symphonic Wind Ensemble 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons
  St. Paul, Mn.

• 25 years of professional experience as a teacher, performing, touring, and recording musician.
• Continual application of methods for improving student inclusion in the mainstream classroom.
• Practical techniques for the urban learner in educational achievement and social skills.
• Focus on music therapy activites and motor skill productivity of students with special needs in group enrichment activities.

Professional Musician, Author
Composer, Arranger
Classrom Music Teacher
School Band and Orchestra
World Music Workshop Instructor
Drum Circle Facilitator
Moderator-INTERNATIONAL TAIKO WEBRING

Online Band and School Music Handbook by Kenneth Thomas
http://www.mninter.net/~thomasjp/musicprogram.html

Education

• Masters of Music Program, Moorhead State University (Progress)
• Bachelor of Science, Music Education, Moorhead State University, Minnesota, 1979
• Teaching License, MUSIC K-12, State of Minnesota, 1979
• Language Certificate, JAPANESE, Osaka International Language College, Osaka, Japan. 1990

• N.A.R.D. Percussion Certification, National Association of Rudimental Drummers, Chicago, Illinois 1977
  (Certification approval from William F. Ludwig II).
• National Japanese Language Certification - Level 3, Association of International Education, Tokyo, Japan-1993

References:

• Mrs. Connie Nicholson [Principal] Roseville High School, 1240 County Road B2 Roseville, MN
  (651.635.1660) connie.nicholson@isd623.org
• Mr. Rob Schultz [Social Studies] Harding Sr. High School, 1540 E. Sixth Street, St. Paul, MN
  (651.793.4700) ROBIN.SCHULTZ@spps.org
• Mrs. Nancy Graese [Educational Consultant] CESA #11 (Cooperative Educational, Service Agency #11)
  225 Ostermann Dr., Turtle Lake, WI (715.986.2020 ext. 2117) nancyg@cesa11.k12.wi.us
• Dr. David Eyler [Director of Percussion Studies] [Graduate Studies Advisor] Moorhead State University, Moorhead, MN
  (218-299-4414, office phone) eyler@gloria.cord.edu

Memberships

• Minnesota Educators Assoc.
• Minnesota Music Educators Assoc.
• Percussion Arts Society, Minnesota Chapter
• Drum Circle Facilitators Guild

Achievements

• Speaker, Japan America Society of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Mn.
  
• Organized community drumming in the Twin-Cities for adults and children with numerous community events, concert performances, and TV show appearances. Facilitated the popular "Park and Drum" outdoor community drumming gatherings.
  
• Organized and directed the Japanese Taiko Drumming Performing Ensemble (First such musical group in the Minnesota State University system) in September, 1994.

(1982-1994) Teacher at the Osaka International College and High School - Osaka, Tosabori, Japan

• Staff Instructor
  Taught classes, in English and Japanese: General Music, Chorus, Literature, English Grammar, ESL, TOEFL, United States History,
  Social Studies, Physical Education, Debate, Speech.

Produced record with College Student Pop Chorus group, Y VOICES-Ken Thomas, Director

Phonograph record available in English language and Japanese language

Japan National Activities

• Representative on the Osaka Prefectural Committee on Discrimination, Osaka Prefectural Government office, Osaka, Japan.
• Consultant with Osaka International EXPO '90 Organization, Osaka, Japan.
• Member of Yata Neighborhood Association, Osaka city, Japan. (First Foreign resident to do so.)
• Staff musician: Drums, Percussion, vocals, at InterLink Prolific Works Recording Studio Osaka, Japan
• Recording Artist for TEICHIKU Records, Tokyo, Japan
• Staff musician: Drums for SUN Television programs, Kobe, Japan