E-Mail: Joanne.Erwin@oberlin.edu Office: Robertson 130 Office Phone: (440) 775-8208 Address: 77 W. College St. Oberlin, OH 44074 Visit also: • Con Portrait: Joanne Erwin • A River Runs Through It: Black River Suite Features Five Area Performing Arts Groups in a Celebration of the Black River Watershed Back to: Division of Music Education		Joanne Erwin Professor of Music Education "Music Education is a wonderful combination of intellectual stimulation and interaction with people through the medium of music. As a teacher and musician I am most inspired by the ideas and sounds presented by my students. When I pose a question in rehearsal or class, the responses often offer unique insights into the material. My experience in teaching is that I plan the material and sequence, then the students reach and surpass my expectations. I regularly am thrilled by my work with students of all ages. No matter how much I teach similar topics, the students make it different and interesting. This is a terrific field to be in for a lifetime!" Education: Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music education, University of Illinois; Ph.D., Music Education with an emphasis on string pedagogy, University of North Texas Joanne Erwin's Basic Conducting class explores a tug-of-war exercise in order to determine and "feel" a phrase length. Professional Affiliations: Founder and Director of the Oberlin College String Preparatory Program. Past President of Ohio String Teachers Association. Faculty for Suzuki Institutes for the past 25 years.     Performances: Artistic Director and Conductor of the Northern Ohio Youth Orchestras. Principal and Soloist with the College Community String group. Variety of chamber music venues. Background: Prior to  moving to Ohio, Erwin taught public school string classes, grades 4-12 in Illinois and Texas for 18 years.  Her orchestras won sweepstakes awards in competitions in Texas.  Erwin’s experiences have also included conducting the Junior Youth orchestra and directing the Suzuki School of the Youth Orchestras of Greater Fort Worth and playing cello in the Fort Worth Symphony for 15 years. Presentations and Published Work: Erwin has made presentations at state and national conventions in areas regarding string pedagogy. Her articles have been published in American String Teacher Journal, Suzuki Journal, and Teaching Music. Erwin takes particular pleasure in conducting honor festival orchestras. She has coordinated and contributed to several books including Prelude to Music Education and Encyclopedia for Women in Music. Personal: At home, Erwin enjoys hearing her daughter Emily practice oboe.  Erwin’s husband, Bruce, teaches private violin to many budding youngsters and performs as a Celtic fiddler.  Erwin’s favorite free time activities involve camping, canoeing and anything in the great out-of-doors.