Get to know me.
I am a trained Kodály Specialist with 38 years in public music education in Texas. My classroom teaching career of 14 years included positions teaching elementary music, middle school and high school choirs, beginning woodwinds and Color Guard. In addition I have had the opportunity to teach community pre-school music programs, conduct church choirs, and instruct both undergraduate music methods courses and graduate Kodály Teacher Training courses. I am the Founder and Coordinator of the Plano Kodály Teacher Training Program, endorsed by the Organization of American Kodály Educators. I retired from my position as Director of Fine Arts for the Plano Independent School District in Plano, Texas in July of 2022. During my tenure with Plano ISD I contributed to three updates to the elementary music curriculum, designed a K-12 music curriculum and lead the design team for the Robbie & Lynore Robinson Fine Arts Center, a $65 Million, 82,000 square foot professional level performance venue.
. My current specializations include Folk Music Materials and Research in support of the Kodály approach, developing strong K-12 vertical teams through music curriculum development activities, and the integration of language support for Limited English Proficient students in the music classroom.
In my retirement I continue to be an active member of my local church choir, play regularly in one of our hand bell choirs and occasionally in the flute ensemble. I have joined the Miriam Ensemble which performs around the North Texas Area for retirement communities and nursing facilities. I am an avid student of American folk music from all cultural groups. I play mountain dulcimer, autoharp, spoons and recorder and I am working (slowly) to learn to play both the hammered dulcimer and the Woodrow (a guitar/dulcimer hybrid).
My husband, Kent, and I spend our leisure time traveling and doting on our geriatric dachshund, Milo. Our recent travels have included several domestic road trips, Germany & Austria, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Japan, the Czech Republic, Portugal, Spain, Curaçao, and St. Lucia. I have been able to participate in and present for the International Kodály Society Symposia in Australia, Hungary and Los Angles.
I am an active member of the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Fine Arts Administrators, the International Kodály Society, the Organization of American Kodály Educators, the Kodály Educators of Texas, the Sigma Alpha Iota Alumni association and a proud member of Chapter IH, Allen, TX of the P.E.O. Sisterhood.
In 2007 Kent established the Kathryn Springer Kuddes scholarship at Millikin University (my Alma Mater) to allow us the opportunity to support one or more music education students in the pursuit of their degree.
. My current specializations include Folk Music Materials and Research in support of the Kodály approach, developing strong K-12 vertical teams through music curriculum development activities, and the integration of language support for Limited English Proficient students in the music classroom.
In my retirement I continue to be an active member of my local church choir, play regularly in one of our hand bell choirs and occasionally in the flute ensemble. I have joined the Miriam Ensemble which performs around the North Texas Area for retirement communities and nursing facilities. I am an avid student of American folk music from all cultural groups. I play mountain dulcimer, autoharp, spoons and recorder and I am working (slowly) to learn to play both the hammered dulcimer and the Woodrow (a guitar/dulcimer hybrid).
My husband, Kent, and I spend our leisure time traveling and doting on our geriatric dachshund, Milo. Our recent travels have included several domestic road trips, Germany & Austria, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Japan, the Czech Republic, Portugal, Spain, Curaçao, and St. Lucia. I have been able to participate in and present for the International Kodály Society Symposia in Australia, Hungary and Los Angles.
I am an active member of the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Fine Arts Administrators, the International Kodály Society, the Organization of American Kodály Educators, the Kodály Educators of Texas, the Sigma Alpha Iota Alumni association and a proud member of Chapter IH, Allen, TX of the P.E.O. Sisterhood.
In 2007 Kent established the Kathryn Springer Kuddes scholarship at Millikin University (my Alma Mater) to allow us the opportunity to support one or more music education students in the pursuit of their degree.