Music Teacher
Colleen Bretthauer
[email protected]
Welcome!
As the music teacher at Colchester Elementary School, I find joy and music in each of your children. I am amazed with their creative dance moves, singing voices, and overall musicianship. I am grateful to be a part of their lives during their early elementary years and cherish each memory. In order for you to get to know me and how I came to be a general music teacher I will share my philosophy of music education and my professional biography. I look forward to seeing your children each day as they arrive at school and looking forward to the many musical years ahead of us!
Philosophy
My philosophy of music education is based on my belief that all children are musical. Everyone, including you, has music inside of them. All you have to do is move your body to the beat, hum along with a tune, clap your hands, or let out a beautiful singing noise! Leave perfection to professional musicians and let the music seep into your body. This is community music making and we at CES learn and grow through these musical experiences.
About Colleen Bretthauer:
Colleen Sprague Bretthauer is a PreK-2nd Grade General Music Teacher at Colchester Elementary School, Colchester, CT. Formerly she taught Music and Movement in Early Childhood at Capital Community College, Hartford, CT, and was a Certification Level I Teacher in Music Together. She began her career directing vocal groups at Rivier University and as a High School Choral Director at Enfield and Fermi High Schools, Enfield, CT, followed by K-5 General Music in Glastonbury Public Schools. In addition to this, she spent 15 years as Coordinator of the Summer Music Institute at Central Connecticut State University. She holds a B.A. in Communications from the University of New Hampshire, a Post-B.A. Certification in Music Education, and an M.S. in Music Education from Central Connecticut State University.
She has presented to the classroom and general music teachers since 2003 including the Vermont and Connecticut Music Educators Association(s), two International Conferences for the Early Childhood Music and Movement Association, Stamford Public Schools, Head Start of Manchester, Colchester, and Meriden, CT, and St. Joseph University’s Math and Science Symposium (Music, Math and Movement, Oh My!/Singin’ and Swingin’ Into Science) and trained elementary music teachers in Lyme/Old Lyme in preschool music and curriculum writing. She connects to classroom transitions through music integration, developing creative ways to integrate math, science, reading, music, and movement for the elementary classroom teacher.
Ms. Sprague Bretthauer studied vocal jazz with improvisor Jamey Abersold, Louise Rogers (Charlie Parker played BeBop), adn the New York Voices (Kim Nazarian). She was a vocalist and manager of the New Hampshire Notables, the Blues Express, and the Music Makin' Mamas. She has performed with jazz duos and combos, focusing on traditional jazz standards. Currently, she performs with the folk/rock trio Two Guitars and a Dame.