Teaching Philosophy

Music is more than just sound—it’s a way of seeing and understanding the world. It’s a cultural lens, a personal outlet, and a shared language. Through it, students can engage with history, identity, and expression on a deeper level. My role as a music educator is to help students access these layers by providing them with the tools to understand, feel, and create music that resonates with their experiences.

Music reveals the world in powerful ways. When students learn about the son clave, they’re not just learning rhythm—they’re uncovering the cultural and historical traditions of the African diaspora. When they explore protest songs from the Civil Rights Movement or analyze Wagner’s operas, they see how music has long served as a mirror to political climates and social change. And in jazz, they discover how personal expression can live in every note, every phrase. Music is history, culture, identity, and emotion all woven together.

As a teacher, I aim to provide students with both the technical skills and the creative space to explore their musical identities. My classroom is rooted in the belief that every student has music within them—sometimes they just need the right encouragement and environment to bring it out. Whether they’re learning theory to compose their own songs, improvising during a jam session, or studying the historical context of a choral work, my goal is to help them make connections between what they’re playing and who they are.

I believe strongly in student choice and exploration. I want my students to try different instruments, switch ensembles, and dive into new styles. That freedom to explore was essential in my own journey—I fell in love with music because I was allowed to experience a wide range of sounds and settings. I want to pay that forward by making sure students have access to the same kind of variety and encouragement.

Ultimately, music education is about more than learning notes and rhythms. It’s about giving students the tools to express themselves with honesty and confidence. It’s about helping them understand the world around them—and their place within it. While I can’t guarantee every student will find their exact voice or passion in my classroom, I will do everything I can to give them the opportunities and resources to search for it. Because keeping music—and the tradition of cultural expression it carries—alive depends on helping the next generation fall in love with it, just as I did.

William Edmundson leading a clarinet sectional at Bill Reed Middle School for the Class MU-286

Resume

Teaching Experiences

Substitute teaching/conducting for Fairview High School Concert band and Jazz 3 2019
Music Theory course at Lessonologist Summer Camp
Independent Saxophone and Clarinet Lessons
Arranger and conductor for Fairview High School Band, Orchestra and Choir
Tutoring and Editing Music Scores
Practicum experiences at Bill Reed Middle School

ENSEMBLES/HONORS:

Colorado State University Honor Band, 1st chair Bass Clarinet 2020
69th Annual Colorado All-State Band, Bass Clarinet 2020
CU Honor Band, Bass Clarinet 2021
70th Annual Colorado All-State Band, Bass Clarinet 2021
Colorado All-State Orchestra, Bass Clarinet 2021
Fairview Symphonic Band, Bass, Contralto, Contrabass Clarinet 2019-2021
Fairview Concert Band, Bass Clarinet 2018-2020
Fairview Jazz 3, Jazz 2, Jazz 1, Alto, Tenor & Bari Saxophone, flute 2018-2021
Fairview Marching Band, Tenor & Bari Saxophone, Mellophone 2018-2021
Fairview Winter Percussion Ensemble, Marching Bass drum, keyboard 2018-2021
John Philip Sousa Director’s Award Selected by Travis Keller 2021
Senior Bandsman Award Selected by Peers 2021
Colorado State Marching Band, Clarinet 2021-2022
Colorado State Presidential Pep Band, Alto sax 2021-2022
Colorado State Rampage Basketball Band, Alto Sax 2021-2022
Arranged and conducted for Fairview High School Band, Orchestra and Choir 2022
Colorado State University Symphonic Band, Bass Clarinet 2022
Colorado State University Jazz 2 Big Band, Baritone Saxophone 2022-2023
Colorado State University Symphonic Band, Bass Clarinet 2023
Colorado State University Jazz 2 Big Band, Tenor saxophone 2023
Colorado State University Jazz Combo 3, Alto sax and flute 2023
Pit performance for Frog and Toad, Reed 1, Timnath Middle-High School 2023
Alto sax, Clarinet, Flute, Piccolo, Tenor sax
Pit performance for A Chorus Line, Reed 2, Frederick High School 2023

Clarinet, Flute, Tenor sax, Bass Clarinet, Baritone Sax

EDUCATION:

Fairview High School, Boulder, CO with a 3.7 GPA

High School Diploma May 2021

Berklee College of Music

High School Composition Intensive (two weeks) Summer 2020

Colorado State University

Accepted Fall 2021