After 23 years in the elementary and middle school music classroom, Mari Schay recently transitioned to inspiring future music teachers at Portland State University. Though her primary degrees were in percussion performance, she found her passion teaching general music at Earl Boyles Elementary in outer SE Portland. Though the Title 1 school was in a marginalized part of the city, the vibrant community of children from all over the world was a constant source of inspiration. Mari’s training in Orff-Schulwerk and World Music Drumming supported both her eclectic PK-5 curriculum and the well-regarded after school marimba band.
In addition to her teaching, Mari is the author of over a dozen books for general music teachers: the Busy Bodies/Busy Brains series for preschool; the Recorder Monster curriculum; an ensemble series that includes Behind Bars, Listen Sing Rattle Ding, Sing Drum Play Strum, Sing and Play the Global Way, and Tube Jams; two books of pop songs for Orff and marimba ensembles, and others. In addition, she co-authored You Want Me to Teach What?! for teachers transitioning from secondary to elementary music and wrote Managed to a Moment: Success in the Elementary Music Classroom. For the last few years, she has also been a general music editor for Heritage Music Pres/Lorenz where she edited both stand-alone books and Activate Magazine. She is a frequent clinician at professional development sessions, including being the teacher-trainer for the Oregon Symphony.
Whether teaching, writing, editing, or presenting, Mari loves to share her passion for keeping curriculum fresh, relevant, and engaging. She is thrilled to be sharing her love of music education with future teachers at Portland State.