Educator. Performer, Arranger
About
Marissa Terranova is a professional trumpet player, arranger, and educator who has been playing and teaching since 2008. She studied both music education and jazz performance at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) and has extensive performance experience on both piano and trumpet. She earned a single-subject teaching credential in music, taught in CA public schools for 10 years, then earned a Masters of Arts degree in Educational Technology from CSUN in 2021. While teaching full-time in public schools, she also maintains a small studio of private music students.
Marissa is well-versed in music education with experience teaching band, orchestra, general music, and elementary music. In her music lessons, she uses traditional approaches as well as innovative technology to engage, inspire, and create musicians of all ages. She is a member of the Orff-Schulwerk Association and completed the first level of training and certification in Orff-Schulwerk music pedagogy through the Los Angeles chapter of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association in summer 2019.
Besides music, Marissa has earned numerous other certifications to expand her knowledge and expertise in technology and the 21st century classroom to include the following:
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GATE program certification from University of Irvine Extension
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Flipgrid certified educator
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Nearpod certified educator
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Common Sense Media educator
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Kami certified educator
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ClassDojo teacher, school leader, and mentor
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WEB certified coordinator
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Clever certified teacher
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Social-emotional learning teacher
She has also been coordinator of Student Technology Leader programs, Student Council, Middle School transition and mentorship programs, and school-wide events like Career Day and Graduation ceremonies.
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Besides teaching , Marissa plays a variety of styles in a variety of settings. From intimate jazz trios to salsa bands, she has been playing professionally in Los Angeles since 2008, and recently relocated to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in 2021. As of Fall 2022, she has accepted a position teaching for the music department at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, SC.
Education
Masters of Arts (M.A.) in Education Technology
California State University, Northridge - May 2021
Program Advisor, Brian Foley
Single-Subject Teaching Credential - Music
California State University, Northridge - May 2010
Program Mentor/Advisor, Mary Schliff
Bachelors of Music (BM)
California State University, Northridge - May 2009
Program Advisors, Mary Schliff & Gary Pratt
Program included both music education and jazz performance requirements with a primary performance focus on trumpet. Coursework included pedagogy on woodwinds, percussion, brass, strings, and piano, as well as jazz improvisation, arranging, musicianship, and theory.
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Notable instructors include Bill Bing, Howie Shear, Jon Lewis, Gary Pratt, Matt Harris, Rob Lockhart, and Gary Fukushima.
Areas of Expertise
​Classroom Instruction*:
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Band: Concert Band, Chamber Music, Jazz Band, etc.
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Orchestra: String orchestra, chamber orchestra, full orchestra, etc.
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Jazz: Combo, Jazz Band, Improvisation, etc.
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General Music
Private Instruction*:
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Piano
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Trumpet
Professional Development Presentations/Clinics for Teachers:
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Technology Integration in the 21st Century Music Classroom
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Flipgrid for Educators
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Making the Most Out of Google Apps for Educators in the Classroom
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Google Classroom for Teachers: Organization, Efficiency, and Settings
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An Introduction to Google Jamboard: a Digital Whiteboard
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Gmail Navigation & Support for Upper Elementary Students
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*All instruction includes foundational lessons in music theory, instrument-specific best practices, note-reading, rhythm notation, music history, composition, and the "four Cs": critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity.