Michelle Swanson

Michelle Swanson is Assistant Professor of Music Education at UNI.  She is in her 26th year of teaching at UNI and her 33rd year of teaching overall. At UNI, Dr. Swanson teaches Elementary General Music Methods, Piano Beyond Proficiency for the Choral Classroom, Choral Methods & Materials, Choral Methods for Instrumental Majors, Introduction to Music Education, Level III Field Experience, Soundscapes, and also supervises student teachers in elementary general music and secondary choral music placements. Dr. Swanson is also an academic advisor for the upperclassmen choral, wind, brass, percussion, and string music education students.

Swanson enjoys working with music teachers throughout Iowa.  She travels to school districts for in-services and consultations regularly. Dr. Swanson also hosts Music Education Workshops at UNI four times during each academic school year.  Throughout the last 25 years, over 2,000 music educators and music education students have attended the on-campus events.  

Dr. Swanson conducted the UNI Children's Choir from 2003 until 2020.  The ensemble performed at many events across Iowa and the midwest.  She successfully utilized the ensemble as a tool for hundreds of UNI Music Education students to work with the group to observe and practice many teaching methods and skills. 

While at UNI, Swanson has served on numerous committees and also as the faculty sponsor for many student organizations.  She currently supervises the Peer Educators for the School of Music who mentor underclassmen music majors at UNI.  Dr. Swanson has served on the Educator Preparation Senate for over 20 years.  During her time at UNI, Swanson has supervised Sigma Alpha Iota and the SALT student ministry.  Beyond campus, Swanson is currently a mentor chairperson for Iowa Alliance for Arts Education and is on the board of the Iowa Music Educators Association, the state chapter of NAfME.  Locally, Swanson is president-elect for the Northeast Iowa Food Bank.  

Swanson's research areas of interest include:  assessment in music education, classroom management, peer mentorship at the collegiate level, and integrating literature into the elementary music classroom.  

Swanson received her B.M.E., M.M., and Ed.D degrees from the University of Northern Iowa. While an undergraduate student at UNI, Swanson studied piano with Howard Aibel and voice with Leslie Morgan.  She participated in Wind Symphony, Orchestra, Concert Chorale, Clarinet Choir, and Percussion Ensembles. Swanson was the accompanist for the Varsity Men's Glee Club from 1989 to 1992, and often accompanied other ensembles and soloists.  Growing up, she studied violin at the UNI Suzuki School with Martha Holvik and Therese Fetter.  

Dr. Swanson studied Orff Schulwerk at the University of St. Thomas under Jane Frazee, Arvida Steen, Judy Bond, Jay Broeker, and Steve Calentropio. Beyond the three levels of certification, Dr. Swanson completed advanced Orff curriculum, technique, and pedagogy courses. 

Dr. Swanson taught elementary general music for 20 years. Prior to teaching at UNI, Swanson taught elementary general music in the Cedar Falls Community School district for seven years at Southdale, Valley Park, and North Cedar elementary schools.  She now frequently accompanies the local schools and enjoys assisting music teachers in the local district. Before teaching at the UNI School of Music, Dr. Swanson was the elementary general music teacher at Malcolm Price Laboratory School on the UNI campus.  At MPLS, Swanson led very successful elementary recorder and Orff ensembles and also an elementary choir.  These ensembles would perform throughout the community and state frequently.  Swanson also directed elementary musicals each year, which were also exciting adventures.  All of these teaching activities were consistent opportunities in which UNI students participated and learned.

Swanson has conducted numerous elementary, middle level and high school honor choirs throughout Iowa and the midwest over the years. She conducted the All-Iowa "Opus" Honor Choir in 2013.   Dr. Swanson founded and conducted the Sturgis Falls Children's Choir from 1993 to 2005.  She was awarded a Gold Star Teaching Award in 1996. 

Swanson's husband, Chad, is an attorney and they have two adult children Elizabeth and Matthew, and a dog, Larry.  The Swanson family enjoys traveling, board games, outdoor activities, and time with extended family.