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Heil, Leila Theresa

Associate Professor

Positions

Research Areas research areas

Research

research overview

  • Dr. Heil's first area of research is focused on effective teaching strategies and curriculum content in middle and high school choral music classrooms. This research includes creative teaching and learning, as well as choices in choral literature selection. Research in this focus area is conducted in public school choral programs with both practicing choral educators and students. Data is gathered in areas of musical and vocal growth as well as perception and attitude. A second area of research focuses on pre-service teacher identity development. This research is conducted with university students studying pre-service teacher education.

keywords

  • choral music education, vocal jazz, adolescent vocal production, effective teaching and rehearsal strategies, methodology, creativity

Publications

selected publications

Teaching

courses taught

  • EMUS 1217 - Chamber Singers
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2023
    CU's premiere choral ensemble, The CU Chamber Singers, is comprised of auditioned graduate and undergraduate singers. Chamber Singers has been cited with critical acclaim for its performances and sings classically based literature from all cultures and style periods. Members are selected by audition at the beginning of each academic year. Degree credit not granted for this course and EMUS 3127 or 5217.
  • EMUS 1477 - Chamber Choir
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2019 / Spring 2020
    Study and performance of various vocal styles, including madrigals and vocal jazz, investigation of the challenges of music making in a small group choral setting. May be repeated up to 12 total credit hours. Same as EMUS 3477 and EMUS 5477.
  • EMUS 3217 - Chamber Singers
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2023
    CU's premiere choral ensemble, The CU Chamber Singers, is comprised of auditioned graduate and undergraduate singers. Chamber Singers has been cited with critical acclaim for its performances and sings classically based literature from all cultures and style periods. Members are selected by audition at the beginning of each academic year. Degree credit not granted for this course and EMUS 1217 or 5217.
  • EMUS 3477 - Chamber Choir
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2019 / Spring 2020
    Study and performance of various vocal styles, including madrigals and vocal jazz, investigation of the challenges of music making in a small group choral setting. May be repeated up to 12 total credit hours. Same as EMUS 1477 and EMUS 5477.
  • EMUS 5217 - Chamber Singers
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2023
    CU's premiere choral ensemble, The CU Chamber Singers, is comprised of auditioned graduate and undergraduate singers. Chamber Singers has been cited with critical acclaim for its performances and sings classically based literature from all cultures and style periods. Members are selected by audition at the beginning of each academic year. Degree credit not granted for this course and EMUS 1217 or 3217.
  • EMUS 5477 - Chamber Choir
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2019
    Study and performance of various vocal styles, including madrigals and vocal jazz, investigation of the challenges of music making in a small group choral setting. May be repeated up to 12 total credit hours. Same as EMUS 1477 and EMUS 3477.
  • IMUS 5093 - Contemporary Topics in Music Education
    Primary Instructor - Summer 2018 / Summer 2019 / Summer 2020 / Summer 2021 / Summer 2022 / Summer 2024
  • MUSC 1103 - Becoming a Music Teacher
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2018 / Fall 2019 / Fall 2020 / Fall 2021 / Fall 2022 / Fall 2023 / Fall 2024
    Provides an introduction to basic principles and practices of the music education profession. Explores contexts and methods of public school music teaching through class discussions, practice teaching and directed observations. Offered fall only.
  • MUSC 3193 - Vocal Pedagogy and Literature for Young Voices
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2018 / Fall 2022 / Fall 2023 / Fall 2024
    Provides an overview of vocal anatomy/function, care of the voice, vocal repertoire, teaching strategies,and other specialized topics related to singing instruction in both private studio and public school choral settings. Fall section for instrumentalists; spring section for vocalists.
  • MUSC 4143 - Topics in Choral Music Education
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2020 / Fall 2024
    Prepares students to teach, conduct and facilitate music making in various choral ensembles. Examines skills, teaching techniques and administrative procedures necessary for developing and maintaining various choirs at the elementary through high school levels. Includes discussion of current topics in choral music education and community choral field experiences. Offered fall terms, every two years. Same as MUSC 5143.
  • MUSC 4163 - Choral Literature for School Ensembles
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2021 / Fall 2023
    Examination of literature, materials, and methods appropriate for teaching choral music in secondary schools. Offered fall of odd-numbered years.
  • MUSC 4193 - Student Teaching Seminar
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2018 / Fall 2018
    Required for all music student teachers. Addresses topics of concern to beginning teachers including classroom management, interpersonal skills, legal issues, job search strategies and capstone project development.
  • MUSC 4313 - Teaching Choral Music
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2020 / Spring 2021 / Spring 2022 / Spring 2023 / Spring 2024
    Examines choral music curricula, instructional materials and teaching techniques appropriate for secondary choral settings. Also addresses administrative strategies for choral music programs. Recommended prerequisite: MUSC 2103. Offered spring only. Same as MUSC 5313.
  • MUSC 5143 - Topics in Choral Music Education
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2020
    Prepares students to teach, conduct and facilitate music making in various choral ensembles. Examines skills, teaching techniques and administrative procedures necessary for developing and maintaining various choirs at the elementary through high school levels. Includes discussion of current topics in choral music education and community choral field experiences. Offered fall terms, every two years. Same as MUSC 4143.
  • MUSC 5163 - Advanced Topics in Secondary Choral Music Education Pedagogy
    Primary Instructor - Summer 2023 / Summer 2024
    Examines the literature, skills, and pedagogical applications of selected topics in choral music classrooms, such as adolescent vocal development, vocal jazz ensemble directing, and development of piano skills.
  • MUSC 5313 - Teaching Choral Music
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2021
    Examines choral music curricula, instructional materials and teaching techniques appropriate for secondary choral settings. Also addresses administrative strategies for choral music programs. Offered spring only. Same as MUSC 4313.
  • MUSC 6113 - Foundations of Music Education
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2018 / Summer 2020 / Fall 2020 / Fall 2024
    Surveys historical and philosophical bases of contemporary music education. Offered fall of even-numbered years.
  • MUSC 6133 - Comprehensive Musicianship through Performance
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2018 / Spring 2020 / Spring 2022
    Explores curricular models for music education. Emphasizes comprehensive musicianship and standards-based frameworks for curriculum and development. Offered spring terms of even-numbered years.
  • MUSC 6233 - Pedagogy of Music Teaching and Learning
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2021 / Spring 2023
    Explores four topics (reflective/critical thinking, teacher effectiveness, cultural/program contexts, teachers' lives/career development) relevant to long-term teacher development. Includes individualized feedback on teaching. Open to graduate students in music education and performance-pedagogy. Recommended prerequisite: MUSC 6113 and/or significant teaching experience. Offered spring terms of odd numbered years.
  • MUSC 6243 - Applications of Music Pedagogy
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2019
    Provides a structured, collaborative environment for graduate students with K-12 teaching duties to apply the content from music education courses to their current pedagogical environments. Students will apply inquiry strategies as they design and implement an applied project that synthesizes specific theoretical or conceptual areas. Offered fall term only.
  • MUSC 7203 - Doctoral Seminar in Music Education
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2021
    Provides an advanced study of topics central to the music education profession. Requires class presentations and a major paper or project. Offered fall of even-numbered years.
  • TMUS 6947 - Master's Candidate for Degree
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2022
    Registration intended for students preparing for a thesis defense, final examination, culminating activity, or completion of degree.
  • TMUS 6956 - Master's Thesis
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2022
  • TMUS 6957 - Master's Thesis 2
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2022

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