The Technology for Music Education is proud to honor music educator Barbara Freedman with the 2012 Mike Kovins TI:ME Teacher of the Year Award for the numerous ways she integrates music technology into music education. An avid educator, performer, author, and clinician, Barbara also shares her knowledge and resources on her website, MusicEdTech. As Barbara always promotes in her presentations, "Teach music. The technology will follow."

 
Barbara Ann Freedman has been teaching music since 1997, and teaching Electronic Music & Audio Engineering at Greenwich High School in Connecticut since 2001. She is the Co-President of the Music Educator Technologists Association/Technology Institute for Music Educators (META/TI:ME), Connecticut Chapter, an association of music educators founded in 1989. She is an author, consultant, trainer, and frequent presenter/clinician at local, state, and national in-service conferences and events. Ms Freedman is also a survivor of the New York City Public Schools, both as a teacher and a student.

She is a professional timpanist and percussionist working regularly with the Ridgefield, Bridgeport, and Norwalk (CT) Symphonies, and has worked with other New York Tri-state orchestras, opera and ballet companies. In addition to her work with orchestras, she has performed on Broadway, in popular and folk bands, and Renaissance ensembles. Barbara is the Music Director of the Sound Beach Community Band of Greenwich, Connecticut, one of the nation's oldest community bands. She holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Music in Performance from Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music City University of New York and a Professional Studies Diploma from the Mannes College of Music. She studied conducting at the Hartt School of Music, Westminster Choir College, and The Julliard School. She is TI:ME Level 1 certified. 

Dr. Joseph M. Pisano is an Associate Professor of Music and Music Technology and the Associate Chair of Music and Fine Arts at Grove City College in Pennsylvania. His duties there include teaching Music Technology, Jazz History, Instrumental Conducting, and serving as the Associate Director of Bands.

Abroad, he is an instrumental conductor, adjudicator, jazz trumpet player, Fine Arts Advocate, and the founder of many popular music, education, and technology Web sites including MusTech.Net and the MusicPLN.org. He also serves as a SoundTree Clinician, TI:ME Instructor, affiliate member of the Support Music Coalition, and writes the Teacher's Guide for IN-Tune Monthly.

TI:ME is proud to announce that Dr. Rick Dammers, of Rowan University, is the Mike Kovins TI:ME 2010 Teacher of the Year! Rick teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in instrumental music education, research methods, and technology-based music instruction, as well as supervises student teachers and serves as program advisor for Instrumental Music Education at Rowan University. In addition, Rick writes the music technology column for NJMEA’s Tempo and serves as technology co-coordinator for state conventions. Rick is passionate about research, which is reflected in his dissertation that focused on laptop-based composing in a middle school band rehearsal and his recently published case study on on-line trumpet lessons that utilized Skype. As described by one of his students, “Dr. Dammers is truly an exceptional professor who is helping to inspire his students to use the resources available to them, as well as explore other media, to create a learning environment that fosters creativity and a love of music in all young students.” TI:ME is honored to have Dr. Rick Dammers as its 2010 TI:ME Teacher of the Year!

Wayne Splettstoeszer, Director of Instrumental Music/Music Technology of Torrington High School, has received the 2009 Mike Kovins TI:ME Teacher of the Year award.

Wayne Splettstoeszer received his BS-ED and Master's Degree in music education from Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, Connecticut. As a music teacher at Saint Bernard High School in Uncasville, Connecticut from 1994-1996 he was in charge of all aspects of the music program. Since 1996 Wayne has been Director of Bands/Music Technology at Torrington High School, Torrington, Connecticut. Under his direction the Torrington High School Symphonic, Jazz and Marching Bands have grown and received numerous first place awards. In 2006 the THS "Pride of Torrington" Marching Band was selected to represent the State of Connecticut in the National Cherry Blossom Parade in Washington, D.C. In 2007 the Torrington High School String Orchestra received 1st Place Best Appearing High School Orchestra at the Festivals of Music, Boston, Massachusetts. In 2008 the Torrington High School Symphonic Band and Jazz Ensemble both received 1st Place Superior Ratings and Adjudicator's Awards as the highest scoring ensembles at the Heritage Music Festival in Philadelphia, PA. Torrington High School also received Instrumental and Festival Sweepstakes Awards as well. The Torrington High School Jazz Ensemble was selected to perform with the United States Air Force Airmen of Note Jazz Ensemble on their 2008 Connecticut Tour.