Amanda Eckerman

Amanda Eckerman earned a B.M. in Music Education, Instrumental Emphasis at the University of the Pacific in 2012 and is currently pursuing an M.M. in Music Education, Kodály Emphasis from the Kodály Institute at Capital University. Amanda has been teaching elementary general music full-time in Washoe County School District since moving to Reno in 2012.

A lifelong learner, Amanda is the Treasurer of the Sierra Nevada Association of Kodály Educators and a regular attendee of the Sierra Nevada chapter of AOSA's teacher workshops. While Amanda is a Kodály-inspired teacher, she has training in both Orff Schulwerk (Level I) and Kodály (Level II) approaches and utilizes a wide range of instructional strategies in her teaching; in particular, she is a specialist in social and emotional learning, which informs her behavior strategies and positive classroom culture. 

Amanda also teaches music theory for RPA Kids after school, is co-chair of the VAPA Technology Committee, and is a member of the General Music Standards & Assessment Committee. She is a graduate of Northern Nevada’s Teachers Leading Change Cohort and Foundational Institute for Coaches, is a National Board Certified Teacher, and received the Washoe Education Association’s Dedicated Service Award and Sigma Alpha Iota’s National Outstanding Advisor Award. 

David Thaxton

David Thaxton is from Sparks, Nevada where he is currently in his 30^th year teaching Elementary music to pre-K through 5^th grade, and holds a B.M.E. Degree from the University of Northern Colorado, and an M.M. from Eastern Washington University.

As an AOSA certified teacher trainer for Orff Level I, II, and III pedagogy and Level I and II recorder, David teaches Summer Courses in Reno, San Diego, Birmingham, Chicago, and Portland. He has presented workshops and clinics at local, state, and national levels and presents to Orff chapters throughout the country.

David is also a Past President and current Treasurer for the Sierra Nevada Chapter of AOSA where he was co-founder of the Sierra Nevada Orff Festival. At the national level, he has served on the Editorial Board of The Echo Journal of the American Orff Schulwerk Association and the monthly online publication, Reverberations. He is currently the Treasurer for the American Center for Elemental Music and Movement and was also awarded the ACEMM Spotlight Educator Award. His book “Making Tracks: Recorder Explorations, Creations and Improvisations” published through Sweet Pipes is used in elementary music classrooms across the country as an improvisatory approach to recorder instruction.

Malia Walter

Malia Walter has a Bachelor of Music-Music Education from the University of Nevada, Reno and a Master of Education- Curriculum and Instruction from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. She completed levels I, II, and III Orff Schulwerk certification and Level 1 World Music Drumming.

Malia has taught for 30 years in Washoe County School District, mostly as a General Music Specialist but also Band, Handbells, Choir and as a Music Department Mentor Teacher. She has served on the General Music Standards and Assessment Committee twice, most recently as Chair, and on the Band Standards Committee. As an Inservice Teacher, Malia taught classes titled: Cross-curricular Connections, Handbell Methods and Use in the Music Classroom, Brain Research and How to Apply It.

As a clinician, Malia has presented at the local, state, and regional levels. Locally, Malia has held every office in the Sierra Nevada Orff Schulwerk Association (Vice President and President twice) and is a founder of the Sierra Nevada Orff Festival, which has been running for over 20 years. In the Nevada Music Educators Association, Malia was a Zone Representative for 4 years and the Clinics Chair for 2 years. Nationally, Malia held office on the National Board of Trustees of the American Orff Schulwerk Association where she served on several committees and was charged with establishing the Chapter Relations Committee. Additionally, she served as a member of the Executive Director Search Committee in 2023.

In her spare time, Malia is a fiber artist and practicing Permaculturist.

Joshua White

Coming soon