Danni Gilbert

she/her/hers

gilbertd@umn.edu

Music

148 Ferguson Hall

2106 4th St S
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Curriculum Vitae

Collegiate Affiliation

Assistant Professor Instrumental Music Education,

Music

Links

Music Educators Wanted! Ten Essential Qualifications for Success (Kendall Hunt)

Dr. Danni Gilbert's Portfolio

Dr. Danni Gilbert is the Assistant Professor of Instrumental Music Education at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. In addition, Dr. Gilbert teaches online graduate music education courses for Kent State University. Prior to her appointment at UMN, Dr. Gilbert served as Associate Professor of Practice in Music Education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Assistant Professor of Music at Doane University in Crete, Nebraska, taught saxophone and clarinet at Iowa Western Community College, taught saxophone and music theory at the College of Saint Mary, and directed elementary and intermediate band for Blair Community Schools. She also performed regularly as a saxophonist with the Omaha Symphony for 15 years. Dr. Gilbert received her bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. She received her master’s degree in saxophone performance and her Ph.D. in music education, both from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Active in various forms of creativity and research, Dr. Gilbert’s work has been published in the: Journal of Research in Music Education; Music Educators Journal; Journal of Music, Technology and Education; College Music Symposium; Journal of Music Teacher Education; College Music Symposium; Research & Issues in Music Education; Early Childhood Education Journal; Teaching Music; Interval: Journal of the Minnesota Music Educators Association Conference; Florida Music Director; Nebraska Music Educator; Contributions to Music Education; and, Arts Education Policy Review. Dr. Gilbert's book, Music Educators Wanted! Ten Essential Qualifications for Success (Kendall Hunt), is intended for pre-service music educators and those aspiring to teach music. She has also presented research and practitioner sessions at professional conferences around the globe. Dr. Gilbert’s research interests include health and wellness in music education, making music education accessible and equitable for all, and strengthening music teacher preparation. Dr. Gilbert frequently serves as a clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor.

Educational Background

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Educational Background

Bachelor's of Music in Music Education: Music Education, University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Master's of Music in Music Performance: Saxophone Performance, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Doctor of Philosophy in Music: Music Education, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Publications

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Publications

. Pre-service music educators’ self-efficacy towards teaching in secondary instrumental music settings: An action research study. . Contributions to Music Education.
Gilbert, D., Nannen, B., & Vollbrecht, S. (2024). Women’s perceptions of advancement opportunities in higher education music settings: A mixed methods study. College Music Symposium, 64(1).
. Leading with care: Prioritizing the health and wellness of music educators. . Interval: Journal of the Minnesota Music Educators Association Conference, 1.
Gilbert, D. (2023). Music educators wanted! Ten essential qualifications for success. Kendall Hunt Publishing. ISBN: 9798765753347
Gilbert, D. (2023). Ready, set, action! Applying action research during pre-service music field experiences. Florida Music Director, 76(7).
Gilbert, D. (2021). From the ivory tower to the trenches: Lessons learned from the professor who substitute taught. Nebraska Music Educator, 80(1).
Gilbert, D. (2021). A comparison of self-reported anxiety and depression among undergraduate music majors and non-music majors. Journal of Music Teacher Education, 30(3). https://doi.org/10.1177/10570837211021048
Gilbert, D. (2021). An exploration of the use of and the attitudes toward technology among fourth and fifth grade band and orchestra teachers, students, and their parents. Research & Issues in Music Education, 16(1).
Barrett, J., Schachter, R., Gilbert, D., & Fuerst, M. (2021). Best practices for preschool music education: Supporting music-making throughout the day. Early Childhood Education Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-021-01155-8
Gilbert, D. (2018). It’s just the way I learn! Inclusion from the perspective of a student with visual impairment. Music Educators Journal, 105(1).
Woody, R.H., Gilbert, D., & Laird, L.A. (2018). Music teacher dispositions: Self-appraisals and values of university music students. Journal of Research in Music Education, 66(1).
Collins, C.L. & Gilbert, D. (2017). Curious, Collaborative, Creativity: A music teacher’s guide to transforming ensembles [E-reader Version]. Publisher: Authors.
Gilbert, D. (2016). Curious, Collaborative, Creativity: Applying the CCC approach to performing ensembles. Music Educators Journal, 103(2).
Gilbert, D. (2016). Revitalizing music teacher preparation with selected “Essential Conditions.” Journal of Music, Technology and Education, 9(2).
Gilbert, A. D. (2016). The Framework for 21st Century Learning: A first-rate foundation for music performance assessment and teacher evaluation. Arts Education Policy Review, 117(01).
Gilbert, D. (2015). Motivating band students to thrive. Teaching Music, 22(4).

Activities

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Activities

Research

Ready, set, action! Applying action research during pre-service music clinical experiences.: Gilbert, D. (2023, November). Ready, set, action! Applying action research during pre-service music clinical experiences. Spoken research paper presented at the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning, Utrecht, The Netherlands. . 2023
“Why on Earth did they hire a woman for this job?” Faculty opportunities for advancement in higher education music settings: A mixed methods study. : Gilbert, D., Nannen, B., Vollbrecht, S. (2023, June). “Why on Earth did they hire a woman for this job?” Faculty opportunities for advancement in higher education music settings: A mixed methods study. Spoken research paper presented at the 14th Annual International Conference on Visual and Performing Arts, Athens, Greece. . 2023
“Why on Earth did they hire a woman for this job?” Faculty opportunities for advancement in higher education music settings: A mixed methods study. : Gilbert, D., Nannen, B., Vollbrecht, S. (2023, February). “Why on Earth did they hire a woman for this job?” Faculty opportunities for advancement in higher education music settings: A mixed methods study. Spoken research paper presented at the Suncoast Music Education Research Symposium XIV, University of South Florida, Tampa. . 2023
Action research for pre-service music educators during field experiences.: Gilbert, D. (2022, November). Action research for pre-service music educators during field experiences. Research presented at the National Association for Music Education National Conference, National Harbor, Maryland. . 2022
Faculty opportunities for advancement in higher education music settings. R: Gilbert, D., Nannen, B., Vollbrecht, S. (2022, November). Faculty opportunities for advancement in higher education music settings. Research presented at the National Association for Music Education National Conference, National Harbor, Maryland. . 2022
Stressed, sad, and stuck: Women’s experiences in university music settings. : Research presented at The College Music Society’s 2025 International Conference. Bogatá and Medellín, Colombia.. June, 2025
Prioritizing the health and wellness of pre-service music educators. : Research presented at the 2024 NAfME Biennial Music Research and Teacher Education Conference. Atlanta, Georgia.. September, 2024
A comparison of self-reported anxiety and depression among music majors and non-music majors: A current perspective. : Research presented at the 2024 NAfME Biennial Music Research and Teacher Education Conference. Atlanta, Georgia.. September, 2024
Pre-service music educators’ self-efficacy towards teaching in secondary instrumental music settings: An action research study. : Research presented at the 2024 NAfME Biennial Music Research and Teacher Education Conference. Atlanta, Georgia.. September, 2024
Pre-service music educators’ self-efficacy towards teaching in secondary instrumental music settings: An action research study. : Roundtable paper presented at the International Society for Music Education World Conference. Helsinki, Finland. . July, 2024
A comparison of self-reported anxiety and depression among music majors and non-music majors: A current perspective.: Individual paper presented at the International Society for Music Education World Conference. Helsinki, Finland. . July, 2024
Measuring joy: Reevaluating the role of assessment in music education.: Symposium presented at the International Society for Music Education Commission on Policy. Helsinki, Finland. . July, 2024
Leading with care: Prioritizing the health and wellness of music educators.: Session presented at the National Association for Music Education Music Program Leaders Forum. Anaheim, California.. January, 2024

Professional

Teach music like a pirate! : Gilbert, D. (2023, December). Teach music like a pirate! Session presentation at the Midwest Clinic International Band, Orchestra and Music Conference, Chicago, Illinois. . 2023
Ready, set, action! Applying action research during pre-service music field experiences: Gilbert, D., & Breckbill, A. (2022, July). Ready, set, action! Applying action research during pre-service music field experiences. Session presented at the Creating Informed Learners in the Classroom (CILC) Symposium, Purdue University. . 2022
Music technology to create, perform, and respond for ALL students: Gilbert, D. (2022, June). Music technology to create, perform, and respond for ALL students. Session presented at the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) conference, New Orleans, Louisiana. . 2022
“You’ll need to unmute yourself!” Strategies for engaging all students online. S: Gilbert, D. (2022, March). “You’ll need to unmute yourself!” Strategies for engaging all students online. Session presented virtually at the Education Elevated Conference, Kent State University. . 2022
Integrating scholarship with teaching: Reflections on scaffolding writing projects for professors and students. : Scholarly teaching session presented at the 31st Annual Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Summit. Kennesaw State University. Kennesaw, Georgia.. September, 2024
Curious, Collaborative, and Creative: Addressing diversity through democracy in performing ensembles.: Session presented at the Minnesota Music Educators Association Midwinter Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota.. February, 2024
Teaching instrumental music: Do I think I can? : Session presented at the Minnesota Music Educators Association Midwinter Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota.. February, 2024
Music technology to create, perform, and respond for ALL students. : Session presented at the Minnesota Music Educators Association Midwinter Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota.. February, 2024
Teaching instrumental music: Do I think I can?: Session presentation at the Nebraska Music Educators Association Conference, Lincoln, Nebraska.. November, 2023

Awards

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Awards

Distinguished Teaching Award, University of Nebraska-Lincoln College Distinguished Teaching Award; Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts , 2023
Music Educator of the Year, Outstanding Music Educator, 2020; Nebraska Music Educators Association (NMEA) , 2020

Courses

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Courses

MUED 1201 Introduction to Music Education
MUED 5516 Instrumental Methods and Materials I
MUED 5517 Instrumental Methods and Materials II
MUED 8112 Introduction to Research and Design in Arts Education
MUED 8115 Assessment in Arts Education
MUED 8900 Doctoral Seminar in Music Education