Research Discipline/Bio
Denise Favela Apodaca is an Instructor at Teachers College, Columbia University and a Master Instructor at Colorado State University and has performed as a soloist and chamber musician across the United States. Showcasing her expertise in Latin American music, she has given numerous concerts in both Mexico and the U.S. She has also served as an adjudicator for various regional music teachers' associations and has led workshops on topics such as piano technology, pedagogy, performance, and early childhood music. Her research interests focus on healing-centered education, trauma-informed teaching, as well as First Generation and Chicana studies.
Educational Background
Denise Apodaca earned her Bachelor of Music from the University of California and holds two Master of Music degrees—one in Piano Performance and another in Piano Pedagogy—from Northwestern University. Additionally, she has a Master of Education in Music and Music Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, New York. As a first-generation student, she is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education in College Teaching, Music and Music at Teachers College, Columbia University.
Honors/Awards
Denise Apodaca was awarded the Best Teacher of the Year Award in 2016 and nominated for a GRAMMY Music Educator Award. She received the College of Liberal Arts Excellence in Teaching Award and the Colorado State University Honors Professor of the Year title. Additionally, she earned the College of Liberal Arts Outstanding Service Award, is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM), and is a Distinguished Honorary Member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS).
Last Updated: Oct 13, 2024