Music with Marci Craig

Marci Craig has been a music educator for over twenty years. Through out her career she has taught elementary music, early childhood music and movement, homeschool music, private guitar/piano, composition and music summer camps. She currently teaches music Pre-K - 8th at Dayspring Christian Academy focussing on general music and theory. Since 2008 , she has taught guitar, music theory, early childhood music, and composition at Renaissance Music Academy.

Marci plays multiple instruments including classical harp, guitar, and piano. She graduated with degrees focussed on music composition & education from Radford University in 2001. Marci taught music in the public schools from 2001 -2007 in both city and rural communities. Some of her positions included elementary music, middle school choir and guitar class.

Marci studied Music Mind Games with creator Michiko Yurko in 2007- 2008 completing both Units I and II. It is an innovative curriculum using clever and collaborative games. Theory classes come to life as children learn with colorful materials cementing music rudiments to memory while playing games with their peers.

Her guitar study included Suzuki pioneers William Kosslor and the late Frank Longay. The Suzuki Guitar philosophy of "Character first, ability second" resonated with her elementary and early childhood music background which aims to develop the whole child. Suzuki teachers believe musical ability is not an inborn talent but an ability which can be developed within a nurturing environment. The graded Suzuki repertoire and exceptional methodology inspires her to model and encourage excellence from each student while celebrating each small step. This philosophy has woven its way into all of her teaching (and parenting). “When love is deep, much can be accomplished.” - Shinichi Suzuki. Currently, she coaches guitar groups and teaches private lessons with her husband, Justin.

She studied Off Shulwerk in her undergrad and subsequent graduate study. Orff approach treats music as language and is improvisational lending itself to creative composition. It is easy to adapt a piece to multilevel students individually or as a group. Simple songs are learned through “body percussion” or dance; in addition, students are asked to chant, sing, and internalize the melody. Her favorite aspect of this approach is using children’s’ natural affinity for spontaneous play in which imitation, experimentation, and personal expression occur naturally. In the this process, aspects of musical play are developed consciously to connect students with musical elements and musical expression.

Her creative general music and theory curriculum incorporating creative movement, singing, body percussion and Music Mind Games, is a great addition to a professional development workshop or Suzuki Institute. Marci blends Suzuki, Orff Schulwerk, and Kodaly philosophies as well as her 20 years plus teaching experience to tailor to the specific need of your work shop or institute. Please contact her for more details.

When not teaching music, Marci is a devoted wife to her talented husband Justin Craig and mother to her three creative daughters Eleanor, Dorothy, and Frances. Her hobbies include helping with homework or taking a trip to the playground. She enjoys swimming and a yoga with her husband Justin.

Music with Marci Craig

T: +1 (540) 815 4720
E: marcicraigmusic@gmail.com