+ curriculum vitae

Chad B. Toporski

 

433 Elkwood Drive

Moon Township, PA 15108

 

Phone: (814) 964-1228       E-mail: chad.toporski@gmail.com

 

Education

 

Indiana University of Pennsylvania

B.S. Degree in Music Education (Summa cum laude, 4.0 QPA)                                                 May 2009

Concentration: French Horn

 

Certifications

 

Pennsylvania Teaching Certification: Music (K-12)                                                                     June 2009

 

Honors and Awards

 

Dean’s List, Indiana University of Pennsylvania                                                                                      2005-2009

Honor Graduate, U.S. Army Primary Leadership Development Course                                February 2005

Student of the Month, U.S. Armed Forces School of Music                                                                March 2002

 

Areas of Competence

·         Band pedagogy

·         Orchestra pedagogy

·         General music curricula

·         Marching band techniques

·         Music theory / aural skills

·         Music arranging / orchestration

·         Digital media and technology

·         Differentiation / Tiering

·         Curriculum planning

·         Records management

 

Teaching Experience

 

Blackhawk School District, Beaver County, PA

General Music Teacher, K-2                                                                                                                      2010–2011

As a long-term substitute teacher for primary general music, taught over 350 students in two buildings.  Incorporated the methods of Orff, Kodaly, Dalcroze, and Gordon meeting national and state music standards.  Produced two concert programs during the year spanning a total of 4 days and 10 performances.  Co-taught inclusively in core academic areas daily and in weekly Olweus anti-bullying meetings.  Collaborated with colleagues to differentiate instructional plans and develop positive behavior.

 

Allegheny County, PA

Substitute Teacher                                                                                                                                          2009­­–2010

Served as a substitute for the following school districts: Cornell, Carlynton, Moon Area, and West Allegheny.  Taught classes across all subjects, grades K-12.  Frequently requested by music teachers to fill in during absences.  Worked with band, orchestra, and choral ensembles, as well as general music classes, at all levels.

 

 

Teaching Experience (cont’d)

 

Indiana Area School District, Indiana County, PA

Student Teacher                                                                                                                                              Spring 2009

While assigned to the Indiana Area High School band, was responsible for individual and group lessons with students across varying skills and levels.  Rehearsed the Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, and Jazz Band.  While assigned to the Ben Franklin Elementary School, was responsible for planning, implementing, and assessing lessons for general music classes (K-6).

 

Related Professional Experience

 

Marching Band Arranger                                                                                                                            2007–2011

·         “Ashokan Farewell,” warm-up – 2010 IUP Marching Band

·         “The Magnificent Seven” and “City Slickers,” four movements – Mount Vernon HS, 2010

·         “An American in Paris,” three movements – West Windsor-Plainsboro North HS, 2010

·         “Music of Queen,” four movements – Indiana Area HS, 2010

·         “Invisible Touch” opener for Genesis field show – 2009 IUP Marching Band

·         “West Side Story,” three movements – 2007 IUP Marching Band

 

United States Army

French Horn Player, SGT/E-5                                                                                                                   2001–2005

Served with the 392nd Army Band (Ft. Lee, VA) and 62nd Army Band (Ft. Bliss, TX) during my four-year enlistment.  Performed in the concert band, marching band, brass quintet, and woodwind quintet.  Worked in the Training Office as an assistant manager: maintained weekly schedules, coordinated and led training activities, handled ammunitions account, and managed personnel records.  Also worked in the Music Library as head office manager: maintained music collections, administered a library database, distributed and collected music, and handled music orders and requests.

 

Publicly Performed Works

 

·         “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” (Thomas Chisholm)                                                               November 2009

Arranged for: Schwarzwald Lutheran Church handbell choir

·         “Die Parade der Zinnsoldaten” (Leon Jessel)                                                                     November 2009

Arranged for: Pittsburgh Horn Club

·         “Ave Maria” (John Rutter)                                                                                                                   October 2008

Chamber winds accompaniment transcribed for:  IUP Combined Chorus

·         “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” (Eric Idle)                                                           January 2008

Arranged for: IUP Horn Ensemble

·         Debussy Suite (Claude Debussy)                                                                                                      October 2007

Arranged for: Woodwind Quartet Recital

·         Mikrokosmos, Vol. 5, No. 138: “Bagpipe Music” (Béla Bartók)                                          April 2007

Chamber winds arrangement for: Orchestration course at IUP

·         “The Klaxon” (Henry Fillmore)                                                                                                   November 2006

Arranged for: IUP Horn Ensemble

·         “Americans We” (Henry Fillmore)                                                                                            September 2003

Arranged for: 392nd Army Band Brass Quintet

 

Memberships

 

North Suburban Woodwind Quintet                                                                                                 2011–Present

West Hills Symphonic Band                                                                                                                    2010–Present

North Suburban Symphonic Band                                                                                                      2009–Present

Pittsburgh Horn Club                                                                                                                                  2009–Present

Ringgold Band of Reading, PA                                                                                                                    1997–2001

 

References

 

·         Dr. Michelle Miller, Superintendent, Blackhawk School District

millerm@bsd.k12.pa.us                                   |           (724) 843-1268

·         Ms. JaneAnn Fucci, Principal, K-2, Blackhawk School District

fuccij@bsd.k12.pa.us                                       |           (724) 827-2116

·         Dr. David G. Martynuik, Associate Professor, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

dmartynu@iup.edu                                           |           (724) 357-7985

·         Dr. John F. Scandrett, Associate Professor, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

jscandt@iup.edu                                                 |           (724) 357-4814

·         Mr. Robert Rizzo, Band Director, Indiana Area Senior High School

rrizzo@iasd.cc                                                    |           (724) 463-8562

·         Mr. Tom Snyder, Arts Coordinator, West Allegheny School District

tsnyder@westasd.org                                      |           (724) 695-5269