Welcome!

Greetings! My name is Dr. Danni Gilbert and I have been the Assistant Professor of Instrumental Music Education at the University of Minnesota– Twin Cities (UMTC) since 2023. I have gathered several artifacts to illustrate my productivity in scholarly and creative activity, performance, teaching, and service. The top bar serves as a Table of Contents for my portfolio. My complete promotion and tenure files (May, 2026) can be found here. 

As a university professor, I believe that research not only informs my teaching and ensures I deliver current, relevant instruction, but also serves as an outlet to reach others and better serve the profession. Keeping active in scholarly research and creative activity, through publications, presentations, and performances, promotes music education within the walls of my own classrooms and beyond. My scholarly interests include health and wellness in music education, making education accessible and equitable for all, the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL), and strengthening music teacher preparation.

My teaching responsibilities at UMTC include courses in graduate and undergraduate music education. I also teach online master's-level music education courses for Kent State University. My teaching philosophy centers on my belief that the instructor’s role is to provide a safe learning atmosphere where all students can freely explore existing information in the discipline, discover best practices in music education and apply them in authentic contexts, and create innovative solutions to both new and existing challenges. I also believe the instructor has the responsibility to stay ahead of current trends and developments by being a lifelong learner and effectively utilizing resources that best meet the needs of all students.

Prior to my appointment at UMTC, I served as Associate Professor of Practice in Music Education and Coordinator of Music Clinical Experiences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Athletic Bands at Doane University (Crete, Nebraska), taught saxophone and clarinet at Iowa Western Community College (Council Bluffs, Iowa), taught saxophone and music theory at the College of Saint Mary (Omaha, Nebraska), and directed elementary and middle school band for Blair Community Schools (Blair, Nebraska). I received my bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. In addition, I received my master’s degree in saxophone performance and Ph.D. in music education, both from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 

I currently live in the Twin Cities area with my husband, Matt, and three school-aged daughters, Ellie, Brynn, and Nola. I embrace the intersection of my identities as an academic, a woman, and a mother, acknowledging both the complexities and strengths that emerge from this convergence. My work emphasizes the importance of honoring full humanity in higher education by encouraging individuals to bring their whole selves into their roles, fostering more compassionate and inclusive academic spaces.