Instructors

   I am Alicia Bourdier, a native of St. Francisville, Louisiana, currently residing in the Walker area. I am married to an incredible husband and outstanding musician, James Bourdier, and we have two children.

   Our family returned to Louisiana in the fall of 2020 after living and teaching in Texas for seven years. During that time, I taught private lessons, Kindermusik, and elementary music (grades K–5) in a public school setting. In my final three years in Texas, I served as the Director of Piano Studies at Smithson Valley High School outside of San Antonio.

   In addition to teaching in my private studio, I design and develop elementary music and fine arts curriculum for virtual learning environments. Currently, I teach for an online public charter school, where I directly implement the curriculum I have developed, ensuring that instruction is both thoughtfully designed and effectively delivered.

   In addition, I compose original music and develop original instructional materials that I use in my teaching to provide a more personalized and effective learning experience for my students.

Education & Experience

  I hold a Bachelor of Music in Composition from Louisiana State University, with concentrations in music theory, piano performance, and piano pedagogy. I also hold a Master of Science in Education in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Learning Design and Technology from Purdue University.

I am certified in:

• Music EC–12 (Texas)

• Music K–12 Instrumental (Louisiana, LDOE)

• Music K–12 Vocal (Louisiana, LDOE)

    I am also a licensed Kindermusik educator and have been a member of TMEA and other professional organizations for many years.

  With over 25 years of teaching experience and more than 30 years of performance experience, music has been a lifelong passion. I find my greatest joy in teaching and sharing music with my students.

Teaching Philosophy

   My teaching approach is holistic and influenced by European pedagogical traditions. I draw inspiration from the philosophies of Dalcroze and Taubman, emphasizing the connection between physical movement, technical efficiency, and musical expression.

   I believe students should develop strong foundational technique and physical awareness from the very beginning of instruction. Priority is placed on building fluency at the instrument, as this provides the foundation for all other musical skills and artistic growth.