Upcoming Workshops and Events
California GIML Board Members
PRESIDENT
Mark Swope has been teaching music in public schools for more than twenty five years. With degrees in Piano Performance and Choral Conducting, his ensembles have received high honors. “This is an excellent conductor,” stated the late Moses Hogan. Kirk Mechem spoke of Mr. Swope saying, “Under Mark’s direction the (choir) sang with elegant phrasing, clear diction, beautiful tone and perfect precision. The performance was very moving.” Mr. Swope also served as the General Manager of the Stockton Symphony Association. In this position he created the Association’s education program Steppin’ Out with the Stockton Symphony which continues to engage more than three thousand elementary school students annually. In 2015 he created and founded The Music Olympics, a regional, one-of-a-kind music competition based on student musicianship and literacy skills. During this same time his high school choral program featured “Stagg Sings,” a choral performance of more than four hundred voices. He is the author of “The Singing Piano,” a piano method based on Music Learning Sequences, tonal solfege, and rhythm solfege, and “Solfege This!” a music theory workbook for students using tonal and rhythm solfege. Mr. Swope lives in Stockton, California with his wife. Together they enjoy gardening, cooking, and traveling.
PAST PRESIDENT
Dillon is a composer, world music enthusiast and an elementary music teacher at Cuter-Orosi Joint Unified School District. He has obtained his BA in Music education from California State University, Fresno. He was the Choral Director at Bethel Lutheran Church in Fresno, CA for 2 years. Dillon received his Level 1 – Music Learning Theory (MLT) certification in elementary music. Dillon is also pursuing a certification to become a mindfulness instructor. His methodology is comprised of multiple styles but primarily focuses on developing students’ audiation with a MLT inspired approach and mindfulness techniques.
TREASURER
Barbara is currently an elementary level music teacher in the San Lorenzo Unified School District and private piano instructor using Marilyn White Lowe‘s Music Moves for Piano series. She holds GIML Certifications in EC Levels I and II, EG Levels I and II from MSU and USC and an M.A in Music Education from CSUSF. So happy to see a promise fulfilled to Dr. Ed Gordon that one day there would be enough GIML members in the Wild, Wild West to form a chapter! And so we have!
MEDIA TECH/REPRESENTATIVE MEMBER
Alix currently teaches elementary general and choral music in Long Beach Unified School District and teaches private music lessons through her studio, Ali Allegre Music Atelier. Originally from Maryland, she completed her B.M. at Lawrence University’s Conservatory of Music in Wisconsin and her California Teaching credential through CSU Long Beach. For 10 years previous to teaching music in public schools, she was a music, art, and classroom educator in constructivist (Reggio Emilia-Inspired) preschools in Los Angeles and Northern Virginia. She holds an elementary general Level I GIML certification and also serves as co-clerk on GIML’s Race, Social Justice and Equity Commission.
REPRESENTATIVE MEMBER
Josh has been teaching mostly elementary music for 13 years, currently teaching general music, strings, and modern band to grades K-5 at Lincoln Elementary School in the Oakland Unified School District as well as a small private piano studio. He is Level I and II certified in elementary general music and serves on GIML’s Race and Social Justice Commission in addition to his work with the new California chapter.
A New York native, Josh holds a B.A. in ethnomusicology from Columbia University and a teaching credential from Brooklyn College. He has previously worked as a recording engineer, newspaper editor, and standardized-test tutor; sings tenor with San Francisco Choral Artists; is a regular lay service leader at his synagogue; and occasionally conducts, composes, arranges, and accompanies as opportunities arise. An avid home cook, hiker, and Yankees and Warriors fan, Josh lives in Berkeley with wife Alexandra, sons Aryeh and Aviv, and kitty Maya.
PHOTO GALLERY
First CA-GIML board meeting with the 2024- ’25 Board
First In-Person Workshop (with online participants) at CSU, Fresno Feb 17th, 2024
CA-GIML Member Meet & Great (CASMEC, 2024)
CASMEC 2024 (Sacramento, CA)
9th National GIML conference CA-Chapter Meet up
Barbara and Tess celebrating Josh Palkki at CASMEC 2023 after presenting a session on choral practices using MLT. (Fresno, CA)
Recent Happenings from CA Chapter
TOPICS: MLT FUNDAMENTALS for everyone ; MLT-informed PIANO approach to learning pop songs; MLT for Students with SPECIAL NEEDS; Getting started with LSA in the Classroom
