Phil Kronenberg
School for the Arts
AI School Instructors
Our Instructors
Matthew Innamorato
As a saxophonist and music educator Matthew Innamorato a graduate of the crane school of music with degrees in Music Performance, General Music Education, Music in Special Education, and Jazz Studies. As an educator, he believes all students should be exposed to music and have a strong integration between the arts the core educational standards of Math, English, History, and Science. As a curator of the arts one of his many goals in teaching is to expose students the study of music in technology a growing field that is receiving much exposure in modern public school education from the aspect of composing in software like finale and Sibelius (two of the larger composing software's) to making beats and music in programs like garage band and Logic. He's a dedicated teacher dedicated to both student success and diversity and contextualization within his teaching.
Diana McEntee
Diana McEntee possesses a diverse career both as a music educator and performer. Originally from New Jersey, Diana first received her associates arts degree from her local community college and went on to obtain her bachelors in music education and piano pedagogy at the Crane School of Music in Potsdam, NY. A richly diverse education featuring participation in ensembles such as Jazz Band and West African Drum and Dance Ensemble contribute to Diana's broad musical expertise. After completing her education, Diana honed her pedagogy at her favorite instrument by establishing her own private piano studio. Diana has poured equal countless hours into her performance and accompanying career through both local and cross-country recitals. At the Phil Dr. Kronenberg School for the Arts, Diana's holistic approach to learning thrives. Her creative spirit and attraction to spontaneous dance mobs in the cafeteria contributes to the nourishing and bubbly nature of our school. She instructs courses such as applied piano, group keyboard, music history and literature, and music theory. Additionally, Diana oversees the performance series that promotes student performance and community involvement. Read more about Diana's teaching philosophy here.
Geoffrey Schermerhorn
Hello! My name is Geoffrey Schermerhorn and I am a music educator at the Phil Kronenburg school of music. I am from Syracuse, New York and I studied at the Crane School Of Music in Potsdam, New York. I have 6 years of experience teaching with a bachelors degree and I have been playing classical guitar for 8 years. I take part in the community by offering my musical experiences and talent, I also strive out to help others as much as possible. I am very outgoing, charismatic, and a team player. I really enjoy teaching music and learning from all the unique students that come to this great school. I care for every students education and I believe every student deserves to have music in their lives. Every day is just another exciting moment for learning! Teaching is a very active and inspiring path for one to follow and by having the right teaching philosophy, one can really tie it all together. I have always wanted to teach music because I have a consistent curiosity for it and I love to share musical knowledge with others, I have always had a passion for teaching friends, family, and children music. I want to make the learning experience exciting for students and create a student centered environment, where students can share and discuss their ideas. I want creativity flourish and to have a safe space for all students to learn in. I teach students general music and give guitar lessons. I model my classroom after the social constructivist theory, which centers around open discussions and critical thinking. Discussion elicits sustained responses from students that encourage meaning-making through negotiating with the ideas of others. This type of learning promotes retention and in-depth processing which is vital to every students education. I also apply Arts Integration to every lesson, students are able to use the arts in ways that are memorable and meaningful to them. Students are assessments are all about progress, each student is unique and has a different method of learning. Understanding each student is very important and every student will be measured depending on their progress from the beginning of the school year to the end.
Kat
Katrina Surdyka is a renowned music educator and trumpet teacher. With her undergraduate degree in Music Education from the Crane School of Music and Masters in Conducting and Jazz Performance from University of Colorado Boulder she brings a wide variety of teaching styles to the classroom. Having been an athlete and musician growing up Katrina has great compassion and understanding to the way she teaches and interacts with her students. She believes in adjusting the curriculum to fit individual needs to help them grow to their rate to help spark intrinsic motivation. Valuing the core subjects herself, Katrina works with our general education teachers when possible to spice up their classes and keep students engaged and on their toes. In traditional schools, around two thirds of the student population do not participate in traditional ensembles. Some of her goals include helping students see how music fits in their lives and how we can help them find projects that really intrigue them. Music is a daily part of almost everyone’s lives even if it has small role of being your wake up song. Due to this she has a strong drive to help student discover new aspects of something they already love.