Nancy Beitler recently retired from public school teaching after 32 years of service. Her last position was at Southern Lehigh Middle School, Center Valley, PA where she was responsible for the 7th through 8th grade band, orchestra and general music programs. Her students received instruction and encouragement in the creative products of music making – improvisation and composition – alongside the traditional instructional aspects of performance skills and techniques.
Presently Dr. Beitler supervises music education student teachers for Moravian College. She continues to mentor young music educators and share her teaching strategies at professional development workshops and seminars.
Dr. Beitler coached the Young People’s Philharmonic Woodwind Quintet from 2015 until 2018.
Dr. Beitler received her B.S. and M.M.Ed. from West Chester State University and graduated with her Ph.D. from the Pennsylvania State University with research interests in improvisation pedagogy and the reflective practices of students and teachers. She has shared her instructional strategies and research at national, regional and state conferences as well as in various professional music publications.
As an invited guest conductor, Dr. Beitler has worked with elementary and middle school musicians at local and Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) sponsored festivals. In 2005 Dr. Beitler was awarded the Citation of Excellence by PMEA District 10 and in 2011 became a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, national music honor society.