Founder of the SESMB Community Music School and Creator of its Curriculum & Teaching Methodology

Elsie V. Ng Smits, piano
The University of Hartford, Hartt School of Music (1994, Hartford, Connecticut)

Music Education (emphasis on Instrumental Music) and graduate course work in Applied Learning Theories & Educational Psychology.

Professional Memberships:
• MENC (Music Educators National Conference)
• Learning & The Brain Conference, Harvard University

Here at the SESMB Community Music School we are proud to offer only the finest candidates to teach on our behalf! Teachers are carefully screened during the application and interview process for appropriate attitude and passion for teaching alongside their educational and work experience resumés. All teachers must have the minimum requirements of a Bachelor's Degree in Music or commensurate course work leading to another music related degree, diploma or certification.

Candidates must survive to be invited back for a total of 3 interviews. The interview process allows for the determination of credentials, personality as it pertains to teaching, overall aptitude for success in our comprehensive training program. Having successfully completed all 3 interviews, a candidate is then selected to fill the entry level teaching position of "Apprentice Teacher" where the candidate will spend the first year of teaching in intense training, shadowing an established teacher who is capable of training apprentices as well as observed live teaching experiences.

Upon completion as a first-year apprentice teacher, such teachers are capable of accepting new-start enrollees and pre-established SESMB students. A second-year apprentice teacher may be eligible to accept both new-start and transfer students as well as pre-established SESMB students. Once a teacher has fulfilled adequate practical experience with both new-start and transfer students, the status of Educator Level 1 is achieved.

Although our teachers must all receive training in our teaching methods, we also encourage talented teachers to bring to the table their own teaching expertise. It is our goal to constantly strive to improve our excellent curriculum and refine our ability to teach effectively in an enjoyable learning environment. Our curriculum is constantly scrutinized & researched for the progressive development of the finest curriculum possible.