Lisa Huisman Koops

Lisa Huisman Koops is a Professor of Music Education at Case Western Reserve University's Department of Music within the College of Arts and Sciences. She serves as Head of Music Education and Coordinator of Graduate Studies in Music Education. Her research focuses on early childhood music development, emphasizing family roles, international models (e.g., The Gambia), and inclusionary practices for children with disabilities. She holds degrees from Calvin University and Michigan State University.

Dr. Koops authored A Family Guide to Parenting Musically (2024) and Parenting Musically (2020), both from Oxford University Press, and hosts the podcast Parenting Musically. She has received grants including the GRAMMY Museum Foundation Grant (2017) and EHI Disiplinary Grant (2023). Over 40 of her articles appear in journals like Journal of Research in Music Education and Early Childhood Education Journal.

Her work explores musical enjoyment in children, cultural pedagogy, and pandemic-era adaptations in music education. She consults on initiatives like The Cleveland Orchestra’s “Musical Neighborhoods” and conducts workshops for educators and families. Koops has been recognized for teaching excellence, including a 2006 MSU citation and multiple CWRU award nominations.

Her research also addresses global music education, sibling musical interactions, and mental health in music students. She serves on the editorial board of the International Journal of Music in Early Childhood and previously chaired NAfME’s Early Childhood SRIG.