معرفی
Abby Gail Means serves as Assistant Professor of Music Education in the School of Music within Indiana State University's College of Arts & Sciences. Her academic foundation includes a Ph.D. in Music Education from the University of Illinois (2022), M.Ed. from Anderson University (2018), B.M. from University of Indianapolis (2013), and A.A. in Early Childhood Education from Taylor University Fort Wayne (1997).
Her educational background:
- Ph.D., Music Education, University of Illinois, 2022
- M.Ed., Music Education, Anderson University, 2018
- B.M., Music Education, University of Indianapolis, 2013
- A.A., Early Childhood Education, Taylor University Fort Wayne, 1997
Dr. Means' research centers on linguistic diversity in music education, specializing in equitable facilitation techniques for students learning English as new language. Her work bridges special music education, early childhood through secondary general music pedagogy, and community outreach initiatives. She actively explores cross-curricular collaboration models and practical application experiences for preservice educators, with particular emphasis on translanguaging strategies and visual communication in elementary music settings.
Her scholarly trajectory shows emerging focus on collaborative teaching frameworks, exemplified by her forthcoming Oxford Handbook chapter examining co-teaching dynamics in special music education contexts. This work establishes foundational research in teacher confidence building through paired instructional experiences, signaling growing contributions to inclusive music pedagogy literature.
Honors include the Eli Lilly Teacher Creativity Grant supporting ukulele methodology research in Hawaii.
- Eli Lilly Teacher Creativity Grant
Dr. Means mentors preservice educators through courses including Elementary General Music Methods and Student Teaching Seminar while maintaining active community partnerships. She serves on the Community School of the Arts Advisory Board and Teacher Education Committee, with grant activity centered on the Eli Lilly award. Her service includes peer reviewing for the Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education and providing music instruction for Danville Community Schools' PACE summer program.
She sustains robust community engagement through ongoing collaboration with the Community School of the Arts across multiple academic terms and development of homeschool music initiatives serving both university students and local communities.
