Abby South

Abby South serves as Assistant Professor of Music Education at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses while supervising student teachers and coordinating the music education area within the Music Arts department.

Her academic credentials include:

• PhD in Music Education from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
• Master of Music from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
• Bachelor of Music Education from Loyola University, New Orleans, LA

Dr. South's research bridges cognitive psychology and music pedagogy, focusing on brain-aligned instructional practices, music cognition, and teacher mentorship. Her sixteen years as a K-12 band director informs her evidence-based approach to developing effective music education methodologies and supporting early-career educators through structured mentorship programs.

Her professional recognition includes:

• District Band Director of the Year for Louisiana’s District VI (2010)
• Teacher of the Year at Juban Parc Junior High (2014)

As an active clinician and conductor, Dr. South has presented research at major conferences including the Louisiana Music Educators Association (2021-2025), Mid-South Education Research Symposium (2022), Society for Music Teacher Education (2023), Sun Coast Music Education Research Symposium (2023), and NAfME Biennial National Conference (2024). Her extensive experience mentoring K-12 educators and supervising student teachers demonstrates her commitment to developing the next generation of music professionals, though specific grant funding details are not documented in available sources.