Thom Borden

Thom Borden is a MECA Instructor at VanderCook College of Music, specializing in teaching PreK-5 music education, Kodaly methodologies, and Children’s Literature courses. He holds a B.A. in Music and an M.A. in Education (Curriculum & Instruction with a focus on Reading). His certifications include Orff Levels from UNLV and Memphis, Kodaly training from CSU, and First Steps/Conversational Solfege certifications.

• Professional Affiliations: Past-president of Greater Chicago Orff Chapter, founding member of Las Vegas Kodaly Chapter (LUCKE), AOSA Diversity Committee Chair, and co-founder of International Sharing Sunday USA.
• Presentations: Keynote speaker in Australia, Canada, China, Europe, and across the U.S., focusing on inclusive music pedagogy and global educational practices.

His research emphasizes accessible teaching methods for diverse classrooms, particularly through manipulatives and technology integration. Recent work includes FILE FOLDER FUN! series, which bridges live and virtual teaching environments.

• Grants & Initiatives: Collaborator on projects promoting music education equity, including AOSA’s diversity initiatives.
• Labs/Teams: Actively contributes to VanderCook’s Continuing Education program design and international faculty development networks.