Michelle Yoder

Michelle Yoder holds a BS in biology from Phillips University, but she currently teaches band at Northfield School. Music has been a part of her life since grade school band, and continued through high school, where she played in concert band, orchestra, and pit bands as needed for staged musical shows. As a teenager, she became involved in the Sky Ryders Drum and Bugle Corps, and she marched and competed all over the country for several years. She began instructing marching band color guards, including flags and rifles, with a workshop group in California during the summer after her senior year, and she continued working with high school marching bands in Oklahoma during her college years. At Phillips, Michelle received music scholarships, and played in the concert band, orchestra, and doubled on saxophone in the jazz band.

Michelle worked in the chemical industry for several years after graduating and marrying in 1986. Her teaching career started with homeschooling her three boys, and continues with her youngest child. Her two older boys are Northfield students: Chris, a senior, and Adam, in eighth grade. Michelle began teaching music at Northfield in 2005; until that time, Northfield had not offered music. She has since expanded the program to include two concert bands and a pep band for basketball, when time allows. In 2007, she led the students into music and academic competition, which allows the students to showcase their individual and ensemble talents. Michelle also offers private lessons in clarinet and saxophone.

Middle School Band

This is a two-year program for middle-schoolers who have had private lessons on their instrument for at least the summer preceding the beginning of school in the fall. This class teaches the basics of ensemble playing, as well as individual rhythm, intonation, and the basics of playing a new instrument. The second year focuses on higher levels of achievement, using a structured method book. Sheet music is also used to supplement the book. The class meets during regular school hours.

High School Band

This band continues in the third year method book, and rapidly advances to higher level sheet music. Supplemental instruments such as keyboard and electric bass are used to fill in lacking instrumentation. This class meets before school four days per week, and during school 1 day per week.