Glenwood Elementary School

From our music teacher Liam Robertson

I’ve been teaching and playing music for over 20 years starting back in the foothills of California, south of Yosemite. After moving to the Bay Area to earn degrees in Jazz Studies and Composition, I have been fortunate to play and perform in a variety of venues, and music groups across Northern California. From the encouragement of my department chair to keep my career creative, my career has been filled with other artistic explorations as a sound designer, actor, choreographer, and director in theater and film.

My approach to teaching involves being mindful of the body, our first instrument, in how we interact with music. From there we can use our second instrument, our voice, in a better and more harmonious way. When that understanding is practiced, we can add instruments outside of our bodies, keeping that connection to ourselves, and the unique expression each person brings. I encourage listening mindfully to our instruments and each other in our environment while we lively play and explore music.

The curriculum I’ve made over the years focuses on intersections with the history and world of music, ear training, music notation, kinesthetic learning, and most importantly, social emotional learning.

I’ve been working with Youth in Arts as a Teaching Artist since 2022, and have been thrilled to be a returning piece to Glenwood’s Community.