Dr. Eileen McGonigal
Biography
Eileen McGonigal is Assistant Professor of Instrumental Music Education at Wayne State University, where she teaches Music Education courses and coordinates student teaching experiences for instrumental music education students. Throughout her over two decades of teaching all levels in both public and private schools, Dr. McGonigal has taught marching band, concert band, jazz band, beginning band, orchestra, and guitar. Additionally, she served as Director of Bands and Orchestras at Central College in Pella, Iowa for two years and as a Teaching Assistant at Florida State University for three years. While at FSU, she taught Music Education courses and was assistant conductor for the FSU Wind Orchestra, the University Symphonic Band, the University Concert Band, the FSU Chamber Winds, the Seminole Sound Pep Band, the FSU Marching Chiefs, and the Tallahassee Winds.
A versatile and passionate performer, conductor, and educator, she has presented at international, national, and state conferences and has publications in a number of journals. Dr. McGonigal earned her PhD in Music Education with a concentration in Instrumental Conducting from Florida State University. She holds her Master’s degree in Music Education from Arizona State University, a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Clarinet Performance from Florida State University. Dr. McGonigal’s professional affiliations include the International Society for Music Education (ISME), the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the Performing Arts Medical Association (PAMA), the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), the College Music Society (CMS), the Phi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society, and the Golden Key National Honor Society. Her research interests include musicians’ physical and mental health, music teacher preparation, and music teacher assessment.