Wendell Hanna, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Music Education and Bassoon. Her degrees are from the University of Oregon, Ph.D. (2000), Yale University, M.M. (1987) and a B.A. from the University of South Florida (1985). Before joining SF State as a tenure track faculty member, she was an adjunct professor at Willamette University, University of California at Santa Cruz, and at the University of Oregon. She formerly held prestigious positions as principal bassoonist with the Oregon Mozart Players, the Eugene Opera, and the Salem Chamber Symphony. Dr. Hanna is an active leader in MENC: The National Association for Music Education, the International Society for Music Education, the California Music Educators Association, California Band Directors Association, and the California Council on Music Teacher Education.
Dr. Hanna studied bassoon with Arthur Weisberg (Yale School of Music), Matt Ruggiero (Boston Symphony) and contra-bassoon with Burl Lane (Chicago Symphony). Since coming to SFSU in 2002 Dr. Hanna has performed as a bassoonist at the Monterey Jazz Festival, Monterey Symphony, Berkeley Symphony, and the Berkeley Opera.
Dr. Hanna’s scholarly articles on music education have appeared in such peer-reviewed outlets such as the Arts Education Policy Review and The Journal of Early Childhood Connections. Her research interests include early childhood musical development, educational policy reform for K-12 music curricula, teacher training, Somatics, and technology in teaching instrumental music. Dr. Hanna is currently working on a forthcoming textbook in the area of Early Childhood Music Education.
In addition to her academic pursuits, Dr. Hanna has been an active subject matter expert in music education, consulting to such organizations as the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, Genentech’s preschool programs, and Bay Area educational software companies. She also plays in all women bassoon group The Moontown Schmatts and the improvisational jazz group Dogs Playing Poker.
Education
- Ph.D., University of Oregon
- M.M., Yale University
- B.A., University of South Florida
