Eithne Stover earned her Masters of Music in Music Education from The Boston Conservatory and her Bachelor's of Music degree from University College Cork in her native Ireland. While at University she performed on piano and clarinet, sang in the University College Cork Choir and as part of a traditional Irish music ensemble, and played bass clarinet in the Cork School of Music Concert Band.  She received the College Prize for finishing first in her class and graduated summa cum laude. 

 Eithne (pronounced "Eth-na") moved to Arizona where she received training from the Center for Music and Young Children in early childhood music education. During her ten years in Arizona she designed and developed a music curriculum for White Mountain Montessori School and taught music in preschool, kindergarten and grades one through four. She was the founding director of Music Together of the White Mountains in Pinetop, AZ. She performed regularly as lead vocalist and guitarist with her band Houseblend, an acoustic/folk four part ensemble and led music ministry at a Native American mission church on the White Mountain Apache reservation. 

Eithne and her family moved to Massachusetts from Arizona in 2011. She teaches elementary and middle school general music at Medfield Public Schools and co-teaches a World Music Ensemble class at Northeastern University. She is passionate about music and music education with particular interests in community music and music therapy. She studies voice under the tutelage of Ms. Gina Beck at The Boston  Conservatory and recently graduated with a Masters in Music Education at The Boston Conservatory.
Photo courtesy of Mike Mahoney Photography- PO Box 1796 - Lakeside, AZ 85929 - 928.242.0001 www.mikemahoneyphotography.com

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My Philosophy of Music Education
by Eithne Stover

1. As a music educator I believe that my role and mission is to give my students the tools that will enable them to engage fully, intelligently and with confidence in all of the music activities they desire in their lifetime, and consequently enable them to avail of the many extra-musical outcomes that music offers.
2. I strive to create learning environments for my students that are musically rich, meaningful, engaging and supportive of their development towards achieving their musical potential.  
3.  I believe that all children are musical and all possess the ability to engage meaningfully in music-making provided their potential is nurtured from an early age.
4.  I believe that singing and movement, both activities intrinsic to the human body, are the foundational cornerstones for a solid musicianship. 
5. I strive to create an environment that is: fun, active and engaging where just as much attention is given to the process of learning - the 'journey,' as to  the product of learning -  the performance.
6. I believe in the importance of guiding students to make connections between the classroom and their lives outside of school.
7. It is the term “community music” that best summarizes my educational philosophy.  I strive to create an atmosphere of hospitality and welcome where : all students are invited to engage in music regardless of their perceived abilities, all students are challenged and supported to be the best musician they can be;  all students are modeled positivity, encouragement and caring and in turn are expected themselves to be positive, encouraging and caring of one another.