Dante Billeci

Education
December 2022
Bachelor of Music-Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
● Majors: Jazz Studies and Music Education, College of Music
● Minor: Anthropology, College of Social Science
● Honors College
● Graduate with High Honors
● GPA: 3.9/4.0

January 2023
Michigan Teacher Certification (JQ)

Teaching Experience
2023 to Present
Substitute Teacher-EduStaff, Ingham County, MI
● Taught all subjects K-12 in districts throughout Ingham County

2023 to Present
Woodwind and Jazz Band Coach-Chippewa Middle School, Okemos, MI
● Taught woodwind sectionals for the 7th and 8th grade band

● Coached the jazz band

2023 to Present
Saxophone Sectional Coach-MacDonald Middle School, East Lansing, MI
● Taught saxophone sectionals for the 7th and 8th grade band

Fall 2022
Student Teacher-MacDonald Middle School, East Lansing, MI
● Taught 6th-8th grade band

● Assisted the marching band at East Lansing High School

July 2022
Marching Band Instructor-Perry High School Band Camp, Hersey, MI
● Taught saxophone and flute sectionals
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● Taught marching band drill and technique

January 2022 to June 2022

Secondary Music Teaching Practicum-Chippewa Middle School, Okemos, MI
● Assistant taught music a middle school ensemble
● Taught saxophone sectionals
● Observed and taught lessons as a part of a practicum for the course MUS 455:
Teaching Instrumental Music

January 2022 to June 2022

Substitute Early Childhood Music Teacher-Michigan State University Community
Music School, East Lansing, MI
● Assisted teaching music in an informal learning environment for students ages
0-5

January 2022 to May 2022

Elementary Music Teaching Practicum-Central Elementary School, Owosso, MI
● Assistant taught music activities for kindergarten to fifth grade students
● Designed lesson plans
● Observed and taught lessons as a part of a practicum for the course MUS 467:
Teaching General Music in the Elementary School

September 2021 to December 2021

Early Childhood Music Teaching Practicum-Central Elementary School, Owosso, MI
● Assistant taught music activities for children ages 0-5
● Observed and taught lessons as a part of a practicum for the course MUS 465:
Music in Early Childhood

June 2021 to August 2021

Cabin Counselor and Teacher-Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Twin Lake, MI
● Taught the Intro to Jazz class and saxophone sectionals
● Cared for campers’ well-being, who were 10-13 years old
● Collaborated with 15 other counselors to plan and carry out daily activities

January 2021 to May 2021

Virtual Artist in Residence-White Hills Elementary and Michigan State University, East
Lansing, MI
● Crafted 4 lesson plans for teaching major and minor tonality to second grade
students
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● Created 4 lesson videos and interactive activities using iMovie, Google Slides,
and Google Forms
● Collaborated with Whitehills Elementary music teacher, three music education
students, and MSU career services director

August 2019 to December 2019 & September 2020 to December 2020

Music Theory Peer Tutor-Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
● Tutored college students in intermediate and advanced music theory courses
● Planned collective tutoring sessions with professors and other peer tutors

July 2019
Camp Counselor-Stanford Jazz Workshop, Palo Alto, CA
● Taught saxophone rehearsals
● Assisted teaching large jazz ensembles
● Supervised students, who were 8-12 years old

August 2017
Teaching Assistant-Murphy Music Camps, San Carlos, CA
● Assistant woodwinds teacher for students, who were 8-12 years old
● Taught saxophone and clarinet sectionals

2013 to 2020
Private Saxophone Instructor-Self-Employed, San Carlos, CA
● Taught saxophone privately to students on a weekly basis

Other Work Experience

May 2022 to August 2022
Arts Development Intern-Accent Pontaic, Pontiac, MI
● Tracked donations and other donor data using the customer relationship
management software Bloomerang, as well as Google Drive and Microsoft 365
● Created presentations and “how-to” documents to teach new data management
skills to staff
● Reviewed the Accent Pontiac’s Governance Policy Manual to suggest updates and
reviews

October 2021 to December 2021

Arts Development Intern-Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO), Detroit, MI
● Collated DSO partner organizations’ data to update their contact system in Excel
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● Visualized partner organization data using the MapBox online map program
● Designed flyers to promote DSO events

May 2020 to July 2020

Program Coordinator Assistant-Stanford Jazz Workshop, Palo Alto, CA
● Communicated with parents through email and phone to answer questions about
the program
● Created a schedule for all teaching assistants

May 2019 to August 2019

Business Development and Marketing Intern-Precision for Medicine, Redwood City,
CA
● Discovered and analyzed prospective clients and competitors through research
● Conducted search engine optimization research for the company’s website
● Presented findings to senior leadership

Leadership Experience
August 2019 to December 2022
Resident Assistant-Resident Education and Hospitality Services, Michigan State
University, East Lansing, MI
● Planned events and educational programs for college students
● Advised and mentored students on topics including academics, mental health, and
personal concerns
● Enforced university policy to create a safe community

September 2020 to May 2021

Student Success Mentor-Neighborhood Student Success Collaborative, Michigan State
University, East Lansing, MI
● Planned and hosted two online events per week to promote student success foster
community among 38 freshman students at MSU

Research Experience
September 2020 to May 2021
Undergraduate Research Assistant for Dr. Joanna Bosse-Michigan State University,
East Lansing, MI
● Studied how the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health,
finances, and musical participation of musicians within the United States
● Analyzed survey data from nearly 400 participants using Excel and SPSS
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October 2019 to May 2020

Undergraduate Research Assistant for Dr. Joanna Bosse-Michigan State University,
East Lansing, MI
● Studied the effect of feedback from teachers and parents on musical participation
after high school among undergraduate students and faculty at Michigan State
University
● Designed two surveys
● Conducted 8 in-person interviews with undergraduate students
● Transcribed verbal interviews
● Coded qualitative data from both surveys and interviews
● Wrote and presented a research paper for the findings at two academic
conferences

Research Papers
December 2021

“Black Veganism,” MUS 321: Anthropology of Social Movements, MSU, College of

Social Science

December 2020

“Formative Arts Experiences: The Differential Effect of Evaluative Praise and

Encouragement on Sustained Participation in Music,” Undergraduate Research
Assistantship, MSU, Residential College of Arts and Humanities

October 2020

“A Literature Review of Developing Motivation and Self-Concept in Music,” MUS 277:

Principles of Music education II, MSU, College of Music

August 2020

“Debunking Brazil’s ‘Racial Democracy’: COVID-19 Exposes Enduring INequalities,”

ANP 410: Anthropology of Latin America, MSU, College of Social Science

Research Presentations
April 2021
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Billeci, D. “Formative Arts Experiences: The Differential Effect of Evaluative Praise and
Encouragement on Sustained Participation in Music.” Presentation at the 2021 Michigan
Stateve University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum

March 2021

Billeci, D. “Formative Arts Experiences: The Differential Effect of Evaluative Praise and
Encouragement on Sustained Participation in Music.” Presentation at the 2021 College
Music Society South Central Regional Conference

Significant Performance Ensemble Experience

September 2021 to May 2022
Baritone Saxophonist-Michigan State University Jazz Octet I
September 2021 to May 2022
Baritone Saxophonist-Michigan State University Jazz Orchestra I
September 2020 to May 2021
Lead Alto Saxophone-Michigan State University Jazz Orchestra II
September 2019 to May 2020
Second Alto Saxophone-Michigan State University Jazz Orchestra I
September 2018 to March 2020
Saxophonist and Flutist-Salsa Verde, East Lansing, MI
February 2017
Saxophonist, Clarinetist, and Flutist-Broadway by the Bay, Redwood City, CA
February 2017 & September 2014
Saxophonist and Clarinetist-Hillbarn Theater Orchestra Pit, Foster City, CA

Recent Awards & Recognitions

May 2022
Outstanding Senior Award-Michigan State University

May 2022
Music Education Endowed Scholarship-Michigan State University
May 2022
College of Music Arts Internship Award -Michigan State University
September 2021
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College of Music Arts Internship Award -Michigan State University

August 2021
Professor Lewis Richards Music Scholarship-Michigan State University
May 2021
Music Education Endowed Scholarship-Michigan State University
October 2020
Paul and Martha Fund for Music Education-Michigan State University
March 2018
College of Music Scholarship Award-Michigan State University
April 2018
Scholars Award-Michigan State University
2018 to 2022
Dean’s List-Michigan State University