Position:
Professor Emeritus, Music Education
Email:
dzerull@su.edu
Employed Since:
1990–2023
Teaching Area(s):
Music Education
Conservatory Professional Highlights:
David S. Zerull is Professor Emeritus of Music Education at Shenandoah Conservatory. A passionate advocate for music education, he was named Shenandoah University Exemplary Teacher of the Year in 2019, for his excellence in teaching, availability and concern for students, and contributions to the university. Dr. Zerull joined the faculty in 1990 after teaching thirteen years in public and private schools in Ohio and Illinois. His classroom experience included vocal music, orchestra, band, marching band and jazz band. During his 33 years at Shenandoah University, Dr. Zerull taught undergraduate and graduate courses in instrumental music methods, applied conducting, philosophy and contemporary trends in music education. He conducted the Concert Band and Wind Ensemble, including an appearance at Carnegie Hall in 2007. Dr. Zerull appeared with honor, district and all-county bands in Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia, as well as an Area All-State Band in New York. Dr. Zerull presented 50 in-service clinics in Colorado, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia, regional and national NAfME conferences, and at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. Presentation topics included “Improving Musicianship in the Ensemble,” “Developing Understanding Using a Comprehensive Approach in Performance Ensemble Classes,” “Teaching Expression,” “Assessing Musical Growth” and “Effective Interpretation and Conducting for Ensemble Conductors.” Dr. Zerull has published articles in Music Educators Journal, Instrumentalist, Design for Arts in Education Magazine and Arts Education Policy Review, focusing on the role of musical imagination and the musical listening experience. Dr. Zerull is a contributing author for the monograph On the Nature of Musical Experience; authored the chapter ‘Reconsidering the Performing Ensemble Class and the Role of the Conductor/Teacher in Music Education’ in “The Music Experience: Rethinking Music Teaching and Learning” published by Oxford; authored the NAfME publication “Getting Started with High School Band,” and was a contributor for “Strategies for Teaching Beginning and Intermediate Band” and “Strategies for Teaching High School Band,” both published by NAfME. Dr. Zerull has worked closely with music educators throughout the country as an advisor for more than ninety doctoral dissertations, master’s theses and master’s research reaching projects in the Shenandoah Conservatory graduate music education program. Dr. Zerull was the first President of the Faculty Senate as faculty governance moved from faculty assembly to the senate structure. For many years, he has served as chair of the Conservatory Faculty Evaluation Committee.
In the community, Dr. Zerull served two terms on the Frederick County (VA) School Board, chairing the Instruction Committee; chaired the local chapter of the American Red Cross, and served as president of the congregation of Grace Lutheran Church. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Zerull holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and Master of Music degree in Orchestral Conducting from Bowling Green State University, (Bowling Green, Ohio), and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Northwestern University, (Evanston, Illinois).
Educational History:
B.M., M.M., Bowling Green State University; Ph.D., Northwestern University