Vocal Music Holly Russell

Welcome! My name is Holly Russell and I am the general music teacher at Ashland Ridge Elementary.  I began my teaching career in 2002, in Monticello, Iowa, teaching High School Vocal Music.  After two years, I moved to teaching kindergarten through 8th grade vocal music at St. Pius X School in Urbandale, Iowa.  In 2017, I began teaching K-5th grade music at Ashland Ridge.

I have dedicated my career to music education. I earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Wartburg College in 2002, a Master of Music degree from the University of Northern Iowa in 2007, 3 levels of Kodaly certification from Drake University,  First Steps in Music certification from Vandercook College of Music in Chicago and Conversational Solfege Levels 1 & 2 certification from Central College in Pella.

In my free time I enjoy biking, hiking, walking, and playing and listening to all styles of music. I have played piano since I was 5 years old, play flute and guitar, as well as sing.  My family and I currently reside in Urbandale.  My husband is an English teacher at Centennial High School.  We have two school aged daughters.

I know all people are innately musical.  It is a passion of mine to help others explore creativity through music, while developing a life-long learning attitude, discovering how to work and play with others, and explore the beautiful sounds all around us in the music classroom.

Please feel free to contact me at any time.  Email is the best way to contact me, but feel free to call from 7:55-8:45 a.m. or 3-3:40 p.m.