Katie Wreede has rare talent. She encourages young musicians to explore their own creative musical ideas in a nurturing yet professional environment.
Jay Lehmann, Department Head, Laney College and Music Director and Conductor of Berkeley Youth Symphony
Katrina’s workshop with the 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students was a dynamic, exciting, hands on musical experience. Katie had the students actively engaged in improvisation and composition that stayed with us all for months! We thoroughly enjoyed having Katie come to our school. Her personality, sense of humor, and musical expertise made this a wonderful workshop that we would love to do again.
Jill Teas, Stanley British Primary School, Denver, CO
Your work with the Longfellow kids was fantastic. I have tried teaching composition every year, and I am never as successful as you were. The kids actually learned something about composition that they could take away with them, and they always looked forward to your visits. You have a very methodical approach that I admire and haven’t been able to duplicate!
Jan Davis, Music Teacher, Longfellow Arts Magnet Middle School, Berkeley
Katrina Wreede worked with my string students at Albany High School as a guest composer. With her enthusiastic and imaginative guidance, the high school students had a great time cooperatively creating their own compositions. The students also performed their compositions on a school concert. Katrina Wreede is an inspiring teacher for string players and composers of all ages.
Beth Snelling, Music Teacher, Albany High School
While co-teaching an improvisation class with Katie this past July, my mind was opened to a new way of approaching composition. Katie supports free expression while introducing creative, unique ideas. The atmosphere she fosters is warm and supportive. I could feel the students’ excitement and focus learning that something challenging was within their grasp.
Nora Nausbaum, Sierra Jazz Society “Jazz Camp” Co-director
I’m honored to have seen Katie work her magic with the our string students at Crowden’s Alternative Styles String Camp. Katie’s expertise, ease working with the students, and incredible musicianship are the perfect combination to give students an incredible, musical experience. Today’s music students learn plenty of the essentials of music like note reading and discipline, but rarely do they have the opportunity to really ‘create’ music – something that Katie develops within them beautifully.
Daryl Silberman, Knilling Master Clinician
A very creative way to meet curriculum standards and still maintain rehearsal flow. The students were proud of their work. A very positive musical experience.
Jill Hendrix, Washington HS, San Francisco
Group composition is THE PERFECT way to go for my middle school age group. The students were surprised and empowered by the fact that they could make music by making decisions, that composing was a practical medium with tools they could relate to. This is a superb project for school musicians!
Madeline Prager, Martin Luther King Middle School, Berkeley
I didn’t seriously realize how incredibly lucky I was to take a class with Katie until I left home and went to college. Now I’m constantly told that I was really fortunate to have a teacher of Katie’s talents. I have many friends who are composition majors at Oberlin, and I was surprised to learn that many of them had never had any formal coaching in composition and most of them had never had their music performed live. We got to have performances with professional musicians and Katie’s guidance through every piece. She gave us constructive criticism without ever making me feel like I was being restricted in any way. I learned so much from Katie and she most definitely played a large role in furthering my education. I doubt that I would have pursued composing had it not been for Katie’s class.
Erika O., former Composer in the Schools (American Composers Forum) student
Composing with Katie was one of the most formative experiences of my high school years. Being asked to look at music as a composer developed not only my creativity and musicality, but also responsibility, organization and leadership abilities. I was asked to meet deadlines, have legible copies for my performers, run a rehearsal, field questions and articulate my meanings. Her undying support of my ideas built up my self-confidence and love of music.
Ariel W., former Composer in the Schools (American Composers Forum) student
I learned a lot of people make money by composing.
Tyus C., Hercules HIgh School Composing Together participant