Dr. Ruth Gurgel

Associate Professor
Chair of Music Education
Email: gurgel@k-state.edu
Office: 227 McCain Auditorium

Biography
Ruth Gurgel, Associate Professor of Music Education, is a specialist in Elementary Music Education at Kansas State University.

Dr. Gurgel holds a Ph.D. in music education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with minors in sociology and educational policy. She also holds a Master of Arts degree in curriculum and instruction from Colorado Christian University and Bachelor of Music degrees in flute performance and music education from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin.

Her research interests include methods for integrating culturally relevant pedagogy with music education to create challenging and engaging school music experiences for students. Dr. Gurgel continues to present her research with students in a multiethnic music classroom at national and international conferences.

Dr. Gurgel began her career teaching elementary music in large urban school districts both in Colorado and Wisconsin, instructing students in the areas of general music, band, choir, and orchestra. She brings an eclectic approach to the elementary music classroom, integrating the techniques of Kodaly, Orff, Dalcroze, and Gordon.