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    Reagan Ost
     
    Email Address: ost@alexandriaschools.org
    Room: 22
    Subject Area: Instrumental Music
     
      
     
    Welcome to the Band website! 
     
    My name is Reagan Ost and I am very excited to be joining the AMS educational community!  I look forward to meeting my new band students and parents!  First, I'd like to tell you a little bit about myself and my musical background. 
     
    I attended Oberlin Conservatory on a classical percussion scholarship, where I received my Bachelors of Music both in Percussion Performance and Music Education.  While at Oberlin, I had the pleasure of studying marimba, timpani, percussion ensemble, and orchestral percussion techniques with Michael Rosen.  I also became involved in the jazz department and studied drumset with Billy Hart.  After Oberlin I got my first teaching job in Canandaigua, NY (one of the FingerLakes).  I taught grades 9 - 12 Symphonic Band, Marching Band, Pep Band, Drum Line, Music Theory, Beginning Band, and gave small group and private lessons on all instruments.  Each year our entire music department went to Virginia Beach where we participated in Festivals of Music and my bands received ratings of "Excellent" and "Outstanding" every year! 
     
    Though I loved teaching in the music department in Canandaigua, I wanted to pursue a deeper level of jazz performance, so I moved to New York City to get my Masters in Music in Jazz Studies at Purchase College.  While at Purchase I studied drums with jazz legends John Riley and Kenny Washington, large and small ensemble playing with Ray Vega, Ralph Lalama, Steve Wilson, Javon Jackson, and Doug Munroe, transcription with John Faddis, and Masters Thesis writing with Todd Coolman. 
     
    Upon graduation I wanted to stay in the city, so I found a job teaching music at a brand new charter school called "Bronx Academy of Promise" (BAOP).  During my eight years at BAOP I created and developed a unique music program tailored to the musical interests of my students.  Our program included vocal ensembles, concert and jazz bands, and unconventional ensembles that brought together varied instrumentals and vocals. 
     
    In the meantime, I met my husband, moved to New Jersey where we settled in Califon, and had a baby girl named Joni who is now two years old!  This is now my second year at AMS where I'm looking forward to new challenges and new musical adventures!  Most of all I can't wait to meet my students, as my passion for teaching is the only thing that rivals my passion for music and playing drums! 
     
    Please keep checking back to this website as I will update it with important band news and information.  And parents, if you have any questions for me or just want to introduce yourselves, please don't hesitate to email me at ost@alexandriaschools.org or please say "hello" at Back To School Night this September.  I hope that your families enjoy a happy and safe rest of the summer!
     
    Best Regards,
     
    Reagan Ost