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Willie I. Kocurek Elementary School Music Department 9800 Curlew Drive Austin, Texas 78748 |
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“Mr. Van is awesome! He taught me how to play the recorder. I like being in choir. I never could have done it without him! He is so fun! -Samantha, 5th grade (2009)
“I learned so much in Mr. VandeWalle’s music class last year! I got my black belt in recorder with his help. I enjoyed participating in Music Memory and the Recorder Fest. His great sense of humor makes his classes so much fun!” -Elissa, 5th Grade (2008)
Mr. Van is a music teacher at Widen Elementary. He has been at Widen since 2001. Every year he does a Christmas musical and a Spring musical. So far out of all my music teachers, he is the best. -Chelsea, 5th Grade (2002)
-Alyssa, 5th Grade (2001)
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Mr. VandeWalle is the music teacher at Kocurek Elementary school in Southwest Austin.
Mr. Van started studying music more than 20 years ago when he was in elementary school. Like you, he learned to play the recorder, read basic music notation and sing basic folk songs through his school’s music education class. In 5th grade he started studying the saxophone.
In Middle School and High School he participated in Marching Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band and various other small ensembles.
It wasn’t until after High School that he started taking music much more serious and decided to make it his career. In college he began playing live music in Austin, San Antonio and a variety of other places. He performed with several bands like Salsa del Rio and Blu Funk Junction. He also recorded several albums with these bands. Playing with these bands has given him the opportunity to travel to places like Huatulco, Mexico, Oaxaca, Ireland, England and Amsterdam. He currently performs (tenor saxophone) with the Hill Country Community Band based in Wimberley, Texas. He graduated from college in 1999. He has taught at the High School and Middle School levels as a band director and is now teaching elementary music. This school year will be his 12th year in Austin Independent School District. Of those 12 years, one and a half years were spent at Barbara Jordan and Andrews Elementary. He then spent 6 years at Widen Elementary School. This school year will be his fourth year at Kocurek Elementary. Mr. VandeWalle has acted as the co-sponsor for campus programs such as the “Super Scholars” and the campus newspaper, The Widen Word. He was selected as the “Teacher of the Year” in 2003 at Widen Elementary and in 2009 at Kocurek Elementary (2009 District Semi-Finalist). He also spent four years serving as a PTA board member as a teacher representative, parliamentarian and historian. Currently Mr. VandeWalle is in charge of the Koala Choir and he is co-sponsor for the campus Saftey Patrol. He is excited about returning to Kocurek Elementary and is looking forward to the 2010-2011 school year. |
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Mr. VandeWalle, Music Education Specialist |
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Mr. VandeWalle conducting the Texas State University Concert Band |
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Have a Question? Click Here to Ask Me! |
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Who is Mr. VandeWalle, really? Do you want to know a little more about the music teacher? Here is a little bit more about the man in the music room. |
