Marissa Terranova

Teaching Associate, Trumpet

Contact Marissa Terranova

Sands Hall 121

Spring 2024 Office Hours
Wednesdays 2:00 - 4:00pm
Also by appointment, please email for an appointment.

Tell me, I forgot, Show me, I remember. Involve me, I understand." Carl Orff

Biography

Marissa Terranova is a professional trumpeter and educator, most recently joining the faculty at Coastal Carolina University in Fall 2022.

Growing up in Los Angeles, she was fortunate to study with legendary musicians and attend California State University, Northridge. While at CSUN, she participated in both the Reno and Monterey Jazz Festivals, recorded at Capitol Records with the award-winning Jazz “A” Band, and performed at the opening gala of the new Valley Performing Arts Center with such musicians as Arturo Sandoval, Dave Koz, Monica Mancini, and Chuck Berghofer.

Marissa studied both music education and jazz performance at California State University, Northridge (CSUN), earning her Bachelor of Music degree. She then earned her single-subject teaching credential in music and began working in public schools teaching band, orchestra, and general music. She later earned a Master of Arts in Education Technology from CSUN to stay current with changing technology and the future of education.

During her tenure as a public school teacher, Marissa has led several professional development sessions for both teachers and students on a variety of topics ranging from technology use in the classroom to teaching music with a social-emotional learning focus. Marissa is a technology-loving, inclusive educator who constantly seeks improvement to her craft. She is a member of several professional music organizations including the National Association for Music Educators (NAfME), Jazz Educators Network (JEN), and Orff-Schulwerk Association. She recently completed the first level of training and certification in Orff-Schulwerk music pedagogy through the Los Angeles chapter of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association in summer 2019. Other certifications and training include GATE program certification, Flipgrid certified educator, Nearpod certified educator, Common Sense Media educator, and student technology leader program coordinator. In her music lessons, she uses traditional approaches as well as innovative technology to engage, inspire, and create musicians of all ages.

While teaching full-time in public schools, she also maintains a private studio of students with lessons in music theory, jazz improvisation, composition, and overall musicianship.

Besides teaching, Marissa plays a variety of styles in a variety of settings. From intimate jazz trios to salsa bands, she has been playing professionally in Los Angeles since 2008, and recently relocated to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in 2021. She has since taught music for Horry County Schools and is now a Teaching Associate for the music department at Coastal Carolina University in the Fall of 2022, teaching trumpet and leading the university brass ensemble.

Education

Master of Arts in Education (MA); California State University, Northridge; 2021

Single-Subject Teaching Credential in Music; California State University, Northridge; 2010

Bachelor of Music (BM); California State University, Northridge; 2009

Teaching Areas

Trumpet, Brass Ensemble, Jazz Improvisation