Heather Cooper is a music educator and scholar specializing in music education and ethnomusicology. She is currently completing her Ph.D. in Music Education with a minor in Ethnomusicology at the University of Arizona, with an anticipated completion date of July 2026. She holds a Master of Music in Music Education from Kent State University and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Studies, along with a Pre-K–12 Music Education diploma, from Brigham Young University–Hawaii.
Cooper brings extensive experience teaching across K–12 and higher education settings. She previously served as an adjunct instructor at Utah Valley University, where she taught and mentored preservice educators, and as a music director in the Imperial Unified School District in California, directing band, choir, and general music programs. In addition, she taught elementary general music, orchestra, and band in the Marana Unified School District in Arizona, where she also led afterschool programs in choir, ukulele, guitar, and musical theater. Her teaching emphasizes inclusive, student-centered learning environments that foster both collaborative engagement and individual growth. She incorporates varied instructional and assessment approaches, including active, hands-on learning and technology-enhanced instruction, and draws on Orff Schulwerk and Kodály methodologies to support diverse learners and promote equitable access to music education.
Her research focuses on community music practices and culturally responsive pedagogy, with particular emphasis on Tongan music and diaspora communities. She has presented her work at regional and national conferences, including the Society for Ethnomusicology and the Utah Music Educators Association, and is the recipient of the Joann W. Kaeppler Award for Outstanding Student Paper. Her current scholarly projects explore the role of the punake (Tongan poet-composer) and culturally responsive approaches in music teacher education.
