Amy Simmons

Photo of Amy Simmons

Senior Lecturer in Music and Human Learning

Amy Simmons is Senior Lecturer in Music and Human Learning at the Sarah and Ernest Butler School of Music at The University of Texas at Austin where she teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in music education. Dr. Simmons’ ongoing research examines the development of expertise in music teaching and performance as well as motor learning. She currently serves as the Research Chair for the State of Texas with the National Association for Music Education and Chair of the Research Committee for the Texas Music Educators Association. In that role, she coordinates the online journal Texas Music Education Research and the Research Poster Session at the annual TMEA Clinic and Convention. Dr. Simmons served on the Editorial Board of the Journal for Research in Music Education and Texas Music Education Research. Before joining the faculty at UT Austin, she was a band director in the Lewisville Independent School District and performed as a professional oboist with ensembles in Austin and San Antonio.

EDC 332S
Designs for Instruction: Music 

EDC 370S
Secondary School Subjects: Music

MUS 255F 
Techniques of Woodwind Performance

MUS 255E
Techniques of Brass Performance

MUS 384J
Research in Music Education

MUS 391
Foundations of Music Education

MUS 393
Directed Research

Simmons, A. L., Allen, S. E., Cash, C. D., & Duke, R. A. (2019). Effects of early break intervals on musicians’ and nonmusicians’ skill learning. Psychology of Music, 47(1), 83-95.

Parrott, S. M. & Simmons, A. L. (2016). The role of program notes in nonmusicians’ enjoyment of choral music. Texas Music Education Research, 25-36.

Duke, R. A., Allen, S. E., Cash, C. D., & Simmons, A. L. (2015). Practice like a pro. Southwestern Musician, 83(6), 33-37.

Cash, C. D., Allen, S. E., Simmons, A. L., & Duke, R. A. (2014). Effects of model performances on music skill acquisition and overnight memory consolidation. Journal of Research in Music Education, 62, 89-99.

Contact Information

Campus location
MBE 2.204A

Teaching Areas

Music & Human Learning 

Research Areas

Expertise in Music Teaching & Performance

Motor Learning

Education

Doctor of Philosophy
The University of Texas at Austin

Master of Music 
The University of Texas at Austin

Bachelor of Music
The University of Texas at Austin