Director, University of Texas String Project Assistant Professor of Music and Human Learning
Marissa Guarriello, PhD is currently an assistant professor of music and human learning at The University of Texas Austin. She was previously a visiting assistant professor of string music education at the University of North Carolina Greensboro where she taught courses in string music education, directed the Sinfonia Orchestra, and was the faculty director of the PAL and LRBS community string programs. Marissa was named one of Yamaha’s “40 Under 40” Music Educators for the United States in 2025.
A former public school orchestra teacher for grades 3-12 across various states, she now focuses of preparing young string teachers to be successful in the classroom. Her work focuses on expansive music education practices and making classrooms welcoming for students of all interests and backgrounds. In 2024, Marissa served as the director of programming for music at ArtsQuest in Bethlehem, PA where she enjoyed working with artists of all genres from around the globe to bring them to her community. Dr. Guarriello’s most current research is focused on the intersection of music industry administration education in K-12 music education programs as well as the inclusion of creative activities in secondary ensemble classrooms. Her dissertation focused on the integration of non-performance topics in classrooms through the Marketing Musikfest class in the Bethlehem Area School District. Marissa recently released a children’s book titled Onward and Upward (2025) and has co-authored Hustle to the Start (2021) and The Creative String Orchestra (2020) in addition to contributing various articles, blog posts, and peer-reviewed journal articles to the field.
MUS 007P
String Education: Teaching and Learning
MUS 115D
String Fundamentals
MUS 393
Graduate Study in String Education
MUS 398T
Supervised Teaching in Music
Books
Guarriello, M. (2025). Onward and Upward. F-flat Books
Guarriello, M. & Feher, K. (2021). Hustle to the start: Interview and resume tips for music educators. F-flat Books.
Guarriello, M., Gulish, S., & Shaffer, M. (2020). The Creative String Orchestra. F-flat Books.
Articles
Guarriello, M. (In press). "Secondary Teachers’ Attitudes Towards Music Administration in the Secondary Music Curriculum." UPDATE: Applications of Research in Music Education.
Gulish, S. & Guarriello, M. (In press). "On the Same Level: an Intrinsic Case Study Examining a New Music Teacher’s Experience Implementing Creative Activities in a Large-Ensemble Class." Journal of Popular Music Education.
Guarriello, M. (2024). "Lessons from Marketing Musikfest: A Case Study of Educational Experiences from a Music Administration Class at The High School Level." (Publication No. 31766073) [Doctoral dissertation, Indiana University]. ProQuest.
Guarriello, M. (2024). "Idea Bank: Exploring the Applications of Artificial Intelligence In Music Education: a Focus on Creativity And Composition." Music Educators Journal, 111(1), 11-15.
Guarriello, M. (2023). "The Application of Synesthetic Principles to Foster Musical Creativity." Music Educators Journal 109(4), 27-34.
Guarriello, M. (2023). "The Value of Uncertainty in Music Education". INfORM, 76(2), 26-29.
Guarriello, M. & Gulish, S. (2023). "Starting the Year with Creativity." Bluegrass Music News, 74(2). (Original work published 2022).
Guarriello, M. & Gulish, S. (2022). "Starting the Year with Creativity." Teaching Music Magazine. 30(1), 12-15.
Guarriello, M. (2020, October 23). "The Essential Work of the Arts." F-flat Books Magazine.
Guarriello, M. (2020, April 7). "Remote Music Teaching: Using Social Media for Connection." F-flat Books Magazine.
Guarriello, M. (2020, January 28). "Research in Action: Student Perceptions of a Composition Project within a Concert Band Setting." F-flat Books Magazine.
Guarriello, M. (2020, January 2). "New Teacher Series: Tips for Concert Season." F-flat Books Magazine.
https://hub.yamaha.com/music-educators/prog-health/advocacy/expansive-music-education/
https://hub.yamaha.com/music-educators/40-under-40/2025/guarriello-marissa/
https://nafme.org/blog/twenty-one-of-the-yamaha-40-under-40-class-of-2025-are-nafme-members/
https://passthebatonbook.com/creativity-in-ensembles-part-1/
Contact Information
Email address
marissa.
Teaching Areas
Music & Human Learning
Strings Education
Research Areas
Creativity in secondary music ensembles
Intersection of music education and music industry
Uncertainty & risk taking in ensemble classes
Areas of Assistance
String Project
Education
Bachelors of Music Education
Penn State University
Masters of the Arts
Eastman School of Music
Doctor of Philosophy
Indiana University