Music Program
Performing Ensembles
Meet the Teacher
Jennifer Wortman is a native Tucsonan who went through Tucson Unified public K-12 Magnet Schools. She is currently in her 24th year of teaching Choir and her 11th year as an OMA Arts Integration Specialist. She received her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Northern Arizona University and her Masters in Choral Conducting from California State University Los Angeles. She was the choir teacher at Palo Verde High School for twelve years as well as the founder of the Palo Verde Alumni and Faculty Choirs. She then started teaching OMA at Cragin and Dietz K-8 where she also taught choir. Ms. Jennifer is a past president of the Arizona Choral Educators, has been a clinician and conductor for various festivals as well as the Tucson Girls Chorus. She is currently the Choir Director of the Adult and Children’s Choir at Tanque Verde Lutheran Church. Ms. Jennifer has a wonderful husband and two beautiful boys and is thrilled to be continuing her journey at Miles.
Hello Miles Families! I am James Gutierrez, and I am excited to be your Band Director! I am from Safford, Arizona where I graduated from Safford High School. I then attended Eastern Arizona college before earning my Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Arizona. I am proud to say that I have been playing saxophone for 19 years now, and have been teaching for the last four years in TUSD. I am a firm believer that each student should have the ability to participate in music and grow as musicians. The effects of participating in music are so astounding that I encourage anyone and everyone to find a way to make music!Katie Thaler is the Middle School Orchestra Director at Miles K-8 ELC. An accomplished cellist, Katie holds a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance from Florida State University as well as a Master of Music in Cello Performance from the University of Arizona’s Fred Fox School of Music, where she was a Graduate Teaching Assistant. Katie has performed in many masterclasses for artists such as Collin Car, Paul Wiancko, Thomas Kraines, the New Zealand String Quartet and Badke String Quartet. Currently Katie performs with the Sierra Vista Symphony, runs a thriving cello studio, and teaches at Dunham Elementary. Katie lives in downtown Tucson with her husband, a violist and fellow teacher Raiden Thaler and their two charming cats, Charlie and Luna. If you don’t hear string music filling Katie’s and Raiden’s home, they’re most likely trying out an adventurous recipe for dinner or catching up on the latest episodes of Grey’s Anatomy.
Mr. Thaler is the Arts Integration Specialist (AIS) and Orchestra Director at Steele Elementary, serving in additional music leadership capacities at Sahuaro High School and Miles Exploratory Learning Center. He graduated from the Fred Fox School of Music Summa Cum Laude in 2021 with a MM in Viola Performance. There, he was the violist in the Grove String Quartet, the Graduate String Quartet at the University of Arizona, and principal viola in the University Symphony Orchestra. Raiden is excited to share his new AIS journey alongside his wife, Katie Capp, who is also a new AIS and Orchestra Director at Dunham Elementary. As a teacher, Raiden strives to always be an eternal learner: his students teach him daily how to better serve them and grow as an educator.
Contact Mr. Thaler by Email
Contact Mr. Thaler by Email
Music Education is Essential
Music integration into the core curriculum and music for music’s sake is offered for all Miles ELC students from pre-school through 2nd grade. Students 3rd-8th grade are given the option of taking band, orchestra or classical guitar.
Music integration into the core curriculum and music for music’s sake is offered for all Miles ELC students from pre-school through 2nd grade. Students 3rd-8th grade are given the option of taking band, orchestra or classical guitar.
Music integration into the core curriculum and music for music’s sake is offered for all Miles ELC students from pre-school through 2nd grade. Students 3rd-8th grade are given the option of taking band, orchestra or classical guitar.
Music integration into the core curriculum and music for music’s sake is offered for all Miles ELC students from pre-school through 2nd grade. Students 3rd-8th grade are given the option of taking band, orchestra or classical guitar.
Music integration into the core curriculum and music for music’s sake is offered for all Miles ELC students from pre-school through 2nd grade. Students 3rd-8th grade are given the option of taking band, orchestra or classical guitar.
Music Links
Tucson Junior Strings
This is a wonderful program for Tucson string players of all levels!
Quizzes, Games and Music Help
Great for learning to read, write and understand musical notation.
Interactive Recorder Fingering Chart
To see the corresponding recorder fingering, click a note on the staff.
The Piano Player
FUNBRAIN will show musical notes. For each note shown, click on the correct key on the virtual piano. There are different levels of difficulty.
The New York Philharmonic Kidzone
A place for kids to come and learn about the New York Philharmonic and about the instruments, music,and musicians. Great games!
Tucson Symphony Orchestra
The Tucson Symphony Orchestra is the oldest continuing professional performing arts organization in the state of Arizona. Find out what’s happening in Tucson.
This is a wonderful program for Tucson string players of all levels!
Quizzes, Games and Music Help
Great for learning to read, write and understand musical notation.
Interactive Recorder Fingering Chart
To see the corresponding recorder fingering, click a note on the staff.
The Piano Player
FUNBRAIN will show musical notes. For each note shown, click on the correct key on the virtual piano. There are different levels of difficulty.
The New York Philharmonic Kidzone
A place for kids to come and learn about the New York Philharmonic and about the instruments, music,and musicians. Great games!
Tucson Symphony Orchestra
The Tucson Symphony Orchestra is the oldest continuing professional performing arts organization in the state of Arizona. Find out what’s happening in Tucson.
Rental Programs
- Southwest Strings (violins, violas, cellos only)
Visit the Southwest Strings Website
624-9390
1721 South Cherrybell Strav. - Instrumental Music (all instruments)
Visit the Instrumental Music Website
733-7334
7063 E. Speedway Blvd.