Biography

Spencer Klein is an award winning Boston-based music educator with Bachelor's degrees in Brass performance and Music Education and a Master's Degree in Music Education from Boston University. Originally from Seattle, Washington, Klein's interest in teaching began with a volunteer organization that offered private instrumental lessons to students of Seattle elementary schools without arts programs. Despite an almost exclusively classical background, during his student teaching, Klein realized that the old way of doing things was not reaching all students. The stark demographic contrast of those served in his general music placement and his concert band placement inspired him to focus almost entirely on popular music methods and pedagogy. 

With a MusicWill training course and a few lessons here and there, Klein learned basic skills on drums, bass, vocals, and keyboard, with a more advanced focus on guitar and music production technology. Klein centered his Master's research around Hip-Hop history education and began working at Watertown High School, building a pop and rock program that is student-centered and accessible to all learners in Watertown's diverse population. Klein is currently in his third year at Watertown, where he has won a Watertown Youth Coalition community spirit award and led ensembles to a second-place festival finish and gold rating. 

Outside of teaching, Klein enjoys playing in whatever bands will have him, hiking, playing pick-up basketball (what some call a "glue guy" in the WHS faculty league), and writing music of his own. He is an avid Seattle sports fan and has a background in improvisational comedy.