Dr. Beth A. Bauer received her doctorate of music education from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Her dissertation is titled “What is an appropriate approach to piano instruction for students with Down syndrome?” Additional degree work includes a Master of Music from Northern Illinois University where she studied with Bill Koehler, and a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music where she was a student of Daniel P. Horn. Additional pedagogy instruction occurred with Karin Edwards, Larry Rast, and Karen Taylor.

Currently, she is the academic advisor and instructor for the pedagogy degree program at the Wheaton College Conservatory where she also teaches Music to Special Learners and oversees pedagogy student teachers and music internships. In addition to her faculty work in the Conservatory, Dr. Bauer is the creator of Beethoven’s Buddies, a music program for children with developmental delays at the Community School of the Arts, Wheaton College and teaches precollege piano to beginning to advanced students in the Community School of the Arts. Beth has worked in arts administration in the Chicago area and at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.

Her work with students with special needs has been featured in The Chicago Tribune, NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, the Indiana University Alumni Magazine, The Daily Herald, Clavier Companion, and the Wheaton College Alumni Magazine. Dr. Bauer is a sought after clinician and speaker to professional teacher’s organizations and parent groups. She has been teaching piano for 25-years and working with students with special needs for 20-years.