Karen S. Thomas

Dr. Karen S. Thomas has been a music educator for over 20 years. She earned a Ph.D. in Music Education, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Ethnomusicology, M.M. in Music Education, and B.A. in Music from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Dr. Thomas has previously served as Visiting Assistant Professor of Music Education and Adjunct Instructor at Appalachian State University, Adjunct Faculty at Winston-Salem State University, and Assistant Professor of General Music Education at The University of Utah. Before teaching at the university level, she taught elementary general music and middle school chorus in the North Carolina public schools.

Dr. Thomas has earned certifications in Orff-Schulwerk (Levels I – III), Music Learning Theory (Elementary General Music Level I), and World Music Drumming (Level 1). Dr. Thomas’s interests include general music education, preservice music teacher preparation, music psychology, and musicians’ health and wellness. She has presented at state, national, and international conferences. Dr. Thomas has published articles in Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, Medical Problems of Performing Artists, and Psychology of Music.