Lisa Huisman Koops, Ph.D., professor of music education at Case Western Reserve University, specializes in early childhood music, elementary general music, and world music education. Her research focuses on the vital role of the family in optimizing early childhood music development and education. Additional research interests include the interplay of enjoyment and agency in children’s music making; international models for children’s music education with a focus on The Gambia, West Africa; and inclusionary models of early childhood music education for children with disabilities. Koops holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Calvin University (Grand Rapids, Michigan) and Master of Music and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Music Education from Michigan State University (East Lansing, Michigan). Koops taught general music in Zeeland (Michigan) Public Schools as well as early childhood music at Michigan State University’s Community Music School and The Music Settlement in Cleveland.
Koops is the author of A Family Guide to Parenting Musically (2024) and Parenting Musically (2020), both published by Oxford University Press. She hosts the podcast Parenting Musically, featuring collaborators including The GRAMMY Museum Foundation (Season 1), the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (Season 2), and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum (Season 4). Koops is the recipient of a GRAMMY Museum Foundation Grant for her research on musical parenting (2017), and an EHI Disiplinary grant (2023), three ACES+ grants (2013, 2017, 2021), UCITE Nord Grant (2012), a Glennan Fellowship (2008), a Worldwide Learning Environment grant (2008), and two W. P. Jones Presidential Faculty Development awards (2010, 2012) at Case Western Reserve University.
In addition to her books, Koops has published over forty articles in Journal of Research in Music Education, Music Education Research, Research Studies in Music Education, Journal of Music Teacher Education, Early Childhood Education Journal, Early Child Development and Care, International Journal of Community Music, International Journal of Music in Early Childhood, Frühe Bildung, Contributions to Music Education, Perspectives: the Journal of the Music and Movement Association, Music Educators Journal, General Music Today, TRIAD, Audie, and The Hymn. Koops has also contributed chapters to numerous edited books and handbooks. Koops is an editorial board member of the International Journal of Music in Early Childhood. She has presented research in the fields of music education, ethnomusicology, and liturgical music. Koops serves as the immediate past-chair of the Early Childhood Special Research Interest Group (SRIG) of NAfME (National Association for Music Education).
Koops won an “Excellence in Teaching” citation from Michigan State University (2006) and has been a nominee for the CWRU Wittke Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, the John S. Diekhoff Award for Distinguished Graduate Mentoring, the John S. Diekhoff Award for Distinguished Graduate Teaching, and the Outstanding Faculty Advocate Award (CWRU Educational Services for Students Office). Koops served as a consultant for The Cleveland Orchestra’s “Musical Neighborhoods” 3-year early childhood music initiative funded by PNC Bank’s Grow Up Great program and conducts workshops for early childhood and elementary teachers. Koops regularly presents workshops for parents, teachers, and children’s librarians on topics of incorporating music in family life, classrooms, and story-time.