Anissa Arnold knew from a very young age that she wanted to become a music teacher.
Arnold, the newly appointed director of music and performing arts in the Herricks School District, started learning the viola in the third grade in the Half Hollows School District. And it was in her early years as a violist when she made her mind up about her life’s vocation.
“I think the music school teachers probably inspired me to become a teacher,” she recalled. “They just looked like they were having so much fun and they loved music so much I wanted to do that for other people too.”
Arnold earned her bachelors degree in music education from the Crane School of Music in Potsdam, N.Y. and started teaching orchestra and general music in the Commack Middle School in 1992. Four years later, she became orchestra teacher for students in grades five through seven at the Willets Road School in the East Williston School District.
In 2001, she moved to the Herricks School District to teach sixth and ninth grade orchestra and has continued in that role since. With her new responsibilities, she will be teaching only sixth grade orchestra in the fall. She said she still thoroughly enjoys the experience of teaching music in Herricks.
“I think the teachers in the Herrick School District are just outstanding and it’s an inspiring place to work because there’s a lot of positive energy. The kids are eager to learn,” she said.
Arnold is looking forward to succeeding recently retired John McNeur as Herricks director of music and performing arts.
“I’m very excited about it. I’m excited about continuing all the great things that John has done and follow in his footsteps in a positive way and keep inspiring kids to keep music in their life,” she said.
She said that even if a student isn’t aiming for a career in music, it’s a crucial component in any student’s development.
“It helps make you a whole person. It develops sensitivity. It’s team-building, and it’s discipline. It enriches your life,” Arnold said.
She still plays viola in a string quartet and in the Massapequa Orchestra in the community where she lives.
Arnold already has been an innovator in Herricks, starting the first Herricks Summer Music Program in 2010, enabling students to gain additional training from teachers and older students.
At Herricks, Arnold has been the faculty advisor of the award-winning Tri-M Music Honor Society since 2002 and also the advisor of the International Thespian Society.
Outside of Herricks, Arnold recently completed a two-year tenure as president of the Long Island String Festival Association.
In that role, she developed many new programs for both Nassau and Suffolk County string teachers, including the first Long Island String Festival Association Long Island Chamber Music Festival featuring the world renown Bryant Park Quartet as master clinicians and headline group.
Arnold currently serves on the executive council for the New York State School Music Association as membership advocacy chair for New York State. Previously, has served as NYSSMA zone representative for Nassau County in addition to holding board positions in the Long Island String Festival Association, the New York American String Teachers Association and the Nassau Music Education Association, where she served as president for two terms from 2006 to 2008.
In her free time, Arnold said she enjoys long-distance cycling, (“I have cycled all over”) as well as running and hiking with her husband, Brian Wilensky.
As she prepares to assume her new role in the Herricks School District, she said she has no major program changes in mind.
“Initially I want to get my feet wet, learn the ropes and see what the needs are,” she said.
