Melody Leon

Over the past decade, Melody Leon has become a well-rounded instrumentalist. She has learned alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, piano, guitar, percussion, and how to sing at a proficient level. During her education, she has collaborated with world-class musicians such as Marshall Hawkins, Jim Snidero, Dan St. Marseille, Monika Herzig, and The Marine Corps Jazz Orchestra. As a performer, she has traveled the pacific northwest and part of the east coast for both saxophone and voice, participating in performances for Walt Disney World, The Experience Conference, and Worship Life Gatlinburg. As a studio musician, she has done many recordings for labels such as Walt Disney Records, Lifeway Christian Resources, Jacob Collier, and other independent artists.

The "gig scene" and life as a music educator were normal parts of her life as she grew up with a professional musician and educator for a father. Melody began her professional music career in 2012, playing gigs across the High Desert, Inland Empire, and Los Angeles areas. With a passion and determination for music, she received her Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education. During her undergraduate degree, she focused on becoming mainly an educator by teaching a wide variety of instruments and different levels of music theory. Her experience ranges from teaching elementary-level to college-level students. She earned her Master of Music degree in Instrumental Performance. With her passion in jazz studies, she created her thesis examining the role of women in jazz. Her presentation is refined, thoughtful, and "on the precipice of doctorate-level work."

In the line of music education from across the nation, Melody Leon collaborated with some of the finest educators associated with the Jazz Education Network. With this JEN collaboration, it created a platform with accessible lesson plans, educational video units, slide decks, and other helpful resources to promote jazz education. The platform is proven to be flexible to work with all ages and champions the idea of diversity, creativity, and cultural heritage.

Locally, Melody is involved with other educational projects as well. She was greatly involved with the growth of Riverside Arts Academy, an intensive arts mentoring program that provides inspirational and creative arts education to children and youth of Riverside as a tool for community transformation. For several years now, she teaches a wide variety of subjects and assists with the band, string, and choir programs. She is also involved with California Baptist University, working as an instructor for their summer music camps and, most recently, completed her role as the Assistant Camp Director for their jazz camp.

Melody Leon is currently on a temporary career leave and selling her original curriculum content on Teachers Pay Teachers. She was recently a full-time music and performing arts director at a private school for grades pre-k through eighth. At this institution, she was in charge of a band, choir, drama, and general music program. She strives for performance and educational excellence in everything that she does.