Brittainy Spears

Dr. Brittainy Spears serves as an Assistant Lecturer of Music at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She currently teaches applied French horn and graduate-level music research, and coordinates and teaches courses in the Music Education program. Her research interests include the dual musician/teacher identities of music educators and the impact of applied collegiate study on the pedagogical practices of K-12 music teachers.

Spears completed a Doctorate in Global Educational Leadership at Lamar University, with her dissertation research focusing on effective skills, preparation, and support of novice band directors. She also holds a Master of Music and a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Oklahoma, where she studied trumpet with Dr. Karl Sievers.

Dr. Spears' career includes extensive experience in K-12 music education, having taught band and general music in both Oklahoma and Texas. Before coming to SIUC, she worked as an adjunct professor at Southern Nazarene University in the School of Music and the Professional & Graduate Studies program. In addition, she has maintained a freelance music career and is a passionate advocate for community music ensembles, having directed and performed with groups across the country.

Outside of music, Spears enjoys genetic genealogy and donates her time and expertise to help adoptees and others build their family trees.