Fine Arts

Clark offers an array of performing and visual arts electives, including Jazz Band, Printmaking, Steel Drum Band, Sculpture, and Photography courses. 

Clark Music Department

In keeping with the Montessori philosophy, it is the mission of the Clark Montessori Music Department to foster and promote the musical interests and abilities of each individual student. The goals of the Clark Music Department include:

• To reveal and develop musical talent
• To develop active, discerning listeners and sensitive performers
• To promote creative thinking
• To be musically literate
• To develop a knowledge of and appreciation for music from Western and other cultures
• To teach, model, and develop a sense of community and spirit within the school and beyond
• To develop students’ individual capacity to learn and perform music
• To offer experiences in and foster appreciation for working cooperatively in ensembles
• To develop the skill of independent thinking while working for the greater good of the group

Key concepts of the Clark Music Department:

• Quality
• Organization
• Teamwork
• Options for Music Instruction at Clark
• Middle School
• Band
• Steel Band
• High School
• Steel Drums
• Band
• Contemporary Percussion
• Keyboarding

Meet Our Staff

Josh Roderer, Instructor and Band Director

Josh Roderer has taught in Cincinnati Public Schools since 2005. Prior to that, he held positions as an assistant band director at Centerville High School and director of bands at Colerain High School. He also served as a graduate teaching assistant at Wright State University, where he taught courses in conducting, marching band methods, and applied clarinet and also served as director of the concert band.

Roderer earned a bachelor of music degree in music education from Wright State University and a master of education degree in educational leadership from Miami University. He serves as a consultant for the Mason High School Marching Band and is an active member of the Ohio Music Education Association. In addition to his experiences in the field of music education, he has played both clarinet and saxophone professionally, has been featured on CD recordings with John McClure and David Dusing, and was the musical director for Showbiz players. He was an original member and Education Committee chair for Mayor Mark Mallory’s Young Professionals’ Kitchen Cabinet. Contact Josh at (513) 363-7183 or by email.

Jeff Martin, Steel Band Director

Jeff Martin began teaching at Clark Montessori in 2013. He teaches all levels of the Steel Bands at Clark. Martin graduated from Elder High School in 2009, and from Ohio Northern University (ONU) in 2013 with a bachelor of music degree in music education. While at ONU, he studied percussion and steel drums with Dr. Sarah Waters. He had an extensive performing schedule in many ensembles, including the Wind Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, Marching Band, Men’s Chorus, Percussion Ensemble and Steel Drum Band. While at ONU, Martin was selected as a winner of ONU Concerto Competition and performed Ney Rosauro’s Concerto for Timpani and Orchestra in 2012 with the ONU Symphony Orchestra. In 2012, he served as student conductor of both the ONU Wind Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra and performed with the Lima Symphony Orchestra.

Martin is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity, and the Ohio Music Education Association. Contact Jeff at (513) 363-7184 or by email.