Suzanne Charney

Assistant Director of Bands
Assistant Professor of Instruction, Music Education

Email: scharney@usf.edu 
Phone: 813-974-2311

Suzanne Charney joined the USF Faculty in 2025. Her responsibilities include conducting the concert band and teaching undergraduate courses in conducting, wind techniques, music education, and learner-centered pedagogy. Charney earned a PhD in Music and Human Learning at the University of Texas at Austin where she taught undergraduate courses in instrumental methods, music education, and was a Field Supervisor for student teachers. She is passionate about cultivating future music educators who will create quality learning experiences for all students.
 
Originally from Ohio, she earned a Bachelor of Music Education graduating with High Distinction from Indiana University. Charney then taught for seven years as a middle and high school band director, earning consistent distinguished teacher and ensemble ratings. Throughout her career, Charney’s ensembles cultivated joy, and she was honored to be selected as a Top Ten Teacher of Influence three times. She returned to IU and earned a Master of Music Degree in Wind Conducting and a Master of Music Education. As an Associate Instructor at IU, Charney conducted the Marching Hundred, was the Interim Athletic Band Director, and served as a guest conductor for their wind ensembles.
 
Charney currently pursues research in memory and motor skill development and her work has been presented at the National Association for Music Education National Conference, the International Society for Music Education, the Society for Music Perception and Cognition, and the Texas Music Educators Association Clinic and Convention, all organizations of which she holds professional memberships. In addition, she received honorary membership to Tau Beta Sigma and is an active guest adjudicator and clinician. Charney is thrilled and honored to be an educational consultant for the Scoreable Music Project, a recent Rainwater Innovative Grant winner and revolutionary repertoire composition strategy that encourages inclusivity for varied ability levels in large music ensembles.