About Kirk

Kirk Guthaus is a professional musician, certified music educator, and certified special education teacher with over twenty years of experience in music performance, education, and inclusive community programming.

He holds a Master of Music Education, with advanced training in curriculum design, music pedagogy, and assessment, and a Master’s degree in Humanities, reflecting an interdisciplinary foundation that integrates music, education, culture, and human-centered inquiry. He also holds a Graduate Certificate in Autism Education, which informs his strengths-based, inclusive instructional design and his understanding of communication, sensory needs, and flexible supports.

Kirk is a state-certified music teacher and a state-certified special education teacher, qualified to design and deliver instruction across general and inclusive educational settings.

Earlier in his career, he served in the United States Army Bands, performing in professional ensembles and developing extensive experience in ensemble leadership, collaboration, and musicianship. This professional performance background continues to shape his work in ensemble-based instruction, adaptive instrumental teaching, and community music-making.

Kirk has taught in inclusive classroom environments as a special education teacher, where he developed and implemented music-based instructional strategies to support communication, peer interaction, and social inclusion. During this time, he conducted classroom-based action research examining how structured music activities supported communication and peer engagement, documenting meaningful improvements in social interaction and inclusion.

He currently serves as Program Director for Lifelong Learning with Friends, an inclusive continuing education program affiliated with the University of Texas at Austin. In this role, he oversees program development, instructor support, and community partnerships serving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He also leads regular online and in-person music classes, applying adaptive and strengths-based instructional methods in community settings.

Kirk is also a doctoral candidate in Organizational Leadership (EdD), with a research focus on community music building, inclusive leadership, and how community-based music education supports participation, belonging, and quality of life across the lifespan. His doctoral work integrates systems thinking, leadership theory, and inclusive education research.

He has established partnerships with community arts organizations supporting inclusive music classes and collaborating on sensory-friendly concerts. These partnerships embed adaptive music practices into professional arts organizations and public performance spaces.

Kirk’s professional practice is grounded in the National Association for Music Education’s National Core Arts Standards, Universal Design for Learning, and current research in community-based music education and social participation. Across all roles, his work is guided by the principle that music education is an access and participation issue, and that inclusive design is essential to meaningful participation and community connection.