About

WHO AM I?

a coffee-fueled Seattlite who is passionate about bringing people together through music.
a band director by trade (15 years in secondary education) and a composer by choice.
dedicated to creating inclusive spaces for musicians of all ages and abilities to fall in love with music.

The long version:

Erin Keeton-Howard is a Seattle-based educator, conductor, and composer. Currently she serves as full-time faculty at Shoreline College and directs the Shoreline Concert Band. Previously, Erin has taught secondary and higher education instrumental music in Kansas City, MO and the greater Seattle area since 2009.

While teaching, Erin maintains an active role in the music community at large. Cultivating spaces for creativity and connection is at the heart of her research interests, educational philosophy, and personal values. Erin is co-founder and director of Formation Wind Band, Seattle’s all women wind ensemble and wind symphony. Formation is committed to empowering women to create, collaborate, and build community. In 2024, the band performed at the Washington Music Educators Association conference partnered with the Athena Leadership Camp in 2025. Previous community music involvement includes directing the North Seattle Symphonic Band and Modern Jazz Ensemble at North Seattle College, serving on the artistic staff of Rainbow City Performing Arts, and co-founding the Give Back Brass Band. In 2023 she co-authored “Women in Wind Band”, published in by GIA Publications, Inc. This book is written from the experience of women and includes actionable strategies for fostering a more authentic and inclusive pedagogy in music education for everyone, students and professionals alike.

Erin discovered composing during the pandemic as a new way to engage with music. She enjoys writing music for all levels, though she is particularly passionate about using her background in education to write quality music for developing musicians. She is tickled by the opportunity to support students through curricular skill acquisition with mindfulness of specific idiosyncrasies for each instrument, while also creating a meaningful artistic experience. Her works are published with Murphy Music Press, Carl Fischer, Alfred MakeMusic and Randall Standridge Music Publications. Visit the Music Catalog page to look and listen!

Erin graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri (B.S. in music education) and the University of Washington (M.A. in music education, emphasis in instrumental conducting). She is a member of the National Association for Music Education, World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, International Society for Music Education, National Band Association, Women Band Directors International, and Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity. Erin lives in Mountlake Terrace, WA with her wife Felicia and son, Ezra. When she’s not doing music, you’ll find her at the beach, drinking coffee, doing sudoku, or cooking with good friends.