Dr. Lisa Huisman Koops, Assistant Professor of Music Education at Case Western Reserve University, co-leads Music Play Zone with her husband, Dr. Jed Koops. Her specializations are elementary general music and world music education. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Calvin College (Grand Rapids, Michigan) and a Master of Music and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Music Education from Michigan State University. Her research is on Gambian children's music and the development of culturally informed approaches to teaching music, particularly elementary general music. She has four years of teaching experience in the public schools in Michigan.