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teaching

Overview

Well-organized instructor with sixteen years’ experience teaching a variety of courses in digital audio recording arts, multi-media production, contemporary popular music, live sound recording, music theory, and music composition/arranging.

Researched and developed curriculum/coursework for high school, undergraduate, and graduate level students in music and music technology.

Accomplished piano soloist and accompanist.

Curriculum

Click on each category below to view curriculum descriptions.

  • Digital Audio Recording I: This course provides an introduction to the basics of audio hardware and signal paths in tandem with the use of Digital Audio Workstations. The course will focus on the production of music like of radio spots, programing of MIDI melodies and song creation and recreation. In doing this the students will develop and gain engineering and music production skills in recording, mixing, editing, and composition. To accomplish this will require a fundamental understanding as well as a historical perspective of the architecture of music like scales, keys, chords, melody, rhythm, meter, song form, music notation, and musical textures, re-mixing loops and tempo maps, which will be covered in this class
  • Digital Audio Recording II: This course provides an extensive study of the digital audio workstation and the hardware of audio production; i.e. microphones, microphone pre-amps, and interfaces, compressors, equalizers, in essence, understanding the path to the computer as well as their virtual counterparts embedded in the DAW’s which include compressors, equalizers, delays, limiters, and reverbs of all types as well as a multitude of other digital effects.
  • Controller Techniques: DARA Controller Techniques is the study of the basics of midi and the techniques necessary to manipulate and program an array of controllers. Students will gain an understanding of the shapes of harmonies, melodies, and rhythms generated using midi controllers. Students will learn how to program and manipulate various controllers and their keys, sliders, knobs, pads, foot pedals, expression pedals, modulation wheels, percussion triggers pads, etc.
  • Genres of Contemporary Popular Music: Genres of Contemporary Popular Music is the study of the development of modern music. Genres covered in this course include hip-hop, electronic dance, rock, jazz, country, rap, orchestral, ethnic music, etc. Students will explore the differences in chords, rhythms, melodic approaches, and instrumentation typical to the genres studied. This course will enable students to identify specific genres, understand the social, political, and historical background of each genre, and to be knowledgeable on the architecture of each genre’s rhythmic patterns, chord structure, timbre, and medium. Course work will include active listening, reading, research, and music recreation & interpretation.

  • UGC 1: User Generated Content 1 introduces students to the beginning process of importing and editing content captured on accessible audio/video components. A primary focus in UGC 1, will be the audio aspect of user generated content. Using audio industry-standard software, students will learn about capturing quality audio and the editing process. Additionally, students will learn the basics of scriptwriting, choosing affordable equipment, and some lighting techniques. UGC 1 will focus on generating content for media platforms.
  • UGC 2: User Generated Content 2 builds upon students’ knowledge of content covered in UGC 1. UGC 2 begins to delve deeper into the audio capturing and editing process, as well as beginning to instruct students on more specific lighting and audio approaches. Students will create more advanced media projects and be held to an even higher standard of audio clarity. Additionally, students will practice recreating certain media “looks” and shots. UGC 2 will focus on using affordable equipment to generate quality content for various media platforms.
  • Storyboarding & Script Writing for UGC: This course will provide the fundamental building blocks for script-writing and storyboarding in the area of audio and video-based content creation with particular regard to media meant for streaming and downloading; this includes blog-style videos, instructional content, promotional and marketing content, educational content, and personal content.  Along with instruction in the area of creating quality content, we will touch on several aspects of using the internet as an outlet for this type of content, including the use of different hosting and social media outlets, how to create playlists for videos, audio books and blogs or “vlogs,” and an intro to the realm of gathering affiliates, product placement, advertising and other means of gaining revenue with said content.
  • UGC Practicum: The UGC Practicum is the culmination of students’ UGC portfolio building process. Students will create their individual user channel, as well as a channel where the best of USF UGC media content will reside. This will allow students to demonstrate their abilities to potential employers and to heighten awareness as content entrepreneurs. This practicum is a place where students will create, review, analyze, and present their user generated content, demonstrating their knowledge learned from previous UGC courses. Because of the extensive weekly submissions, students will build out their portfolio, and the critical evaluation received from their peers and instructor will provide the opportunity for students to sharpen their work. There will be an emphasis on creating videos that feature departments in the university, local businesses, and community centers and events.
  • Accessible Audio Programs for Educators: Accessible Audio Programs for Educators is an introductory class aimed at educators to best equip them with basic knowledge of inexpensive and valuable music technology. This course provides an introduction to the basics of audio hardware and signal paths in tandem with the use of Digital Audio Workstations.
  • Professional Audio Programs for Educators: This course provides an extensive study of the Digital Audio Workstation and professional hardware in audio production. Candidates will gain a comprehensive understanding of the use of MIDI language, and take an active role in session operations and recording sessions. Professional Audio Programs for Educators seeks to combine core course concepts with real-life applications in the music classroom.
  • Midi Composition for Educators: Composing for MIDI I introduces educatos to Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) sequencing language, using audio industry standard software. The course provides an introduction to MIDI recording, routing MIDI channels, quantization, MIDI editing in Step, Score and Event editors, MIDI controllers and combining multiple MIDI sources. Students will create MIDI compositions using these techniques.
  • Live Sound Production for Educators: Live Sound Recording introduces the use of minimal microphone choices, techniques, placements, and live sound recording equipment. Also includes multi-track recording with phasing and mixing problems, and editing the mix to the selected end-user media. The emphasis will be on capturing acoustic music and ambient sound recording; educators will record a number of concerts during the semester without/ minimal use of effects processing.
  • K-12  Audio Technology & Troubleshooting for the Classroom: This course focuses on drivers, interfaces, mic connections, setting up a lab, sound coming out of computers, and installs. Educators will learn and practice setting up microphones for choir/shows, what to buy and where to purchase items, and how to set-up their lab. This course strives to enable educators to understand, purchase, and set-up of their lab and productions, as well as troubleshooting problems that arise with technology.
  • Scoring with Music Technology in the Classroom: This course is designed to demonstrate the abilities of top-scoring technology, examine the pros and cons, and enable educators to develop basic skills while working in these programs. This course will explore new applications available to streamline composition workflow, as well as help educators to create assignments that involve music, staves, and notes more quickly and efficiently.

Speaking Engagements/
Guest Instructor

  • Paper accepted for presentation at the 2020 ISME World Conference, “Equipping the Next Generation to Cultivate Diversity in Music Technology” (Cancelled due to COVID-19)
  • Guest Instructor: ExMe2 Ensemble at Indiana University-Purdue University (2019)
  • Music Technology for Music Educators 2018
  • Music Technology for Music Educators 2017
  • Guest Instructor: OS (Original Saints) Ensemble at the University of St. Francis (2016)

Research Projects

  • Application of Music Technology to Create and Implement a Course Entitled; Genres of Contemporary Music
  • Proposal for Professional Audio for User Generated Content Marketing Minor/DARA User Generated Content Development Concentration
  • Grant Proposal: Development of a Course for Collegiate Music Majors in Genres of Contemporary Music

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