Composition Faculty

"A solid knowledge of the fundamental techniques of hearing, writing, and playing music."

"When I compose music, I don't think about all the rules I was taught in my classes, but with every single note I have some awareness of why I chose that particular pitch and that particular rhythm."

"Every skill and concept in music is connected. When you absorb ideas like a sponge, that’s what makes that large web clearer and clearer."

"Improvisation is a very big part of teaching. When I see that light bulb go off in a student's head, it makes my day."

"You have to develop really good writing skills before the technology will work for you in the way it's supposed to. And live performance, the human element, is so intangible but so necessary and so exciting."

"I want to open up more possibilities for my students, more doors for their creativity."

"The contemplation and appreciation of the behavior of voices and notes in a given context leads to understanding, and understanding leads to appreciation. Both (hopefully) lead to a love and appreciation of all great music, no matter what branch of music my students go into."

"Music has a lot to do with economy: reusing, recycling, giving new faces to older materials. Music is built out of blocks; nothing goes to waste. Everything is coherently and logically organized and related to each other."

"An orchestral performance requires a community of people to communicate and contribute something of themselves in service of their community's inner life."

"Part of the great pleasure of teaching is to share what I know about music and to continue learning about new ideas with my students."

"I try to inspire in the minds of the students the creative approach, not just the approach of the performer who has to deal with a set of notes."