Session Proposals

Dr. David Tyson is an Assistant Professor of Music Education at the University of Arkansas Fort Smith. He received a Ph.D. in Music Education at the University of Florida, a Master of Music in Music Education with a concentration in Jazz Studies from East Carolina University, and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. His research is focused on popular and culturally significant music integration, comprehensive musicianship, creativity, and access to teacher education for non-traditional musicians. He has presented at conferences such as APME, FMEA, NCMEA, SMTE, IMTE, Desert Skies Symposium on Research in Music, and the Technical University of Kenya Arts Education Postgraduate Symposium in Nairobi. Dr. Tyson is an in-demand clinician for concert and jazz honor bands and maintains an active performance schedule singing, and playing guitar, trumpet, bass, and piano in the areas of jazz, rock, and classical music.

Guitarists seeking performance opportunities in secondary schools are often limited to the jazz ensemble. These students may join the ensemble with little or no experience within the jazz genre but, regrettably, music teachers have reported feeling underprepared to teach jazz guitarists. This session will provide pedagogical strategies for the teacher and introductory materials for the student, introducing basic jazz concepts to young rock guitarists. Concepts will include basic equipment choices, chord voicings, comping rhythms, fingering choices, and improvisation. Session attendees are welcome to bring a guitar to participate in a more hands-on way. This session is intended for teachers seeking basic strategies and resources for beginning jazz guitarists. Session participants will receive physical and electronic resources for immediate use in the classroom.

• Band - Middle School
• Band - Secondary