My goal is to expand my personal awareness in sincere quest to better understand our lives and our connection with each other. This pursuit seems to be the foundation of my entire being and can be viewed as the driving force behind my educational journey. It’s my hope that discoveries will be made and worthy of sharing.
Through the mentorship of several special people in my life, I have discovered music to be a most profound form of personal exploration and creative expression. This process has been so rewarding that I am not only inspired to generate compositions and performances, but I’am equally driven to guide and empower others towards their own creative potentials through establishing learning environments and educational communities.
Extra Curricular Performances of Original Works One of my initial modern performance compositions titled Overman Odyssey became a vehicle to introduce and demonstrate revolutionary composition and performance tools. Performed for students and instructors of high school and college music departments, this demonstration was designed to complement their current music curriculum. This demonstration and performance was conducted before the student body at Palmdale High School, and was also performed at the CSUN Media Composition Showcase.
I have written and contributed other original compositions for many different performance groups including the AVC Jazz Ensemble, CSUN Chamber String ensemble, and the CSUN Studio Ensemble. The CSUN Wind Symphony will be premiering my original work Star boy at their concert on April 15th, 2007.
While enrolled in the CSUN media composition program, I discovered my passion for scoring music to film. Enjoying such interdisciplinary and cooperative work, I proceeded to score nine student films since my freshman year, most of which have been completely independent of my degree requirements. I also began seeking outside projects, and was given the opportunity to score an independent film written and directed by Star Trek Voyager’s Tim Russ titled Déjà Vu.
Recently, I was privileged to work with my brother on our short film titled Fields Far Away . Not only was I able to score the music, but I was also given the opportunity to co-write, co-direct, co-produce, and add additional edits for the project. This project has allowed us to explore and express some personal philosophies in a thought provoking yet entertaining manner. Fields Far Away was accepted as a CSUN sponsored senior film by the CTVA department, and is now in its final post-production stages with a scheduled premier on May 8th, 2007 at the Armer Theater.
It’s through such extra-curricular ventures that my enthusiasm continues to grow; fueled not only by the excitement of creating new art, but also by opportunities to communicate a vision to with those who seek their potential as new creative artists.
Learning environments and educational communities I have a strong commitment to give back to the communities and people that have inspired and assisted me. One such opportunity was to design a music composition lab at my high school alma mater, Palmdale High. My design of a MIDI composition lab and curriculum was embraced by director Tom Hixon, funded for construction, and implemented. I set up the hardware and software systems for each classroom and instructed students for a year to help get the program up and running quickly. Today, Palmdale High continues this program, showing students how to utilize current technologies and create their own music compositions while preparing them for career choices in the creative arts and music industries.
My online workshop www.shopjt3.com has become another great outlet for sharing knowledge of music composition and music technology with a worldwide audience. Beyond building a public music community, I have been able to use this website to build a CSUN community, housing CSUN media composition articles, initiating and maintaining CSUN wind pedagogy discussion forums, and various offerings which publicize and promote CSUN and its departments.
I was requested as an adviser to the CSUN music faculty assisting their design, purchase, and set-up of equipment for the Jazz Department's recording studio. This new facility allows an updated and professional environment for students to better record their own works.
Because of the wonderful connection to other artists that occurs while being a part of a live ensemble, I continue to practice and develop my music performance skills. Double majoring in saxophone performance and music composition has allowed me to both perform and share music at professional level, as well as belong to and support the community of artists.
I have learned that such communities create a wealth of opportunity for creative and educational functions, camaraderie and service. I have established and organized various efforts to these ends and have become involved in numerous leadership positions within the CSUN music department. One such position was co-executive producer for the Music Industry Studies “Record Label Project.” My group developed, recorded, and promoted a local artist to representatives in the record and motion picture/television industries. Our efforts were successful in gaining recognition for our artist and exposure for CSUN through numerous media outlets. In addition to volunteering for this position, I volunteered as co-producer to create, mix and master the MIS compilation CD. This album featured 20 songs by CSUN musicians from all over campus. 5000 CD’s were produced and sold to raise money for the Music Industry Studies program.
As founder and president of the CSUN Media Composition Club established in 2005, we have organized and produced numerous student concerts, and will be providing supplemental learning such as guest speakers, facility tours, movie nights, both for media composition majors and non-majors alike.
I deeply appreciate the wealth of opportunity and educational experience CSUN has provided. CSUN has equipped me with the tools to access the highest professional levels of music, and artistic expression within myself. I'm determined to continue to explore and share my creative potential throughout my personal and professional life. I am sincerely honored and thank you for your consideration.
