Teaching

In 2012, I joined the University of Wisconsin-Madison as the inaugural holder of the John and Carolyn Peterson Professor of Jazz Studies. At UW, I have spearheaded the development of an undergraduate jazz studies major (in both the B.M. and B.A. degree programs), launched in 2014, and an M.M. in Jazz Studies degree, launched in 2024. I teach applied jazz piano and jazz composition, an undergraduate course and a graduate seminar in jazz theory, and I direct the UW Jazz Orchestra and the UW Blue Note Ensemble. In addition to my faculty appointment in the Mead Witter School of Music, I am a Faculty Affiliate in the Division of the Arts, and I was named an H.I. Romnes Fellow in 2021.

Prior to my appointment at UW Madison, I served as the Director of Jazz Studies at California State University East Bay from 2007 to 2012. I also taught as an adjunct faculty member at New York University (1997-2007) and at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music (2003-2007).

Please check out music.wisc.edu/jazz for the latest information on the jazz program at UW Madison. To learn more about the jazz ensembles at UW Madison, go to music.wisc.edu/jazz-ensembles. In order to give my full attention to my UW-Madison students, I do not currently accept private students outside of the university, but please feel free to contact me for recommendation for some of the great teachers we have in our community.

For information about the Jazz Badgers (high school honors group) and to register for an audition, please visit www.wisconsinjazz.org.