David L. Perry
David taught music for 20 years in the public schools and also directed an orchestra at a large church.
“In these roles, I aspired to model Christ’s love to my students, church, and community through my actions and words. I continue to be passionate about serving in Christian higher education because more than ever, we need to equip men and women to be a light in a dark world through their chosen careers and ministries, using their gifts to glorify our Lord and minister to others.”
He says there are viable and rewarding careers in music and music education. “The jobs are out there for those who work diligently to prepare for their calling in music.”
What classes do you teach at Anderson
Graduate and undergraduate courses in Music Education
What year did you start teaching at AU
2005
Why teach at AU?
I enjoy working with Christian faculty, staff, and students who have a sincere desire to fulfill their respective roles, goals, and calling in Christ. When I entered my undergraduate program in music education, I had a clear calling to serve Jesus Christ through music teaching and learning, with a long-term goal to teach in higher education. When the music faculty position became available at Anderson University, I turned down other offers because I knew I could express my faith openly in my teaching and work with my colleagues.
Hobbies
I enjoy spending time with my wife Kathy, my daughter Holly in Arizona; my son Jason, his wife Becca, and granddaughter Madelyn in South Carolina; visiting my extended family, camping in our fifth-wheel camper, hiking, running, watching movies, and following the Green Bay Packers.
Notable achievements outside of discipline
Traveled to Malaysia with Dr. Bob Cline and AU students in an academic and service tour.
People might be interested to know I...
Direct the AU West African Ensemble and have studied with some of the most acclaimed West African drummers in the world. Students in the ensemble and I work with Bolokada Conde from Guinea when he serves as artist-in-residence and performs annual concerts with us. I have studied with Famoudou Konate at two intensive workshops, and I am completing a two-year Drummer Instructor Training with Bill Scheidt, one of the elite instructors of Tam-Tam Mandingue.
How would you describe your classes to someone who has never attended one?
You will see a combination of discussion about important ideas in music teaching and learning, and students engaged in the doing of music teaching: peer teaching, playing instruments, using creative and research-based teaching strategies, and providing useful feedback to each other on how to develop their teaching skills.
Publications
Perry, D.L. (2013). Petzold, Robert G. in The Grove Dictionary of American Music (2nd ed.). New York: Grove’s Dictionaries of Music.
Rickels, D.A., Brewer, W.D., Councill, K.H., Fredrickson, W.E., Hairson, M., Perry, D.L., Porter, A.M., Schmidt, M. 2013. Career influences of music education audition candidates. Journal of Research in Music Education 61 (1): 115-134.
Perry, D.L. 2012. Programs that work: teacher recruitment ideas from across the country. Biennial Music Educator’s National Conference.
Perry, D.L. 2006. The effects of African (Mande) music instruction on the achievement and attitudes of band students (Doctoral dissertation, Arizona State University).
Perry, D.L. 2004. A case study of a contemporary church worship team. 59th MENC National Biennial In-Service Conference.