Music Theory with James Y.

My name is James. I am a composer of music and a teacher of people. I grew up in Texas but traveled northward while acquiring progressively advanced degrees, ending with a doctorate in music composition from the Peabody conservatory in Baltimore, Maryland. As a composer, I have written for numerous acoustic and electronic media, performed and read by ensembles such as the Baltimore and Waco Symphonies, the University of Louisville Symphony Orchestra, the Talujon Percussion Ensemble, and the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group. Beyond more traditional fare, I have written multiple film scores for the Occasional Symphony, video game music for students of the Maryland Institute College of Art, and I have constructed an art and sound installation at the University of Louisville. As an educator, I have enjoyed teaching a wide range of rising musicians, from young to old, beginners and advanced. I have taught courses ranging from music theory fundamentals to more advanced concepts of form and structure at venues such as the Brevard Music Center and the Peabody Conservatory. I have also hosted multiple seminars on music composition and philosophy, ranging from topics such as "Composition vs. Improvisation" and exploring the question "Why do you compose?" Further, as part of the Peabody Preparatory's Junior Bach program, I taught middle school students the art of music composition. In working with students of all levels, I like to strike a balance between leading and allowing them to follow their intuition. After all, music creation is an organic process fueled by equal parts technique and creativity.