Brent Talbot

Brent is in his third year at Eastman, pursuing the PhD in Music Education and the diploma in Ethnomusicology. For the past two years he has taught general, choral and instrumental music in the Rochester City and Webster School Districts and directed the Eastman Community Music School's Young Children's Chorus. Last year Brent took over the Eastman New Horizons Chorus, which soon became the highlight of his year. Before moving to Rochester two years ago to begin work on his PhD, Brent was the music department chair at Poly Prep Country Day School in Brooklyn, NY, where he also conducted middle and high school choirs, directed jazz band and musical theatre productions, taught general music classes and piano, sax and voice lessons. Brent holds an MA in Music Education from Eastman and a Bachelors of Music Education from Indiana University and is certified in all three levels of Orff-Sculwerk. He is a founding member of MSTRMND, LTD a media corporation based in New York City, and a former ballroom dance instructor with Arthur Murray. His current research examines and compares varied setting for and practices of music learning in the United States and abroad. Recent trips to Bali to observe gamelan music learning practices in Kerambatin, kwaya and bongo flava music practices in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania have helped him understand how music learning practices abroad may help inform music learning here in the United States. Brent will be teaching Music Through Movement, Fundamental Musicianship and Chorus.