SMU Application Supporting Materials for Mark Feezell, Ph.D.

Resume and Website

Supporting Materials by Topic

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Documenting Excellence in Teaching

Documenting Excellence in Composition

Documenting Excellence in Music Theory

Top Ten Supporting Documents

The following documents are by no means an exhaustive representation of my skills and experience. However, out of respect for the committee's time, I suggest them as a good introduction to the more than 230 supporting documents included. Click "view" to view the associated file(s).

1. Selected student comments: Student comments are not the only measure of teaching excellence. However, they are certainly an important indicator to consider. Students have consistently praised my teaching each semester at SMU.

VIEW Selected student comments...

2. The Light (sample composition): This excerpt from my dissertation composition provides a sample of my compositional style.

VIEW and hear an excerpt from The Light...

(If the MP3 player/PDF page fails to load, the PDF file can be downloaded/viewed directly HERE and the MP3 can be downloaded/viewed directly HERE.)

3. Three Short Pieces for piano (sample composition): This excerpt provides a second example of my approach to composition.

VIEW and hear an excerpt from Three Short Pieces for piano...

(If the MP3 player/PDF page fails to load, the PDF file can be downloaded/viewed directly HERE and the MP3 can be downloaded/viewed directly HERE.)

4. Theory Presentation on Charlie Parker: In 2005, I gave this presentation as part of the program at the Mid-Atlantic Chapter Conference of the College Music Society. In it, I present an introduction to Parker's style and then relate Parker's harmonic approach to examples from Chopin and Tchaikovsky. Finally, I contend that the addition of jazz to the theory curriculum can be done in such a way that the pedagogy of chromatic harmony is actually strengthened, not weakened.

VIEW "Not So Large a Leap: Introducing Students to the Pitch Organization of Charlie Parker as an Extension of Chopin and Modal Theory"...

5. Dissertation analytical excerpt: This excerpt from the analysis accompanying my composition dissertation, The Light, illustrates the rigor and intentional nature of my compositional approach. Skimming through these pages, especially the analytical tables and figures, also gives the reader insight into my use of set theory, motivic analysis, and Schenkerian/linear approaches (see especially pages xxxiii and xxxiv).

VIEW excerpt from analytical essay for The Light...

6. Contemporary Music sample student experience log: Innovative use of technology is one hallmark of my pedagogy. Instead of limiting students to an "approved" list of pieces and readings in my Contemporary Music course last fall, I decided to set broad criteria and give the students latitude as they explored the repertory. The main difficulty in this approach was how to document that students had explored a sufficiently diverse and large sample of works. My solution was to develop an Excel spreadsheet that automatically scored student "experiences" by giving an appropriate point value to each type of experience. The students then had incredible flexibility to customize their exploration of the literature. To ensure an appropriate diversity of styles, ensemble types, and composers, the spreadsheet also allowed me to rate the student's choice of literature for breadth and depth.

VIEW Contemporary Music sample student experience log...

7. Master Part-writing Checklist: This is the checklist that I use for part-writing in the freshman/sophomore theory core. Essentially, it represents a concise summary of the entire textbook on two sheets of paper, including harmonic progression, chord voicing, non-chord tones, and chromatic harmony.

VIEW Part-writing Checklist...

8. Form and Analysis repertoire sheets: These pages exemplify the curricular development I have undertaken each semester at SMU. Although I had taught Form prior to my first time at SMU in the fall of 2007, the high caliber of students at SMU demanded a complete reworking of my course materials and approach. In response, I created a series of "repertoire sheets" guiding students through discussions of form and related topics. In creating the discussion questions, I endeavored to create connections between theoretical discussion and practical performance considerations.

VIEW Form and Analysis repertoire sheets...

9. DrFeezell.com Visit Report from October 1 to December 31, 2008: This Google Analytics tracking report shows that in the last three months of 2008 alone, DrFeezell.com received over 52,000 visits from 149 countries with 274,196 individual page views. This averages to 571 visitors or over 3000 page views every day. DrFeezell.com is the site where I self-publish all of my music materials. These include music theory teaching documents, compositions, and hundreds of arrangements and scale books. Since its launch in 2003, the site has clearly become an important resource for musicians, students and teachers worldwide.

VIEW Google Analytics report for DrFeezell.com...

10. SMU Theory Mastery Exam supplemental materials (Departmental Service): Last fall, I undertook a project on my own initiative to develop a number of documents designed to help first-year students practice for the required SMU Mastery Exam in Music Theory. The documents included an overview of the exam requirements, seven practice worksheets, and six complete practice exams. The practice sheets and practice exams were then utilized by other SMU professors for student drill and practice.

VIEW SMU Theory Mastery Exam Supplemental Materials...

Cover Letter

Supporting materials for Mark Feezell, Ph.D.

Dear Committee:

In response to your announcement, I wish to apply for the position of Assistant Professor in Music Theory and Composition. This site includes a number of supporting materials. Reference letters should arrive separately as hard copies.

My application represents the continuation of an ongoing and fruitful relationship with the SMU Meadows School. In August of 2006, I began at SMU as an adjunct assistant professor teaching courses from the freshman and sophomore music theory core sequence. During the spring of 2007, the Division of Music hired me as a Lecturer in Music Theory for the 2007-2008 school year after a full national search. The Division renewed my contract, with a merit increase, for the current 2008-2009 school year.

My teaching load as a 4+4 lecturer has required new course preparation every semester, and I have rotated through most of the courses offered by the Department. The enclosed supporting materials detail my achievements in teaching, composition, and music theory. If you require further materials or clarification, please do not hesitate to ask.

If you are viewing this from a CD-ROM, for your convenience the same materials are also available online at http://drfeezell.com/smu [you must enter "/smu"]. If prompted about "Active Content," select "Yes" to allow active content and view the supporting materials.

I am excited by the possibility of joining the tenure-track faculty of the SMU Division of Music and hope that I may have the opportunity to discuss my credentials with you. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Mark Feezell, Ph.D.
Lecturer in Music Theory and Composition
Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas