Working/Functional Title
Ast. Professor of Music Composition and Technology
Position Summary
The College of Music at Michigan State University invites applications for a renewable fixed term (full-time, non-tenure track) Assistant Professor of Music Composition and Technology to begin August 16, 2024. The ideal candidate will have a strong profile as a composer, sound artist, programmer, and/or performer-improviser whose artistic practice engages creatively with technology and with a range of genres and music traditions. We interpret technology expansively at MSU, including live/interactive electronics, commercial music production, film/tv and game music, creative multimedia, sonification, and others. Experience working as a commercial composer, producer, or sound engineer is desirable but not required. We encourage applications from those who are interested in interdisciplinary collaboration and can contribute to cross-college initiatives and projects, including working in the College of Music’s new Immersive Sound Studio and developing technology and production courses for performance, music education, and jazz majors.
Responsibilities:
- Maintain creative practice and demonstrated accomplishments as a composer/artist.
- Teach and develop courses for undergraduate and graduate music composition majors as well as non-majors, including students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Music. Teach up to five courses per year in the following areas according to the applicant’s strengths and interests:
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- Introduction to Electronic and Computer Music
- Real Time and Interactive Composition
- Mixing and Mastering/Audio Editing
- Commercial Music Production
- Electronic/Electroacoustic Improvisation Ensemble Performance
- Recording Techniques for Musicians
- Contemporary Songwriting
- Spatialized/Ambisonic Composition
- Sound design/Sound art/Sound installation
- Scoring for Film and/or Video Games
- Instrument Design/Sound Synthesis
- Intermedia and Multimedia
- Sonification
- Other areas of interest or specialization
- Supervise the Electronic and Media Arts Facilities, which include the new Immersive Sound Studio, a Dolby Atmos workspace. Collaborate with the College of Music media technical assistant to provide support and assistance for guest artists whose work incorporates music technology.
- Mentor undergraduate and graduate students in the music composition program doing creative work in areas of faculty expertise.
- Develop curriculum and participate in planning and design in a range of cross-college initiatives and collaborative projects. Participate in shared governance at the department, college, and university level as needed.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.
Required Degree
- Master’s degree in Music Composition, Music Technology, or a related field, or Bachelor’s degree and equivalent professional experience in the music industry.
Minimum Requirements
- Master’s degree in Music Composition, Music Technology, or a related field, or Bachelor’s degree and equivalent professional experience in the music industry.
- Body of research and/or creative work as evidenced through performances and recordings, publications, and/or software development.
- Evidence of 1-3 years of successful teaching experience at the university level, or equivalent teaching experience in the private sector.
- Expertise with industry-standard software and hardware used in music production and technology, including DAWs and software and/or hardware for interactive electronic music performance.
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through research, teaching, and service.
Desired Qualifications
- Strong connections to the music industry, including but not limited to recording, music production, film/game music, sound design, or research and development in music technology fields.
- Experience mentoring students or colleagues on independent projects.
- Success recruiting or a desire/plan to recruit university students, and/or experience in creating collaborative teams in relevant creative industries.
Required Application Materials
To apply please visit the MSU job postings website (careers.msu.edu) and select posting number 926168 in the faculty/academic staff section. Please include the following:
- A letter of application addressing your interest and experience related to the required qualifications, including a statement as to how your work aligns with the MSU 2030 Strategic Plan.
- Curriculum vitae including five references with contact information.
- A PDF document with links to audio or video recordings of your work totaling no more than 10 minutes. If submitting longer works, please include guidelines indicating where to begin and end listening. You may also provide context or explanation of the above works, if applicable.
- Optional PDF of scores or other written documentation for the above works.
Special Instructions
Application review will begin on February 19, 2024. Applications will be reviewed continuously and will be accepted until the position is filled. For more information about the College, please visit our website at www.music.msu.edu
Review of Applications Begins On
02/19/2024
Website
www.music.msu.edu
Department Statement
With 85 faculty members, the Michigan State University College of Music serves approximately 600 majors and offers a comprehensive range of degree programs from baccalaureate through the doctorate. For more information about the College, please visit our website at www.music.msu.edu
MSU Statement
Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.
