Has your administration said you must add another elective, and looked to you for guidance on what to add? Are you interested in teaching positions that include teaching Music Technology courses, but nervous what they might look like? In their session, Tyler Ehrlich and Brooke VanKempen will share Music Technology curriculum that will fit any budget, must-have resources, common problems and solutions, and ideas on how to balance the workload between ensemble teaching and music technology.
Tyler Ehrlich
- Biographical Information
Tyler Ehrlich is the Associate Director of Bands at Centennial High School, where he is involved in instruction and administration of the concert bands, marching band, chamber ensembles, and music technology. In addition to his responsibilities at Centennial, Mr. Ehrlich also serves as Interim Conductor of the Emory Wind Ensemble and Associate Conductor of the Atlanta Wind Symphony.
Prior to joining the faculty at Centennial, Ehrlich completed his Master of Music Degree in Conducting from The University of Georgia. Additionally, he holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree summa cum laude from Cornell University, where his studies concentrated in music and computer science. While at Cornell, Ehrlich served as the teaching assistant for the Cornell Wind Ensembles, and directed pit orchestras for Ithaca’s largest student musical theater organization, The Melodramatics Theatre Company.
Funded by research grants from the Consortium of College and University Media Centers and UGA’s Ideas for Creative Exploration Lab, Mr. Ehrlich has worked with Dr. Cynthia Johnston Turner to bring their ideas involving conducting technology to fruition. They have presented their research at several of the largest band conferences in the world: The College Band Directors National Association National Conference, The World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles International Conference, and The Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. Work that he has completed has been featured in The Verge and USA Today.
Ehrlich lives in Atlanta, Georgia with his partner, Brent Allman, a PhD student at Emory University.
Brooke VanKempen is currently Director of Bands at Dacula High School. Before Dacula, she served as Co-Director of Bands at Archer High School since 2015. While at Archer High School, Brooke contributed to the band program by running marching and jazz band rehearsals as well as all band classes. She also wrote and received a grand to add technology devices for the band, began teaching music technology, began the Modern Music Masters Club, and started Archer’s first Winter Guard.
A native of Forsyth County, GA, she is a 2015 honor graduate of The University of Georgia where she received her Bachelor's degree in Music Education. While at the University of Georgia, she served as the drum major of the Redcoat Marching Band for two years and worked with the University Band as a Guest Conductor. Brooke also served as Vice President of the Collegiate National Association for Music Education. Her studies include conducting with Dr. Jaclyn Hartenberger and Dr. Michael Robinson and tuba with Professor David Zerkel. She is also a Tubist with the Northwinds Community Band. As an educator, Ms. VanKempen serves actively as a clinician, adjudicator, and a private instructor for conducting. Her professional affiliations include Georgia Music Educators’ Association and the National Association for Music Education.