Careers in Commercial Music: An Introduction

Dr. Mark Crawford, Professor of Music at Tennessee State University, serves as the Coordinator of Commercial Music. He earned the Associate of Science degree and Bachelor of Science degree in Instrumental Music Education from Freed-Hardeman University, the Master of Education and Doctor of Education degrees from Vanderbilt University, and the Master of Music degree from Austin Peay University. Other studies include graduate hours from the University of Memphis and Middle Tennessee State University, undergraduate minors in Music Theory, Business Administration, and Psychology, as well as classes from University of Texas (San Antonio), Eastern Illinois University, Nashville Tech, and Harding University at Florence, Italy. In his role at TSU, Dr. Crawford advises all the Commercial Music students, teaches core classes, manages the Commercial Music Ensembles, and coordinates internship placement. He has taught music students from elementary age to adults, including general music, music appreciation, music business, community band, community chorus, school band, jazz band, music theater, and pop ensembles. In addition to his teaching, he stays active as a band manager, musician, composer/songwriter, and producer.

Dr. Robert L. Elliott serves as Head of the Department of Music at Tennessee State University.  He holds the Bachelor of Arts in Instrumental Music Education from the University of New Orleans, the Master of Music Education from Loyola University-New Orleans, and the Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Memphis.  His studies also include work at Northern Kentucky University, the University of Central Arkansas, and Duquesne University.  He was a school music teacher in and around New Orleans and has also taught at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and the University of Memphis. Dr. Elliott has been an author with Kendall Hunt since 2009. Prior to joining Kendall Hunt, he was an author with McGraw Hill for 10 years were he wrote the technology part for three edition of the Kamien publication. Dr. Elliott frequently serves as a consultant for other universities in the areas of music technology and music education, writes nationally distributed technology-based instructional materials in music, and is the author of the music appreciation course textbook, Our World, Our Music.  Dr. Elliott continues his career as an upright and electric bassist.