CIC is coming, along with the 2nd Symposium on LGBT Studies and Music Education. Full schedule and details at this link. My colleagues Jeananne Nichols and Bridget Sweet are co-chairs have worked tirelessly, along with the rest of us to make sure we have a great conference. Below are the aspects where I’ll most be involved.

Wednesday, October 17

9 p.m. Homebrew Ukulele Union sing-along
The Homebrew Ukulele Union will share a sing-along after the opening night reception, part of the traditional pool tournament. Members and friends, as well as all conference attendees, are invited to bring or borrow a uke and join us (Starting around 9 p.m. at Crane Alley).

Thursday, October 18

11:15 a.m. “What’s Happening with Academic Freedom?” Smith Memorial Room
It will be an honor to introduce the 11:15 a.m. session by Cary Nelson. There’s plenty about him on his website. We’re very glad to promote dialogue with Cary, who served as President of the American Association of University Professors from 2006-2012.

2:30 p.m. “The Menace of John Philip Sousa: Sound Recording, Media, and Music Education”  2:30 p.m. Monsanto Multimedia Studio in the lower level of the ACES library, (with Jonathan Sterne via teleconference)
I will be presenting on some of the implications for music education of John Philip Sousa’s views on performance and sound recording as evidenced in his famous 1906 essay “The Menace of Mechanical Music.” This is part of the book project I am working on as a Faculty Fellow at the Illinois Program for Research in the Humanities. You don’t need to read Sousa’s essay, but if you wish to here’s a scan (courtesy of the Sousa Archive). Jonathan Sterne, my favorite thinker about sound and technology, has graciously agreed to participate via teleconference. Those within the Univeristy of Illinois enjoy electronic access to his new book MP3: The Meaning of a Format, and others should visit his website (which has syllabi, many essays and articles, etc.).

Friday, October 19
12:30 p.m: Tour the Sousa Archive and Center for American Music (the Archive is on the second floor of the Harding Band Building)
The archive has an amazing collection of music, technology, historic instruments, and documents. Stop by for an informal tour with Scott Schwartz. I will also be along for the fun.