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Dennis G. Waring, Ph.D.

Areas of Expertise

Ethnomusicologist: General World Music; Western Musicology; Popular Musics; Organology; Music of Latin America, Music and Folklore of North America; Music of Africa and the African Diaspora

Educator: University lecturer in Western and non-Western music and multicultural education; Consultant in curricular development and teacher education; Thirty years teaching experience

Performer: Practicing multi-instrumentalist musician; Woodwind specialist; Performance skills in classical, folk, jazz, and world idioms

Presenter: Public ethnomusicology; Multicultural specialist; Presenter for educational conferences, inservice workshops, clinics, school programs, community outreach; Arts advocacy facilitator

Instrument Maker: Expert woodworker/luthier; Design and make traditional and original musical instruments; Organology specialist; Instrument collector; Authored four instrument books

Author: Great Folk Instruments To Make and Play, Cool Cardboard Instruments To Make and Play, and Make Your Own Electric Guitar and Bass, Manufacturing the Muse: Estey Organs and Consumer Culture in Victorian America, Making Drum

Professional Experience

Wesleyan University

Curator, Wesleyan World Music Collection of Instruments, 1980-87.

Curatorial Consultant, Wesleyan World Music Collection of Instruments 2003 - 2004

Performer, Wesleyan World Percussion Festival, 2000

Faculty, Graduate Liberal Arts Program, American Music Course,1987-2003

Faculty, Center For Creative Youth, Gifted and Talented Summer Program,1985-90

 

 

University of Pittsburgh

Semester at Sea Program, Shipboard ethnomusicologist for around the world voyage,1999

University of Connecticut

Adjunct Faculty in Music Education and World Music, 1994-97

Full-time Faculty, 1993-94

Visiting Faculty, 1988

Trinity College

Visiting Lecturer in Ethnomusicology, 1996

Eastern Connecticut State University

Adjunct Faculty in Fine Arts and Continuing Education, 1985-96

Consultant/Composer for ECSU Theater Department, 1994-96

New England Conservatory

Summer Faculty, Intercultural Institute, 1997

Brown University

Visiting Lecturer in Ethnomusicology, 1991

University of Vermont

Visiting Faculty In World Music, Continuing Education, 1993-95

Villanova University

Summer Faculty, Multicultural Specialist, 1994-2001

VanderCook College of Music

Visiting Lecturer in Multicultural Education, 1997-2000

Belmont College

Tennessee Academy for the Arts, Summer Faculty, Nashville, 1994

Central Connecticut State University

Summer Faculty and Guest Lecturer In World Music, Music Department, 1992-99

Southern Connecticut State University

Guest Lecturer, Multicultural Institute for Classroom Teachers, 1994-98

Duquesne University Music Institutes Tour

Education Specialist, Multicultural Music Education, 1991: Madonna College (Livonia, Mich.), The College of St, Catherine (Minneapolis), Fontbonne College (St. Louis)

University of Wisconsin

Visiting Artist, Summer Institute, 1990

Western Connecticut State University

Guest Lecturer In Music Education, 1989-92, 2001

University of Manitoba

Instructor, Summer Arts Programs, 1974-76

Administrator, "The Free University", Continuing Education Outreach, 1972-73

 

Formal Education

Doctor of Philosophy: Wesleyan University, 1987

Ethnomusicology; World music; Music of the USA; Music of the African diaspora;

Organology; Multicultural music education

Master of Arts: Wesleyan University, 1982

Ethnomusicology; World music; Music and Folklore of the United States; West African traditions; Latin American studies; Asian organology

Bachelor of Music Education: University of Kansas, 1967

K-12 specialist in general and instrumental music; Curricular development in the humanities

 

Scholarship and Academic Activity

Book Publications

Making Drums. Sterling/Tamos Publication, NYC, 2003

Manufacturing the Muse: Estey Organs and Consumer Culture in Victorian America, Wesleyan University Press, Middletown, Ct., 2002

Make Your Own Electric Guitar and Bass (with David Raymond). Sterling/Tamos Publication, NYC, 2001

Cool Cardboard Instruments To Make and Play. Sterling/Tamos Publication, NYC., 2000

Samba Batucada: A Course In Brazilian Samba (with Philip Galinsky). Waring Music, Middletown, Ct., 2000

Great Folk Instruments To Make and Play. Sterling/Tamos Publication, NYC., 1999

Making Folk Instruments In Wood. Sterling Press, NYC., 1981

Folk Instruments: Make Them & Play Them. Hyperion Press, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 1979

Curriculum Guide For Classroom Music. Manitoba Department of Education, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 1978

University Graduate Research

"The Estey Reed Organ: Imagination, Music, and Material Culture In Nineteenth-Century

America." Ph.D. Dissertation, Wesleyan University, 1987

"The Instrument Maker: With Special Emphasis On Contemporary Makers In New England."

Master's Thesis, Wesleyan University, 1983

Articles

Share the Music Series, McGraw/Hill School Division

"Horns are a Blast" 1995, 1998

Connecticut Music Educators News

"World Music: The Early Days" 1996

"Making Musical Instruments: Science and Sound" 1995

"Musical Instruments: Cultural Sonic Symbols" 1994

Sforzando (Minnesota Music Educators Association Magazine)

"Worlds of Musical Instruments" 1993

The Reed Organ Society Bulletin

"Advertising Music: Trade Card Iconography In Nineteenth-Century America" 1988

 

Papers and Presentations

Society for Ethnomusicology Annual Conference, 1993

"Popular Music and the Victorian Reed Organ"

Brattleboro Historical Society Conference(Vermont), 1991, Keynote Speaker

"Life and Legacy of Jacob Estey, Organ Builder"

The American Musical Instrument Society (N.Y.C.), 1989

"Victorian Advertising and America's Emerging Music Industry"

Miss Porter's School(Farmington, Ct.), 1989, Annual Lecture Series,

"Trends In African Music"

Smithsonian Institution (Washington, D.C.), 1983

Musical Instrument Lecture Presentations at the American Museum of History

Winnipeg Folklore Center (Manitoba), 1975-79

Lecture/Performance Series on Appalachian Folk Music

The Peter Whyte Gallery (Banff) and Harborfront Gallery (Toronto), 1978

"Revivals: Modern Lutherie In North America"

Conference and Institute Workshop Presentations

"The TransAtlantic Experience: Music From Africa To the Americas"

Johns Hopkins University, Peabody Conservatory of Music, Baltimore, 1998

Midwestern Music Educators Conference, Ann Arbor,1997

National Orff-Schulwerk Association, Memphis, 1996

Tennessee Music Educators State Convention, Nashville,1995

"Introduction To Latin American Music"

Johns Hopkins University, Peabody Conservatory of Music, Balitmore, 1998

Eastern Regional Music Educators National Conference, Baltimore,1997

New Jersey Music Educators Convention, Atlantic City, 1995

Hartt School of Music, Hartford, 1994, 1997, 2000

Massachusetts Music Educators Association, Boston,1994, 2001

"Integrating Multicultural Arts In the Classroom"

Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, 1993-98

University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, 1992

"Making Musical Instruments "

New Jersey Music Educators Convention, Atlantic City,1995

Connecticut Music Educators Convention, Watertown,1993-95, 1997, 2001

Columbia Teachers College, NYC, 2001

Public Sector Teaching Experience

Farmington School District, Farmington, Ct., 1993-94

Multicultural Consultant at High School, Scholar In Residence Program

Hartford Academy For the Performing Arts, Hartford, Ct., 1991

Gifted and Talented Program in Music, Dance and Theater

Center For Creative Youth, Wesleyan University, 1986-90

Summer Program for Gifted and Talented High School Arts Majors

East Hampton Public Schools, East Hampton, Ct., 1987

Grades K-8, Elementary and General Music

Whitby Montessori Center, Greenwich , Ct., 1985-86

Grades 4-6, Instrumental Music

St. John and St. Sebastian Parochial Schools, Middletown, Ct., 1985-86

Grades 4-8, Instrumental Music

Wilmington High School and Deerfield Elementary School, Wilmington Vt., 1984-85

Jr. and Sr. School Instrumental Program Concert and Jazz Bands, Grades 4-6 Instrumental Programs and Bands

Maplewood-South Orange School District, New Jersey, 1970-72

Grades 4-12, Instrumental Programs, Concert Bands, Marching Bands, Orchestra

Shawnee Mission School District, Kansas City, 1967-70

 

Performance Experience

 

Waring Music, Founder and Coordinator, 1987-2001

Public ethnomusicology enterprise offering a wide range of presentations and services including concerts, assembly presentations, lectures, arts facilitation and resources for educational and community institutions.

Sirius Coyote Music, 1985-2001

Trio specializing in Latin, Native American and pan-African musics. Incorporate native, folk, jazz and world music styles. Credits include one CD, five audio cassette productions and two video documentary soundtracks.

Viper's Dream, 1984-85

Jazz quartet featuring various styles of traditional jazz including early swing, Dixieland, blues, ragtime and stomps.

Stompers Old Time String Band, 1982-85

Traditional string band featuring music from folkloric America and the British Isles. Repertoire included Appalachian play party music, shape note hymnody, Bluegrass music,

ol' time mountain music, the blues, sea shanties, ballads and gospel.

Ten Penny Bit, 1973-79

Canadian folk troupe featuring the folk music of the USA, Canada and British Isles. Important resource in Winnipeg, Manitoba for various folklife activity in conjunction the Winnipeg Folk Festival.

Principle Clarinetist

Kansas City Civic Symphony Orchestra, 1967-70

University of Kansas, 1963-67

Concert Band, Marching Band, Symphonic Orchestra, Opera Orchestra, Chamber Music

Midwestern Music and Art Camp, 1961-63

Concert Band, Symphonic Orchestra, Woodwind Quintet

 

Grants and Funding

The Connecticut Commission on the Arts 1987-2003

Master Teaching Artist: Community and Public School Programs, Workshops, and Residencies

HOTs School Program: 1998 Summer Institute Instructor

The Crosby Foundation 1998

Funding for advanced research leading to publication with Wesleyan University Press

Young Audiences of Connecticut 1997-2003

School Presentations and Teacher Inservice Programs

Connecticut Department of Education 1980-93

Teacher Inservice Institutes

Seminars In Multicultural Education

Capital Region Education Council (CREC) 1988-90

Connecticut Institute for Teaching and Learning

Institutes In Multicultural Awareness

The Connecticut Humanities Council

Festival of New England Folk Music 1984

Awarded Scholar/Artist Residency, Bridgeport and Fairfield 1989

Wesleyan University 1980-84

Graduate Assistantships

Bright Solutions, Inc. 1983-90

Funding for Artist-in-Schools residencies and state sponsored educational institutes

Traveling Artists and Performers Company (TAPCO) 1982-84

Funding for Artist-in-Schools Programs

Manitoba Arts Council, Manitoba, Canada 1977-80

Development of Educational Programs for Minorities

Artist-In-Schools Programs

Advanced Research, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.

Support for Publishing Book, "Folk Instruments: Make Them and Play Them"

Manitoba Department of Education 1978-80

Development of Provincial Curriculum Guide for Music Teachers

Produced Instructional Video Programs for Public Schools

Manitoba Department of Tourism, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs 1977-80

Music Training for Recreational Supervisors

 

Media Productions

Documentary Video Soundtracks:

The Noble Savage by Bernard Moreau 1990

Train Ride In the Sky - Paraview Productions, NYC. 1992

Educational Video Production:

Art As a Way of Knowing - Farmington High School Music and Art Departments1993

Audio Productions:

Todo Lo Bueno - Original compositions by Sirius Coyote 2001

From the Land of the Nahuatl - A compact disk of Sirius Coyote performing ancient, folkloric and contemporary Latin American music 1999

Baila Bonito - Sirius Coyote Music, Dance music of Latin America 1994

Let's Get Serious - Sirius Coyote Music, Educational tape on Latin America 1993

El Retorno de Quetzalcoatl - Sirius Coyote with Puente de Wirikuta 1992

Dedicated To the Wild - Sirius Coyote Music, Music from Africa and Latin America 1991

The El Dorado Tapes - Collaboration with the NYC Bozon Band, World Music 1989

The Stompers - Stringband Music of Ireland and the USA 1986

The Ten Penny Bit - Music of the British Isles, Folk Music 1978

Music Composed for Theater:

The Ice Wolf by Joanna Halpert Kraus, Harry Hope Theater, Eastern Connecticut State University 1996

The Good Woman of Szechwan by Bertolt Brecht, Harry Hope Theater, Eastern Connecticut State University 1995

The Art of Dining by Tina Howe, Studio Theater, University of Connecticut 1994

 

Positions Held

Connecticut State Troubadour:  2003 - 2004

Editor: Multicultural Column for Connecticut Music Educators Association's magazine 1994-97

Chairman: Connecticut Music Educators Association Multicultural Committee 1994-95

Entrepreneur: Waring Music: Resources for a Diverse World 1987-2003

-Sirius Coyote Music: Public ethnomusicology business, Watertown, Ct. 1986-98

-The Woodwrights: Woodworking business, Winnipeg, Canada 1975-79

Organizer: Multicultural Music Area for the CMEA Conference 1994

-Conference on "Folk Music Traditions of New England," Wesleyan University 1984

-Seminar on "Grantsmanship In the Arts," Wesleyan University 1984

President: Wesleyan Graduate Student Association 1984-85, Executive Council 1993-94

-"The Wesleyan Friends of Old Time Music" 1984-87

-University of Kansas Chapter of the Music Educators National Conference 1967

Consultant: Multicultural consultant for second edition of Music! Its Role and Importance in Our Lives, Glencoe, McGraw-Hill Publishers, NY,NY 1998

Personal Resources

Instrument Collection: Hundreds of musical instruments from every part of the world; most are in working condition, many are unique and valuable.

Home Recording Studio: Korg T-3 keyboard synthesizer, Alesis eight track ADAT digital recorder, Mackie sixteen channel mixer, Digitech digital signal processor, Sony TC-D5M audio tape recorder, two Shure microphones and stands, PC computer, MIDI editing station with sequencing software, AKG headphones, eight channel "snake", patch bays, Pevey monitor, Tascam CD burner.

Woodworking Shop: Complete professional woodworking studio including Ryobi radial arm saw, Rockwell Delta band saw, Craftsman drill press, Inca joiner/planer, Craftsman stationary sander, extensive selection of hand tools, large stock of domestic and exotic woods.

Media Collection/Library: Extensive professional library of over a thousand books, five hundred audio cassette and reel to reel tapes, four hundred CDs, a thousand LPs and almost two hundred instructional and documentary videos.

Office Equipment: Macintosh Performa 6300CD, Powerbook 1400c laptop computer, Modem, E- mail, Internet Connection, Canon photocopy machine, Sharp FAX machine, digital scanner.

 

Exhibitions

Wesleyan Potters Crafts Cooperative, Exhibitions and Sales 1987-2000

Von der Mehden Hall, University of Connecticut: Display of handmade instruments 1995

Akus Gallery, Eastern Connecticut State University: Faculty Show 1992

Center for the Arts, Zhilka Gallery, Wesleyan University: Hand-crafted musical instruments made in the World Instrument Workshop 1984

New England Early Music Festival and Exhibition, Boston: Handmade historical and ethnic instruments by contemporary makers 1984-85

Peter Whyte Gallery, Banff, Canada: Exhibit and lecture on contemporary lutherie in Canada 1979

Harborfront Gallery, Toronto, Canada: Exhibit and lecture on contemporary Canadian lutherie 1979

First Place Awards in Juried Craft Competitions:

The Manitoba Museum of Man and Nature: Juried Art Show, "Best of Show" Award 1979

Winnipeg Folk Festival and Crafts Show 1978

 

Fairs and Festivals

Clearwater Hudson River Revival, N.Y. Display and sales of musical instruments 1994-96

Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, N.Y. Display and sales of musical instruments 1996-99

Sono Art and Craft Festival, Ct. Performance, display and sales of instruments 1993-95

Amenia Peace Festival, N.Y. Performance, display and sales of instruments 1993-96

Winnipeg Folk Festival, Canada. Performance, display and sales of instruments 1974-79

Pumpkin Creek Festival, Kenora, Canada. Performance, display and sales on instruments 1975-77

Mariposa Folk Festival, Toronto, Canada. Performance and workshop 1977

Folklorama Multicultural Festival, Winnipeg, Canada. City-wide festival. Performances in several city Pavilions 1977-79

Festival of Life and Learning, University of Manitoba, Canada. Performances 1978-79

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