Areas of Study

The Arkansas State University Band Program has something for every person’s musical ability and for every musical taste.  The Concert Ensembles, Jazz Ensembles, and Athletic Bands at Arkansas State offer more than an opportunity for musical excellence - they also provide an instant feeling of belonging, a chance to participate in some of the university's most popular classes and the opportunity to form life-long friendships.  As a member of the Arkansas State University Band Program, you will become part of an over 90-year tradition of musical excellence.  Membership in any of the performing groups is open to students from across campus, regardless of major.  More Information >>

As a brass player or percussionist at A-State, you can enjoy a lot of opportunities for involvement with others on your instrument in homogenous ensembles such as Tuba/Euphonium Choir, Trombone Choir, Horn Choir, Trumpet Ensemble, and Small and Large Percussion Ensembles. These groups are open to all A-State students regardless of major as well as other mixed chamber ensembles such as brass quintets. Music majors may perform in studio recitals, enroll in weekly studio classes, play in masterclasses from renowned guest artists, and attend regional workshops all for their individual instrument. Brass students also have the opportunity to collaborate with the A-State Faculty Brass Quintet and work closely with our renowned brass and percussion faculty members.

TRUMPET
Dr. Nairam Simoes, Assistant Professor of Trumpet
    FB @AStateTrumpet
    IG @astate.trumpet.studio

HORN
Dr. Juli Buxbaum, Assistant Professor of Horn
    FB @AStateHorns
    IG @AStateHorns

TROMBONE
Dr. Lucas Kaspar, Instructor of Trombone
    Website
    FB @AStateTrombones
    IG @AStateTrombones

TUBA & EUPHONIUM
Dr. Ed Owen, Professor of Tuba & Euphonium, Brass Area Coordinator

PERCUSSION
Dr. Brian Graiser, Instructor of Percussion
    Website
    FB @AStatePercussion

The A-State Choirs welcome all students and community singers to join an ensemble because we believe in the power of life-long music making. We are committed to an inclusive environment and performing a wide range of repertoire with musical excellence. A-State has a long and distinguished history of preparing great choral directors and singers for careers in music. More Information >>

The Composition area at A-State is for students who wish to develop their love of music through creation of original works. While there is still an emphasis on performing and developing musical understanding through independent study of the student’s individual instrument, the composition studios hone their unique craft in private and group lessons to create their own original music. Electronic and acoustic music is emphasized but above all performance of these original works is encouraged. Music by A-State composition students have the opportunity to have their music performed by fellow music students, faculty, and even large ensembles such as the A-State Orchestra.

Dr. Timothy Crist, Professor of Theory and Composition

Dr. Paul Lessard, Instructor of Theory and Composition, Coordinator of Theory and Composition

A-State Jazz Studies is an exciting and energetic program that includes two jazz big bands, a variable number of jazz combos, and courses in jazz history, jazz theory, and improvisation. A-State Jazz ensembles have traveled across the country to events such as the 2019 Greeley Jazz Festival in Greeley, Colorado, however residents of Jonesboro have ample opportunity to hear the members of the A-State Jazz program as it is widely visible throughout the community. The A-State Jazz Ensembles perform several concerts a semester while members of the A-State Jazz program frequently perform in small combos throughout the Jonesboro community. High School students may enjoy participating in the annual Delta Jazz Workshop each summer.  For students interested in pursuing Jazz further, A-State offers a minor in Jazz Studies.   More Information >>

Piano students at Arkansas State enjoy many opportunities to perform and gain practical experience, so they can become well-rounded musicians and teachers.  There are weekly Studio Classes, master classes with renowned guest artists, chamber music, jazz, and organ.  We have piano pedagogy classes and lectures, an MTNA Collegiate Chapter, and opportunities to attend local, state, regional, national, and international conferences and festivals.  Students collaborate with vocalists. instrumentalists, and choirs.  Collaborative performances are treated the same as solo performances, with piano faculty and other non-piano faculty members offering insights and suggestions.  There are excellent performance instruments in both the Recital Hall and Riceland Hall, the latter of which has two Steinway D Pianos.  Students also have the opportunity to collaborate with esteemed piano faculty members.   More Information >>

A-State offers both a Bachelor of Music Education-Instrumental and a Bachelor of Music Education-Vocal degree. Students that successfully complete all undergraduate degree requirements, and pass their Praxis Music Content Knowledge Test, will be eligible for their Arkansas Music K-12 Teaching License.  Graduates of the A-State Music Education program leave their degree podium-ready with the knowledge and skills to thrive as a teacher in an elementary and secondary school setting. 

A-State also offers a Master of Music Education degree. Graduates will earn a degree that provides them a foundation in music education research, as well as offers supplemental practioner information that will build on the skills and knowledge they have acquired in their undergraduate degrees. Graduates of the A-State MME will be ready for their next professional step, whether that be entering or returning to the elementary/secondary school classroom or going on in higher education to earn a doctoral degree.

More Information >>

Music Industry students at A-State are likely to have a keen interest in music alongside an entrepreneurial attitude and interest in data systems, technology, community engagement, social media strategy, and leadership. In this degree, students will be comprehensively prepared to embark upon a professional career through a body of knowledge and skills in music industry and business, and will be able to demonstrate the ability to integrate and synthesize a wide range of competencies in work acceptable for public exhibition, publication, or use in one or more sectors of the music industry. 

The Arkansas State University String Area is committed to promoting the excellence of performance in music across Arkansas and includes study in violin, viola, cello, bass, and guitar. All active string players across the university and surrounding community are welcome to participate in the various performance offerings which include orchestra, youth orchestra, chamber music, and private lessons and independent study. Outside of these performance opportunities, A-State also regularly hosts inspiring performances by world-renowned string ensembles such as the Juilliard String Quartet and 6-Wire Trio.

Our professional string faculty at A-State are active as performing members of regional orchestras, chamber musicians, and soloists with a passion for teaching and local outreach. As the only String Project site recognized by the National String Project Consortium in the state of Arkansas, A-State string students receive valuable teaching experience providing lessons to local K-12 students at minimal cost.  More Information >>

Faculty and students of the Voice Area regularly perform in opera, concert, and recital both on and off campus. Students perform weekly in for the Music Department and as part of their applied studio, and also in solo and studio recitals once or twice per year. Our students have won and placed in state and regional in NATS competitions each of the last several years. The Voice Area has four faculty members and serves over 70 students pursuing degrees in Music Education, Music Performance, Music Composition, Musical Theatre, a Minor in Music, or taking voice electively. Recent alumni of the B.M. Voice Performance degree have been accepted and continued in graduate study at national first tier programs.

A-State voice faculty have expertise in lyric diction, vocal and performing health, solo literature, performance practice, and opera studies, and are frequent recitalists on campus, regionally, and internationally. Their research has been recognized by professional conferences and publications such as the Music by Women Festival, Performing Arts Medical Association Conference, and The Voice Foundation. Our faculty collaborate together in monthly Pack Studio masterclass and performance settings to offer the best experience or our students.     More Information >>

Woodwinds at A-State perform regularly in mixed and homogenous chamber ensembles such as woodwind quintets, Clarinet Choir, Double Reed Choir, and saxophone quartets. These groups are open to all A-State students regardless of major. Music majors may perform in studio recitals, enroll in weekly studio and reed-making classes, play in masterclasses from renowned guest artists, and attend regional workshops all for their individual instrument. Woodwind students also have the opportunity to collaborate with the esteemed faculty members of the A-State Faculty Woodwind Quintet.

FLUTE
Dr. Stephanie Hoeckley, Assistant Professor of Flute
    Website
    FB @AStateFluteStudio
    IG @astateflutestudio

OBOE & BASSOON
Dr. Kristin Leitterman, Assistant Professor of Oboe & Bassoon, Woodwind Area Coordinator
    Website
    FB @astatedoublereeds
    IG @astatedoublereeds

CLARINET
Dr. Erin Cameron, Assistant Professor of Clarinet
    FB @astateclarinets
    IG @astateclarinets

SAXOPHONE
Dr. Elissa Kana, Instructor of Saxophone
    FB @astatesaxes
    IG @astatesaxophones