Welcome
Welcome to the website of Brian Thacker, Assistant Professor of Music at Bethel University in McKenzie, Tennessee. My duties at Bethel University include teaching the low brass studio, brass methods, music theory, and music industry courses dealing with technology. Before my appointment at Bethel I worked at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in the School of Music as an Instructional Technology Consultant. In that position I collaborated with faculty on integrating technology in the classroom, performance studies courses, and distance education.
Bethel Recording Studio
Being one of the professors in the Music Industry Studies program, this past fall semester (2011) I was tasked to design a recording studio facility to be constructed in the "new" music building in the space formally used for the University Bookstore. My design was used for the construction of the facility that took place this spring semester (2012), and with the exception of some acoustical treatments construction is complete. This summer the facility is to be completed fitted with professional
… Read more...February Solo Recital
Last night I presented a recital at Bethel University, in McKenzie Tennessee. Being the first solo recital I have given in several years, I was quite pleased with how it turned out. I have posted some videos from my performance on this site under the Audio & Video Clips section of About Me. The performance space at Bethel makes for a challenging experience as a soloist. Turner Recital Hall
… Read more...Ska Jazz Series
Starting with the new year (2012) I am planning on creating a new audio series for the site. It will consist of Ska versions of jazz standards. Why Ska? Two reasons: Its a genre near and dear to my heart Its very easy to create Ska rhythm section parts in GarageBand on the iPad I see this as a way to better familiarize myself with all of the technological wonders I have available to me,
… Read more...Hector Berlioz on the Trombone
"In my opinion the trombone is the true head of that family of wind instruments which I have named the epic one. It possesses nobility and grandeur to the highest degree; it has all the serious and powerful tones of sublime musical poetry, from religious, calm and imposing accents to savage, orgiastic outbursts. Directed by the will of a master, the trombones can chant like a choir of
… Read more...ITA Back Issue PDFs
A few years ago I scanned almost all of the ITA Journals and Newsletters up to the year 2004 into searchable PDFs for my own personal use. Dr. Randy Kohlenberg and myself offer those PDFs to the ITA who at that time had no interest in electronic versions. With the continued moving of back issues from UNCG to the ITA Archives, the subject was once again broached on behalf of the ITA by Magnus
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