Kevin Bleau

"I'm attracted to so many different aspects of music: performing on keyboards, voice, and trombone; writing musical theater shows, concert music, and arrangements; and studying works by masters of all styles. Since I teach in several different departments, I help students realize the importance of being well-rounded."

"All the courses I teach involve writing music, but I include a lot of ear training to get the sound of rhythms, chords, and melodies in their ear, since students are often used to learning music by ear."

"Arranging music is a very powerful discipline. Arrangers tell performers how to play by the marks they write on the page, so I tell my students to embrace that power. Be clear. Be specific. And insist that performers follow your instructions."