Adam Shanley

I earned a PhD in Music Theory from the University of Oregon in 2016 where I specialized in serial music analysis and popular music analysis with a supporting area of Intermedia Music Technology. My dissertation explored the impact writing for the guitar had on Anton Webern's middle and late period music. At the University of Oregon I taught a variety of undergraduate music courses as a Graduate Teaching Fellow. Between graduating with my Masters and beginning the PhD program I was an adjunct instructor at SUNY Fredonia in Western New York. Excerpts from my dissertation, as well as other papers and syllabi I have written can be found on my Academia page.My blog, where I review new, independently released music can be found at Quartertonality.com

My background as a composer and guitarist, earning a B.Mus. and M.M. in Composition and Classical Guitar performance has found me continually creating new music. My music now is written for guitars in more of a "rock band" setting, though with a focus on extended harmonies, intricate counterpoint, and idiosyncratic song forms. These recordings can be found on my bandcamp page.

I developed an interest in coding early in 2017, and have since started learning all that I can through FreeCodeCamp.com, and KhanAcademy.com, as well as classes on Udemy, and the Edx platform. My studies in coding have focused around Python and SQL mostly, but I have also become increasingly interested in design. To that end I'm working through the Front-End Development curriculum in Free Code Camp, with plans to eventually complete the Full Stack curriculum. I have posted some of my code to my GitHub page, and periodically blog about my journey on Medium.

I have been an adjunct instructor in the Humanities Department at Motlow State Community College in Smyrna, Tennessee since 2018, teaching MUS 1030: Introduction to Music in both classroom and online settings. Additionally, I offer personalized tutoring in an array of musical topics, as well as guitar lessons through the online platform Wyzant.

In 2013, while working toward my PhD at the University of Oregon, I was awarded a Graduate Teaching Fellowship, which allowed me the opportunity to teach undergraduate classes in music theory and ear training. As a Graduate Teaching Fellow I was also given the opportunity to design an advanced analysis class for undergraduates who had already completed their core music theory courses. My class studied the music of Radiohead, which allowed me to introduce students to more advanced concepts in musical analysis such as transformational theory, while preparing them for graduate studies. A syllabus for that class can be viewed here.

My teaching experience extends further back, to SUNY Fredonia where I was an adjunct instructor of music theory for the 2009-2010 academic year. While earning my Master's at that same institution one year previous, I was awarded a first of its kind in the theory department graduate teaching assistantship that allowed me to begin my training as a pedagogue. In addition to teaching music theory classes at this time at SUNY Fredonia, I also taught beginning Classical Guitar lessons to non-music major undergraduates.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or job opportunities. Thank you.