Category: Teaching & Learning

I still credit Dr. Noize as being one of the foundational experiences in my musical journey… Truly your program changes lives! Who knows what I’d be majoring in at Vanderbilt if not for Phineas McBoof! I’m majoring in percussion performance with a minor in business, focusing on arts administration and sustainability… Whoo boy that’s a mouthful!

Songwriter, musician, and college professor Cory Cullinan mentored middle school students atNorth Routt Community Charter School in winter 2023. Over the course of six weeks, twoin-person workshops, and one Zoom session, Cory led the students in writing an original songinspired by their history curriculum. All lyrics were written by the students.After the residency, 100% of students surveyed reported feeling more comfortable talkingto and asking questions of adults who are not teachers,100% of students surveyedreported feeling more confident to share their ideas, and 75% of students surveyedreported feeling good about their abilities to be creative.

Chowning’s lectures and performances, hosted by Cullinan in Colorado this February, will further celebrate his legacy. This collaboration underscores the mutual respect between mentor and protégé, showcasing the dynamic relationship between past innovation and present creativity.

Cory Cullinan gave a fabulous workshop! Thanks for capturing part of it @kids.radio!!

It’s such a joy to work with colleagues at CU Denver College of Arts & Media like Cory Cullinan, who is collaborating with Konshens The MC to Funk The Earth — lifting up positivity and support of United Nations sustainable development goals through arts, media and culture. Cultural well-being!

Thank you for inspiring me as an amazing teacher in my life.

Cory, that video was absolutely beautiful! Keep up your amazing work and inspiring the musical artists of the future!

Cory, I wanna be you when I grow up! Thank you for inspiring me to be the best I can be!

Every time he does it, I tell myself I should tell you. Finally, this time I will. For the umpteenth time, when I went into his bedroom to ask how school and homework are going, Polo jumps up from his work and animatedly begins telling stories about your class. He resets his CD player to a specific track from The Messiah and goes into what makes that part so appealing to him, then, after another moment, says enthusiastically, “He’s such a great teacher!” and “Did you know it’s a round? He had us sing Row Row Row Your Boat to show us what a fugue is!” This, plus more about you at the keyboard, in front of the class, etc., goes on for about 10 minutes before I remind him that I didn’t come in to disturb his homework or distract him, just to check in… “Oh yeah…” he’ll say as he heads back into his room (his retelling includes coming out to pick out some melodies on the piano). I couldn’t keep it in because his increasing love of music is creditable solely to you and it makes me very, very happy. And if I were you, I’d sure want to know that what I do and how I do it is making a very big difference. Thank you.

I just spent 5 years at college studying music history and theory that you managed to teach me in just a couple semesters back in high school… I don’t think that I so much as encountered one name, piece or music characteristic in college that I was not already familiar with.