Title/Position: Lecturer, Jazz Vocal
Profile:Why did you choose music as your career?
I believe that music choose me and not the other way around. Music has been a significant part of my life since the age of 4 when I was first introduced to the piano. At first, music was a means for escape into a whole different world but as I got older it became a way to express myself and share my thoughts and feelings with others. Once I realized the incredible impact that music could have on people and its ability to bring people together, I knew that I had to make it my life’s work to help others discover the joy and passion that is so intrinsic to this art form.
What would you say are the most outstanding highlights of your professional life?
• Being fortunate enough to work with incredible students as the director of the vocal jazz programs at Northern Illinois University, The University of the Arts, and The University of North Texas, as well as all my contact with UM students as a graduate teaching assistant and lecturer at The Frost School of Music
• Sharing the stage with the inspirational vocalist Bobby McFerrin
• Playing for a crowd of 30,000 people in Grant Park in Chicago, IL
• Seeing my students go on to accomplish fantastic things in their careers
• Hearing from past students that they appreciated what I shared with them during their time with me
What do you hope to pass on to your students?
I hope that students with whom I come in contact will become life-long learners, contribute something positive to society, and pursue their dreams and aspirations with passion and vigor.
What is your teaching philosophy? What do you expect from students at the Frost School of Music?
I believe that a teacher’s job is to motivate a student to thirst for knowledge, challenge them to think and reason critically, and above all expect more from themselves each and every day. I strive to articulate these characteristics with each and every interaction I have with my students at the Frost School of Music.
Short Biography:
Tim Brent is a jazz vocal lecturer at the University of Miami Frost School of Music. He was most recently the director of vocal jazz studies at the University of North Texas, assistant professor of jazz vocal studies at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, and director of the vocal jazz program at Northern Illinois University. Brent earned both master’s and doctoral degrees in jazz pedagogy and jazz performance from the University of Miami Frost School of Music where he was also a teaching assistant under program director Larry Lapin. He received his bachelor’s degree in choral music education from Western Michigan University where he was a member of the vocal jazz ensemble Gold Company. He is a nine-time DownBeat award-winning vocal jazz educator, pianist, arranger and performer and has had vocal arrangements published by the University of Northern Colorado Jazz Press and Sound Music Publications, and numerous works performed by high school, college, and community vocal groups throughout the country including Gold Company, the UNT Jazz Singers and Frost JV 1 & JV II Ensembles.
