Rate My Professor Jeff Bright

Dr. Jeff Bright is Head of the Department of Music and Professor of Music at Arkansas State University, Newport. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus, M.Ed. and B.S.E. from the University of Arkansas. Dr. Bright possesses thirty-one years of experience teaching music at secondary and postsecondary institutions. Before joining Arkansas State University, Newport, he served on the faculties at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky, directing all athletic bands, the Symphonic Band, coordinating the graduate music program, and teaching graduate and undergraduate music education courses. Previously, at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, he held the position of Director of Bands, managing all band activities and providing instruction in low brass applied lessons. During his secondary school teaching tenure, the ensembles he directed regularly achieved superior ratings and best-in-class awards.

Dr. Bright actively contributes to music education scholarship and practice. He is a regular contributor to the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series and has published research articles in Contributions to Music Education. He has delivered presentations at national and state conventions of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) and at College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) athletic band symposiums. Maintaining a busy schedule as an adjudicator and clinician across the United States and internationally, Dr. Bright is affiliated with professional organizations including Phi Beta Mu Bandmasters Fraternity, American School Band Directors Association (ASBDA), College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), College Music Society (CMS), Music Educators National Conference (MENC), Kappa Kappa Psi, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Notable honors include selection as the Third District College/University Teacher of the Year in 2010 by the Kentucky Music Educators Association and the Potter College of Arts and Letters Teaching Excellence Award for the 2012-2013 academic year from his Western Kentucky University colleagues. Among courses he has taught are MUS 6013 Introduction to Music Education Research, MUS 6023 Music Curriculum and Assessment, MUS 1751 Orientation to Music, and recital attendance requirements.