Rate My Professor Joseph Akins

Dr. Joseph Akins is a Professor in the Department of Recording Industry at Middle Tennessee State University, where he has been a faculty member since August 2000, marking over 25 years of service as recognized in the university's service awards luncheon in December 2025. He plays a key role in several academic programs, including the B.S. in Audio Production, the M.F.A. in Recording Arts and Technologies, the Accelerated B.S./M.F.A. in Recording Arts and Technologies, and the B.S. in Interdisciplinary Media Concentration. Akins holds graduate faculty status for teaching in the Recording Industry, granted on September 24, 2021, and effective through Fall 2026. His contributions extend to student mentorship, serving as thesis director for honors projects such as "IN FLUX: A Study in Cross-Cultural Composition" by Clark Wilson and directing theses in prose and other areas. He has also supported student research presentations at Scholars Week.

Akins' research focuses on music technology and education. In 2006, he authored "Facilities Used For Introductory Electronic Music," published in the Journal of the Music and Entertainment Industry Educators Association (MEIEA Journal, Volume 6, Number 1). This study surveyed instructors from U.S. universities listed in the Audio Engineering Society's Directory of Educational Programs, gathering data on preferred computer operating systems, digital audio workstations, virtual instrument and synthesizer software, external hardware, course prerequisites, and lab facilities. The findings aim to guide institutions in building or enhancing introductory electronic music courses. Additionally, Akins published the instructional book "The Fundamentals of Synthesizer Programming" in 2021, providing in-depth coverage of synthesizer fundamentals, programming, playing, and recording techniques. In 2015, he received a nomination related to his work in recording industry, as noted in university faculty updates. His teaching includes courses such as Introduction to MIDI and Sound Synthesis (RIM 4190), aligning with his expertise in electronic music production.