Christopher J. Russell, Ph.D., is the author of the Technology in Music Education Blog. He is the is the Director of Choirs and is the Fine Arts Department Chair and is the Technology Coach at East Ridge High School in Woodbury, Minnesota. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Northwestern College, a Master of Arts in Music Education with a Choral Emphasis at the University of St. Thomas, and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Music from the University of Minnesota. He has also worked toward a Master of Divinity at Bethel Theological Seminary. He previously taught middle school music in the tropical climate of the Dominican Republic at the Carol Morgan School in Santo Domingo, and was the Director of Choirs at Park High School in Cottage Grove, Minnesota for twelve years. Dr. Russell is a lyric tenor and tubist, and in addition to his activities at East Ridge High School, he has been a guest conductor of the South Washington County Community Band, has directed the orchestra for the Woodbury Community Theater, and has sung with the Woodbury Community Theater, the Minnesota Chorale, and the Minnesota Opera. He has served on district technology committees in both the district where he works and the district where he lives. Dr. Russell has presented many sessions on the use of technology in Music Education at professional conferences including TIES (Technology Education Educational Services), MMEA (Minnesota Music Educators Association), IAMEA (Iowa Music Educators Association), the Perpich Center for the Arts, and NCACDA (North Central American Choral Directors Association). In 2012-2013, Dr. Russell will present at the ACDA of MN Summer Dialogue, WSMA (Wisconsin School Music Association), IAMEA, TIES, TMEA (Texas Music Educators Association), an MMEA. In his spare time, Dr. Russell enjoys riding his Victory Motorcycle and working with all kinds of technology, including an HP TouchPad that runs a version of Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). He is happily married to his wife Liz and has an thirteen-year-old stepson, Josh, a four-year-old son, Andy, and a baby boy Luke, born in 2012.
Availability for Consulting
Does your music program want training and advice on how to integrate technology into education? Dr. Russell is available (on a limited basis during the school year) to work in partnership with schools, advising them how to use technology in order to meet their educational objectives or overcome problems in all subject areas, not “just” music education.
In addition to his skills with iPads, iPhones, iPod Touches, and Mac and PC Computers, Dr. Russell is a SMART Certified Trainer on both PC and Mac platforms (version 10), and also holds certification on the use of SMART Response systems. As a technology coach, Dr. Russell is familiar with Finale, SmartMusic, PowerPoint, Microsoft Office, Apple iWork, and many other applications.
Dr. Russell is also available for lectures at technology conferences, music education conferences, and colleges and universities. He is open to sponsorship from companies or developers to present at sessions across the country and/or world.
For private training during a non-contractual day (based upon his teaching contract), Dr. Russell’s rate is $250 per day, plus travel expenses (mileage/air/car rental/hotel). During a contractual day, his fee would include all previous fees plus his daily rate of pay at his current teaching job for each day missed for your training sessions (as he would have to take leave without pay to present sessions at your location).
Please send an e-mail to techinmusiced @ g m a i l . c o m for further information.
