I believe in an individual approach to lessons and teaching, while also covering the broad spectrum of fundamentals needed for success in music. I want my students to leave every lesson with a clear view of what to work on and the inspiration and motivation to do their best work. Every student has the potential to be a great musician, express themselves, and have a deep love for what they do.
I have a doctorate in music performance from the University of Miami, along with a masters degree from the Manhattan School of Music. I am an active singer, songwriting, pianist, and teacher. My students have been accepted into the finest schools and conservatories in the world.
Dr. Charles L. Christenson
Curriculum Vitae
HIGHER EDUCATION
Degree Degree Date Major Institution Attended
D.M.A. 2020 Jazz Performance University of Miami 2017-2020
M.M. 2008 Jazz Performance Manhattan School of Music 2006-2008
B.M. 2005 Music Education Lawrence University 2001-2005
EXPERIENCE
Date Position/Employer
2020-Present Executive Director, Summer Spark Music Creator Camp (Non-profit)
Neenah, Wisconsin
2017-2020 Doctoral Fellow, Department of Studio Music and Jazz,
Frost School of Music, University of Miami
2011-2017 Department Head and Instructor, Department of Voice,
McNally Smith College of Music
2013-2016 Director of Graduate Program, McNally Smith College of Music
2009-2011 Creative Trainer, Apple Inc.
2008-2009 Program Coordinator, Young Peoples Division,
Manhattan School of Music
2007-2008 Graduate Fellow, Young Peoples Division, Manhattan School of Music
2005-2006 Student Teacher, Currie High School of the Performing Arts and
Volta Primary School, Chicago Public Schools
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY
Recordings as a Leader
Spring 2021 beddside (expected)
July 2017 Standards, Vol. 2
November 2016 Standards, Vol. 1
December 2014 American Mistletoe
November 2013 Shipwreckee
Doctoral Essay
2020 A Study of Vocal Technique Through the Development of Four Advanced
Études for Jazz and Contemporary Vocalists
Additional Recordings
2009 Jazz Mass, Ike Sturm
2009 The Greatest Gift, Alexis Cole
Recitals
2020 D.M.A. Jazz Lecture Recital, Frost School of Music
2019 D.M.A. Jazz Voice Recital, Frost School of Music
2018 D.M.A. Jazz Voice Recital, Frost School of Music
2016 Faculty Recital, McNally Smith College of Music
2008 M.M. Jazz Voice Recital, Manhattan School of Music
2005 B.M. Jazz Voice Recital, Lawrence University
2004 B.M. Classical Voice Recital, Lawrence University
Adjudicator
2020 Frost Vocal Jazz Festival
2019 Frost Vocal Jazz Festival
2018 Miami School of the Arts
2017 McNally Smith Vocal Jazz Festival
2016 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival
2016 McNally Smith Vocal Jazz Festival2
2015 McNally Smith Vocal Jazz Festival
2014 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival
2014 McNally Smith Vocal Jazz Festival
2013 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival
2013 McNally Smith Vocal Jazz Festival
2012 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival
2012 McNally Smith Vocal Jazz Festival
Workshop Leader
2017 McNally Smith Vocal Jazz Festival
2014 McNally Smith Vocal Jazz Festival
Guest Lecturer (selected)
2019 Singer / Songwriter: Plus or Minus Jazz, Frost School of Music, Miami
2019 Becoming Betty Carter, Frost School of Music, Miami, FL
2018 The Life and Music of Sarah Vaughan, Frost School of Music, Miami, FL
2014 Creating a Life in Music, McNally Smith College of Music, St. Paul, MN
Artistic Board Experience
2011-Present Member, Biophilia Records, New York, NY
2013-17 Member, Liquid Music Advisory Board, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra
Published Articles on About.com (no longer available)
July, 2011 Interview with Peter Eldridge, jazz.about.com
May, 2011 Album Review: Kurt Elling, The Gate, jazz.about.com
May, 2011 Profile: Al Jarreau, jazz.about.com
November, 2009 Album Review: Michael Bublé, Crazy Love, jazz.about.com
August, 2009 Interview with Kate McGarry, jazz.about.com
July, 2009 Concert Review: Kurt Elling Sings Sondheim and Styne, jazz.about.com
TEACHING
Courses Taught, University of Miami
Undergraduate
MSJ VO1-4 Jazz Voice Lessons
MSJ VOS Secondary Jazz Voice Lessons
MMI SO1-4 Songwriting Lessons
MSJ 196 (796) Jazz Vocal II Ensemble
MSJ 139 (739) Small Jazz Vocal Ensemble / Jazz Combo
MSJ 140 Experiential Musicianship / Jazz Theory and Ear Training
MSJ 107 Jazz Aural Skills
Courses Taught, McNally Smith College of Music
Undergraduate
APP 100-300 Private Voice Lessons
APP 100-300 Private Songwriting Lessons
MUS 114V Voice Technique I
MUS 254 Advanced Improvisation Techniques
MUS 115 Contemporary Ensemble Practices I
MUS 125 Contemporary Ensemble Practices II
REC 281 Introduction to Photography and Videography
MUS 138 French and Portuguese Diction
MUS 104 Sight Singing I
MUS 105 Sight Singing II
MUS 113 Vocal Improvisation and Arranging I
MUS 123 Vocal Improvisation and Arranging II
ENS 128 Small Ensemble, Indie Ensemble
ENS 150 Chorus
Graduate
APP 500-600 Private Voice Lessons
APP 500-600 Private Songwriting Lessons
Summer Camp Faculty
2019 Frost School of Music Summer Camp University of Miami
2018 Frost School of Music Summer Camp University of Miami
2013 McNally Smith College of Music Mix Summer Camp
2008 Manhattan School of Music Summer Camp
2007 Manhattan School of Music Summer Camp
2007 University of Wisconsin Green Bay Jazz Camp
2007 Lawrence University Jazz Camp
2006 Manhattan School of Music Summer Camp
2006 Lawrence University Jazz Camp
2006 University of Wisconsin Green Bay Jazz Camp
2006 Lawrence University Jazz Camp
2005 University of Wisconsin Green Bay Jazz Camp
2005 Lawrence University Jazz Camp
2004 University of Wisconsin Green Bay Jazz Camp
2004 Lawrence University Jazz Camp
2003 University of Wisconsin Green Bay Jazz Camp
2003 Lawrence University Jazz Camp
2002 Lawrence University Jazz Camp
MM Thesis Committees, McNally Smith College of Music
Session Student Student Degree Objective Responsibility
Spring, 2017 Maria Vejdani MM Voice Performance Chair
Spring, 2017 Will Roberts MM Bass Performance Member
Spring, 2017 Dylan Li MM Voice Performance Chair
Fall, 2016 Brandon Petron MM Guitar Performance Member
Fall, 2016 Jeonghee Lee MM Piano Performance Member
Fall, 2016 Kyle Baker MM Guitar Performance Member
Fall, 2016 Ernest Bisong MM String Performance Member
Spring, 2016 Arthur Buckner MM Drum Performance Co-Chair
Spring, 2016 Ryan Butler MM Bass Performance Co-Chair
Spring, 2016 Petar Janjic MM Drum Performance Co-Chair
Spring, 2016 Solomon Parham MM Brass Performance Member
Spring, 2016 Yi Wu MM Voice Performance Chair
Fall, 2015 Gerard Ahlgren MM Brass Performance Member
Degree Recital Committees, Frost School of Music
Session Student Student Degree Objective Responsibility
Spring, 2018 Justine Garcia BM Jazz Voice Performance Member
Spring, 2018 Meghan Fitton BM Jazz Voice Performance Member
Spring, 2018 Alex Brandenburg BM Jazz Voice Performance Member
Spring, 2018 Ashley Pezzotti BM Jazz Voice Performance Member
Spring, 2018 Rachel Romba BM Jazz Voice Performance Member
Degree Recital Committees, McNally Smith College of Music
Session Student Student Degree Objective Responsibility
Spring, 2017 Maria Vejdani MM Voice Performance Chair
Spring, 2017 Will Roberts MM Bass Performance Member
Spring, 2017 Dylan Li MM Voice Performance Chair
Fall, 2016 Brandon Petron MM Guitar Performance Member
Fall, 2016 Jeonghee Lee MM Piano Performance Member
Fall, 2016 Kyle Baker MM Guitar Performance Member
Fall, 2016 Ernest Bisong MM String Performance Member
Spring, 2016 Arthur Buckner MM Drum Performance Co-Chair
Spring, 2016 Ryan Butler MM Bass Performance Co-Chair
Spring, 2016 Brian Cooper MM Piano Performance Member
Spring, 2016 Hayden Fihn MM Brass Performance Member
Spring, 2016 Petar Janjic MM Drum Performance Co-Chair
Spring, 2016 Solomon Parham MM Brass Performance Member
Spring, 2016 Yi Wu MM Voice Performance Chair
Spring, 2016 Wei Xiang MM Piano Performance Member
Fall, 2015 Gerard Ahlgren MM Brass Performance Member
Additional Teaching Experience
2019 Community Arts Project, Private Lessons, Miami, FL
2009-11 Opus Music Studios, Private Lessons, Los Angeles, CA
2006-08 Manhattan School of Music Precollege, New York, NY
2002-07 Lawrence University Precollege, Appleton, WI
SERVICE
Professional Service, McNally Smith College of Music
College-wide Committee Assignments
2011-17 Member, Academic Leadership Council
2017 Chair, Hiring Committee for Voice Department
2015-17 Member, President’s Small Council
2012-17 Member, Academic Planning Committee
2016 Chair, Hiring Committee for Voice Department
2013-16 Chair, Graduate Committee
2011-15 Member, Professional Development Committee
2011-13 Member, Graduate Committee
Program Committee Assignments
2011-17 Member, Performance Division Committee
Department Committee Assignments
2011-17 Chair, Voice Department
2013-17 Faculty Representative, Voice Student Council
Guest Artist (selected)
2020 Maria Schneider with Donny McCaslin, Henry Mancini Institute, Miami, FL
2018 Oceanside Jazz Festival (with Frost Extensions), Oceanside, CA
2018 Miami School of the Arts
2017 Interlochen School of Performing Arts
2017 South High School, St. Paul, MN
2016 Las Vegas Academy of the Arts
2015 Interlochen School of Performing Arts
2015 Las Vegas Academy of the Arts
2015 South High School, St. Paul, MN
2014 Interlochen School of Performing Arts
2014 Las Vegas Academy of the Arts
2013 Neenah High School Jazz Band
2013 Interlochen School of Performing Arts
2012 Interlochen School of Performing Arts
McNally Smith College of Music Faculty Vocal Ensemble performances
Summer 2015 Twin Cities Jazz Festival St. Paul, MN
Spring 2015 MN State ACDA Conference St. Paul, MN
Spring 2014 McNally Smith Vocal Jazz Festival St. Paul, MN
Professional Memberships
Jazz Education Network (JEN)
National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS)
College Music Society (CMS)
American Choral Directors Association (ACDA)
National Association for Music Education (NAfME)
American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP)
I met Charlie at the University of Miami in 2017, where we spent two years in the same vocal jazz ensemble. Charlie is a genuine artist, teacher, and friend who is perceptive to the strengths and needs of his students and colleagues. He is extremely knowledgable and open to explore any subject in private lessons from vocal technique and music theory to songwriting and individual artistry. Charlie's attention, focus, and care provide the perfect environment for artistic and personal growth.
Having worked alongside Dr. Charlie for several years, he has my highest recommendation as a musician and educator. His incredible insight into industry trends, coupled with his ability to draw the best from every student makes him a masterful teacher. Working with Dr. Charlie is a guarantee for success!
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