David H. Knapp, PhD
I am an Assistant Professor of Music Education at Syracuse University (SU), where I teach modern band, music technology, steel band, and philosophy of music education. I received my PhD in Music Education from Florida State University in 2012. At the core of my research and teaching is a commitment to making music education an equitable space for transformative musical practices. My work is aimed at both musical and social justice outcomes. My research program includes community music with marginalized communities, vernacular music making, music technology, and post-colonial steel band pedagogy.
At SU, I direct the Music in Community program, which facilitates music-making partnerships responsive to local community needs. This includes the New American All-Stars, a vernacular music ensemble for refugee youth, and the Digital Music Lab, a community-based music production studio for urban high school students.
Recent & Press
Digital Music-Making in Schools During COVID-19
New article appearing in Research Studies in Music Education entitled Soundtrap Usage During COVID-19. Article uses machine learning methods to interrogate big data sets to describe classroom practices. Syracuse University News covered the research in their piece The Barriers Have Been Removed.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. "Unsung Heroes" Award
I was a faculty recipient of the 2022 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. "Unsung Heroes" Award. The 37th annual celebration event took place virtually on Sunday, January 30th, where I received the award from Marlin Luther King, III.
SENSES Lab
The SENSES Project provides Higher Education Opportunity Program and Student Support Services students at Syracuse University the equipment, instruction, and space for self-exploration and expression through Hip Hop/Electronic Music/Beat Making and Podcasting. Through a collaboration with the Office of Support Services, we received an internal CUSE grant of $30k to seed this innovative community and digital music research here on SU's campus.
DML @ Mercy Works
The Digital Music Lab is a partnership with Mercy Works to bring an arts program to a community center with an extant STEM program. The curriculum takes participants through an inquiry-based music education where they develop music composition and production skills based on essential questions in Ableton Live and Soundtrap that invites students to inquire about their story through music composition and production. For more information, check out SU News coverage, "Making Beats, Building Community."
Hip-Hop and American Life
Along with renowned educators, activists, and musicians, we facilitated the workshop entitled “Hip-Hop and American Life,” at the Fisher Center in New York City. High school students spent the day working with the team to connect their lived experiences to their own composed verses and beats. Check out the coverage in SU News, "Finding the Beat."
