About
Dr. Michael Alsop is an Assistant Professor of Music Education at the University of Louisville. In this position he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in music education and supervises student teachers. Dr. Alsop was previously Lecturer of Music Education and Athletic Bands at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke where he taught elementary and secondary music methods, orchestration and arranging, and music appreciation classes. As Director of Athletic Bands, he also led the “Spirit of the Carolinas” Marching Band and pep band.
Dr. Alsop completed his PhD in Music Education at the University of Georgia, where he taught and assisted with elementary, secondary, and instrumental methods courses, worked with student teachers, and assisted faculty with administrative needs. While at UGA, he received the Director’s Excellence Award from the school of music and the Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award from the university. Dr. Alsop earned prior degrees in music education from the University of Louisville (M.M.E.) and DePauw University (B.M.E.).
Prior to graduate school, Dr. Alsop taught middle and high school band and general music in Brazil, Indiana. Under his direction, the North Clay Middle School 7th and 8th grade bands received gold ratings at each appearance at the Indiana State School Music Association organizational contest. Dr. Alsop has fourteen years of experience working in the marching arts, including time teaching with Indiana state finalist and champion bands, as well as a Bands of America 3A national champion and grand national finalist band. He has worked on the brass and visual staffs of three world class drum and bugle corps and is a yearly guest clinician for the Smith Walbridge Marching Band and Section Leader Clinic in Charleston, Illinois.
Dr. Alsop’s research interests include qualitative research methodologies, the research-practice gap in music education, and student motivation in elective music settings. He is published in the Journal of Music Teacher Education, International Journal of Music Education, Qualitative Research in Music Education, National Band Association Journal, The Instrumentalist, School Band and Orchestra, and Florida Music Director. Dr. Alsop is a member of the National Association for Music Education, Kentucky Music Educators Association, National Band Association, the Society for Music Teacher Education, and the Society for Research in Music Education. He was inducted into the Omicron Chapter (DePauw University) of Pi Kappa Lambda.