James Mathes:  

After high school I attended the University of Pittsburgh (pre-law studies) then transferred to the University of MD where I received a BM and BS in Music Education. I taught in Montgomery County School System for four years, including Director of Instrumental Music at BCC (orchestra, band, jazz ensemble, music theory) from 1975-1978. I then returned to graduate school at the Florida State University College of Music where I earned an MM and PhD in Music Theory. It was at FSU that I met my wife, Margaret Pendleton, while she was completing a DM in Piano Performance. We have been happily married for 37 years. After completing our degrees, Margaret and I taught at Edison College in Fort Myers, Florida for five years, she as piano faculty, me as music theory and history faculty as well as director of a community chorus. In 1986 I accepted a position as Professor of Music Theory at the FSU College of Music, where I remained for 30 years. During m...Expand for more