Teaching

As an educator and mentor, I prioritize fostering an inclusive, engaging, and intellectually stimulating learning environment that empowers students to critically analyze music, relate cultural forms to historical contexts, and apply these analytical skills to their everyday listening experiences. My teaching philosophy is grounded in the conviction that music enables us to listen deeply, hear "otherwise," and be present with the possibilities of meaningful sound. My approach has been validated by near-universal acclaim via student feedback and garnering genuine passion and engagement from students, often surprising even themselves. I encourage students to engage with music as a lens for understanding broader cultural, historical, and social issues. My pedagogical approach is characterized by three main principles: active learning and inclusive pedagogy; accessibility; and critical engagement with cultural and historical contexts.

Courses

MUSC 286 “Music in the Atomic Age”

MUSC 143 “Intro to Rock”

MUSC 142 “Great Musical Works”

MUSC 63 “Music on Stage and Screen,” First-Year Seminar

MUSC 950 “Toward a Critical Theory of the Spectacle” Graduate Seminar

More information

For questions about courses I teach, including availability or representative syllabi, please contact me at gatdula [at] unc [dot] edu.