Dr. Tim Brimmer, music education, technology, conductor of Jordan Jazz

Dr. Tim Brimmer is Associate Professor of Vocal Jazz, Music Education and Technology in Butler University's Jordan College of Fine Arts. As Director of Jordan Jazz, the Butler Jazz Institute and the Butler Vocal Jazz Festivals, Dr. Brimmer has hosted workshops and/or concerts with Rockapella, New York Voices, The Manhattan Transfer, Take 6, The Real Group, The Four Freshmen, Clio Lane, John Dankworth, Dr. Russ Robinson, Dr. Steve Zegree and others. Most recently, Dr. Brimmer worked collaboratively with Clowes Memorial Hall in mini-faculty in residency with Bobby McFerrin, working with the Butler Symphony Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, Butler Ballet, Jazz Band, and the Butler Vocal Jazz Festival Chorus. Dr. Brimmer's vocal jazz ensemble, Jordan Jazz, performed with McFerrin. Dr. Brimmer teaches Choral and General Methods in graduate and undergraduate music, with experience in primary, secondary, community college, undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education. Dr. Brimmer is a frequent guest conductor for collegiate, high school and middle school festivals, most recently conducting the International Choral Festival. His choirs have performed throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and South America.

Dr. Brimmer is founder and director of the Jordan College's Multisensory Learning Facility, using technologies as a vehicle for advancing innovative teaching, learning and interdisciplinary curriculum. He designs technology solutions for arts education curriculum and teaches technology integration across the Arts. Dr. Brimmer is a member of the International Association of Jazz Educators, the Association for Technology in Music Instruction (ATMI), serves on the Board of Directors of ChoralNet, Inc. and the National Advisory Board for the Technology Institute for Music Educators (TI:ME). He has presented technological solutions for American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and Music Educator National Conference (MENC) conventions across the United States, in South America and Hong Kong.

Dr. Brimmer is founder and director of the Butler University Music Leadership Institute (MLI), a research-driven project for designing and testing innovative, interdisciplinary, technology-rich, asynchronous curriculum where the Arts serve as core curriculum in a liberal arts, college-credit, cohort of college-bound high school musicians. The MLI is open to all interested high school students by audition and interview. In 2003, the Music Leadership Institute (MLI) shared the results of their work by performing and touring throughout Jamaica as guests of the University of the West Indies and jazz legend Marjorie Whylie. In previous years, MLI has studied and performed in Hong Kong, Taiwan and South America. In the summer of 2005 Dr. Brimmer joins Susan Kuyper, Director of Choral Activities at the Hong Kong International School for an extensive exchange program with musicians from Asia and the USA. Dr. Brimmer holds a bachelor's degree in music education from Central Michigan University, a master's degree in music education from Northwestern Michigan University, and a doctor of arts degree in conducting and vocal performance from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.

email: tbrimmer@butler.edu

Learn more about jazz studies at Butler University (PDF).