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Ryan D. Sheeler – Vita

Education:

• Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (2006)
  • Iowa State University
  • Emphasis: Arts and Humanities(Music, Curriculum/Instruction and English)
  • Thesis: Developing a new text for Music 304 at Iowa State University and measuring its viability.
  • GPA: 3.92/4.0

• Bachelor of Arts (1997)
  • Iowa State University Dept. of Music, Ames IA
  • Emphasis: Music (brass and composition)
• Double Major: Management Information Systems

Certifications:

• Community College Certification, State of Iowa (in progress)

Teaching Experience:

• Adjunct Instructor, Music 304, Iowa State Music Department, Spring 2007.   Grant-funded appointment in Music Department (1/5 time approx).   Helped to coordinate restructuring of Music 304: History of American Rock n’ Roll.  Teach two (2) lectures and four (4) recitation sections per week.  Use of technology, WEBCT Course Management, lecture preparation software, music streaming, and other tools.

• Faculty, Iowa School of Rock, October 2006-present.  New School of Rock program for Central Iowa.   Mentored, instructed, and coached students in the formation of student-led rock bands for performance opportunities and concerts, culminating in a large actual concert in Ames area. Instruction on song selection, instrumentation, performance, arranging and equipment.

• Instructor/Teaching Assistant, ISU Dept of Music, 1996-2006.

• Worked with Dr. David Stuart:  responsibilities include lecture presentation, administration, testing, research, and multimedia presentation for classes of 200-300 students – Music 102/104/304 courses

• Guitar Instructor, Rieman Music/Major Music Studios, Ames IA 2003- 2007. Responsibilities: maintained a teaching studio with an active roster of 15-30 students at all ability levels.

• Music Theory tutor, ISU Dept. of Music 1998-99 Responsibilities: assisted freshman students with studies in music fundamentals, introductory species counterpoint, notation and ear training skills

• ISU Extension Information Technology, 1998-2000. Taught short courses in basic computing skills including, MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Basic HTML, and network fundamentals

• Graduate coursework in music theory pedagogy, University of Iowa, 1997

• Graduate coursework in creative writing pedagogy, Iowa State University, 2004

Book Publications

• From Bakersfield to Beale Street:  Regional Styles of American Rock ‘n’ Roll by David Stuart and Ryan Sheeler, Kendall/Hunt Publishing, Dubuque IA, 2006.

Journal Articles:

• “A Meaness In This World:  The American Outlaw as Storyteller in Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska” (slated for publication Issue #51/Fall 2007 of the American Studies Journal - http://asjournal.zusas.uni-halle.de/)

Presentations:

• “History of the Blues”, Splash! ISU College of Education, October 2002

• “Rock, Pop, Blues and Soul: African-American Popular Music 1930-1965” ISU Black History Month, February 2001 

Film Scores and Projects

• Contributed music – “Vortex of Revelation” Kodron Productions  (2006-2007, more info TBA)
• Original Music Score for “Interior Design”, CinemaWerks, Des Moines IA, produced by Nick Bertelsen April 2005.
• “ISUCF’V’MB” for ISU Marching Band Slide Show video.  Honorable mention for Best Original Song Iowa Motion Picture Association, May 1997.

Courses and Subjects taught:

• Music Appreciation
• History of Rock n’ Roll
• Freshman Music Theory
• Music Fundamentals
• Information Technology Short Courses (Microsoft Office, HTML/Web Design, Networking)

Film Scores and Projects

• Contributed music – “Vortex of Revelation” Kodron Productions  (2006-2007, more info TBA)
• Original Music Score for “Interior Design”, CinemaWerks, Des Moines IA, produced by Nick Bertelsen April 2005.
• “ISUCF’V’MB” for ISU Marching Band Slide Show video.  Honorable mention for Best Original Song Iowa Motion Picture Association, May 1997.

 Discography – Compact Discs

• Ryan Sheeler – Prayers and Promises (2006)
• Sarah Beisser – Love Is Waiting (2004)
• Joyce Andrews – One on One (2001)
• Flying Taxi – Standard Fare (1996)

 Selected Compositions (scores available on request)

• Dolorosa – for string orchestra (2007)
• Civil War Sketches – for orchestra (2005)
• Nocturne #2 – for solo piano (2004)
• Through a Window – for flute and piano (2003)
• Love Lifted Me for brass quintet (2003)

Arrangements (charts available on request)  for contemporary church band/ensemble

• I Love To Tell The Story (2003) – pop/r&b
• Near The Cross (2004) – pop/lite jazz piano
• This Little Light of Mine (2005) – swing
• Just a Closer Walk With Thee (2005) - jazz/samba
• Great Is Thy Faithfulness (2005) – piano and alto sax

Additional Work Experience:

Graduate Research Assistant, Psychology In Education Research Lab, Iowa State University College of Education, 2004-2006. Educational Research lab for Iowa State University and the State of Iowa Board of Education. Coordinate information technology for Iowa Education grants and initiatives such as E2T2 and ESTEP. Network and technology administration, database, and WWW programming. Educational Research and statistics.

System Support Specialist, ISU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, 2000-2003, Maintained 3 department networks, Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP, DOS, Unix, Macintosh, and NEXT workstations and servers for 100+ faculty, support staff and students. Worked with network security, database, and WWW programming and scripting applications, in addition to hardware repair and software testing.

Computer Technician, ISU Extension, 1998-2000, Helped to administer Wide Area Network to all 99 County Extension offices. Maintained hardware repair service and worked as part of phone hotline team.

Honors and Awards:

• The National Dean’s List, 2006-2007
• National Scholars Honor Society, inducted 2007
• The Chancellor’s List, 2004-2005, 2005-2006
• Director’s Award, Paramount Songwriting Group, Nashville TN, Winter 2005
• Outstanding Achievement by an Organizational Team, ISU Extension IT, 2005
• Popular Writer Award, ASCAP, 1998, 1999
• Honorable Mention for Best Original Music, Iowa Motion Picture Association, 1997
• Dean’s List, Iowa State University, Ames IA, Spring 1996
• Who’s Who In American High School Students, 1989-90

Performance Experience and Service:

• Volunteer musician, worship arts ministry at First Evangelical Free Church, Ames IA, 1991-present
• Guitarist, Praise Team, Evangelical Free Church of America National Conference, Des Moines IA June 2002
• Guitarist, Praise Team, Evangelical Free Church of America National Conference, Des Moines IA June 1996
• Guitarist for “Grease”, Stars Over Veishea, ISU April 2002 director Michael Golemo
• Guitarist for “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”, ACTORS Studio, June 1995 director James Poulsen
• Guitarist for “Pippin”, Stars Over Veishea, ISU April 1993 director Janet Renze
• Principal Tuba, ISU Symphonic Band, 1994-96

Research Interests:

• Popular music and American culture
• Teaching with technology
• Music-text relations and songwriting
• Interdisciplinary Study in the Arts

Professional Memberships:

• ASCAP
• National Scholars Honor Society
• Iowa Composers Forum