Many years ago, I worked with the NYU Music Experience Design Lab to create a browser-based music theory tool called the aQWERTYon. It has two purposes: to turn the computer keyboard into a playable instrument, and to visualize chords and scales in an intuitive way. I am very proud of this tool, it was a … Continue reading "I joined the dark side and vibe coded a music theory app" Continue Reading »
Was Louis Armstrong a revolutionary? by Dr. Ethan Hein It’s complicated Read on Substack This week in US Pop History class, we are talking about early jazz, and that means talking about Louis Armstrong. If you are not deep into 1920s music, your relationship with him almost certainly begins and ends with this: Bob Thiele … Continue reading "The meanings of Louis Armstrong" Continue Reading »
It’s a companion piece to this post about AI in education. AI slop and musical creativity by Dr. Ethan Hein are not the same thing Read on Substack Continue Reading »
I put up my course web site for History of 20th Century American Popular Music, which includes an assignment due the first day of class: read about Stephen Foster and “Old Folks at Home”, listen to recordings of the song by Al Jolson and Ray Charles, and write a one paragraph response. Within 24 hours of emailing the students that … Continue reading "AI is harmful for learning which is why I’m banning it in my classes" Continue Reading »
See also a discussion of our kickoff song. The course will have two components: weekly listening, reading and discussion assignments, and an ongoing public-facing writing project. You and your classmates will assemble a public-facing annotated playlist of key songs from across the 20th century. For the midterm, you will choose a song released between 1900 … Continue reading "My 20th Century American Pop History syllabus" Continue Reading »
Content warning: this post includes offensive imagery. Way down upon the Swanee River by Dr. Ethan Hein It’s racist down there Read on Substack One of my tasks for the next two weeks is to put together my syllabus for NYU’s new music history class on 20th century American popular music. To start the semester off, I … Continue reading "I decided what song I’m going to start my History of 20th Century American Popular Music class with" Continue Reading »
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens by Dr. Ethan Hein Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens Read on Substack Last week I was at the International Society for Music Education conference, which is by a wide margin the biggest academic conference I have ever been to. I presented about teaching pop music theory … Continue reading "My Favorite Things update" Continue Reading »
I did two more podcast episodes about odd meter, about septuple and nonuple respectively, enjoy. Seven mysteries by Dr. Ethan Hein Read on Substack Nine he gave to mortal men, proud and great, and so ensnared them by Dr. Ethan Hein Read on Substack This is going to be it for odd meters, unless there’s … Continue reading "Seven and Nine" Continue Reading »
Even before I posted this one, I started getting suggestions for songs in 5/4, and a few in 10/4. I’m sorry if I didn’t mention your favorite, this isn’t meant to be exhaustive, it’s just some representative examples that I find interesting or personally significant. Take Five by Dr. Ethan Hein The meanings of quintuple … Continue reading "Take Five" Continue Reading »
Many years ago, I worked with the NYU Music Experience Design Lab to create a browser-based music theory tool called the aQWERTYon. It has two purposes: to turn the computer keyboard into a playable instrument, and to visualize chords and scales in an intuitive way. I am very proud of this tool, it was a … Continue reading "I joined the dark side and vibe coded a music theory app" 
I put up my course web site for History of 20th Century American Popular Music, which includes an assignment due the first day of class: read about Stephen Foster and “Old Folks at Home”, listen to recordings of the song by Al Jolson and Ray Charles, and write a one paragraph response. Within 24 hours of emailing the students that … Continue reading "AI is harmful for learning which is why I’m banning it in my classes" 
See also a discussion of our kickoff song. The course will have two components: weekly listening, reading and discussion assignments, and an ongoing public-facing writing project. You and your classmates will assemble a public-facing annotated playlist of key songs from across the 20th century. For the midterm, you will choose a song released between 1900 … Continue reading "My 20th Century American Pop History syllabus" 
Content warning: this post includes offensive imagery. Way down upon the Swanee River by Dr. Ethan Hein It’s racist down there Read on Substack One of my tasks for the next two weeks is to put together my syllabus for NYU’s new music history class on 20th century American popular music. To start the semester off, I … Continue reading "I decided what song I’m going to start my History of 20th Century American Popular Music class with" 
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens by Dr. Ethan Hein Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens Read on Substack Last week I was at the International Society for Music Education conference, which is by a wide margin the biggest academic conference I have ever been to. I presented about teaching pop music theory … Continue reading "My Favorite Things update"