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Reed Gratz

Reed Gratz is a Professor of Music and department chair at the University of La Verne. He has taught at Washington State University, University of Miami, University of Innsbruck, Utrecht Conservatory and Leiden University in the Netherlands, and is a visiting professor of music in the history department at Claremont McKenna College. He is on the Advisory Board of the American Jazz Institute along with Mort Sahl and Lee Konitz. Reed has been awarded a jazz composition grant from the NEA; a research grant in African-American music by the NEH; two Senior Fulbright Lectureships, one at the University of Innsbruck, the other, the Walt Whitman Distinguished Chair of American Culture Studies at the Leiden University; and the Excellence in Teaching Award for undergraduate faculty at the University of La Verne. Reed has played with George Russell, Herb Alpert, Bruce Hornsby, John Patitucci, Barbara Morrison, Alex Acuña, and many others. He has composed music for a dozen plays. Four of his recent CDs are Below Sealevel and Piano, View From the South and The Reed Gratz Band featuring Michael O’Neil. Professor Gratz has received three Who’s Who Among American Teachers awards since 2002. Reed plays piano, Fender Rhodes suitcase, Roland D-50, Yamaha and Roland digital pianos, harmonium, and other keyboards.

Awards

AWARDS National Endowment for Humanities Summer Research Grant,1982. National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Composition Grant, 1984. Outstanding Young Men of America, 1979, 82. Who's Who in the West,(US), 1987. Who's Who in America, 1989. Excellence in Teaching Award, University of La Verne, 1991. Fulbright Senior Scholar, University of Innsbruck, 1991-2. James Irvine Foundation, Diversity in Education Grant, 1997. Walt Whitman Distinguished Chair of American Culture Studies, Fulbright Senior Scholar, Leiden University, The Netherlands, 2001. Who's Who Among America's Teachers, 2002, 2004, & 2005. University of La Verne Faculty Research Grant, 2007, 2010; La Verne Academy, University of La Verne, elected, 2009; Music Educator Grammy Nomination, 2017; Ellsworth Johnson Service Award, 2019-20.

Gear

Fender Rhodes 73 Suitcase (1974); Roland D-50; Yamaha Grand; Yamaha upright; Benedetto Benny Electric guitar; White Harmonium; Rickenbacker bass.


Tags

Primary Instrument

Piano

Location

Los Angeles

Willing to teach

Intermediate to advanced

Credentials/Background

EDUCATION Doctor of Musical Arts (Composition), 1977 University of Miami School of Music Master of Music (Jazz Composition/Afro-American Music), 1975 New England Conservatory of Music Bachelor of Arts (Music Theory), 1973 Manchester College TEACHING EXPERIENCE University of La Verne since 1977. Professor of Music. Department Chr.(eighteen years). Jazz studies, Theory and composition, American musics, World music, piano and synthesizer. La Verne, Ca. Leiden University fall semester 2001. Walt Whitman Chair of American Culture Studies. Fulbright Senior Scholar. Jazz History, American Music. Leiden, NL Claremont McKenna College 1999-2008. Visiting Professor of Music. 20th century American Jazz Culture, Claremont,Ca. Utrechtse Hoogeschool voor de Kunsten (Conservatory) winter 1995. Gastdocent (Guest lecturer). American music. Utrecht, NL Universitat Innsbruck fall/winter semester 1991-2. Fulbright Senior Scholar.American musics - Jazz history, Native American and African-American musics. Institüt für Musikwissenschaft. Innsbruck, Austria. Washington State University 1979-80. Visiting Assistant Professor of Music. Director of Jazz Studies, composition, piano, theory. Pullman, Washington. University of Miami 1975-7. Theory, ear training, Rock Ensemble. Coral Gables, Florida. Past Students include: Herb Alpert, Bruce Hornsby, Andrew Ford (bass with Al Jarreau, Gladys Knight, CPR), Sandra Schwarzhaupt (soprano Salzburg-Mozart), Joe Bagg (jazz organist/pianist), Gayle Serdan (DMA jazz studies, jazz pianist), Giloh Morgan (writer, producer), Roberto Catalano (PhD ethnomusicology), RonaldMuldrow (jazz guitarist with Lou Rawls, Mulgrew Miller, Eddie Harris), J Michael O'Neal (pianist with Della Reese), Mike Bennett (downbeat magazine outstanding college drummer, drums/perc with Hilary Duff), David Jarvis (Prof. of Music/composer/percussion WSU), Steve Alboucq (trumet recording artist).

Clinic/Workshop Information

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