Jonathan Bayley

Dr. Bayley is a Professor of music education in the Faculty of Education, at the University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada. He has been the Acting Director of the Joint PhD program, Director of the School of Music and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, Research, and Continuing Education. He has taught at the secondary school level and wa

s also a flute instructor at Alberta College Conservatory of Music in Edmonton Alberta for 15 years. 

He studied flute with Jeanne Baxtresser (principal flute New York Philharmonic), Francis Blaisdell (Stanford University), and Robert Aitken.

    Dr. Bayley has written and published several arrangements and original works. Two of his recordings, Music for Flute and Guitar and Between the Silence, have received international airplay. He has premiered numerous works for flute and most recently commissioned and premiered (with organist David Palmer) a Sonata for Flute and Organ by the American composer Matt Doran.

    In regards to professional practice in music, Dr. Bayley has written and published several arrangements and original compositions (Alry Publications). He has published articles in journals (The Register, Canadian Winds, Canadian Musical Educator, Journal of Historical Research in Music Education, and Update: Applications of Research in Music Education) as well as book chapters.

About this project:

Improvisation has been an integral component of most of my music courses that I teach at the university level. I encourage all students to participate in improvisational activities. For the students that I teach with little music background, I ask that they improvise a melody on recorder, demonstrating what they have learned throughout the term. This could involve sequential or repetitive patterns or a melody that does not conform to a standard four-bar phrase structure. This follows instruction and modeling. I have made every effort to balance teaching and performing throughout my career. I have continued to perform while teaching in the schools and teaching at university. Improvisation is an integral component of my teaching regardless of the level or music background of my students.

    I believe that, as a result of attending the Con la mente e con le mani conference in Venice in November 2013, I will gain a renewed commitment to improvisation. This is an opportunity to learn from others, reflect on one’s own pedagogy, and to rejuvenate one’s creative soul.