Michael Arenson, University of Delaware

"He and his family are in dire circumstances," said Michael Arenson, a colleague of Southard's in the University of Delaware music department. That program is being produced by the UD Department of Music, said Arenson, the event spokesman. He said tickets may be bought in advance for the same price with checks payable to the "John Southard Special Fund" and sent to Michael Arenson, Department of Music, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716.For information on that event, reach Arenson at 831-8890 or marenson@udel.edu. The May concert will feature Southard's UD colleagues and students, he said.

According to Michael Arenson, Professor of Music Theory at the University of Delaware, Wilson Somers avalon serenade, released in late 2005, is a collection of "inventive interpretations of [jazz] standards" to "original compositions that are both melodically and harmonically rich...This CD is a must for any jazz aficionado's collection. Read the Reviews.

Michael Arenson, University of DelawareMichael Arenson is Professor of Music Theory at the University of Delaware.He began his first work with computer-based instruction while working on his M.M. at Florida State University in 1965.Using the Coursewriter CBI system on an IBM 1500 mainframe computer to try out the frames and branching for a programmed text based on Hindemith's Craft of Musical Composition, he learned how much fun it can be to watch fanfold paper work its way off of the platen of a teletypewriter terminal.As a Ph.D. student at The Ohio State University (1969-1976) he developed a CBI program which he tested on freshmen music theory students using an IBM 370 mainframe computer.His students also learned how much fun it can be to watch fanfold paper work its way off of the platen of a teletypewriter terminal.He graduated from the teletypewriter terminal to the beautiful ORANGE screen when he started working with the PLATOR System while teaching at Iowa State University (1973-1977).He continued his work in "orange" while developing the GUIDOR Music Theory drill-and-practice package at the University of Delaware (1977-present).He later learned about other colors (after all, he is a university professor) and went on to develop other software packages with a little more sophistication.In 1975, while at Iowa State, Professor Arenson joined Fred Hofstetter and eight other technology pioneers in Newark, Delaware, to create the National Consortium for Computer-Based Music Instruction (NCCBMI).Professor Arenson served as Pre-session Chair for ADCIS in 1980 and 1981 and served as President of NCCBMI in 1984 and 1985.In 1984, at the ADCIS Conference in Columbus, Ohio, he received a Presidential Citation from Dr. Ron Comer "in acknowledgement of many years in support to ADCIS."Although his interests have shifted to other organizations through the years (e.g., CMS and IAJE), Professor Arenson continues to support the exemplary work of his colleagues in ATMI.