T. Clark Saunders

Associate Dean, Director of Graduate Studies, Professor of Music Education


Email: clsaunder@hartford.edu

Biography: Dr. T. Clark Saunders (B.F.A., 1977, M.F.A., 1978, S.U.N.Y. at Buffalo; Ph.D., Temple University, 1984) is Associate Dean and Director of Graduate Studies at The Hartt School, University of Hartford. Dr. Saunders serves as The Hartt School's administrator for academic affairs including the oversight, in collaboration with the Division Directors and Dean, of undergraduate and graduate curricula and instruction.

As a professor of music education Dr. Saunders has taught advanced courses in assessment, music education research and the psychology of music learning. Prior to coming to The Hartt School, Dr. Saunders taught at The University of Maryland at College Park (1986-1992) and Lebanon Valley College, Annville, PA (1984-1986). From 1978 to 1981 he was Band Director and instrumental music teacher at Washingtonville High School, Washingtonville, NY.

In addition to his teaching, Dr. Saunders has pursued a research agenda related to methods and procedures for the valid assessment of music performance skills. He has completed a series of studies that demonstrate useful techniques for the measurement of student growth of music skill learning. More recent research projects of his have focused on the cognitive processing of sounds as melodies. Articles related to his work have appeared in the Music Educators Journal, General Music Today, CMEA News, Early Childhood Connections, Journal of Research in Music Education, Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, Update, and The Quarterly.

Dr. Saunders is a frequent presenter of music education workshops at state and national Music Education Conventions where he demonstrates innovative methods of student music performance assessment.