Richard Human, Jr., trombone

Richard HumanDr. Richard Human, Jr. is an Associate Professor of Music at Mississippi State University. He has previously served on the music faculties of Indiana Wesleyan University, Appel Farm Fine Arts Camp (NJ) and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp (MI). Dr. Human is the principal trombonist of the Starkville Symphony and is a founding member of the Mississippi State University Faculty Brass Quintet and the Mississippi Trombone Authority. As chair of the department Curriculum Committee, he recently lead the faculty in a major revision of the B.M.E, and the creation of the Department’s new M.M.E which begins in the Summer of 2018.

At Mississippi State Dr. Human leads the trombone studio teaching weekly lessons and studio classes, directing the MSU Trombone Troupe and coaching brass chamber music. During his tenure, MSU trombone graduates have consistently participated in regional workshops and won positions in public schools, graduate schools and professional ensembles. Along with Dr. Anthony Kirkland, Dr. Human coordinates the Brass Area in the MSU Department of Music, including the annual MSU Brass Symposium, an event focused on brass music performance and pedagogy for brass musicians from high-school ages and older.

A proponent of the role of technology in education, Dr. Human developed one of the first web-based Music Appreciation classes for Indiana Wesleyan University in 1995. He is the founder and editor of the Online Trombone Journal, a peer-reviewed journal in the area of trombone performance and pedagogy. In addition, he has developed courses focused on technology for the Department of Music at MSU, including Technology for Music Education and the upcoming Introduction to Recording Techniques.

He has performed with the North Mississippi Symphony, the Mississippi Symphony, the Delta State Symphony (MS), Terra Haute Symphony (IN), Ft. Wayne Philharmonic (IN), Muncie Symphony (IN), Anderson Symphony (IN), Bowling Green State University Philharmonia (OH), Bowling Green Symphony (OH) and the Symphony Orchestra Augusta (GA). As a soloist and chamber musician Human has performed across the Southeastern United States.

Dr. Human holds the B.M.Ed. from Augusta State University, the M.M. in Trombone Performance from Bowling Green State University, and the D.A. in Trombone Performance and Orchestral Conducting from Ball State University. His trombone teachers include Arvard Larson, David Vining, Paul Hunt and John Seidel. His primary conducting teachers are Emily Freeman Brown and Leonard Atherton.

Prior to pursuing graduate study, he was the the Instrumental Music Educator at Harriet Tubman Middle School in Augusta, GA. and interned with Mr. Bob Willing at Harlem Middle and High School.