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Dr. James E. Perone
Department: Music
What type of interesting features do you incorporate into your classes?
While there are certain core items that need to be studied in all collegiate music theory classes by music majors, I try to incorporate more material related to jazz and popular music than the norm. This is a growing trend in academia. It is important for our music majors to be better rounded so that they can better meet the challenges they'll face in "the real world." In my general education classes, I always incorporate lots of supplementary material for listening and discussion so that students have the benefit of not just the most famous musical examples, but also a broader range of listening experiences.
In your opinion, how is Mount Union College unique from other small liberal arts colleges?
Mount Union College's greatest strength is the balance that we achieve between the liberal arts and career preparation tracks. This is an area with which many small institutions such as Mount Union struggle, typically leaning heavily in one direction or the other. We value the well-rounded traditional liberal arts education, but also have very strong professional and pre-professional programs in education, business, athletic training, sport management, pre-med and legal studies.
How do Mount Union students benefit from attending a small school as opposed to a larger school?
Without question the greatest benefit is the close interaction between students and faculty. At Mount Union College, students are working not with graduate students but with faculty members who are well respected in their fields. Although students probably are not as directly aware of the fact, another benefit that they receive is from the close workings between the faculty and the administration. I've heard true horror stories of how curricular and other changes are made so slowly at large institutions because of the kinds of intense "turf wars" we don't see at Mount Union College.
Have you done any interesting research or developed any interesting courses at Mount Union? If so, explain.
I've developed a couple of courses at Mount Union College based on my own research. In the past decade I've done quite a bit of work in the area of popular music and society. This has led to the publication of several books, the presentation of a number of papers and the development of Vernacular Music and the Vietnam Conflict (LS320QW) and a special topics American Studies course on music in the U.S. counterculture of the 1960-1975 period.
What kinds of opportunities do Mount Union students have after graduating from College?
I have seen our graduates take jobs in education and business and move directly into prestigious graduate school programs. The sky's the limit!
In what activities do you participate in your spare time?
I am an avid golfer and my wife and I enjoy trips we take in our 1973 Austin Mini. I am also a member of the Alliance Kiwanis Club and enjoy the service projects we do in the Alliance area community.
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