- Music Theory Mastery - Online practice and testing of written, aural, and keyboard fundamentals. Try the Music Theory Placement Exam.
- The Digital Media Knowledge Base - Search the Dictionary, learn about new media, and find resources for creative computing.
- PSU Classes - For students in Dr. Hansen's Music Theory courses.
Dr. Hansen has taught in the Music Department at PSU since 2000. From 1995-2000 he was Director of Distance Learning and managed technical programs in the School of Extended Studies. Prior to that he taught music at the University of Mississippi, Ball State University, and Humboldt State University. He is also a multimedia producer and instructional designer.
Areas of special interest are Music Technology, Orchestration, and 20th Century Analysis. Brad plays jazz piano, composes, and arranges music. He has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and numerous other organizations. His compositions have been performed by student and professional ensembles worldwide.
Hansen holds a Doctor of Arts degree from the University of Northern Colorado, Master of Music from the Cincinnati College/Conservatory, and Bachelor of Music from the University of Oregon. He studied jazz at the Berklee School of Music in Boston.
Mailing Address:
Portland State University
Department of Music
PO Box 751
Portland, OR 97207
Publications
Hansen is the author of The Essentials of Instrumentation, a college text published by McGraw-Hill. (View Table of Contents) (Purchase online)
He has also written several editions of The Dictionary of Computing and Digital Media, published by Franklin, Beedle & Associates.
(View Table of Contents and sample pages)
Reprints and Papers Presented
Strategies for Teaching Aural Recognition (CMS Presentation, 2005)
The Musical Instrument Digital Interface (Dictionary Appendix)
Digital Audio Production (Dictionary Appendix)
Digital Video Production (Dictionary Appendix)
Technology
Hansen has worked as a Multimedia Producer for such entities as Intel, Microsoft, and Hewlett-Packard. His specialties are in audio production and video compression. He created the MPEG Benchmark Disc in 1995. He has taught interactive design and media production for the Department of Defense, and was keynote speaker at the European conference Multimedia 2000, held in Reykjavik, Iceland. He is webmaster for the Portland State University School of Fine and Performing Arts and The Department of Music. He directs the Recording Arts and Music Production Program (RAMP) at PSU, and has built a state-of-the-art Computer Music Lab. (Visit the RAMP site)
Composition
Eclectic in style, Hansen has composed and arranged music for large and small instrumental and vocal ensembles. His recent arrangement of Schubert's Ave Maria for mezzo soprano, orchestra, and choir was premiered by the Spokane Symphony, and choral groups have performed his compositions internationally. Hansen is a BMI composer. Contact him at the email address above for recordings, or to inquire about commissions. Samples of his work in .mp3 format are linked below:
Conversations for Brass Quintet
Choral Settings of ee cummings Poems with piano
Victimae Paschali Laudes for SATB choir
Ascent, analog synthesis
Dark Moon, digital synthesis, saxophone, and tabla
PSU Classes
Music Theory II: MUS211, MUS212, MUS213
Keyboard Harmony/Sight Singing/Ear Training: MUS214, MUS215, MUS216
Orchestration: MUS318, MUS522
Analytical Technique: MUS520
Advanced Instrumental Conducting: MUS541
