DR Productions About

About this Website

Welcome to DR Productions’ website! I am Dave Rowley, and I hope you enjoy your time here on this site. DR Productions centers around Music Education, Music Composition, and Film Production.

Over the years I have had the opportunity to teach other music and arts educators at conferences and professional development settings about my processes as a teacher. On several occasions attendees of those learning and sharing sessions have stated that I should write a book about my successes. I am finally taking the opportunity to do that with this website. Additionally, to facilitate virtual/distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of the 2019 - 2020 school year, I created virtual, asynchronous lessons for my students. I have shared those lessons through my YouTube Channel, which will also be accessible here. Finally, I will share music education advocacy essays and videos to help music educators navigate through our changing educational landscape. In no way do I have all of the answers. I only have my experiences, what has been successful in the past, and what I continue to do as a constantly learning and sharing music educator.

I am also a composer. I have written over 350 pieces of music. Most of the music I have written is what I call educational music; mostly geared towards middle school and high school level students and ensembles. I have composed works for concert band, marching band, jazz ensemble, choral works, vocal jazz, string orchestra, full orchestra, all kinds of chamber music, and solo works. This website will eventually allow my music to be purchased digitally. I also hope to have videos and recordings of some of my music being performed.

Finally, I am an amatuer film maker. Filmmaking is a hobby and passion of mine that allows me time away from my music endeavors. I have taught film production to high school students, and I write, direct and produce my video lessons on my YouTube Channel. I have several short films (documentary and story films) that are in different levels of production, and I intend to share those films here on this page. YouTube Channel film production lessons for other amatuer film makers will also be linked to this website.

In a nutshell, this website is an opportunity for me to share my creative processes in my passions: music education, composition, and filmmaking. Browse around and enjoy!

David M. Rowley, proprietor

Bio

David M. Rowley

I was born in Spokane, WA in June of 1966. Music has impacted my life for as long as I can remember. My primary instrument is percussion, and I have also performed on guitar and bass. I have performed professionally on and off throughout my life since 1979. My journey as a musician started at age five, when my mother began teaching me percussion. When I was able to be in public school music programs, I was often younger than other students in classes and ensembles. During my middle school and early high school years my family moved often. My experiences as a music student were quite different than most, and I had experiences in both small rural schools and large suburban schools. I was troubled with how the quality of\ music education I received differed at each school I attended.

I got married and started a family soon after high school and worked in the “blue collar” world before I began my college career. In the fall of 1986 I started my music education degree at Central Washington University (Ellensburg, WA). I earned my Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education Broad Area from CWU in June of 1990. The following fall, I started my teaching career in the small town of Sultan, WA. I moved on in 1995 to Quincy, WA, and taught for 2 years. Following Quincy I began teaching in the neighboring Royal School District, where I would teach for the next 14 years from 1997 - 2011. Needing change again, I moved on to the tiny town of Inchelium, WA and worked there until 2020. I have recently accepted a new position at another tiny town, Prescott, WA.

I call myself a music teacher; not a band, choir, or orchestra director, because I have taught it all. Over my 29 years of teaching (so far) I have taught band, choir, orchestra, vocal and instrumental jazz, field show and parade marching band, a myriad of chamber ensembles, mariachi ensemble, elementary general music, high school music appreciation, film production at the high school level, and served as a drama coach producing more than 25 plays and musicals with high school and middle school students.

I wrote my first song with a friend my senior year in high school and composed my first percussion ensemble piece that same year. I wrote several songs and composed other works furiously during my undergrad years, and have continued to do so. I earned a Master’s Degree in Composition, also from CWU, in 2003. For my masters project I wrote the libretto and music to a full length operatic musical. I also have written over 350 pieces of educational music, mostly for middle school and high school level musicians.

I am an avid outdoorsman, and I owned an outdoor retail, rental, and guide business with my son. While running my shop I became very interested in filmmaking. Making films has become a passion of mine. Along with teaching film production to high school students for the past five years, I have several documentary and story films in various phases of production. Also, I have written, filmed, and produced all of the lessons that are shared on my YouTube channel.

I’m writing this bio in August of 2020. My story is far from over. This website, partnered with my YouTube Channel, will allow me to share more about my past and experiences, as I continue moving forward in this crazy, creative life I have built.