Interview with Composer Mark Nowakowski

I interviewed Mark Nowakowski, who is a composer and teaches my music theory class.  The focus of the interview was how music writing programs have changed the way music is written and distributed.  In the first clip, Mark describes the advantages of using music writing programs, such as Noteflight.

In the second clip, Mark talks about how writing music with computer programs has changed the way it is shared.

Using music writing programs have obviously had a tremendous impact on the music writing process. As Mark says, "Essentially, you're speeding up the entire process...you hear instantly what you have." Mark also says, "It makes it a lot more fun...you get to hear your work as you go on, and that's something very contemporary." Writing music with a program allows you to hear your work while writing it for the first time in history. Music distribution has also been effected by music composition programs. Mark calls the change "a complete paradigm shift in the way that mp3s have changed recorded music distribution...it's faster and cheaper." Using composer Jennifer Higdon, who does all of her publishing in-house, as an example, Mark explains that selling music directly through online publishing yields higher profit for the musician. Music composition programs have significantly changed how music is written and distributed, both to the advantage of musicians.

DC Radio is WTOP

I interviewed Doug Sutherland, who blogged about the history of radio in Washington D.C.  When you think of DC radio, you think of the news station WTOP, which first aired on September 25, 1926.  WTOP was one of the earliest stations in DC, and quickly became the region's primary news station.  WTOP has been there through the technological advancements and social changes which have made radio so popular.  WTOP is the most profitable radio station in the United States, generating $57.225 million in revenue in 2010, and is the highest rated radio station in Washington D.C.  Part of WTOP's success comes from the size of the radio markets where WTOP broadcasts can be heard.  Washington D.C. is the 8th largest market in the nation with a population of 4,479,400 people over 12 years old.  WTOP can also taps into another large market in Baltimore, which is the 21st largest radio market in the country, with a population of 2,308,900 listeners (source).  WTOP is able to reach many people because of the strong signal provided by broadcasting on 103.5 FM.  Up until 2006, WTOP had broadcast on AM, which is a weaker signal.  WTOP's quality of programming is another major reason for its success.  Over the past decade, the station has won numerous Edward R. Murrow Awards in such categories as, Best Radio Large Market Feature Reporting, Best Radio Large Market Feature Hard News, and Large Market Radio News Overall Excellence.  The station also won the  National Association of Broadcasters Marconi Award for Major Market Station of the Year in 2010.  My interviewee Doug Sutherland pointed out a few other reasons for the success of WTOP and another station in the area, WHFS.

listen to ‘DC Radio market and WTOP’ on Audioboo

The Washington D.C. is a very large and important market, as it is home to the Federal Government, where news is always developing and there is a large audience that wants to be informed.  If WTOP continues its high quality broadcasting, the DC radio market is in good hands.

Investigating the Criminal Justice Major

As a student currently in Letters and Sciences, I am frequently thinking about potential majors.  Of course, I browse through the departmental websites, research the course requirements, and talk with my academic adviser, but I think it is also valuable to talk to students already in the major.  One major that I am interested in is Criminology and Criminal Justice. I am interested in Criminology and Criminal Justice because I think that is a very important aspect of American society that I want to learn more about, and I think it can be improved.  While I am taking CCJS100-Introduction to Criminal Justice this semester and enjoying it, I wanted to get some information on other classes in the major from a student.  Here is part of my interview of a Senior student in the Criminology and Criminal Justice major, which discusses his favorite and least favorite required class in the major. In the interview, I also asked his opinion on blended classes in relation to the Criminal Justice Major

listen to ‘Criminal Justice Classes Discussion’ on Audioboo

listen to ‘Blended Courses’ on Audioboo

I asked him about blended courses because I believe that technology should increasingly be used for classes like they are in JOUR150. Blended classes are advantageous because they allow students to become more familiar with technology and methods of sharing information, such as twitter and blogging. The skills developed by being in a blended class are essential in many other fields, including criminal justice. The criminal justice system relies heavily on technology and I think it would be a natural connection to have blended criminal justice classes.