Profile
David obtained MA in Music Composition from the City University, London in 1991, having completed BA Honours in Music from the University of Leicester in 1990. He then did some teaching in London, followed by BSc Honours in Computer Science from Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, in 1998. He registered PhD Ethnomusicology in the University of Durham, moved to the University of Sheffield along with his supervisor, and completed it in 2005.
During most of this time, David worked as an IT analyst, and manager, and remained active in conferences in ethnomusicology and others. His specialist areas include organology (the piano), music of the Chinese in diaspora, history and missiology, and cultural geography. He developed further research areas in Christian worship and rituals, electronic organ clubs, and e-learning including serious games.
David is a reviewer for Journal of Intercultural Studies and teaches undergraduate and postgraduate management. He has many years IT management experience in large corporations and non-profit clients, and video production from planning and shooting through to post production.
10 years following his PhD and 6 years after the publication of his book, David finds that there remains dichotomy between local ('ethnic' / 'exotic') music as research (e.g. Borneo World Music Expo) and the other group of music such as popular music, Christian worship, music in Chinese associations, 'western' music, and soap opera that remain, as yet, beyond the scope of researchers. Is this because these music activities are 'normal' around us and so we don't study them (and so strengthens the exoticness of the exotic) or the fact that supervision and facilities are much more likely available for the exotic type of music?
This remains the case for the focus areas of his PhD and book: piano students, and school music band musicians. The number of these musicians are growing, along with interest / passion (musician themselves or parents, or social expectation). This is still a great area for research. David is available for consultation and to act as supervisor or examiner. Research areas might include:
- Music syllabus in schools and instrumental examinations
- Music of the Malay diasporas
- Electronic organ clubs and festivals in the UK
- Global, local and ethnic: are they still distinct or merging
- Subculture of Saturday music schools, and similar places
- Music research in Borneo: rituals, missiology, cultural geography, education, nationalism
- Worship in Chinese Churches: religiousity, culture, power relations, training, identity
- Church worship band: development, training, pastoral role, power relations, ritual, spirituality, worship pastor, musical instruments
- When new is not enough: reception of new compositions and performance practices