معرفی
Nathan B. Kruse serves as Professor of Music Education and Chair of the Department of Music within Case Western Reserve University's College of Arts and Sciences. Appointed in 2013 after prior roles at the University of North Texas, he directs departmental strategy while maintaining active research and community engagement in music education.
His educational foundation includes:
- Bachelor of Music Education from Butler University
- Master of Music in Music Education from the University of New Mexico
- PhD in Music Education from Michigan State University
Dr. Kruse's research investigates adult music education through ethnographic lenses, examining lifespan learning trajectories and vernacular music practices in community settings. His work bridges formal and informal music education, with recent focus on digital environments and intergenerational participation. He explores how community music fosters social inclusion while challenging ageist ideologies in educational spaces.
Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals consistent thematic threads: vernacular music integration in classrooms (2023), equity through intergenerational music-making (2022), and digital adaptations of children's musical play (2018-2020). His scholarship consistently centers marginalized groups—older adults, children in digital spaces, and bivocational teachers—while examining systemic barriers in music education.
His scientific recognition includes:
- Carnegie Academy for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Fellowship (2006-2007)
- Excellence-in-Teaching Citation, Michigan State University (2007)
- Outstanding Dissertation Award, Adult and Community Music Education SRIG (2008)
As a dedicated mentor, he has received four nominations for CWRU's John S. Diekhoff Award for Graduate Mentorship (2004, 2015, 2018, 2021). He serves on editorial boards for TOPICS for Music Education Praxis and Visions of Research in Music Education while maintaining active public school collaborations as conductor and clinician.
He directs the Symphony West Orchestra (North Olmsted, OH) and Cleveland's Music Settlement Adult Orchestra, extending his community impact through performance. His professional affiliations include National Association for Music Education, Ohio MEA, Pi Kappa Lambda, Mu Phi Epsilon, and Kappa Kappa Psi.
