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JJ: Dr. Bob Kase, who was our dean and a
Grammy nominated trumpet player, urged me
to write the initial coursework for the DARA
major. The curriculum was approved in
November of 2009. The very first gift of an
Audient 8024 48-channel mixing console,
wiring, soundproofing materials and a sound
booth from the wife of a music lover named Dr.
Bryan Mitchell (who passed away in spring of
2010), jump started the DARA program.
Through Jason Patera, the current Head of
School at The Chicago Academy for the Arts, I
was introduced to Bryan’s wife Mary, who gen-
erously donated her husband’s personal
recording studio equipment to USF.
Shortly after its inception the program took
on an entrepreneurial focus, which parents
really liked. The interface with the College of
Business & Health Administration gave stu-
dents more skills in marketing and business.
And with their help we created some specific
music entrepreneur courses. Our students like
to make music and do music production, but
they also have to figure out how to make a liv-
ing doing it. Learning how to make a go of it as
a lifetime career is an art. That’s the reason we
believe our program is resonating and working
so well. I have not seen any school bundle their
coursework like we do. Our balance of musi-
cianship with technical and entrepreneurial
components is unique curriculum.
IE: Are there any other novel or groundbreaking
elements to your program?
JJ: I’m glad you asked. We’ve put together the
DARA OS Electronic Ensemble, a platform for
the students to use their programming and
musical skills in a collaborative situation. The
main backbone is five synchronized Push II
controllers running Ableton Live flavored with
additional acoustic instruments and voice. The
students compose original material ranging
from the esoteric to more traditional utilizing
technology. After we spend a semester learn-
ing and writing we record an album that is
release followed by a tour of local high schools.
This will be our fourth year and everyone is
loving it. Check out our music on Spotify or
iTunes. Also we have fun videos up on our
website.
We also launched a new concentration
called User Generated Content Developer this
fall. UGC coursework enables students to cre-
ate, import and edit content captured on acces-
sible audio/video devices using affordable
software. This will help the musician, techni-
cian market themselves and potentially help
them create new income streams.
IE: How are your graduates doing?
JJ: They are getting work in the music industry.
We have a graduate that is an assistant at
Chicago Recording Company, a graduate who
is a touring musician and engineer in
Nashville, a graduate who is getting her
Master’s in music business in L.A. who came
back to tell us our instruction put her ahead of
the game, a graduate who created a music soft-
ware company, a graduate who is working for
a promoter to radio stations, a graduate who
does audio/visual for a Hyatt Regency. It’s our
feeling the diversified training and the Bachelor
of Science degree is opening doors.
IE: How can potential students and those
interested in the program get in touch with
you?
JJ: Well, visit our website www.darausf.com or
contact me Jeff Jaskowiak at jjaskowiak@stfran-
cis.edu or call (815) 641-0637 for more info.
Come and see our website www.darausf.com
for all our curriculum.