Michael Hopkins

Michael Hopkins is an associate professor of music education at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance in Ann Arbor, where he teaches undergraduate courses in string techniques, orchestra methods, and music technology, and graduate courses in psychology of music and research methods. Prior to joining the faculty, Hopkins was an associate professor of music at the University of Vermont, from 1999-2010, where he was conductor of the UVM Orchestra and taught courses in music education and music technology.

Hopkins has appeared as a guest conductor at orchestra festivals throughout the United States and is the founding director of the Burlington Chamber Orchestra. He is very active as a composer and arranger, with more than 60 published works for orchestra. His music is published by Alfred Music Publishing, Grand Mesa Music, and Kendor Music Publishing, Inc. His works have been commissioned by many schools and ensembles throughout the U.S.

Dr. Hopkins has performed as a double bassist with professional orchestras in Vermont, New Hampshire, Michigan, Colorado, and Wyoming. He is the author of the award-winning website The String Pedagogy Notebook, a resource for string teachers and performers at www.stringtechnique.com. He has published articles in the Journal of Research in Music Education, International Journal of Music Education, String Research Journal, Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, Journal of Music, Technology and Education, American String Teacher, Music Educators’ Journal and The Instrumentalist. He has given many presentations at national and state conferences on various topics in string education and music technology. He is the director of the Michigan String Workshop and the U-M Bass Bash Festival. He has served on the faculty of the American String Workshop, as the executive director for the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, and is past president of the Vermont chapter of ASTA with NSOA. Hopkins received his bachelor’s degree in music education from Colorado State University and his masters and PhD in music education from the University of Michigan.