Commercial Music Elements is a creative and practical series aimed at developing excellent musicianship in all musicians. These texts present a uniquely integrated approach to the language of music and its connection between commercial music theory and aural skills. The melodic elements contained within this series include the modes of the major scale (Church modes); blues, pentatonic, altered, and synthetic scales; and chord-scale theory. The rhythmic concepts include foundational Afro-Latin rhythmic patterns as well as common rhythmic jazz and pop grooves. The harmonic aspects include chord extensions, the Nashville Number System, ii-V-I progressions, closed and spread (open) voicings, and reharmonization techniques. Thorough mastery of these skills over time not only builds musicianship but increases musical competence, courage, and confidence, empowering learners with freedom that fuels creativity in the artist, performer, composer, songwriter, and more.

David Moser McKay is an Instructor in Theory, Composition, and Music Technology at Belmont University. An award-winning composer, arranger, jazz pianist, and publisher, McKay’s commercial scoring credits include Paramount Pictures, HBO, Showtime, McDonald’s, Wendy’s, AT&T, American Standard, General Electric, P & G, Destiny Image, Explora Cruise Lines, and Princess Cruise Lines. His choral-orchestral music is published and distributed through J. W. Pepper, Oxford University Press, LifeWay, Word Music Now, Colla Voce, St. James Music Press, A.M.S.I. (Lorenz), Belden Street Music, and earthsongs. 

McKay has written, performed, recorded, and collaborated with a number of artists and ensembles including Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Maranatha Praise Band, Amy Grant, Chester Thompson, Don Moen, Ron Kenoly, Phil Driscoll, Leann & Carl Albrecht, Lynn DeShazo and Denyce Graves. McKay is a music notation product specialist and beta tester for Dorico and Cubase (Steinberg). He has beta-tested for Finale (Coda/MakeMusic), Sibelius (Avid), and Composer’s Mosaic (MoTU). He holds a Master of Music in Composition from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory (CCM), a Bachelor of Music in Composition, Literature, Theory, and Piano from Heidelberg University, and an Associate in Theology degree from Florida Beacon Bible College. McKay studied composition with Lukas Foss, Paul Palombo, and Norman Dinerstein, and participated in master classes with Aaron Copland, Witold Lutosławski, and Danny Elfman. 

For more information, visit twodavidsmusic.com.

Dr. Michelle Margiotta is a composer, arranger, and music educator whose work spans performance, education, and worship. With over 17 years of collegiate teaching experience and a passion for making music accessible, Margiotta has inspired countless students both in the classroom and through private instruction. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Lee University (Cleveland, TN), as well as a Master of Music in Jazz Composition and Arranging and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition from Five Towns College (NY). 

Margiotta’s work includes orchestrating compositions for Emmy and Tony Award-winning artist Kathie Lee Gifford, as well as collaborating and orchestrating for renowned artists such as Louis York, Mya, Nicole C. Mullen, Debbie Winans, and Elevation Worship. Her collaborations have garnered accolades within the field of production and recording, including from Grammy-nominated producer Sal Oliveri and Nashville violinist and concertmaster David Davidson. Since 2011, Margiotta has toured full-time as a piano and guitar accompanist with Dove Award-winning and Grammy-nominated artist Kathy Troccoli. She has also performed with Christian artists including Point of Grace, Jody McBrayer, Bonnie Keen, Kelly Minter, and Laura Story. 

To explore Margiotta’s full body of work, visit michellemargiotta.com.

Internationally acclaimed violinist Dr. Meghan Perdue has been an active member of the music industry as a sought-after performer and accomplished teacher since 2006. She holds degrees of Bachelor of Music from Belmont University in Commercial Violin Performance, Master of Music also from Belmont in Commercial Violin Performance with a focus on String Pedagogy, and Doctor of Education in Learning Organizations and Strategic Change from Lipscomb University. 

As a performer, Perdue has appeared in iconic performance venues across the U.S. and abroad in Scotland, Germany, Spain, South Africa, Botswana, and New Zealand, including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Grand Ole Opry House, the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, and numerous specials aired on PBS. She has performed with notable artists such as Ricky Skaggs, Hailey Whitters, The Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Michael W. Smith, Sheryl Crow, Denyse Graves, Tasha Layton, Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas, Hanneke Cassel, Darol Anger, Bruce Molsky, and others. Perdue has recorded on dozens of full-length albums, EPs, artist singles, video game soundtracks, TV soundtracks, music videos, and documentary soundtracks for a wide range of artists and composers. Perdue is a full-time Instructor of Music at Nashville State Community College as well as faculty at Belmont University in the School of Music and former faculty at Vanderbilt University in the Blair School of Music. Perdue is also the Style Editor for Belmont University’s School of Music master’s degree program. She is both a member of the teaching faculty and of the organizing committee for Alasdair Fraser’s Sierra Fiddle Camp. 

For more information, visit meghanperdue.weebly.com.

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