Teaching
Gibbons teaches songwriting and music appreciation in both academic and workshop settings. He has given lectures and workshops at numerous universities, writing programs and conferences, including Dartmouth College, Bennington College, the University of Tennessee Chattanooga, Vermont College of Fine Arts, and Keene State College. In addition, Gibbons teaches Songwriting and Encountering Music at the Putney School in Putney, Vermont.
While creativity must come from the student, Gibbons helps budding songwriters to build a framework in which to apply their creative leanings?a language of songs. Students listen to examples of great songs, from Tin Pan Alley to hip-hop, explore their structure, lyrical content, melodic and chordal progression, dynamics, mood, and sometimes pure magic, and work on exercises?mini songs?developed on these themes. Students also can workshop original material in a group or individual setting.
Tyler is currently a faculty member of the Putney School in Putney, Vermont.
References upon request.